Spring Duo: Heart Doughnut & Easter Egg

Intermediate Artistic Coloring Community

Let's Celebrate Spring!

Food illustrations and holiday images are extremely popular themes for digital stamps, line art, and adult coloring books.

Sadly, coloring techniques have not kept up with stamp artists.

If you're tired of applying the same old blending combinations and getting the same old results...

Or if you've finally noticed that shading techniques provide depth and dimension but your food and other objects still look cartoonish and terribly fake...

How about if we try something new?

Now's your chance to learn color sculpting techniques from the Queen of Underpainting and the inventor of Rebel Blending. Amy will show you how to use methods normally used by professional artists to step up your coloring game.

And you can use these same methods for photorealism!



Heart Doughnut and Easter Egg are intermediate level lessons.

 

OPEN ENROLLMENT

Join anytime, work at your own pace.

Marker Painting is a completely different approach to coloring with markers.

Amy teaches basic techniques and color theory-- the way artists use paint.

Instead of focusing on "how" to color, Amy shows you the "why" behind color selection, shade, layering, depth, and form-- providing students with the knowledge to color any stamp they encounter.

Take your coloring to the next level-- coloring with independence, creativity, and your own unique voice.


Improve your coloring by improving how you think about color.


Copic Markers. Prismacolor Colored Pencils. Minimal Supply lists. Maximum Impact.

 

Heart Doughnut began as a Color Wonk lesson

Color Wonk is a monthly subscription group for intermediate colorers. Heart Doughnut was the Wonk lesson in February 2024.

This is the FOREVER ACCESS version.

Heart Doughnut is a lesson on coloring details, offering you a different approach to when and how to add the last little bits.

This change of focus allows you to focus on texture, dimension, and ultimately realism.

Amy walks you step by step through the doughnut coloring process offering tips and tricks plus alternative products to make realistic dimension soooooo much easier!



Easter Egg was also born at Color Wonk

Easter Egg was the Wonk lesson in March 2024.

This is the FOREVER ACCESS version.

Easter Egg simplifies your coloring process by introducing the concept of Universal Shading.

Far too often, beginners and intermediates get wrapped up in complicated blending combinations leaving little mental room and time for the most important part of realism: color sculpting.

In a full demonstration, Amy shows you the entire coloring process for the egg, daisy, and cast shadows. You'll never look at shading the same way again.


Class materials for both the doughnut and egg projects include all the printables and learning aids originally offered to Color Wonk members. This purchase also includes recordings of the livestream demonstrations which show the complete coloring process from start to finish.

Sorry, the Q&A for the streams are no longer active and the Wonk forum is exclusive to to subscribers.

More info about Color Wonk & their current lesson here.




 




Heart Doughnut & Easter Egg are intermediate level workshops.

We welcome colorers of many levels at Vanilla Arts, but basic marker blending techniques are not covered in this class.

Intermediate classes assume you’ve mastered basic techniques and are ready for more challenging and though provoking methods to develop your artistic skills. Read more about Vanilla skill levels here.

Skill Level: INTERMEDIATE

We do not recommend this class for beginners or first time Vanilla students.

 

Both Classes Include:

  • Original Vanilla Arts digital stamps
  • Beautiful full color guidebook featuring:
    • Detailed step by step instructions and process photos
    • Full supply list
    • Photo reference(s)
    • Reference exploration
    • Digital color swatches
    • Full color final project pics
    • Underpainting guide
    • Color map
    • Value guide
  • Recordings of the original Color Wonk livestreams-- Amy demonstrates the entire coloring process and answers attendee questions live.

Techniques Used:

  • Flicking
  • Push & Pull
  • Underpainting
  • Pointillism
  • Color Theory
  • Directional shading
  • Using photo references
  • Increasing realism
  • Overpainting with simple colored pencil strokes

Supply List for Heart Doughnut here.

Supply List for Easter Egg Here

 

WARNING:

Basic computer skills are required to access class materials.

If you struggle with websites, video players, downloads, resizing PNG files, or printing digital files, this course may not be right for you.

We would love to have you join but this is an online course. Computer skills are vital.

 
 

We recommend The Blend as a prequel to Heart Doughnut & Easter Egg

The Blend is encouraged but not required.

Beginner marker blending and basic underpainting techniques WILL NOT be taught in these clases.

All students will need intermediate level skills to successfully complete the doughnut and egg projects. The Blend teaches everything you need to know before joining.


Your Instructor


Amy Shulke
Amy Shulke

Amy is a professional freelance technical illustrator with 25 years of experience in graphic arts. Amy began using colored pencils in 1985 and she started with DeSign markers in 1989. Colored pencils with a base of either marker or watercolor is her preferred process for portraiture and scientific illustration. She has a special passion for teaching crafters and shy artists to stretch their boundaries by adding established fine art techniques to their coloring projects.

Join Amy for fun and highly informative lessons which will not only change the way you color but the way you see color in the world around you.


 

Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
Immediately! As soon as you're through the registration and payment processes, the class material will be automatically opened for you.
What skill level do I need for this group? Is there a pre-requisite class?
Both lessons are intermediate level coloring class. We will not cover beginner techniques such as marker blending or how to layer colored pencils. To learn these beginner skills, please see our beginner level 12 week Copic Marker course, The Blend.
How much of the course will I have access to? Do you stagger the release of information?
This course is 100% FULL ACCESS from the moment you join. Work at your own pace and take as much time as you want to complete the lesson.
How long do I have access to the course?
Anytime access! You have unlimited access to the content - across any and all devices you own.
Is the digital stamp included or do I have to purchase it elsewhere?
The digital stamps are included in the class materials. No new purchase necessary.
What if I'm missing markers or supplies from the required list?
I'm very liberal about supply substitutions BUT please understand that not all markers and pencils behave the same way, even if the colors are very similar. Every substitution you make will change the look of your finished project and the more substitutions you make, the harder your project will be to complete. We have a segment in the course with tips on what to substitute and which supplies are essential. If you are missing a color and want advice on alternatives, email [email protected].
What if I use a different brand of marker?
I'll be honest, I use Copic because of their brush nib. I've yet to find another maker brand with nibs as springy and juicy. I would suggest that some of my techniques are unlikely to work well without a brush nib... but if you've got other markers and are willing to match my colors to your brand, GO FOR IT. Sorry, but I won't be much help troubleshooting any problems you encounter because I won't be able to test your blends myself.
Can I download the videos to watch offline?
Sorry but no, you must be logged into your account here at Teachable to view the videos and livestreams.
Will I get feedback on my project directly from Amy?
We do not have a dedicated feedback forum for either lesson and while Amy offered feedback at Color Wonk during the initial month of the lesson, there is no way she can offer personalized feedback to everyone taking her classes and courses. For project help and assistance, plus a bit of peer-to-peer feedback, consider joining Vanilla Arts: Copic & Pencil Chat at Facebook. It is filled with Amy's students, many of whom have taken this class and can offer their help and opinions.
What if I am unhappy with the course?
If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact me at info@vanillaarts within the first 14 days for a full refund minus processing fees. Due to the digital nature of this course, absolutely no refunds are possible beyond the 14 day mark. NO EXCEPTIONS. Note: A refund withdraws you completely from the course. You will lose access to the course panel, course materials, and any associated forum.

Course Curriculum


  General Info
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Easter Egg
Available in days
days after you enroll
  Heart Doughnut
Available in days
days after you enroll

"It's the OMG moments. That's why Amy's classes rock. She explains things that you've maybe noticed before but never thought much about. I love it!"

"At 62 years of age I have no illusions about becoming a great artist but. I am so appreciative of the change in my perception since taking classes with Amy at Vanilla Arts Co. Now I see the play of colors, the motion and the grace... It's a great way to view the world around me."

"I just love the things I'm learning and can't wait to start the next project. Your images are challenging for me and I like that. I'll never look at another image and how to color it the same again!"

Get started now!