Horrible at coloring a tail design :(

[Mer_Adella]

I have tried, and tried, to color the tail design one our talented mermaids posted for us to use with fail everytime :( is there any mermaid/merman that would help me either understand how they do their process or could design one for me? i wouldnt be using it for a logo I just want to see what I am missing in this artistic technique Ive tried markers, colored pencils, paint (which is weird cus i DO paint and I cant seem to get it right :( help?

[ShyMer]

Details, girl!

[Mer_Adella]

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something like this but I like pink gold and orange to be a part of it. Pink would be dominate with orange tips and gold sparkles/glitter. I honestly have no design in mind (which probably makes it very VERY hard for me and everyone else) but as long as It is pink with orange tips and gold I would love to see what everyone comes up with. I just want to be able to see it and learn from it on how people come up with things so I can learn learn learn

[ShyMer]

Ooh I can see why it's giving you trouble... I think layers might be important here. Also plenty of contrast between light and dark areas balanced with high intensity. A light lavender might help along with some very dark purple and orange. What do you have so far?

Edit- I love those bright orange fins!

[Mer_Adella]

That's the thing tho shymer, this fish is the CLOSEST thing I could find to what I was looking for. The only colors that I have been trying to use (they are my signiture) are pink, orange, and gold. The above fish has the pink, orange, and the light areas for gold, but its not exactly what I want. That's the issue. lol. I like how this fish is (its beautiful) but the colors are off.

If I could use him as a template, that would be great, but I just dont know what to do as far as paint, colored pencils, crayons, markers, etc etc. And how to go about it. I guess I will have to search some more for a better pic that closely resembles what I am looking for I guess.

[ShyMer]

I see, I had the wrong idea. So what is it that the image gets right for you? It's not necessarily the pattern, so I'm wondering if it's more how the contrast works with the unusual colors. Do you like the shiny reflected parts on top of the dark areas?

[ShyMer]

I'm trying out this painting program for my kindle, sorry it's so sloppy :/
Ialso have no idea how to change the file size on this program...
what changes would you make to this to make it more what you have in mind?

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[Echinacea]

What about stripes? The picture fish has stripes, would you be interested in stripes on your tail?

That is a pretty neat-looking drawing, ShyMer! Don't think of it as 'sloppy', think of it as 'abstract'... ;)

[MerEmma]

Yeah, I have to agree! That tail you colored, ShyMer is just...SO gorgeous. <3

[ShyMer]

Aww shucks, thanks guys :)

[Mer_Adella]

I like it :) its okay that it is sloppy :) the only thing I would change is the side fins, I just wanted the tips (like on the fluke) to be orange. the gold is beautiful on the sides and I would probably do gold in the middle on the front and back. not all the way down just like a triangle until it disappeared. although if I were going to paint it on a tail i would add a little glitter of gold here and there just to add some sparkle throughout. Otherwise very cool thanks ShyMer! I would love to see what else you create or anyone else just to see how each person did it to learn from

[Mer_Adella]

The stripes really don't matter all that much to me. I wanted to see what everyone came up with for the colors pink (dominate) orange (tips of fluke/fins, maybe elsewhere) and gold.

Like I said. while searching, that fish was the only one that I could find that had mostly all the colors in it. I have a "creative block" at the moment and can't draw,paint,create, write, etc so I'm kinda at a lull point :(

But i like it shymer :)

[PearlieMae]

That reminds me of fashion design where you get the feel of the piece, but not the actual details down to individual scales. 15750

Step back from it for a while...let it simmer in your brain. It'll come to you eventually.

[Mer_Adella]

that's the problem pearl...i have stepped back from it for 4 months now and i still can't get it out onto paper

[PearlieMae]

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I LOVE this, btw!

[PearlieMae]

that's the problem pearl...i have stepped back from it for 4 months now and i still can't get it out onto paper

Who is your tailmaker going to be? I'm sure they will work with you on getting it the way you want.

[Mer_Adella]

I was going to make it myself

[PearlieMae]

I lot of times, I start with a vague idea and just let it evolve organically...make it up as I go along! Maybe if you just dive in, it will work itself into something better than you imagined!

[Aziara]

I can never get the hang of photoshop at all. Find a tail template that has a fluke closest to what you want to make, print out a bunch of them, and color it in with colored pencils, crayons, whatever you find easiest. I prefer colored pencils myself because I can blend colors easier. I must have gone through a dozen or so templates before finding a color scheme I liked.

[drucilla]

Swatches! Not normal ones but, what about from pictures of the fish that inspire your coloring copy paste and erase edges.

[Mer_Adella]

So with some help from my mother, she showed me all that she knew about blending colored pencils. I LOVE the fluke that I did....kinda "eh" about the body of the tail. I would still like to see what everyone else can help me with (whether advice, or doing a drawing) but here it is....remember I LOVE THE FLUKE!!!

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[JamesGunnels]

The colors look just fine! One of the easy things when it comes to blending is to use a tortillion or even a wax blending pencil. I use the wax blending pencils because I personally believe that they have a better texture and doesn't leave too much of a residue, where as, odd enough, paper tortillions leave small pieces of paper in the pencil wax from a coloured pencil. I really like the way this turned out =)

[Mermaid Kalliope]

Grrrrr..... I need to finish this scarf so I can draw. I have an awesome idea for you! (With the included fluke.)

[Mer_Adella]

Grrrrr..... I need to finish this scarf so I can draw. I have an awesome idea for you! (With the included fluke.)


AWESOME!!! i have a blanket that i need to finish, but i got side tracked with this novel i am writing. which is good cus i am on a roll! I cant wait to see it!!!!

[Mermaid Danielle]

I have the same problem Adella!

[Mermaid Danielle]

I'm trying out this painting program for my kindle, sorry it's so sloppy :/
Ialso have no idea how to change the file size on this program...
what changes would you make to this to make it more what you have in mind?

15749

This looks awesome!