Anyone who knows me well knows I am a blanket junkie. I’ve got them all over the house. On chairs, in closets, in boxes and hampers. We even have a few in the Jeep. And we use them. A lot. Especially during the colder months when the wind is howling down on us from the north and the snow piles up. But even during our gorgeous northern Michigan summers, early mornings and late evenings can be chilly.
So how fun would it be to wrap up in the wings of a fanciful luna moth?
This vivid luna 51 x 60″ throw is based on an illustration I did of a botanically inspired Luna moth for an adult coloring page. I used a variety of colored pencils to bring the black and white line drawing to life, and since then, it has morphed into several products (including pillows and a ceramic travel mug I love and use every day) in my Society6 shop. I ordered two throws – one for myself (which I keep on my chair in my studio) and one to sell in my Etsy shop. That one sold within hours of listing and is now on it’s way to Canada, but there are more available at Society6 including two larger sizes: 68 x 80 inches and 88 x 104 inches.
Yep, it’s listed as a “butterfly” instead of a moth. While working with my design files I lumped a bunch of illustrations together under a “butterflies” folder on my computer and so “butterfly” was stuck in my head while uploading items to Society6. Whoops. Slow down, mama.
Many years ago (well before I became a mom) I was camping with friends at the Greenwood Reservoir in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Along the way to the outhouses one rather misty morning, before anyone else was stirring, I discovered the wings of about 6 Luna moths scattered on the ground under a lamp post. Their bodies gone; a Luna massacre. I was horrified and fascinated. The wings were huge and the most beautiful shade of green. I remember carefully picking up a few of the wings so I could bring them home, but over the years, moving from place to place, they have disappeared. One of many little life experiences that continue to shape the art I create today.
By the way, if you love moths, please check out the gorgeous soft sculptural creations by CuriousObjectsCo – Larysa is a very talented artist, and I dream of having one of her moths on my wall some day. She uses richly textured fabrics and beadwork and her moths are just stunning.
So these 100% polyester throws (manufactured via print-on-demand through Society6) are super soft and warm. The inside is lined with really soft, fluffy white Sherpa fleece, and the fanciful botanical-themed moth floats on a misty, silvery-grey background.
In my experience, these throws get even softer when washed (and they can be machine washed with cold water on a gentle cycle, then tumble dried on a low dryer heat setting).
Hello! It’s Superbowl Sunday and I’ve been working on a special gift for the fabulous people I have met through Instagram, Etsy, and Facebook – an original Ruby Charm Colors Valentine Butterfly drawn especially for you to download and color–no strings attached! It’s the best way I know to extend a sincere and heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way this past year. Your kind words and willingness to answer my questions, talk about art, and purchase my books, illustrations and other creative projects, help motivate and inspire me to keep moving forward and creating new illustrations, paintings, and even beaded and embroidered projects.
So thank you!
If you are new to my art, this is a great opportunity to take it for a test drive and play with a little color. I recommend printing on card stock (if you have it) and be sure to check that the image “fits on the page” in your printer settings. If you need to take the PDF to an office supply store or printer, you should be able to save the PDF file to a thumb drive. And because this is a vector image, you can print this illustration on larger sized sheets of paper if you have the means.
All of the illustrations I sell through my Etsy shop include a complimentary grey-line version of the artwork, so you’ll notice the PDF is two pages long. I am growing very fond of the grey-line versions as they allow me to focus more on my colors and shapes and less on the black lines when I color. Having both versions gives us more options.
I originally sketched this botanical butterfly and heart on my iPad Pro with an Apple pencil on Saturday, and used several layers to create a clean black line drawing. I then pulled the black & white illustration into Adobe Illustrator to create a vector file, and to create a grey line version, and then saved both into a PDF just for you. The whole process, from rough sketches to final product, took about 10 hours. And then I printed a copy and started playing with a little color … because I can’t help myself.
Actually, those who know me and my work know that I typically “color-test” each one of my illustrations before letting them go to their new homes. I like to be sure the designs are workable, and that there are no glaring mistakes that can mess up an otherwise enjoyable coloring experience.
Please note: This illustration is (c) by Susan Carlson (Ruby Charms Colors) and is for personal use only. You may print and color as many personal copies as you like, and use your colored pieces as gifts or valentine cards, but the art may not be distributed, sold or used commercially in whole or in part without my express written permission. Thank you.
This lovely ceramic travel mug from the Ruby Charm Colors “Botanical Butterfly No. 1” collection is a great little travel mate! Double-walled with a black press-in suction lid, the two-piece (12oz) design ensures long lasting hot or cold temps while minimizing the risk of spillage (even when bouncing around in a Jeep). This one of a kind mug is just over 6″ tall and fits in most auto cup holders. Dishwasher and microwave safe (without the lid).
ABOUT THE DESIGN: The black & white illustration this design is based on was originally drawn by the artist, Susan Carlson, for the Ruby Charm collection of coloring pages and books for coloring enthusiasts. This illustration was completed with a mix of watercolor and colored pencils, plus a number of pens for embellishments.
Soft, smooth, and available in many colors, this t-shirt features the Botanical Butterfly No. 1 by Ruby Charm Colors. It’s made with 100% fine jersey cotton (Tri-fit tees contain 50% polyester / 25% cotton / 25% rayon) combed for softness and comfort. Available in Men’s & Women’s styles and sizes (see charts below).
Shirts and tank tops are printed by Society6 using a technology called Direct-to-Garment (or DTG), which lays down soft, durable, full color spectrum prints.
The black & white illustration this design is based on was originally drawn by the artist, Susan Carlson, for the Ruby Charm collection of coloring pages and books for coloring enthusiasts. This illustration was completed with a mix of watercolor and colored pencils, plus a number of pens for embellishments.
California Fleece Zip-up Hoody is made by Society6 with 100% California Fleece cotton (Heather Grey contains 90% cotton / 10% California Fleece). A single botanical butterfly from the Ruby Charm Colors collection adorns the front or back (your choice) of this hoody complete with front kangaroo pockets. The slightly stretchy, comfortable fit, unisex cut includes double-stitched cuffs and hem. Sizes S, M, L, XL (see chart below).
All Hoodies are printed using a technology called Direct-to-Garment (or DTG), which lays down soft, durable, full color spectrum prints.
The black & white illustration this design is based on was originally drawn by the artist, Susan Carlson, for the Ruby Charm collection of coloring pages and books for coloring enthusiasts. This illustration was completed with a mix of watercolor and colored pencils, plus a number of pens for embellishments.
Protect your laptop with a unique sleeve from the Ruby Charm Colors collection. These form fitting, lightweight sleeves for both 13″ and 15″ laptops are manufactured by Society6 with high quality polyester which allows for vibrant color absorption. The Botanical Butterfly No. 1 design is printed on both sides to fully showcase the artwork while keeping your gear protected. Pull back the YKK zipper and you’ll find the interior is fully lined with super soft, scratch resistant micro-fiber.
These sleeves will also fit some iPads, but please keep in mind that laptop and tablet sizes vary greatly. Society6 does offer a no-hassle return if you run into issues!
The black & white illustration this design is based on was originally drawn by the artist, Susan Carlson, for the Ruby Charm collection of coloring pages and books for coloring enthusiasts. This illustration was completed with a mix of watercolor and colored pencils, plus a number of pens for embellishments.
This adorable 11 ounce butterfly mug can be used for coffee, tea, or whatever you’d like! Made of premium ceramic by Society6, this mug features wrap-around art and a large handle for easy gripping. It is dishwasher and microwave safe, and also available in a 15 ounce size as well [choose from dropdown menu on the Society6 page or click here].
ABOUT THE DESIGN: The black & white illustration this design is based on was originally drawn by the artist, Susan Carlson, for the Ruby Charm collection of coloring pages and books for coloring enthusiasts. This illustration was completed with a mix of watercolor and colored pencils, plus a number of pens for embellishments.
This week, I finally completed a color-test of my latest illustration for a new adult coloring book in the works and wanted to share my approach, tools and tips. I learned a few things about my process during this piece—things some of you more experienced colorists probably already know—but I thought they would be worth mentioning. The illustration took approximately 15 hours to draw, and probably about the same to color. It is 7×10 inches and the black and white line version is currently available on Etsy.
The butterfly is based on a pencil sketch I did a few years ago. I pulled it into Procreate and used layers to create a clean black and white line drawing, then added in the spheres, leaf vines, and two other butterflies. I drew one sphere and duplicated it three times, resizing and rotating each layer until I was happy with the composition.
When I save a digital file for future listing in my Etsy shop, I always create two images: one with pure black lines, and then another with lines that have reduced opacity to about 40-50%. I am starting to prefer coloring on the grey-line versions of my work because it allows me to focus more on hue and shape instead those black lines. I can then go back and darken or add lines where I would like to emphasize them.
I print my illustrations on card stock (in this case, it was Neenah Exact Index, 110 lb) with my Epson Stylus NX625 printer, and for the butterfly, I chose the grey-line version from the PDF.
My working space
I have a few hard artist boards I use to draw and color on because they provide a firm, smooth surface, and are easy to move around my desk (and off my desk if I need the space for something else). I also use an OTT Lite above my workspace as well as a small halogen desk lamp with a goose-neck. I also have another OTT light I can pull in if needed. Until I can get bionic eyes, I need to work fairly close to my illustrations. It’s frustrating sometimes, but being able to adjust the angle of my lighting helps.
My small desk area gets pretty messy while I am working.and I only clean up once a project is finished. I store all my pencils in BTSKY and Soucolor cases (which I found on Amazon) and organize them by color and brand and pull them out as needed. The reason I organize them by brand is because they behave a little differently on paper and I want to see my color options for a given need in one place. But more on that in a minute.
Even though the pallet appears to be somewhat limited for this particular illustration, I used many different pencils—brands as well as colors. I wanted to work purples and greens into the spheres, and over time, the colors sort of started dictating themselves. I sometimes have a loose color plan going in, but I don’t always stick to it. I admire colorists who can stick to a specific pallet—especially if it is a limited pallet. I’ve yet to try.
I usually start with the Caran d’Ache Luminance, Pablo, Prismacolor and Polychromos pencils, They provide a nice, soft base of color to build upon. I wish I could say I have one method I always follow but I don’t when it comes to blending. Sometimes I work from darker colors to lighter, sometimes lighter to dark. And I sometimes start wth my mid-tones and work out from there. My favorite pencil for lightening areas and adding highlights is the Luminance white pencil. I’ve used a variety of brands, and this one has become my go-to. It effectively blends underlying colors, but lays down white pigment more effectively than my other white pencils.
With the purple triangular areas for my spheres, I put down a very light layer of Prismacolor Parma violet from the points to about 3/4 of the way down the triangle shape. Then I used Black Cherry from the base (with a heavier hand but decreasing pressure back up to the point. Bistre (#179), one of my favorite Polychromos pencils, was then used to blend the Black Cherry and Parma together from the point about halfway down. The brown really warmed up the violet hues. I blended a little more with those base colors, then used my black Irojiten pencil to deepen the shadows at the base of the triangles. And added a touch of Irojiten Crimson to the tips. Finally, I finished off the triangles with a mix of Irojiten Iris, Plum and Crocus to burnish and seal my colors.
I tend to work with a lot of layers – maybe too many – and I also feel the need to practically push my colors right into the paper. I don’t necessarily recommend this practice (I am not a colored pencil expert) – it’s simply the way I work to get the effects I want. And I experiment a lot and may change my ways over time. But for now, I like to burnish my colors with a final layer using the Irojiten pencils. Because they are harder than most pencils (especially the Prismacolors and Polychromos) they help “press” or “melt” the pigments into one another. Burnishing is typical done with a colorless blender (like the Caran d’Ache full blender) but I discovered I like using the Irojitens instead. The provide a touch of pigment in addition to burnished results and add a little more saturation and depth to my work. You have to choose your colors carefully, but it works for me. So with the purple triangles, using the Plum Irojiten gives a little more reddish saturation to the violets, while the Iris plus in a little more blue. Since Crocus is rather light, it works well as an overall blender with this set of colors.
Another tip with the Irojiten pencils – using Eggshell (which has a very pale yellow tint) is wonderful for burnishing greens. Don’t be afraid to experiment with these lovely wax-based pencils if you own a set. It seems people either love them or hate them, but do give them a chance. Play with your colors on scrap pieces of paper while working to see how different tints will react to your base layers. I purchase my Irojiten pencils through Blick as they have both sets and open stock as well. Since I use black and eggshell the most, I can easily purchase individual pencils.
Another reason I love the Irojitens is that they help give a little sheen to my work and they get rid of any small white spots that may have been left behind from my pencils skipping over minute “pits” that may exist in the paper.
My final step after burnishing (and sometimes during) is using my Verithin pencils (which have a fine, hard point) to sharpen and enhance some of my lines and refine shapes. Sometimes I’ll use a Faber-Castell PITT pen to add darker lines and details as well, plus a few gel pens to add small dots and other embellishments. I prefer matte over metallic Sakura gel pens (because they don’t reflect as much when I scan or photograph my work for other uses) and have a set of Soufflé pens.
That’s about all for now! Feel free to bookmark or follow my blog as I plan to start adding videos as time allows.
