This one was a lot of work but I sure learned about mixing greens to get a varied number of colors. As I’ve said before, colored pencil on toned paper is so much fun! This is a hyper-realistic piece done on Cappuccino toned tan paper but that doesn’t mean I copied the green leaves exactly. I used the photo as an example to suggest light and darkness. Then I used the greens I had to achieve a good looking result. The shading and highlighting was incredibly fun.
I found that it was best to combine BOTH the use of white/cream AND lighter and lighter colors as I approached the lightest shade and curve of a leaf. If I only relied on the white to give highlights over a general green, I was disappointed. It was best to really pay attention to the gradation of color on each leaf. Then I could punch up that highlight with white on top after all the other leg work was completed.
Cappuccino Stats:
- 120 gsm paper weight
- 40 sheets/80 pages (tanned)
- Comes in A4 & A5 portrait
- good for all dry media
- not generally made for watercolor but if you’re careful you can do light washes
- Sibling of the Greybook
- Read more here, here and here!
- Purchase on Amazon or use my “Where To Buy” page.
As many of you know, the Cappuccino is the sibling of the Greybook from Hahnemühle. It’s great for pen & ink, colored pencil and all other dry media. As I understand, you can use light washes on it but you should be careful as the paper is not actually made for wet media. Many artists use it and the Greybook to do monochromatic studies. I seem to be so addicted to color that I almost always break my own rules, even if I decide to only use black and white. Below is a look at all the things I’ve done in the Cappuccino so far, only one being monochromatic, lol.
At the moment, I’m working in acrylic much of my time. I’m also trying to fit in the lettering course which I’m so behind in. Keep your eyes open this coming Tuesday as I’ll be doing a giveaway and you can win your own Cappuccino book!
Denise Allan
Oh my… such gorgeous artwork! You’ve certainly mastered these tones 😀
Jean Marmo
These are all beautiful. You have mastered the colors and shading.
Sal Scheibe
Those green leaves look like they’re jumping off the page! Gorgeous!
Lindsay Weirich
Beautiful Drawings!
Joe Domeier
Jenn, The green is just jumping off the page! Great choice!
Susan C
Those greens are fabulous!
sandra strait
Your work always blows me away, no matter what medium you are using! I love your plant!
Laura H.
Beautiful! Love the texture that the pens add to the pencil work!
Jennifer Rose
nice vibrant greens 😀
and I love luminance pencils, but they are so exspensive lol
Carol Boss
Every detail is there. I adore them!