Starting with crisp and clean line art is a must
Create the line art for your illustration with pencil. Ink the line art with a black ink pen to make sure the lines are crisp and clean. Erase the pencil lines with a kneaded eraser and leave behind only the inked line work. It's important to start with clean line art before you begin using your Prismacolor markers and pencils.
Check the line art to make sure there are no stray pencil lines. If you leave any stray pencil lines behind, they will become a permanent part of the picture after you cover them with marker.
Coloring the shadows and mid-tones helps to shape your illustration
Lay down the shadows first using dark colors. Consider your light source when adding your shadows. For example, if the light source is in the upper right-hand corner of the image, the shadows will be on the bottom left side of each object.
If you are coloring gray clothing, for example, make sure you use a dark gray marker to create the shadows. The same applies for any color. When coloring flesh, use a tan color for the shadow section.
After you have added the shadows, color in the mid-tones. For flesh, use a light beige color as the mid-tone. Alternatively, lay down the mid-tones first and then add the shadows. Prismacolor markers blend well; adding dark colors to mid-tones is just as effective as adding the shadows first.
Adding highlights with colored pencils will make your illustration come to life
Add highlights using Prismacolor colored pencils. Let the markers dry first, or you could tear or smear the illustration. Use a colored pencil a few shades lighter than the mid-tone to add highlights. Add the highlights to the middle of the mid-tone sections. You can also add light pink highlights to the skin to show a face blushing from exertion or emotion.
When adding the highlights, place the highest concentration of bright colors where the light source directly hits the objects you are coloring. This will give your illustration a vivid and lively look.
