Cool colored pencil and marker drawings for copying

For any beginning artist, drawings for copying are a great way to gain experience and learn how to draw clearer lines. If you choose cool colored images, then learning fine art will be much more interesting.

The choice of drawing tools depends on individual preferences. Having mastered the technique of copying, you can move on to more complex lessons. The main thing is to be patient.

How to copy pictures correctly

Some people think that copying is not something difficult, but in reality it is not always easy to correctly assess the proportions of a drawing and repeat the image as accurately as possible. Therefore, many people resort to trickery.

Using carbon paper

To get exactly the same image as the original. This is convenient, since a person physically remembers hand movements and learns to draw lines. This method also teaches how to work out small elements of the picture.

But this method also has several disadvantages:

• It is not possible to change the format of the drawing. This means that the copied image can only be the same size as the original.
• When using carbon paper, the finished image will be dirty.
• If you use tracing paper instead of carbon paper, the picture will be clean, but it will be much more difficult to color it.
• The transferred image cannot be corrected. It is very problematic to erase such lines with an eraser.
• You have to press quite hard on the pen or pencil. If you get used to it, it will be harder to draw soft lines later.

The technology of such drawing is extremely simple. You need to put carbon paper (sticky side up) on a clean sheet of paper, and on top of it a sheet with the original image. It is important to ensure that the sheets of paper and carbon paper do not move during the work, otherwise the lines will be broken and nothing will work.

After that, it remains to outline the image with lines. They will be printed on the bottom sheet. All that remains is to remove the original, carbon paper and color the resulting picture. While working, do not rush, so that you do not have to redo everything.

Mesh cage

This is another way to copy an image. The cell method involves first drawing a cell grid on the original drawing and then applying the same layout to a clean sheet of paper.

It is best to use a ruler for this to ensure that all proportions are accurately maintained. After that, all that remains is to copy cell by cell. This will allow you not to think about proportions and quickly get the desired result.

This method is ideal for copying pictures that depict numerous small objects that differ in shape. For example, the grid helps when drawing landscapes, still lifes, and even portraits.

However, this method has several clear advantages over using carbon paper:

• the paper does not get dirty;
• the finished image can be corrected with an eraser;
• you can get a picture drawn with a pencil, a pen, a felt-tip pen, paints or even crayons;
• In the process of drawing, a person masters the technique of fine art.

If we talk about professionals, they also use a grid. For example, it helps when you need to accurately copy a canvas on which a portrait is depicted. The work is more painstaking, and the result is clearer. For work, you will need a thin transparent film or tracing paper.

To transfer a drawing using a professional grid, you need to:

1. Draw lines on the film. To do this, use a very thin pencil and a ruler. The optimal scale of the grid cells is 1 cm. Professionals use a smaller scale, and beginners draw lines on the tracing paper with 2x2 cm cells.
2. Place the lined film or tracing paper on the original image. To prevent it from moving, you can fasten it with pins.
3. Transfer the drawing. It is recommended to use a thin marker for this, as it is impossible to create such clear and even lines with a pencil. In addition, alcohol markers dry immediately, which means the image will not smear under your hand.
4. Draw a grid on a clean sheet of paper the same size as when preparing the film. If the redrawn image should be larger or smaller, it is enough to increase or decrease the scale of the cells.
5. Transfer image.

Some people number the cells like in a crossword puzzle (horizontally and diagonally). This simplifies the process and prevents confusion.

What is the best way to draw?

You can choose any drawings for copying (funny, colored, black and white, complex and simple) and draw them with the tools you are most accustomed to working with. If a beginner is faced with the question of what is best to use, then it is worth considering the main options.

Drawing tool	Peculiarities
Simple pencil	Used by almost all professional and novice artists. The main advantage is that in case of a mistake, you can remove extra lines with an eraser.
Colored pencils	Allows you to create color images. Colored pencils can also usually be erased without problems.
Felt-tip pens	Allows you to draw more vivid images with saturated colors.
Paints	They can be mixed to create gradients and other interesting effects.

Each tool has its pros and cons. For example, a pencil constantly smears under your hand, and a felt-tip pen is impossible to erase. Many people use combined drawing techniques, when the drawing is colored with pencils or felt-tip pens, and then outlined with a black marker. The result is very cool, cartoonish pictures.

Useful tips for copying

Before you get started, there are a few more things to consider:

• When working with tracing paper, it is most convenient to first transfer the main and longest lines, and then work on the smaller details.
• It's better to go from the edge to the center.
• Once the drawing is fully transferred, you can go over the lines that look too angular or sharp. Smoother transitions always look good.
• When creating a black and white image, you can first do some light shading. You should start with light or paler colors, gradually moving to darker ones.

Drawings for copying are cool, colorful and others, it is easier to translate, but sometimes there is a task to work on a photo. In this case, it is more convenient to work with a sketch. For example, you can choose a photo of your favorite pet, where the pet is sitting in a fairly simple pose.

After this, you need to:

1. Draw a coordinate axis on a clean sheet of paper with a pencil. The point where X and Y intersect should be the center of the animal's muzzle. For convenience, the same axis can be depicted on the original photo. To avoid spoiling it, it is recommended to use tracing paper.
2. Using the axes as a guide, draw the silhouette of the animal. At this stage, there is no need to draw small details. The main thing is to create the shape and adhere to the correct proportions.
3. Now you can move on to the details and draw the eyes, nose, ears and other small details on the muzzle. At this stage, you do not need to press hard on the pencil.
4. Check the proportions of the image. You need to make sure that the head is not too big, the eyes are not too small and evaluate other details. The coordinate axis is also very helpful in this.

After that, you can move on to painting. It is more convenient to first create shadows with light shading, having previously determined the light source and how exactly it should cast a shadow. Gradually bringing out the details, you can get a fairly realistic image, very similar to the original photo.

It is also useful to make accents. For example, when drawing a cat, you can outline its eyes more clearly, and leave the rest of the details duller. This looks impressive and does not require much time to draw small details, especially fur. At the final stage, it remains to clean the drawing from dirt with a regular eraser.

Simple pictures for copying on a grid

Drawings for copying are cool, colorful and bright, you can find them on the Internet and it is not necessary to buy them. Beginning artists will find it more convenient to draw using a grid. If the picture shows it only around the image, then it can be easily finished. To do this, just print out the drawing you like.

For example, you can use the following images:

• Hare with a carrot. This is a very simple drawing that is suitable for drawing with colored pencils, paints or markers. The advantage is that there is a grid, and there are no special shadows on the picture itself. The light in this image falls from above, on the left.

• Smiling flower. This funny pot is very easy to draw, as all the uneven lines at the end can be hidden under a thick black line of a felt-tip pen. The image is without shadows, so it is suitable for drawing with absolutely any tools.

• Simon's cat. This is a very popular character from the cartoon of the same name. An annoying cat who is constantly mischievous and meowing, looks cool. It is very easy to draw. The lines can be of the same thickness or different. This example is very convenient for learning animation.

• Black and white flower. The simplest possible image of a flower. After drawing it, you can leave it black and white or color it at your discretion.

• Unicorn Dolphin. Children will love this picture. It is a kind of dolphin. As you can see in this example, the outline does not necessarily have to be done in black. To create only a slight highlighting effect, you need to take a color several tones darker than the main one.

• Apple. You can try drawing a simple apple. Pay attention to the stem and leaf. This is good practice for learning how to draw foliage on trees and other plants.

Cute pictures to copy with markers or pencils

Now it's time to move on to more complex images.

However, if you use the advice given earlier, there will be nothing difficult in redrawing them:

• Winking cat. This drawing seems to glow pink. It is very easy to achieve this effect. It is enough to outline first with a black marker, and then with a pink one. To achieve the effect of pink cheeks, as in this image, you can use a colored pencil and shade it.

• This is what you get when you combine cartoon cats and ice cream. The image is very creative and popular. At the same time, there is nothing complicated in its copying. There are almost no shadows in the picture, the usual outline with a black contour is used.

• Bright and positive ice cream. This drawing is perfect for markers or bright colors. Using darker and lighter shades, you can create shadows that do not reduce the brightness of the image. And if you outline the drawings, the picture will be even brighter.

• Cool Hello Kitty. This is a top character that both adults and children like. And most importantly, it is not difficult to draw. The image looks like a sticker or a decal. You can achieve such an interesting effect if, in addition to the standard black outline, you also make a white one.

In this case, the thickness of the light line running along the contour should be significantly larger. After this, it remains to add a light blue background and the image will become more saturated.

• Another example with white outline. If you draw black lines of different thicknesses, but apply different pressure, you get the effect of ink. This technique requires training. The easiest way to learn how to do this kind of tracing is to draw straight lines on a sheet of paper that thicken and narrow. Many designers also use this technology when using graphic tablets.

Pictures for copying with colored pencils or paints

Drawings for copying, which can be created using gouache or colored pencils, are very cool and touching. In this case, you can also do the tracing, but it is better to use a thin marker or a thick gel black pen for this. This technique does not imply clear lines. On the contrary, if light shading is visible, it turns out very harmonious.

Here are some good examples that are fairly easy to redraw:

• Giraffe with balloons. For such images, you can use pastel colors. Therefore, simple watercolors or pencils are ideal. If you have concerns, you can first make a sketch with a simple pencil, and then color the drawing and outline it.

• Kitten in a donut. If it is difficult to draw a giraffe, you can try a simpler version. For this drawing you will only need colored pencils. It is not necessary to draw shadows, but it is recommended to do the shading in one direction.

• Mouse and cheese. This is a very touching and simple drawing. It can also be done with pencils or paints. After that, you need to outline the image along the contour, and at the end add internal shadows. It is not necessary to adhere to any technology. For example, it is enough to go along the entire internal contour. It is better to make the shadow barely noticeable.

• The fox and the star. The drawing looks quite complex, but in fact this effect is created by small branches. Another feature of the image is the very thin outline lines. They allow the image to stand out at the same time, but do not make it too heavy.

• Panda. A successful and simple example of drawing with colored pencils. In fact, the entire image consists of circles and ovals. As you can see in the picture, there are sketch strokes left on it. This is another drawing technique. Careless lines sometimes look very advantageous. But if you don’t like them, you can do a classic outline and remove all the excess with an eraser.

• Music in the player. To achieve a bright effect, you can combine different tools. For example, colored pens and pencils. Some people use pens to create shadows, but this requires skill. You need to press the pen very lightly. When drawing with pencils, you can combine lighter and darker shades to get a more voluminous image.

Original pictures for copying

Drawings for copying are cool, colorful and bright, you should choose depending on your skills. To begin with, you should practice on simpler images, and then move on to complex ones.

It will be interesting to experiment with different drawing techniques:

• Unusual Mickey Mouse. To create such an openwork drawing, it is best to use thin markers or thick gel pens. It is more convenient to first create a sketch, and then trace it. But you need to be prepared for a long work, since in this example there are a lot of small elements.

• Little man and heart. Another option is to draw a black and white picture and color only one element. Such images look very original, they are easy to draw. At the same time, it is possible to create an emphasis on one element of the picture.

• Rainbow pony. Rainbow also always looks spectacular. It can be used when drawing a mane for a cartoon pony. Markers of different shades are suitable for such a picture. Darker colors should be used to draw shadows. Particular attention should be paid to the pony's large eyes. It will be difficult to draw them using markers. But you can create all the necessary highlights using paints.

• Arrogant old lady. This drawing can be created using gel pens and pastels. This is another combined technique that is often used for illustrations. The lines should be very thin, do not make them continuous. You only need to mark the edges.

• Surprised owl. This hatching technique is suitable for children who are learning to draw straight lines. You can draw such an owl with the simplest gel pens. But you need to spend time.

Choosing a drawing technique

Drawings for copying are cool, colored or b/w, as you can see from the examples, can be done in a variety of techniques. Sometimes it seems that it is much easier to draw with paints, but not with gel pens, but in reality everything turns out differently.

Therefore, it will be useful to learn how to best choose the appropriate drawing technique:

• Drawing with pencil. It all depends on the right choice of pencils. Beginners are better suited to softer and therefore fatter leads. But they smear a lot, so you will have to immediately learn to draw so as not to touch the canvas with your palm.

Hard pencils don't get dirty as much. They are usually used to create light sketches. But erasing such lines with an eraser is also much more difficult. In any case, in art schools, beginners are always taught to draw with a pencil first, since this technique is considered simpler.

• Gouache. It is used when the student already has basic drawing skills, he understands light and shadow well, but is not yet ready to use expensive and more complex oil paints. Gouache, unlike watercolor, is not as blurry.

Gouache paints have a more saturated color. But when they dry, they become matte, which some people don’t like. Gouache can also be mixed. It is enough to buy just a few basic colors to get a full palette.

• Watercolor. Although these are the paints that are usually bought for children, artists call them quite complex. Therefore, the ease in this case is very deceptive. If the package says "Watercolor", it means that the paints are water-based. They strongly saturate the sheet.

If you draw several lines in one place, the top layer of paper starts to wear off and unpleasant pellets appear on the drawing. Watercolor is very sensitive to every movement of the brush. Make a mistake, it is difficult to correct.

• Oil paints. They are used to write, not to draw, since such paints are expensive and are used mainly by professional artists. There are no strict rules for applying oil strokes. At the same time, you can do them as many times as you like, each time the lower layer will be covered. By the way, the technique of painting with strokes is quite simple. It is usually used to create various landscapes.

• Pastel. We are talking about crayons that need to be used to draw on a rather rough or fleecy surface. Using pastels, you can use different drawing techniques. For example, you can create clear contours or give preference to shading. Pastels are easy to shade.

But it also has a huge minus - it gets dirty a lot. It is difficult for children to work with such materials, although they love crayons. If you master this technique, you can create very unusual images using tinted paper (the image on a black background looks impressive).

• Tablet. This is the most modern technology. The only downside is the cost of the graphic tablet. But the probability that the drawing or hands will get dirty is completely eliminated. In addition, you can remove an unsuccessful line on the tablet with one click.

There is no need to use many tools. If you download various brushes and textures to your PC, you can create images in all existing styles.

When choosing drawings for copying, it is worth giving preference to cool color images. Then learning fine art will be much more interesting. Having decided on the technique and tools, you can master different styles. Over time, your own unusual ideas for illustrations will appear.

Video about drawing

Cool drawings for copying: