How to Color Comic Characters with Copic Markers: A Beginner Guide

The Craft

Apr 17

Hey marker slingers, welcome back.

This week I am using Black Widow as the subject for a breakdown of how I color comic characters with Copic markers. If you are new to marker art or just getting started with coloring comic characters, these are the core fundamentals I use on every piece. Inspiration comes from everywhere, and for this one it was Scarlett Johansson's portrayal of Natasha Romanoff across the Marvel films that got me motivated to put pen to paper.

Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow reference photo for marker art illustration

“As a side note, tell me it wouldn’t be awesome if Black Widow made an appearance in Netflix’ Daredevil series.”

— Ivan

How to sketch comic characters without inking

One thing that separates my process from most marker artists is that I do not ink or outline my sketches before the coloring phase. In my opinion inking first can become a crutch for defining form instead of letting light and color do that work.

Instead I sketch with a non-photo blue pencil. This is one of the most useful tools for any artist working in markers. The reason is simple — graphite and markers do not get along. Coloring with Copic markers directly over graphite smears the graphite and stains the marker nibs. Non-photo blue pencil eliminates that problem entirely and gives you a clean base to render on top of.

If you are just getting started with marker art for beginners, switching to non-photo blue is one of the first habits worth building. It keeps your nibs clean and your renders cleaner.

Black Widow Copic marker illustration step 1 by Ivan Castro

How to color comic characters from light to dark

Once I am ready to render I work light to dark. There are a few reasons for this.

First, Copic markers are unforgiving when it comes to dark colors. It is much easier to correct or adjust a lighter tone than it is to fix a dark one that has already soaked into the paper.

Second, building layers from light to dark creates depth in the render. Each pass adds weight and dimension to the form rather than flattening it.

Third, if you have a light area like skin sitting next to a dark color like Black Widow's suit, rendering the dark colors first makes it easy to accidentally smear them into the skin. Working light to dark keeps those edges clean.

This is the single most important habit for anyone learning how to color comic characters with markers. What do comic book artists use to color? Most professionals work this way regardless of medium. Light first, dark last.

Black Widow Copic marker rendering light to dark step 2 by Ivan Castro

How to add highlights to marker art with a white paint marker

The highlights are the finishing touch that pulls everything together.

Once I am satisfied with the color rendering I go in with a white paint marker to add highlights. On the Black Widow piece this meant the shine on her suit, the rim lights along the edges of her figure, and the wind swept stray hairs catching the light.

White paint markers are one of those tools that separate a flat marker render from one that feels dimensional and finished. Rim lights in particular are underused by beginners. A thin line of white along the edge of a dark form instantly suggests a second light source and gives the figure a sense of depth that color alone cannot create.

For this technique I use a Posca or Pen-touch paint marker in white. Both work well over dried Copic marker without lifting the color underneath.

Now go on and make some wonderful marker art you crazy kids.

Black Widow finished Copic marker illustration with white paint marker highlights by Ivan Castro

Want to own the Black Widow piece?

The Black Widow Graffiti original and poster prints are both available in the shop. If this tutorial gave you a better feel for how Copic marker rendering works, go check them out.