Copic markers - working with Reds

Good morning bloggers! I am up early ...like Christmas when I was young....as my bags are packed and will be leaving in a couple hours for Indianapolis, Indiana to attend another Copic class.  This one is Altered Art/Mixed Media with Copic Markers taught by Colleen Schaan and Biance Mandity, Regional Art Instructors with Copic Markers..  I love altered art for various reasons but now I can't wait to see how to use my markers in this venue.  I will report back here at the end of the day as I am taking my lap top with me.  In the meantime.....
Here is another image from the Copic Intermediate Certification class....working with reds. I don't know about you but  I love coloring with reds but sometimes reds don't love me so much.  Maybe I try too hard but of all the colors, I have the hardest time blending red.  Here are some of the ideas that Colleen Schann, Regional instructor with Copics, shared with us:

• Work on an absorbent surface.  Try using something other than scratch paper under your work...For example...paper towel or tissue paper.
• Try a different paper.  Neenah is a softer side of the card stock papers.. Bazzil Simply Smooth won't bleed as much but then it might be harder to blend. Experiment with different papers and see if this will help.
• Use less ink.  Don't soak thru the paper as much when blending.  Stay on the surface and if it looks good then that's good enough.  Ignore the back of the paper. Red is such a strong, vibrant color and it soaks into the paper quicker and completely fills it up.
• Try feather blending ....instead of circles.  Coloring in circles really lays a lot of ink on the paper.  Feather blending uses less ink and thus may cure the bleed problem
• Let the base layer dry.....before adding blending colors.....slow down.
• When working on an image...color the reds first.  That way if it does bleed out you haven't wasted a lot of time/work and energy....not to mention ink.
• Finally...avoid working right up to the edge of an image.  Often an ink will bleed after you have completed it.  Coloring up close to but not touching the edge of an image might work.

Here is an image I worked on that was included in our manual.  This image was drawn by Marianne Walker.

I know I gained a lot of good information at the Intermediate certification.  If you already have your basic Copic Certification...don't hesitate to go for the Intermediate level.  You will love it!