looking for tips on how to improve my coloring

Posted 5 years, 9 months ago by Accela

hi guys! i have a really hard time coloring things well and my art just looks sloppy and i don’t know why, this is probably my best piece: https://www.deviantart.com/flower-magic/art/dragon-thot-748292838

my other stuff looks like this but... ugh, something’s missing or done wrong 

https://www.deviantart.com/flower-magic/art/dragon-thot-748292838 

https://www.deviantart.com/flower-magic/art/Dahlia-Irving-747056014 

https://www.deviantart.com/flower-magic/art/unnamed-oc-748143923 

https://www.deviantart.com/flower-magic/art/akane-744124101 

can someone give me some tips?

ShuBun-Kin

Can't say I'm an expert on coloring by any means, but one thing I can say is that layers and overlays are super helpful for coloring. Another really helpful thing that made a significant difference in my own coloring style was to save the airbrush tools for less intricate forms, such as skin and most clothing, and use slightly fuller tools [like pencil/soft pen tools] for things like the hair and small details. One final tip is that using white for highlights and black for shading can turn out some unsatisfactory results most of the time. There are lots of videos that go into this a lot deeper and have much better information about this on YouTube, and I suggest taking some time to go over some of them and practice their technique.


and it also depends on the program you use and it's capabilities. I wish you luck- coloring is a really hard thing to get used to ;w;

Linebine

Hi!

I don't consider myself as a guide in coloring issues but I think I see what you mean.

First of all: Don't be too harsh to yourself and your pictures, I think you do well in drawing already. Just practice with small pictures and you will get better over time.

What helped me in the past was trying all sorts of tutorials (DeviantArt is loaded with tutorials for all kinds of styles and drawing programmes!) You will learn a lot about colour theory by that and how shading and lightning works.

Another advice i would like to give is: don't be afraid of harder shapes and deeper colours! Especially your hair colouring is very soft. You could combine it with some streaks and highlights made with a harder brush. (I think this is the same, Borbbuu said)

pimixi

You're at a great point, I see a lot of potential in your art. ^^
To make things pop, keep adding in darker shading instead of one.

These tutorials might be of interest:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jvmalIAKAM&list=PLmrVWPFHf_oGpvuhKmwuaJ4U5bE5LnH6g&index=154

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yojpVrnCtkA&list=PLmrVWPFHf_oGpvuhKmwuaJ4U5bE5LnH6g&index=71


Keep at it, and have fun. You're doing great! <33