Improving my coloring?

[FlameDragon]

I've colored maybe a handful of times in the past 10 years. With improving my drawing, it's easier to know that I have to study the figure, drawing things from life, use a variety of art techniques. But with coloring, what methods of improvement are there besides just practicing?

This is Ichigo from Bleach

[Azus]

Well, try to experiment with different methods. Smoother, Cell shading and so on. Eventually you will find a style that you like.

[panchosimpson]

Hi FlameDragon,

Just like drawing from life is important to becoming a better draftsman, painting from life will make you a much better colorist. Color theory is the basis for all good color decisions, so learn the basics, go out and paint!:)

I'm assuming from your post that you like anime, however, I wouldn't try to learn coloring from it, instead look at the best examples of colorists that you can find (rembrandt, titian, rubens, sargent, sorolla) and see what worked for them. Once you have a solid foundation, you can apply that to any style you eventually settle on.

If you have yet to learn color theory, here are some very general guidelines

1. using pigments, the primaries are yellow, red and blue
in the digital realm, they are green, red and blue

2. complementary color schemes are often a good starting point (ever wonder why christmas uses red and green, or why the lakers wear yellow and purple?)
Once you have the basic color scheme established you can break it up further, or use it subtly.

The complement of a given color is found opposite to it on the color wheel, and if your initial color is a primary, its complement will be a mix of the two other primaries.
Basic ones are:
red and green
blue and orange
yellow and purple

Also, check out Ron Lemen's excellent color theory tutorials
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=17837

Good luck,

-Ramon

[FlameDragon]

Thanks I'll check it out!