Emma Wilson
Whether you're creating a botanical illustration or a stylized drawing, colouring mushrooms involves a few key steps. First, you need to decide on the composition and create an outline of the mushroom or mushrooms you plan to draw. Next, you can start colouring, using various techniques to layer and blend colours to achieve the desired effect. You can use coloured pencils, paint, or other mediums to capture the unique textures and details of mushrooms, such as the scales on the cap, the gills underneath, and the stem.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Drawing Tools | Coloured pencils, graphite pencils |
| Planning | Create a miniature sketch or a rough mental model |
| Composition | Decide on secondary objects like leaves, twigs, or berries |
| Outline | Keep lines light and minimal, mark boundaries, add guiding lines |
| Refinement | Change shapes of caps and stems, erase unnecessary marks |
| Details | Draw gills, moss, leaves, veins |
| Colouring | Layer and blend colours, use pressure for richer colour |
| Colours | White, yellow, cream, tertiary colours (yellow-orange, red-orange, red-violet), brown, blue, violet |
| Polishing | Layer, blend, and apply pressure to burnish |
| Paint Colour | Mix equal parts hazelnut and true gray to create a "mushroom" greige |
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What You'll Learn
Planning your composition
Start by creating a basic sketch or outline of your mushroom. This will help you establish the structure and composition of your drawing. Keep your lines light and minimal, focusing on the key contours and core lines that define the shape of the mushroom. You can use a graphite pencil for this step, with an H or HB grade recommended.
Consider the number of mushrooms you want to include in your composition. You might choose to draw a single mushroom or a group of mushrooms of varying sizes. For example, you could draw a larger, older mushroom with a smaller, younger neighbour, creating a sense of volume and perspective.
Decide on any secondary objects or surrounding elements you want to include, such as leaves, twigs, berries, or other plants. These additional elements will add interest and variety to your composition while also helping to create a natural setting for your mushrooms. Mark the boundaries of your drawing and add guiding lines to indicate the placement of these elements.
Pay attention to the details of the mushroom's cap, including any hollows, gills, or textures. The cap's underside, for instance, may feature gills or scales that can be highlighted with white, yellow, or cream colours. You can also start thinking about the values of your mushroom, which refer to how light or dark each part of the mushroom is.
Before you begin colouring, take a step back and assess your basic sketch. Ask yourself if you are pleased with the composition and overall impression. If there are any changes you want to make, now is the time to tweak and refine your drawing. This could include adjusting the shapes of the caps, stems, or contour lines to ensure they appear organic and natural.
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Creating an underdrawing
Start by drawing a curved line in the shape of a half-circle to form the top of the mushroom, also known as the cap. Then, use another curved line to enclose the shape. Draw another curved line across the cap to separate the top from the underside, or the gills. From the cap, draw two curved lines downward to form the stem, and connect them at the top with a short, curved line.
At this stage, you can add details such as the hollow in the cap, which is usually found in older mushrooms, and the gills on the underside of the cap. You can also add surrounding elements such as sphagnum moss or leaves to create a more natural appearance. Additionally, you can mark the boundaries of your drawing and decide if you want to include secondary objects like leaves, twigs, or berries.
Once you are satisfied with the composition, you can refine the shapes of the caps and stems, ensuring that the contour lines are organic. As you work, erase any unnecessary graphite marks to keep your underdrawing clean.
Now that the underdrawing is complete, you can move on to the colouring stage, where you will bring your mushroom to life using coloured pencils, crayons, or paints.
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Layering colours
When colouring a mushroom, layering colours is a great way to achieve a realistic and detailed effect. This technique involves building up colours gradually, blending and layering them to create depth and richness. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you master the art of layering colours when colouring a mushroom:
Start by observing the values of your mushroom, which refer to how light or dark the different parts are. Squint your eyes and look for highlights, shadows, and details. This step is crucial as it helps you identify the areas where you'll be layering colours to create depth.
Choose your colours wisely. Tertiary colours like yellow-orange, red-orange, and red-violet are excellent for shading and adding depth to your mushroom drawing. You can also use colours like brown, blue, and violet to capture shadows and intricate details.
Begin with the base layer by applying light colours first. For the mushroom cap, you can use white and layer it with a hint of yellow or cream to create an off-white shade. This step ensures that your mushroom has a realistic base before you add more colours.
Gradually add colours and build up the layers. Use more pressure with your coloured pencils to achieve richer and smoother colours. Blend the colours together, paying attention to the areas where shadows and highlights meet. This step brings depth and dimension to your mushroom, making it look three-dimensional.
Continue layering and blending until you're satisfied with the result. Remember to step back and observe your work from a distance occasionally, as this helps you see the overall effect and make adjustments as needed.
Finally, polish your drawing by using layering, blending, and pressure to ensure that no white or paper tooth shows through your layers. This step gives your mushroom a seamless and professional finish.
By following these steps and practising layering colours, you'll be able to create beautiful and realistic mushroom artwork. Remember to take your time, observe your reference, and enjoy the process of bringing your mushroom creation to life through colour.
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Blending colours
When colouring a mushroom, blending is a key technique to achieve a rich, smooth and harmonious finish.
First, it is important to create an underdrawing with a graphite pencil to map out the composition. This includes the outlines and boundaries of the mushroom and any secondary objects like leaves, twigs or berries. Keep the lines light and minimal. Once you are pleased with the composition, you can begin to add colour.
When colouring the mushroom cap, you can layer colours on top of one another to create new shades. For instance, you can layer white with a bit of yellow or cream to make it slightly off-white. You can also use tertiary colours like yellow-orange, red-orange, and red-violet to shade in the values on your mushroom.
To blend colours effectively, use more pressure on your coloured pencil to layer and mix the colours until they are rich and smooth. You can also use blending tools such as paper stumps, tortillions, or blending stumps to smooth out the colours and create a polished look. This process is called burnishing.
Additionally, pay attention to the light and shadows on the mushroom. Squint your eyes to observe the values, or how light or dark the different parts of the mushroom are. Use colours to capture these shadows and highlights, adding depth and detail to your drawing.
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Adding details
First, observe the values of your mushroom, which refer to how light or dark the different parts of the mushroom are. Squint your eyes to identify light highlights, shadows, and other details. Use tertiary colours like yellow-orange, red-orange, and red-violet to shade in these values, layering colours on top of one another to create new colour combinations.
Next, pay attention to the small details that give your mushroom character. Look for specks of dirt, gills, or spores, and use colours like brown, blue, and violet to capture these intricate elements. You can also indicate the gills on the underside of the cap, adding depth and realism to your drawing.
To create a sense of texture, consider the scales on top of the mushroom cap. Use a white coloured pencil and layer with a bit of yellow or cream to create an off-white shade. You can also add surrounding elements like sphagnum moss and fern leaves to enhance the overall texture and composition of your drawing.
Finally, don't forget to refine the composition by adjusting the shapes of the caps and stems. Ensure that your contour lines are organic and natural-looking. You can erase any unnecessary graphite marks as you go to create a clean and polished final product.
By following these steps and paying attention to the small details, you'll be able to create a vibrant and detailed mushroom drawing that captures the unique characteristics of these fascinating fungi.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushrooms can be coloured with a variety of colours, including white, yellow, cream, brown, blue, violet, hazelnut, and true grey.
Coloured pencils and paint can be used to colour mushrooms.
It is important to plan your composition beforehand, considering any secondary objects like leaves, twigs, or berries. Create a miniature sketch or a rough mental model of the image. Mark the boundaries of the drawing and set the composition, including the number of mushrooms and their relative sizes.
Notice the values, or how light or dark the different parts of the mushroom are. Look for highlights, shadows, and details such as small specks of dirt, gills, or spores. Use tertiary colours like yellow-orange, red-orange, and red-violet to shade in the values and add depth to your mushroom drawing.
