Color Swatch: Skin Combo 1

Color-swatch-by-Kristy-Dalman

Today I’m kicking off a new series that is going to be recurring on my blog. I’m calling it Color Swatch.

Recently I got my hands on a set of Spectrum Noirs, I’ve had a lot of people request color combos or my take with this brand vs my trusty and well loved Copics so we’ll be going over some color combos that work for both. I want to be able to provide my customers with a wide range of information on what’s so everyone can benefit.

 

A little aside.

The color combinations, while very similar won’t be exact. You are not going to find an exact match between the two different brands, that’s just not the way it works. Spectrum has about half the colors available as Copic so there may be more than 1 Copic similar to the Spectrum, I am making observations and making a color call.  

On to the coloring fun!

 

Basic Light Skin – Combo 1

For each of these colorings I used Copic XPress It paper and compared colors until I came up with 2, 5 color blends that were really similar. Each has 4 colors for a basic light skin tone and 1 for a shadow color. The shadow color is added on the gradient after the dashed line so you can see the mix with and without. 

I started with a basic combo that is widely used for Copics and found its sister combo with the Spectrums…

Skin Combo 1 Spectrum Noir
Skin Combo 1 Copic Markers

 

One thing I did notice is that I used the Copic XPress It, which is my normal go-to coloring paper, and I’m not feeling that its the best paper for the Spectrum Noirs. When making the gradients, the Spectrums did a lot of feathering so I’m on the look out for a paper that works better with them. 

*remember, a good marker is only half the battle; paper & marker have to work together for the best results*

 

Now for you I have a blank version for Skin of the swatch I’m using above. You can use it to recreate this color combo, Spectrum or Copic, or with any medium you choose as its medium neutral.

Skin

The colored versions above are great to pin, save to your computer (just right click -> save image), or even print but remember, printing will not give you an accurate color like printing this on your prefered coloring paper and coloring it yourself will. With later combos and topics I will be having different swatches for you to use.

Please feel free to share these by linking back to my blog, and this post, so others can see all the information and grab their own blank swatches.

 

A fun thing to do with these would be to either punch the corner and keep a ring of swatches or start your own coloring journal. Both are a fun way to explore color!

 

I will see you back here tomorrow for our Wednesday Live Color Along 1pm lunch date… finally!

 

20 Comments
  • Annette A. says:

    thanks for sharing Kristy.. 🙂 

  • Tabbatha Sandoval says:

    This will help me immensely! It is hard to show my MIL how to color with my Copics, when she wants to do the same combos, but has Spectrum Noirs. Thanks!!

    • Kristy says:

      I’m glad its going to be so helpful! 😀

  • mary pat says:

    this series is totally going to rock!
    i have been using my spectrum noir markers since they came out but never thought of including the HB2– going to have to try this! can’t wait for part two!

    • Kristy says:

      you know how much I love my shadow colors! 🙂 I had to figure out a good sister color for it

  • Leah the Orange says:

    you smartypants. i love this premise, and can’t wait to see it all come together! 🙂 i will TOTALLY save the combos!

  • Kerri Boucher says:

    very awesome of you to do this..I have been fiddling with Promarkers and love the tip..love them on faces!! thks for taking the time to share

  • Lenny says:

    How totally awesome is this!! 
    Love those blank versions too!
    THANKS a bunch for sharing! Looking forward to your next Color swatch post! 🙂 

  • Shazza says:

    this is great thanks x

  • MelissaO says:

    This is going to be great!  Thanks for sharing!

  • Brianna says:

    Thank you so much for doing this 🙂 can’t wait to see what other combos you come up with!!

  • Charity Chamberlain says:

    I have been using a bit of a different color combination but I like this much better! Also for the paper, don’t laugh, but I have been using some plain white cardstock I bought at Walmart. It’s made by Georgia Pacific and is 110lb weight. It has worked just fine with my Spectrum Noir paper, no feathering, no bleeding, no pooling, etc. I do have some of the Spectrum Noir Ultra Smooth Premium White Cardstock. hat I haven’t tried yet, so I will have to give it a whirl and let you know how that does. 

    • Charity Chamberlain says:

      Sorry, silly auto correct, meant to say “has worked just fine with my Spectrum Noir markers” (not paper) 

  • Heather North says:

    Thank you for doing the work to put this together and for giving us a free printable to create our own color combos.  

  • Tracey Jean says:

    Thanks for sharing. I use Touch Twins and this coloring swatch will be really helpful. 

  • Color Swatch: Hair Color Combo 1, Blonde | The Odd Girl says:

    […] to the second edition of Color Swatch! Last time I shared with you a basic light skin combination using both Copic Markers and Spectrum Noirs. This week I’m going to share with you a basic […]

  • sharla~ says:

    I found your darker skin combo first, but love the blank swatch you’ve created and are so generous to share, eventually I will get around to a copic journal and add these fun swatches to it!  Thanks 🙂

  • Faith A says:

    OH! I LOVE you, I have just had Spectrum Noirs and struggling with colours, thank you so VERY much, look forward to seeing more. Thanks again.

    • Kristy says:

      Happy you found it so helpful! 🙂

      • Faith A says:

        Yep! I have printed them out and now practice, practice, practice. Thank you

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