Today's technique channels more water vibes, but this time in a gentle little creek. Hence, I am calling this the creek coloring tutorial. 

But before I begin, as promised, a little more about my art background. I would color as a kid, but I was never in any art classes. It wasn't until my undergrad that I made some art friends, and my journey with art began. I was 18 at the time. 

But more on that tomorrow! For now, creek vibes!

Creek Coloring Tutorial 

As a fair warning, there are a lot of steps with this, but there is one step that repeats a lot, and that is me defining the grass with G260. 

Grass can have a translucent appearance with light, and not all of my strokes onto the page are entirely over the same spot. You can see the layer effect below.

Tools Used

In today's creek coloring tutorial, I use Ohuhu alcohol markers, an Artistro White Acrylic, and Sakura for the White and Blue Glitter Gel Pens. 

Creek Coloring Tutorial Video

It is a goal of mine to always have the videos be under a minute for this series. You can watch below.

Creek Coloring Tutorial Step-by-Step

Step 1: Take E46 and color horizontally. Do not worry about it being perfect. Darken some patches and add blobs.

Step 2: Use RG050 to create little stones scattered around. 

Step 3: With G240, flick upward in clusters to create grass patches.

Step 4: Repeat over with G260 (and add patches if you would like)

Step 5: Use B050 to create water blobs scattered around. Make sure not to mix them on top of the grass. However, do let them dry a little and add some more blobs around the top.

Step 6: Use B03 to go over the top of it all while being mindful of the grass patches. This does not need to be perfect, and streaks are okay. 

Step 7: Use G260 over the grass blades again.

Step 8: Then use G324 around the midway of the grass patches with some blobs also scattered around. 

Step 9: G260 the grass again.

Step 10: Use a blue gel pen to create a whimsical set of ripples spread out in and around the Grass shrubs. Add little crosses for a whimsical vibe.

Step 11: Use a white acrylic or gel pen to go across the surface to create water highlights. Try your best to avoid the grass patches while also highlighting the mid base over the G324. 

Step 12: You guessed it, another round of G260.

Step 13: RG050 in a few more rocks/pebbles to preference.

Step 14: White Gel pen the blades of grass

Step 15: Go over the gel pen with G260! 

Add any more details on the water to preference, but that is the steps to creating a creek vibe! 

Questions On Tutorial

Q: Why use g240 once? 

A: I wanted its shadow tone behind the brighter tone.

Q: Why use g260 so many times in this tutorial?

A: I was defining my grass patches and going back over some other work to make sure they stayed prominent. Especially after G324 blobs and also the white acrylic. 

Thank you for checking out this tutorial. If anything, I hope anyone takes away from the next 30 days, it's that streaks in alcohol markers invite texture. It does not need to be a smooth blend for something amazing.

More to come tomorrow!