In this two part video tutorial series, hosted by Jones Flores, we focus on coloring grayscale water. A practice coloring page is provided to support both parts of this tutorial series and to give you an opportunity to color along with Jones.

The tutorials are as follows:

1. Part 1: Small Waves Color-Along - using the sunset picture from Beautiful Nature, color along with Jones Flores as she shows you how to match your color tones to the lights and darks of the grayscale to produce a beautiful sunset ocean scene. By building up your color values and contrast you will see how you can produce a realistic result. Jones uses Faber Castell Polychromos pencils for this color-along. 
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2. Part 2: Big Waves Color-Along - using the big wave picture from Beautiful Nature, color along with Jones Flores as she teaches you more techniques for coloring water, including the specific pencil stroke to use to achieve a sense of movement. Jones uses Prismacolor Premier colored pencils for this color-along.

​If you are new to grayscale coloring, be sure to check out our Grayscale Coloring Basics tutorial series as well and possibly before you start the water tutorials. 

Let's get started...

In this three part video tutorial series, hosted by Jones Flores, we focus on the basics of grayscale coloring. A practice coloring page is provided to support all three parts of this tutorial series and to give you an opportunity to color along with Jones.

The tutorials are as follows:

1. Part 1: The 3-Tone Rule - learn about how to choose your colors using the "3-Tone Rule"
2. Part 2: Color Along #1 - using the bee picture from Beautiful Creatures, color along with Jones Flores as she shows you how to match your color tones to the lights and darks of the grayscale to produce a beautiful & realistic result.
3. Part 3: Color Along #2 - using the tulip picture from Beautiful Nature, color along with Jones Flores as she provides you with more practice, tips & techniques for coloring grayscale. 

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If you are new to grayscale coloring then this is the place to start! If you are an experienced grayscale colorist you will still find the tutorials are full of great tips and techniques that will further enhance your grayscale coloring skillset.

Let's get started...

In this post you will find:

1. A step-by-step guide (by Jones Flores) for coloring the leaf and water drops from Beautiful Nature, including detailed instructions on the specific steps for coloring water drops. This guide is available in both an online format and a downloadable version (available at the end of the online version of the guide).
2. A downloadable practice sheet for testing out the water drop coloring techniques outlined in the guide.
3. A video tutorial on coloring the leaf and water drops. ​

Grayscale coloring pages provide you with a wonderful template for achieving an incredibly realistic result. In this tutorial, Jones Flores will show us step-by-step how she achieves such a truly realistic result. Below you will find two versions of the video tutorial:

1. Speed Coloring Version: for those that want to get a quicker overview of the method.
2. Full Length Version: for those that wish to watch every step in great detail.

In addition, you will find the steps written out in this blog post as well as provided as a downloadable document so that you can print it out and have it handy as you follow along with the tutorial. That way you don't have to keep pausing the video to write down color numbers! 

Recently we did our fourth live stream video tutorial & color-along with Jones Flores as our teacher. This time we colored the flamingos from Beautiful Creatures. I was on audio to moderate and ask Jones questions.

​During this tutorial we covered five key areas:

1. Choosing colors.
2. How to color a sunset background.
3. How to create realistic shadows, including when and where to put shadows. 
4. How to color feather details.
5. Key colored pencil coloring tips, specifically:
   1. How to create vibrant colors.
   2. How to build multiple layers.
   3. How to increase color contrast.
   4. How to blend with burnishing.
   5. How to blend with petroleum jelly.
   6. When and how to mix Prismacolor (wax-based) and Polychromos (oil-based) pencils.

​In case you missed it, below you will find the recorded version of the tutorial. You will also find the flamingos coloring page for you to download and print, as well as a list of the supplies you will need, so you can color along with Jones.

Recently we did our third live stream video tutorial & color-along with Jones Flores as our teacher. This time we colored the lotus flower buds from Beautiful Nature. I was on audio to moderate and ask Jones questions. During this tutorial we learned five key things:

1. Petal Texture: creating realistic petals.
2. Burnishing: blending colors without solvent/medium.
3. Key to Outlining: how to create a focus on the subject & when and where to outline to avoid overdoing it.
4. Grayscale Contrast: how to increase color depth and darkness.
5. Blurry Background Technique: how to blur out the background smoothly and blending with petroleum jelly. 

​In case you missed it, below you will find the recorded version of the tutorial. You will also find the lotus flower buds page for you to download and print, as well as a list of the supplies you will need, so you can color along with Jones.
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Recently we did our second live stream video tutorial & color-along with Jones Flores as our teacher. I was on audio to moderate and ask Jones questions. During this tutorial we learned four key things:

1. How to color sky, clouds and water
2. How to use vaseline for blending colored pencil
3. How to color wood realistically.
4. More on the basics of grayscale coloring

​In case you missed it, below you will find the recorded version of the tutorial. You will also find the landscape page for you to download and print, as well as a list of the supplies you will need, so you can color along with Jones.

Recently we did a live stream video tutorial & color-along with Jones Flores as our teacher. I was on audio to moderate and ask Jones questions. It was a wonderful tutorial (aside from some unforeseen technical interruptions and challenges!!) where we all learned lots.

In case you missed it, below you will find the recorded version of the tutorial. You will also find the cat page for you to download and print, as well as a list of the supplies you will need, so you can color along with Jones.
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