Mastering Marker Rendering for Fashion Illustrations

Ever wondered how to make your fashion illustrations pop with vibrant colors? It’s all about layering and blending with art markers! In the video above, I demonstrate how to layer colors strategically, blending them seamlessly to achieve that cohesive and polished appearance.

Adding depth and dimension to your illustrations is so much fun! Learn shading techniques that are easy to grasp and will elevate your fashion sketches to a whole new level in the video, and practice along with me. Whether it’s creating subtle shadows or defining intricate details, these techniques will make your designs come to life.

To get started, make sure you’ve sketched out a fashion illustration as we did in the previous video, or download the sketch below to practice along with me.
I recommend making photocopies of your sketches on marker paper. So, if you make a mistake, you can always render another round if you have a photocopy. If you are using the free download, print it on marker paper for the best results. Regular paper also works, but marker paper allows the markers to blend more smoothly.

As you use art markers for the first time, I highly recommend shading with the same marker and doubling up the layers to create different tones. As you get more practice, then go up a tone in color to increase the shading differences. Many times, a single tone can be enough for the effect you’re looking for. Play around and see what you like.

Try to avoid going too drastic in shade differences for rendering. This can make the illustration look less professional, and it may not lead to a nice result.

When you use the fine-tipped marker at the end, make sure you allow this to dry! If you don’t allow it to dry, it’s known to smudge and ruin your whole sketch! Also, here, play around with different colors for this outline. You may not always want a dark outline, depending on the look you are going for.

As you master your marker rendering abilities, remember that it’s all about embracing the creative process. As you get more advanced, don’t be afraid to experiment with colors, shading, and techniques. The more you practice, the more confident you’ll become in bringing your fashion visions to life on paper.

Now, what’s a learning journey without some hands-on practice? Download the free fashion illustration below, or use the fashion illustration created in the previous video to keep practicing your rendering skills with other colorways!