Amy Shulke – Marker Painting Foundations
Salepage: Amy Shulke – Marker Painting Foundations

Join Amy Shulke, a professional illustrator and marker enthusiast for an introduction to painting with markers- Vanilla Arts style!
Coloring blogs and internet tutorials have a major drawback- they are almost always demonstrations rather than instruction. Copy-cat or “do what I do” style videos can only teach you to mimic the instructor. Sure, you can color that same image by following along, but what happens when you want to color a different image, one you haven’t yet seen demonstrated?
Uh oh… now you’re stuck.
Marker Painting is a new approach to coloring with markers. Amy teaches students basic techniques and color theory based on the way artists use paint. Instead of focusing on “how” to color a selected stamp image, Amy shows you the “why” behind color selection, shade, layering, and depth. This provides students with the necessary knowledge and instincts to color an endless variety of images for the rest of their lives.
Marker Painting Foundations is the first step towards coloring independently and with more accurate realism.
In this twelve week beginner level course, Amy covers basic marker techniques and general know-how, giving students a good understanding of both how markers work and how to work markers.
This course is ideal for:
- complete beginners
- self taught colorers who feel as if they’ve missed key information about basic technique
- frustrated colorers who struggle when coloring unfamiliar images
- colorers who find themselves in a rut; looking for something beyond regular blending technique
- crafters wishing to push beyond craft level coloring, to boost depth and realism in their projects
Twelve Week Course includes:
- 12 weeks of coloring lessons-
- 30 to 60 minutes of clear technique instruction
- guided coloring video for every project
- mid-week supplementals to spark further thought
- 16 PNG digital stamps (also PDF and JPG alternate formats)
- bonus supplementals and consumer information
- multiple instructional handouts, designed to complement each week’s video lesson
- discussion board for instructor guidance, help, Q&A
Curriculum Overview:
- marker ink- understanding how ink works
- marker care and maintenance
- marker papers and cardstocks
- basic marker strokes
- color blending fundamentals
- troubleshooting and correcting mistakes
- introduction to coloring for depth
- introduction to coloring for shape
- introduction to coloring for balance
- marker limitations
Your Instructor
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 ed 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.
Course Curriculum
- Welcome Day
- General Information Page & Supply Shopping List
- Class Materials FAQ
- Marker Painting Foundations Forums – Please Read
- Video: ing Over (11:02)
- Survey- You and your goals
- Read: Measuring Growth
- Assignment: Popsicle Trio (digi stamps here)
- Read & Print: Workbook Pages
- A Note on Video Downloads
- Copic- A Product Primer
- Video- The Marker Family Reunion (39:24)
- Read & Print: Copic Markers & Pens (Product Info)
- Read: er Marker Colors
- Recommended Purchase: The Allnock Hex Chart
Lab #1- Substrates (Paper)
- A note about “Labs” and “Thinks”
- Video: Kiss it Goodbye (23:09)
- Read & Print: Amy’s Paper Experiments
- Recipe- Candy Kiss
- Video Demo: Coloring Kisses (11:55)
- Assignment: Test Your Papers (digi stamps here)
- Instagram?
- Think #1- Anatomy & Care
- Read & Print: Marker Anatomy & Care
- From the Blog: One Tiny Thing- Refresh Your Markers
- Video: Refill & Refresh (9:26)
- Assignment: Build a Cleaning Kit
Lab #2- The Art of Flicking
- Read & Print: Flicking & Blending
- Video: The Art of Flicking (14:57)
- Video: The Art of Flicking- Part II (18:02)
- Recipe: Ginkgo Leaves
- Project Samples: Ginkgo Leaves
- Video Demo: Ginkgo Leaves (22:35)
- Assignment: Practice Flicking (digi stamps here)
- Think #2- Blending Superheros
- Read & Print: Our Own Worst Critics
- From the Blog: Myths & Creativity
- Assignment: Go Hunting
- Preparation for Lab #3: Alternate Markers
Lab #3- The Science of Blending
- Video: Great Chemistry (25:55)
- Read & Print: The Science of Blending
- Recipe: Ribbon Spools
- Project Samples: Ribbon Spools
- Video Demo: Ribbon Spools (30:42)
- Assignment: Improve Your Blends (digi stamps here)
- Think #3: The Copic Fairy
- Read & Print: The Copic Fairy
- Assignment: Memory Lane
- Preparation for Lab #4: Alternate Markers
Lab #4- Rebel Blending
- Video: Best Frenemies (12:25)
- Learning Aid: CMY Color Wheel
- Video: Copic Cops (Rebel Blending) (15:20)
- Read & Print: The Copic Cops
- Recipe: Mixed Drinks
- Project Samples: Mixed Drinks
- Video Demo: Mixed Drinks (40:45)
- Assignment: Mixed Drinks & Color Runs (digis here)
- Think #4: Heads & Tails
- Read & Print: Oil Slicks & Jelly
- Preparation for Lab #5- Marker Selection
Lab #5: Darkness & Light
- Video: The Dark Side (16:33)
- Bonus Video: Paper Staining (11:19)
- Read & Print: Light Side, Dark Side
- Recipe: Shiny Apple
- Project Samples & Photo Reference: Shiny Apple
- Video Demo:: Shiny Apple (42:50)
- Assignment: Dark vs. Light (digis here)
- Think #5: The Snow Shovel (0)
- Video: The Snow Shovel (13:08)
- Read & Print: Correcting Mistakes
- Preparation for Lab #6- Color Palette
Lab #6: Depth Perception
- MUST WATCH VIDEO: Stop (11:48)
- Video: Push & Pull (15:50)
- Read & Print: Push & Pull
- Recipe + Project Samples: Maple Leaves
- Video Demo: Maple Leaves (20:00)
- BONUS Practice Project: Maple Leaf (digis here)
- Recipe + Photo Ref + Project Samples: Sliced Pear
- Video Demo: Sliced Pear (33:34)
- Assignment: Sliced Pear (Digis here)
- Think #6: 44 Shades of Gray
- Read & Print: Color Accuracy
- Preparation for Lab #7: Color Palette
Lab #7: Color Sculpting
- Video: Easy Highlights (24:14)
- Read & Print: Color Sculpting
- Recipe + Project Samples + Photo Reference: Red Boots
- Get immediately download Amy Shulke – Marker Painting Foundations
- Video Demo: Red Boots 1 (26:19)
- Video Demo: Red Boots 2 (21:54)
- Assignment: Red Rain Boots (digis here)
- Think #7: Looking on the Bright Side
- Read & Print: Highlights
- Preparation for Lab 8: Color Palette
Lab #8: Down Under
- Video: Down Under (19:37)
- Read & Print: Down Under
- Recipe + Project Samples + Photo Reference: Seashells
- Video Demo: Seashells (46:18)
- Assignment: Seashells (digis here)
- Think #8: Complementary Blending
- Read & Print: Compementary Blending
- Preparation for Lab 9: Color Palette
Lab #9: Life Isn’t Smooth
- Video: The Smooth Talker (16:15)
- Recipe + Project Samples + Photo References: Ice Cream Sandwich
- Video: Colored Pencil Strokes (22:18)
- Video Demo: Ice Cream Sandwich (52:38)
- Read & Print: Texture & Colored Pencils
- Assignment: Ice Cream Sandwich (digis here)
- Think #9: Detail Pencil Details
- Read & Print: Think #9- Colored Pencil Details
- Preparation for Lab #10- Color Palette
- Bonus: Q&A on organizing marker collections
Lab #10: Ride the Teeter-Totter
- Read & Print: Ride the Teeter-totter
- Video: Balance- the motion of color (17:50)
- Recipe + Project Samples + Photo References: Chucks
- Video Demo 1: Chucks (Copic) (42:19)
- Video Demo 2: Chucks (Colored Pencil) (26:26)
- Assignment: Chucks (digis here)
- Think #10: The Decorator’s Rule
- Read & Print: 60-30-10
- Preparation for Lab #11- :Color Palette
Lab #11: An Artist’s Process
- Warning: Curves Ahead
- Read & Print: an Artist’s Process
- Recipe + Project Samples + Photo References: Two Tulips
- Video #1: An Artist’s Process- the prep work (17:37)
- Video #2: An Artist’s Process- the marker work (51:13)
- Video #3: An Artist’s Process- the pencil work (53:12)
- Assignment: Two Tulips (digis here)
- Think #11: a Mind like Water
- Read & Print: the Watercolor Approach
- Preparation for Lab #12- Color Palette
Lab #12: Putting it All Together
- Video: Ducks in a Row (15:42)
- Read & Print: The Challenge
- Recipe + Project Samples + Photo References: Strawberries
- Video Demo: Strawberries 1 (59:05)
- Video Demo: Strawberries 2 (47:48)
- Assignment: Strawberries (digis here)
- Final Exam
- Read & Print: Final Exam?
- Assignment: Popsicle Trio (the encore)
- Photo Reference: Popsicle Trio
- Please Don’t Go…
- Bonus Materials- Build your independent skills with these digital stamps
Digital Stamps- Bonus Images
“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 warn people when they sign up for your classes– it’s not just Copic, it’s sooooooooo much more.”
“Thank you, Amy for your generous nature. There are many gifted people in the world but you share your gifts so freely. Your classes are wonderful and I sincerely hope that the new online project allows more and more students to fall in love with your classes.”
Required Supplies:
- X-Press It Blending Card or similar high-quality marker cardstock
- Copic Markers – downloadable master supply list included with class purchase.
- Artist quality colored pencils (Prismacolor Premier pencils recommended)
- Uniball Signo White
- Uni Posca Paint Pen Extra Fine, White
This course includes a private Marker Painting Foundations Forum:
Use and participation of the forums is optional, however instructor feedback is exclusively provided in the forums. Students may submit completed assignments via the designated forum for assessment and assistance. Instructor to student and student to student interaction is encouraged to maximize the feedback and support you need to improve your coloring skills.
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