FOR

ELIZABETH LANDICHO ROBLES

FROM :

ANGELO NIO CACHO

RE

FEEDBACK REPORT ON PENCILS OVER MARKERS CLASS

DATE

APRIL 11, 2016

This has reference to the workshop entitled Pencils Over Markers, a coloring technique by Ms.
Vermailene Barrios held at New Horizon Hotel, Mandaluyong City on March 19, 2016. The workshop was
organized by the abovementioned herself. It was conducted inside a hotel suite, room 515. The
organizer was assisted by her husband who remained at the back most of the time to assist the
participants and document the workshop.
We were only expecting 12 participants as there were only 4 rows of narrow tables (approx. 15in x 60in)
with three seats on each in the activity area of the room. There is a flat screen television facing the
participants which was placed at the other end of the room with the window as its background.
Adjacent to it is a display of other samples of their work using the technique taught in the seminar.
Theres also a counter for refreshments such as coffee and/or water placed at approximately two
meters apart from the activity area.
Each participant was provided with a kit. The kit is placed inside a brown envelope with the name of the
participant written on it. Each comes with its own sticker nametag and a coffee coaster as well. The
materials were neatly organized on the right hand side of each workspace. Each participant was
provided with the following:
(1) lead pencil
(1) pencil sharpener
(1) small container (for pencil remnants)
(1) 12-piece 3.8 Premium Stabilo colored pencils
(1) 24-piece Fibre Tip Stabilo colored markers,
(1) 24-piece No. 775 Colleen colored pencils,
A 12-piece assorted neon Stabilo colored markers.
The workshop started 10 minutes past 1pm to give way to the participants who were delayed. The
organizer at the beginning of the seminar began by giving a background of herself, as a statistician for
Nielsen, and made a disclaimer as she is not a Fine Arts Graduate, and that the workshop held was an
introduction of a new coloring technique she discovered and has not been formally introduced in Fine
Arts schools.

As part of the prelude, there was a short discussion about different coloring pencils and markers, their
brand, quality, and availability in the local market. She also introduced Stabilo and Colleen which were
her preferred brands and the ones used in her workshop. Discussing the quality is crucial as other
markers show streaks after overlaying or fade over time at room temperature or light exposure.

The initial part of the activity includes a review of the color wheel, primary colors, secondary colors, and
complementary colors. A preview on shading and choosing the right colors to express the beauty of the
artwork has been discussed. She elaborated that in order to highlight a specific subject, warm colors
must be used on the subject while cool colors must be used on the background. Also, shading using
complementary colors can be used to emphasize dimension and depth on the subject. It may also be
used to highlight shadows and give a 3D effect on the art. This emphasizes the use of markers as the
base color of the subject, and the use of the coloring pencils to give depth and create an illusion of
shadow and 3D effect on the edges and corners of the subject when necessary. Thus, the base has to be
the lightest color in a set of complementary colors to be used.
The organizer connected his mobile phone to the
flat screen television before doing the exercises.
Using her phones camera, she is able to
demonstrate what to do in the exercises by
projecting what she is doing on the television
screen. Thus, this guides the participants to
properly do the
exercises.
The first exercise is to identify the levels of shade the participant can
create. Each participant was asked to pull out page one from the kit.
The paper consists of boxes of 5 rows and 5 columns. Using the first
row, the participants were asked to choose one color pencil and shade
the first box the lightest that they can. The technique used is creating
horizontal strokes heading to one direction only. This is identified as
level one. On the next box of the same row, the participant was asked
to do the same technique but creating a heavier and a darker shade.

This requires control as the shading should be done in moderation since the remaining three boxes
should contain shades going darker one after the other. This exercise practices the control of the hands
to produce different weights.
The second exercise is to familiarize the hands with the different
lengths of strokes. The participants were asked to pull out page two
from the kit. The paper consists of 5 bars, where the next bar is longer
than the other. To consume the rest of the paper, the adjacent side has
been consumed using the same pattern. The participant was asked to
choose on color pencil to be used in each set of bars. With the same
technique of coloring creating horizontal lines heading into one
direction the exercise practices the control of the wrists to produce
longer lines for coloring larger images. However the organizer
recommended using level 3 based on the first exercise in order to
maintain the weight of strokes in each box.
The third exercise is to find the right source of light. This is crucial when creating a 3D image or placing
the proper shadow on a flat image. The participants were asked to pull out page three from the kit. The
page consists of flat images of an apple, a flower, and a bonfire.
The first part is to give life to a flat image of an
apple using colored pencils only. First is to find
the source of light by creating a kidney shape on
the apples upper right corner. This also
emphasizes the curves of the apple. Using
pencil strokes, the organizer created the illusion
by using lines curving from the stem going
vertically leaving the kidney shape white in
order to emphasize light. However this can be
used if the apple should seem animated. Another technique is to use a lighter complementary color such
as yellow and orange to emphasize the light leaving the skin intact and making the image seeming real.
Another point of highlight is the core of the apple as this is always lighter than the rest of the color of its
skin.
The second part of this exercise is to color the petals of a flower. Since the
participants have learned how to identify the source of light and where to put
a shadow when coloring a flat image, the participants were asked to start
using marker as the base color of the petal. The shadows were put on the
edges to give depth to the image. This signifies the overlap of one petal to the
other, and also provides a depth to the petals, giving an illusion of a core.

The third part of this exercise is coloring bonfire. Coloring fire differs from the
previous exercise as the fire itself is the source of light and a by-product of burning
coal. Thus the shadow is underneath. The base color used is yellow, and black is
ought to give the illusion of transparency and the depth is shown using
complementary colors. The illustration shows only 1 flame completed for
demonstration purposes only.

One of the most challenging images to

color is the human face. Discussing this
exercise almost took an hour to
complete. This was brought up as a
bonus as this maybe the only part in the
coloring page which may not require
markers. As easy as it may seem,
contouring requires three to four colors
in combination (e.g. gold, beige, mocha,
and pink). This provides the illusion of
the bridge of the nose or the cheek
bones.
Also, the eye shadows in a coloring book
shares the same technique as wearing a make-up. Hair color however is a combination of a yellow
marker as the base color, and orange colored pencils to give it body and create a shadow on the hair.
Refreshments (coffee and water) are available at anytime during the workshop. Snack (which was
spaghetti with bread and a glass of orange juice) however were served before the remaining exercise.
The take home kit is a coloring book inspired by Philippine attractions and festivals prepared by the
organizer herself.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. To incorporate a soft background music while discussing and demonstrating the exercises as it
fills in the silence and provides mood.
2. To avoid an open window as a background for projecting on a television screen as there is too
much outdoor light that the screen could not be seen clearly. Hanging down the curtains will be
a good idea.
3. To select a well lighted venue as the fluorescent bulbs on the selected venue does not have
enough light necessary for working with colors.
4. To leave the nametags blank and let the participants write their preferred nicknames.
anuc/rnad/elr