Coloring Landscape Designs Using Alcohol Markers

I recently discovered an excellent way to color my landscape designs using alcohol markers. Some of you may know of alcohol markers but for me they are a new and unique thing. When I began my design business I did not color designs, but as time went on I realized colored designs really help to bring them to life for the clients. I experimented using different colored water markers, even the high priced ones, but the results were not satisfactory at all. I next happened upon watercolor pencils. I liked this effect second best to markers but since I could not locate the appropriate kind of marker to color my designs I had to use the watercolor pencils. 


Watercolor pencils are different colored pencils that you can apply a small bit of water to in order to blend colors. The designs I colored really came out nicely but sometimes the paper would be wrinkled and I just did not like the vividness of the pencils. Pencils just did not compare to markers. Let me back up a minute, my landscape design books show pictures of designs colored with both markers and pencils. Both techniques can be used to good effect but I personally preferred the look of the markers.



I just happened to be at Hobby Lobby when I spied a clear showcase full of markers. "Hmmmm, I wonder what those are?" I thought to myself.  I asked the representative to open the case and I was actually able to try out the markers. Wow! Enlightenment never came at such a cost. The 'Colorific' markers work great and come in hundreds of colors. They are known as sketch markers and can be blended easily to create different effects. What a cool new tool I found. The only problem is that each marker has a price tag of $6.99. That price must be why the markers were kept under lock and key as paying this amount for one marker seems kind of crazy to me. But pay I did. I had to be very selective in what colors I chose for my landscape design palette. I tend to like to color plants in the natural color they will grow in a client's garden while differentiating them just enough to show they are a unique plant. Without buying one of every color what I was able to do was to purchase some color groups such as green, and other colors with only one or two colors that were simply one or two shades off from one another. The colors I selected have worked well for me. As I've begun using the alcohol markers I have learned you don't always have to use more than one color. You can actually layer one color over itself to get a completely new effect. These markers are really useful and excellent for creating beautiful landscape designs....


in the garden....

P.S. This design was not completely colored when I took the picture. Perhaps I'll post a picture of a completely colored design at some point. 
 

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden