Car with Colored Pencils and Markers

Lessons

About This Lesson Series...

The Car with Markers and Colored Pencils class is a comprehensive lesson designed to teach artists how to create realistic vehicle illustrations by combining markers and colored pencils. This class focuses on building a solid foundation with accurate proportions, refining surfaces, and using layering techniques to achieve depth, texture, and vibrant color. By the end of the lesson, you’ll have the skills to render cars with precision and artistic flair.

Planning the Drawing

The class begins with careful planning and sketching. You’ll learn how to break down the car into basic shapes to ensure accurate proportions and perspective. Establishing a solid foundation early in the process allows for more effective layering and coloring later. Proper planning also helps in identifying light sources and reflections, which are crucial for realistic renderings.

Applying Marker Base Layers

Once the initial sketch is complete, the lesson demonstrates how to apply markers to establish base colors and tonal areas. You’ll learn how to blend colors smoothly, create gradients, and define shadows and highlights. Markers provide a vibrant, even base that can be enhanced with colored pencils, making them an essential tool for achieving depth and dimension.

Enhancing with Colored Pencils

The next stage involves layering colored pencils over the marker base to refine details, add texture, and intensify color. You’ll discover techniques for creating metallic reflections, subtle gradients, and intricate details such as tire treads and trim lines. The instructor explains how to control pressure and layering to maintain smooth transitions while enhancing realism.

Capturing Reflections and Highlights

A key focus of the class is accurately rendering reflections, highlights, and gloss, which give the car its realistic, three-dimensional appearance. You’ll learn how to observe light and mirror surfaces, and how to replicate them using a combination of markers and pencils. These techniques help create a polished, professional look.

Refining Details and Finishing Touches

As the illustration nears completion, attention shifts to refining fine details such as rims, lights, and small body accents. You’ll see how to balance highlights, shadows, and textures to unify the composition. The instructor provides tips on maintaining contrast and visual interest without overworking the drawing.

A Complete Mixed-Media Experience

By the end of the Car with Markers and Colored Pencils class, you’ll have completed a detailed and realistic vehicle illustration while mastering the integration of markers and colored pencils. The techniques learned in this lesson are transferable to other subjects, giving you the tools to create dynamic, professional-quality artwork in a variety of mixed-media projects.

Specific Lessons

Lesson 1 (1:05:17)

In lesson one, we begin developing the contour line drawing of the subject with a graphite pencil using the grid technique.

Lesson 2 (1:07:33)

In lesson two, we begin adding marker and colored pencil applications.

Lesson 3 (1:00:59)

In lesson three, we continue work on the hood of the car.

Lesson 4 (1:13:51)

In lesson four, we work our way down to the front grill and bumper with marker and colored pencil applications.

Lesson 5 (1:14:17)

In lesson five, we complete the front of the the car and begin work on the roof and cabin.

Lesson 6 (1:05:54)

In lesson six, we continue work on the right side of the car.

Lesson 7 (1:08:15)

In lesson seven, we address the wheels and tires on the right side of the car.

Lesson 8 (1:14:17)

In lesson eight, we experiment with different background colors and complete the drawing.

Resources for this Lesson...

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References

Photo Reference

Finished Result

Here's what you'll need...

• Graphite Pencil
• Canson Colorline Paper (Gray)
• H or 2H Graphite Pencil
• Alcohol-Based Markers
• Colored Pencils

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