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WARNING: The Underpainters is a community membership designed to support independent artistic growth. This is not a class; there is no video; there will be no livestreamed demonstrations. Members receive a monthly challenge photo reference and digital stamp, plus access to an exclusive forum for questions, feedback, and critique.
Join Amy Shulke, professional illustrator and art instructor plus her Vanilla team of experienced colorers in a new guided education format designed to get you coloring with independence and creativity.
Move from simply coloring-along to creating unique and original art.
Feedback and support for the projects you want to create
Take the monthly challenge using the original Vanilla stamp of the month or improvise with your own line art.
Use your medium of choice: marker, pencil, watercolor, pastel, charcoal, etc.
Add your own ideas, style, and creative flair.
Share what you’ve learned & receive helpful feedback in return.
Are you taking coloring classes but expecting art school results?
You’re comfortable receiving the class image plus a detailed supply list. Then you follow the leader, mimicking the instructor, step by step from start to finish.
But everyone ends up with the same ho-hum instructor-approved project.
You feel good about what you’ve done, but does it really have to look like everyone else's?
Psst, art school doesn’t work this way. Art school gives you open-ended challenges and asks you to invent your own solution with your own materials, your own colors, and your own ideas.
Tutorials, watch-me demonstrations, and practice exercises can not transform you into an artist.
What you need is gentle guidance and a community to support your transition from coloring to independence.
Underpainters is an advanced artistic coloring community
A community of learners, a family of support
Move beyond standard coloring classes to self-determined projects in your medium of choice
With support and mentorship from the Vanilla Arts Team and the exclusive Underpainters Community Forum.
Subscribe now to become part of our coloring community!
Techniques Used:
- Flicking
- Push & Pull
- Watercolor backgrounds
- Feather texture
- Layering color
- Using photo references
- Detail work with colored pencils
Subscription Includes:
- Monthly release of a new, original Vanilla Arts digital stamp in three formats.
- Recipe guide, printable photo reference, detailed color map, and full color sample.
- Exclusive community forum access for discussion, assistance, and feedback.
Required Supplies: complete printable supply list included in class package
- High-quality watercolor paper (Fabriano Artistico Hot Press 140 lb watercolor paper, extra fine, extra white was used on this project)
- Artist quality watercolors
- Artist quality colored pencils (Mitsubishi Uni colored pencils used for this project)
- #8 Black Velvet Round watercolor brush
- #12 Black Velvet Round watercolor brush
- Glassine paper
- Mod Podge brush or Hake dusting brush.
- Clipboard or hard surface (glass mat is recommended)
- Drafting tape.
- Pencil, pencil sharpener.
- Erasers - black and white polymer, white sticky tack, Tombow Mono Zero (round).
Your Instructor
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
"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!"