Hi All!
I know what you’re thinking… this looks hard. I’m telling you, it’s not. The key is to color piece by piece, petal by petal. And use the same strategy with each petal. So, now that we got that out of the way….
Today I am working with Derwent Coloursoft Pencils. These pencils are really amazing, and very different. They are soft and apply very easily, they blend extremely well, and they look fantastic on black paper. They are vibrant in color and you don’t have to press hard to get good application. With other pencils, it’s easy to end up with a one-color blend. These pencils provide texture and don’t overblend. The colors almost lay on top of one another, so you can maintain some texture.
I mean, look at what I started with and what these pencils can do (the before and after if you will!):
Here is a close-up of the big flower. As you can see, there is a lot of layering and it’s not perfectly blended:
You can buy these pencils at Dick Blick (along with Copics
, Inktense Pencils
, and Strathmore watercolor paper
, some of my other favs). Right now you get 20% off plus free shipping on orders over $99. Use code CDLT at checkout.
One of the things that keeps me going on this blog is the kindness and generosity of the readers. You all are very forthcoming with your praise and support, which makes me feel like I am doing something worthwhile. Because let’s face it – we all want to feel useful in this world. I often wonder what the heck I’m doing here! I received these pencils as a gift from Melba J in Virginia, one of my readers. I feel humbled to have connected with people so sweet and kind.
I hope you have a wonderful week! 🙂
Supplies:
Stamps:
Paper:
Inks/Color:
- Derwent Coloursoft Pencils
: Cream, Scarlet, Loganberry, Light Green, Green
- ColorBox Pigment Inkpad-Frost White
- Fired Brick
Other:
Susan
Wow…that is stunning!!! Amazing what you are able to do with black paper, a stamp, some white ink and pencils! And the stress is on the YOU! 🙂 That is pretty incredible!
Thanks for sharing…you do the most amazing stuff!
Richell
You make everything seem so effortless!! 🙂 I look forward to your posts every Wednesday. This card was stunning!! Thanks for sharing!
Dotty A
Oh My is this card just Beautiful…. and you did a video too… I have to go back and watch this a few more times…. you make it look doable even for me… but I don’t know if I can make the flowers look covered the way you do…
JUST BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!
Rosie
Darlene, this is beautiful. Because you are such an inspiration I’ve been trying to working with Copics. Now I’ll have to go back and work with my colored pencils. I believe you have the ability to force people to stretch and grow. Thanks so much for your weekly posts.
Beth Ross
Absolutely stunning! Thanks, Melba J…putting such a great product in the hands of a gifted artist!
Carrie Davenport
Amazing!!! as usual 😉
Sonya van Stee
Absolutely STUNNING! I have to tell you, you’ve been a great inspiration to me in several areas! Your creativity and the diversity in your creativity are so fantastic! Keep it up! We love being your “audience” !!!!
Carol B
Awesome blending technique with the pencils. You have done it again, made a card that is simply beautiful. I love the way you did the frame around your artwork…..gorgeous!
Mary Ann Huntington
Your card is stunning. I watched you so closely, but still know If I tried it I could never make it look like yours. You are so talented.
Maria A. Rodriguez
WOW!! Darlene, coloring this flowers on black card stock gives this amazing card a very dramatic and elegant look. I love how this pencils blend so well but it takes a pair of hands like yours to make this technique look fabulous!! Thank you for another fantastic video.
BarbGhig
What a lovely and generous gift…but, you are so deserving, Darlene! I love how your flowers turned out and your card is stunning!
“We” are the ones who are blessed to have you! Your videos are always informative and fun to watch…thank you!
Virginia P
What a wonderful card! Its great how you know where the light and shadows will be on the flowers. Its truly a stunning card, hope that whomever you give it to appreciates all the work that you put into its creation. I always look forward to Wednesdays for your cards and videos. Thank you for all the info that you share with us.
Susan
Darlene, what a gorgeous card! You are so gifted and inspirational!!! I love your videos and thank you for being so detailed in your explanations! My birthday is next month and I hope someone asks me what I want. I did want intense pencils, now I’m conflicted. Well, Christmas is coming, another gift receiving opportunity!!!
Maureen
Thanks for all your wonderful videos. You help each of us to try new things and learn new skills, and that is pretty darn great in my book. I want to thank Melba for sharing these pencils with you, because this is stunning. Of course, now I want these pencils as well, oh well, can’t have everything, right?! Have a wonderful day and thanks for all the inspiration and information!
Jeanne Thomas
That was really beautiful the way you coloured in the poppies. They looked so real when you had finished. Who wouldn’t want to receive a gorgeous card like that. Thank you so much for sharing all your inspiration with us.
Trish
I NEVER get tired of watching you color anything with anything . How do YOU sharpen colored pencils?
Darlene DeVries
Hi Trish, I have a pencil sharpener from my kids’ arts & crafts box that I use!
Sandra
Hello from New Zealand. Beautiful… and you make it look so easy. I enjoy for videos and always learn something new. Thanks for giving your time to inspire viewers.
Sherrie
That flower looks just beautiful, love your work!!!
What about blending with “Odorless Mineral Spirits”?
Darlene DeVries
I haven’t tried that Sherrie, but I will put it on my list!
Aileen
Absolutely beautiful card.i too have the Coloursoft pencils and Inktense as well. I just love Derwents. I use baby oil with the coloursoft sometimes. Have never tried on black card stock, off to do that now. Thank you so much for sharing. Another reason I love Coloursoft is I have arthritis in my hands and dont have to work hard to get good results.
Meli Isen
love the black and red…and thank you..i so enjoy your cards and video’s on Wednesday!!!! and thanks for the 20% discount code!!! going over ther now!!!
Mary H.
Loved this video and the great coloring on these flowers. Just used the code you provided to order a set of these lovely pencils from D.Blick. Thanks for the enablement. Always enjoy your wonderful videos. TFS
Pai
GORGEOUS!!!
Valerie Martin
Hi Darlene!
If you did not speed up the video, I would sit and watch the whole tutorial and still feel like I could watch more! This is simply GORGEOUS! I know that if I was the recipient, I would truly appreciate it! You are absolutely right, it is a work of art! I would frame it! 😉
Blessings,
Valerie
Sharon Hayes
Darlene, you are so talented. I love all of your videos and would like to see daily posts fom you. Your voice is gentle and patient. Your card demonstrations are excellent with such clear specific directions. I follow many card maker blogs, and yours is right at the top of my list. Thank you for each video that you share.
Mags Elliott
Wow, what patience you have but it is absolutely stunning!
Mary, Wausau WI
Stunning!
Joan Garlough
What a fabulous card, Darlene. My coloring never looks as good as yours, but I continue to work on it! LOL. I wait for each Wednesday to come along to see your next card and video. Thanks for sharing your designs with us.
Sherri
I love to watch you color. I also anxiously await for Wednesday to come around. Thanks for your inspiration. This was truly a work of art.
Melissa D
Beautiful! I am continually amazed with the patience you have for colouring. Truly a gift.
Shaughn
Hi Darlene! Your card is absolutely stunning! It amazes me every week how incredible your talent is. The eye you have when coloring is WOW! Thanks so much for sharing and filming tutorials! Such an inspiration. Thanks again.
Gabby
LOVELY card, Darlene! Beautiful flowers and nice inked/spritzed border. Thanks for bringing these pencils to our attn and showing just how to blend them in the video. I appreciate the time you take to “teach” via your videos and posts. I love to learn and I am thankful that you so freely share your invaluable knowledge and experience. Huggles, Gabby 🙂
Margaret Crawford
Just love this, want to touch and smell it! So soft, yet elegant. Thanks for sharing. Think pencils may be on my wish list!
Margaret (Scotland)
Alyce
I love the way this looks. I doubt I would have ever tried to use my Coloursoft pencils on black paper if I hadn’t seen your tutorial. Thank you!!!
Terri (blindstamper)
Add my voice to all the other’s…love the card, your Wed. videos, how you teach, your diversity and generosity with your time. I was wondering if you have used Prisma colored pencils, and if so, how do they compare to the Colorsoft?
Darlene DeVries
Hi Terri, thank you! And yes, I have used Prismacolor pencils
on few cards such as this card and this card. The core of the Prismacolor Colored pencils
is hard and rigid. So, you need more coloring and pressure on your cardstock. I find that they are a little more difficult to sharpen, meaning they break a little more easily. They blend really nicely. The Derwent Coloursoft pencils
are much softer and don’t require much pressure at all. They also sharpen very easily, however, you much sharpen them often to get good coverage on your cardstock. I honestly prefer the Derwent Inktense pencils
to the Prismacolor, which is why I usually reach for those instead of my Prismacolor. I think they are more comparable than the Coloursoft. Added bonus is that the Derwent Inktense also function as watercolors.
Marion
Wow Darlene…you certainly are a master at colouring…no matter what the medium! Wow again!
Lynn
So beautiful – I love this card and if I should be lucky enough to receive one like it I would frame it !! Thank you taking the time to teach us your colouring techniques .
Pai
fantastic coloring!
Kerstin
Thank you so much for yet another inspiring video tutorial. I am sitting here in Kuwait on a dusty construction site and you really made my day. Longing to go home to Europe and give my pencil coloring a try.
Take care of yourself.
Anne from France
This is a stunning card! Poppies are one of my favourite flowers and of course they are, to us, a symbol of Remembrance too. Your colour technique is brilliant, such a beautiful card that needs to be framed and hung! TFS!
maggi
Tried this last night with the derwent inktenses and SU! poppies stamp since I don’t own this stamp or coloursofts. Came out fairly comparably I’d say. Enough that I won’t rush out for a new set of pencils just yet. Great idea. Took long enough to zone into it through my entire new album. (Husband gave me The Neighbourhood ‘I love you’ for my birthday:)
Lizzie
Hi Darlene, Im a newcomer and was just watching this video and I’m blown away! This is by far one of the most beautiful cards I’ve seen in a long long time. I think I might have framed it. Not sure I could mail that one out. Perfect job and undeniable talent for sure. Thank you for these really educational videos.
Darlene DeVries
You’re so sweet Lizzie – thank you!! 🙂