Iro Arts & Crafts

05/11/2020

06/11/2015

Let's color our stress away!

I remember being a kid and loving coloring. But I'm not a kid anymore, so I kinda just forgot about it entirely. It turns it, coloring may actually be really good for us mentally. I guess it makes sense that 6 of the top 20 best sellers on Amazon are adult coloring books. Psychologists found that c.…

27/10/2015

Dear Colorists,

It's Tips Tuesday!

Some coloring books have very intricate drawings. It can't be helped that we color beyond the lines. A little stroke here and there doesn't hurt. But if you need a quick fix, a handy eraser will do just fine.

We recommend UNI AUTO ERASER EH 100P.

Pros:
1. Handy - It is small and can fit in your colored pencil case.
2. Pen-like design - It is suitable for finer or more precise erasing.
3. Durable - It is made in Japan. We can expect that it will last for a very long time. Ours have been with us for over a decade.
4. Quality is good enough, just a tad below the popular Staedtler Mars Plastic eraser.

Cons:
1. Expensive for an eraser. (It is Php 62.00 at Jet Bookstore. National Bookstore sells a different unit number/style for a little over Php 62.00)
2. It's difficult to look for the refill. (Currently, Jet Bookstore has stock of the refill pack of 3 for Php 45.00)
3. The eraser compound is "crumbly" when used compared to Staedtler.

Enjoy and happy coloring!

24/10/2015

Shout out to the people of Northern Luzon: Typhoon Lando was strong, but the Filipinos are stronger!

16/10/2015

It's Feature Friday - a platform to showcase your own colorful work.

This one is by Ms. Leah from the coloring book Couple Coffee Cup Café by Gony. Wow! It takes a lot of patience to go through those small details. You know you are having fun when you don't notice how long you've been coloring. 🙌

Let's color more to de-stress and self-express!

13/10/2015

It's Tips Tuesday!

Let's talk about blending using q-tips!

Step 1: Start off with a dark color pencil. Shade the outer portion first just like in the picture (first pot) below.

Step 2: Use a lighter color pencil, yellow in our example, and shade the inner portion of the pot. Overlap a bit on the red orange area. Leave the middle part unshaded.

Step 3: Gently rub a q-tip on top to blend the two colors together. This technique creates a more natural look.

Notice that the colors can lighten more than you like. You can layer another set of the same colors, following steps 1 to 3.

The q-tips can be a bit messy so be ready with your eraser.

Have fun and happy coloring! 😊

12/10/2015

New Coloring Books for Sale

09/10/2015

It's Feature Friday - a platform to showcase your own colorful work.

This one is from the first page of the Zen Mandalas, colored by Christel. Very cool color combination. 👌

Let's color more to de-stress and self-express!

06/10/2015

Dear Colorists,

It's Tips Tuesday! Let's talk about blending colors through layering.

We'll use a leaf as an example, and the colors green and yellow green for this illustration.

Step 1: Color the leaf gently with a yellow green pencil. Your aim is to have an even, light shade.

Step 2: Darken the tips and base of the leaf using the green pencil. Start from the tips and gently move towards the center of the leaf. Think feather-like strokes. Make the strokes longer on the sides and shorter in the middle. Do the same with the base.

Step 3: Gently shade the entire leaf with another coat of yellow green. You can do this last step over and over until the colors yellow green and green blend seamlessly. (Incidentally, this is called "burnishing" - layer upon layer of colored pencil applied heavily or with pressure until no paper tooth can be seen. The result is usually smooth, vibrant, glazed-like finish).

Remember, it's best to start off with the lighter color because darker hues are more difficult to blend. Experiment with different colors, and use nature as your inspiration. 😊

Enjoy and happy coloring!

02/10/2015

Welcome to Feature Friday - a platform to showcase your own colorful work!

Here's a page from Secret Garden by Stephanie. Lovely blending technique. 😊

Let's color more to de-stress and self-express!

29/09/2015

Dear Colorists,

Welcome to Tips Tuesday! Part of the fun of coloring is getting to use your coloring tools! For those of you just starting out, here is a tip for buying colored pencils: look for thick lead that do not break easily, smooth lead that blends seamlessly, and soft inner core that glides and releases vibrant colors.

You don't have to buy branded and expensive tools, but a lousy set can ruin your coloring experience.

You can try before you buy, ask friends, or read reviews online.

At iro arts & crafts, we use Faber Castell Classic Colour Pencils. It is a very popular brand but not as expensive as you would think. A set of 12 is P124.75 at National Bookstore, SM Baguio. We checked other bookstores in Baguio and it was the lowest price we found.

What do you color with? Share your coloring experience with us!