Custom Birthday Pop-Up Card

Drawn with Sakura Pugma Sensei 06 pen, colored with Copic Sketch markers, and highlighted with Pentel Outline markers on colored card stock.  Pasted together with Yes glue.

Bit of Speed Sketching for the Evening - Trial for a new Sketching tool

While most of the students and their families decorated their holiday cards, I started taking requests for quick sketching demos. My trusted Sakura Pigma Sensei 0.6 mm pen which is my usual first choice for event sketching turned out not to be up for the task on account of being rather dry. Thus, I ended up switching to a black Copic Sketch marker outfitted with a medium round nib. This was the first actual field test for this customized sketching tool that I put together mainly for sketching cartoon portraits. Its line is much thicker than 0.6 mm, and proved quite suitable for drawing bold strokes quickly and smoothly. It is certainly a good choice for keeping up the sketching speed though it is difficult to render small details with it. Its other advantage is that Copic markers are refillable, so carrying a bottle of spare ink would ensure continuous reliable service even when the ink supply runs out halfway during an extended event.
The first sketch request for the evening was for a picture of Strawberry Shortcake.
Good thing dragons were requested often since they are one of the subjects that I can draw quite quickly. Since my family name means "Dragon" in Chinese (notice the dragon character printed on the back of my coat in the last photo of this entry), I am rather fond of them.

Demonstrating how loosely stringing a few basic geometric shapes together can quickly convey the concept of a robot city that would fit in the Transformers universe.
Since mermaids always seem to be a popular subject with Elementary and Middle School students, 2 of the available bonus sketching sheets featured them.
I think this was the third mermaid cartoon portrait request for the evening, but I have to admit I lost track of the actual number of sketches I managed to produce on this evening.

Tinkerbell was another popular request.
Trying to explain the drawing and design process while sketching as many doodles as possible can be a challenge sometimes.
Also recall doing a Sponge Bob, Patrick, Spiderman, and Winnie the Pooh quick sketches. Bit surprised nobody asked for a Batman sketch.
Kept on drawing the students' requests until the very end of the Family Night event. I think most were pleased with their sketches though I was not able to undertake all of them in the time allowed. It was quite fun and looking forward to performing in similar venues in the future.

Getting closer on the Elf card design

First tried using part of an earlier elf drawing by itself for a less cluttered card design. Then sketched a few more pages of elves with a 1.0 mm Sakura Pigma Sensei pen until I came up with one I liked. Shrunk it down to 25% of its original size and pasted it on a blank card template.
I think this card template might be simple enough to color quickly and complete the target set of 6 cards for the card-making class.
First coloring test done with Copic Sketch markers
Digitally placed the scarf behind the arm and tried a slightly different color palette. Finishing with a couple of snowflake patterns drawn with Pentel Outline markers.

Brainstorming the last greeting card template for Class

Just having some fun doodling an elf in color without drawing a coloring outline first on blank Rhodia paper.
Trying out a few Copic Sketch marker combinations to render skin tones with some variety. Got to come up with a final design to complete a set of 6 coloring card templates to use for class.
Elf taking a coffee break with couple of buddies.

The Baker Elf concept cards. I fear they might be a tad too busy to color in the time allowed. Guess this is what happens when working often with the Food Network playing in the background.
Toy Workshop Elf card template. Left lost of blank space, so students could add their own background details like the rest of the workshop, a holiday tree, or a snow-covered field. Yet it seems rather busy for such a small format (1/4 of a letter size sheet). Not really happy with any of them, so I guess I will sleep on it.

Card Making Class Colored Samples

Colored a few card templates with Copic Sketch markers to use as finished samples for my upcoming card-making classes at Immokalee Elementary and Middle schools. These finished card samples simply need to be printed on letter size card stock, folded in halves twice, and they are ready to be fitted with an envelope for mailing.

Using Pentel Outline Markers for decorating colored Greeting Cards

A few card templates printed on white card stock were colored with Copic Sketch markers and Faber Castell Pitt Artist brush pens.
For finishing decorative touches, the Pentel Outline Markers are particularly useful. They were cleaner and quicker to use than glitter shakers and glue sticks to effortlessly add some "sparkle" in a tightly controlled fashion to the marker-colored greeting cards samples. The main precaution would be to use them in well-ventilated areas since they have a fairly strong solvent smell. The reflective effect was quite visible under artificial lighting and effectively enhanced the cards with the silver "snowflake and star designs"
Finished batch of colored samples with some silver highlights as seen the following morning. The silver effect looked a bit duller under natural light, but it turned out to be just a matter of finding the right viewing angle.

Greeting Card Coloring Templates and Samples

Just finished a few coloring card templates and colored samples.
Used assorted markers (Copic Sketch, Faber Castell Pitt Artist pens, and Crayola Super Tip markers) and watercolors to color a few of the card templates. They will serve as examples in upcoming card-making classes for Elementary and Middle School students.
Feel free to print out the blank coloring templates below (I would recommend using 110 lb white card stock) and color them with markers (or your favorite coloring media) to make your own holiday greeting cards with your kids or students. You could also add decorative touches with metallic gel pens and silver markers. I would just appreciate a comment or e-mail with feedback on the reception and usefulness of these templates for your group.
This template could be printed on a sheet of card stock and cut in half to make 2 simple cards.
Basic cut out card. Print on a letter size sheet. Fold in halves twice leaving the Santa on the cover. Colored the outline and draw any additional elements you might like. Use sharp precision scissors to cut the outline of the Santa peeking around the wall. If up to the challenge, you could also draw and color the back of Santa inside the card.
This one was designed mainly as a coloring card with some blank space around to allow some creativity in drawing background environment like some snow and a few pines.


These Santa and Snowman designs lend themselves well for cut out cards and as blank canvases to exercise your individual creativity by adding your own background details and decorative marks.



The Maneki Neko cards feature a traditional Japanese Lucky Cat sporting a festive holiday hat.

My Entry Into The Big May Copic Giveaway

Attention class this might be your chance to get your hands on an assortment of Professional Manga Copic Markers and sketchbook courtesy of the Pen Addict. Just follow the rules outlined for the Big May Copic Giveaway to enter. Deadline is Tuesday, May 19th at 11:59 PM EST.
If I were to win it, I would use it for a demo set during our Manga cartooning lessons to provide everybody with a chance to try them out.