To gain a sense of realism and fluidity in your image, color with the contours of the figure, and resist removing your pencil from the page until you have completed the section you want done. This way, you avoid placing your pencil down on a different "edge" that has been created on the tip while coloring, thereby giving a difference in line quality as you color.

Be sure to figure out where your invisible source of light is coming from in your drawing so you can add shading and lighten and darken more accurately. Remember to apply varying amounts of pressure to your pencil - softer for lighter areas, harder for darker areas. Make your transitions from light to dark areas minimal so blending appears more natural.

For color work, I use several colors to work on an area with varying shades and tones (eg. peach, light pink, red and deep crimson for the dress) and apply the lightest color first, working towards the darker colors.

Experiment with colors and see what works best. Be courageous and don't be afraid to apply pressure to your pencil to create darker, more engaging tones.

Keeping in mind where the source of light is, the end can look quite amazing if you shade your work respectively. Color indeed adds a more exciting dimension and greater impact to an image as opposed to plain black and white.

Try this tutorial yourself! Email me your results and I'll post it here on my site. Use different colors if you'd like to. Just have fun with it. Happy drawing! Good luck and watch your final result unfurl!

This is a very quick art tutorial where much of the technique is not included. If you would like to learn more and draw and color like this, as well as do many other fun creative projects, you are welcome to join my art classes. I accept all ages and willing students from ages 5 to you name it! Email me at Lis-trations@hotmail.com or call me at 520.360.1584.