We’re excited to invite our talented artist Katie to share a step-by-step look at building depth with colour layering using Ohuhu colored pencils, Ohuhu alcohol markers and adding highlights with Ohuhu acrylic brush pens.
Materials that you need：
Step 1: Sketch the Composition
Start by lightly sketching the layout of the illustration.
Elements you may like to Include:
● A focal character or object such as a bunny, chick, or Easter basket.
● Several decorated Easter eggs are placed around the focal point.
● Spring florals and greenery like flowers, leaves, or grass to support the scene. Keep the shapes clean and readable so the illustration feels balanced and polished.
Tip: I like to sketch with coloured pencil so that the Grey led won't show through my artwork.
Step 2: Apply Light Base Colours
Begin colouring by applying light base layers across the entire illustration.
Some starting colour ideas:
● Light greens for grass or foliage
● Pale cream or soft grey for a bunny
● Light pastel shades for the Easter eggs
Starting with lighter tones helps create a clean foundation and prevents colours from becoming muddy.
Step 3: Build Mid-Tone Layers
Add mid-tone colours to start building form and dimension.
Use 2-3 shades for each major area, such as:
● Grass
● Sky
● Bunny fur
● Easter eggs
Gradually layer the colours to create smooth transitions from light to darker tones. It helps to colour in circular motions to avoid obvious stroke lines in your illustrations.
Step 4: Create Patterns and Add Details
Begin adding patterns and small decorative details to the illustration.
Focus especially on the Easter eggs, as they are a great place to introduce playful designs such as:
● Stripes
● Polka dots
● Zigzags
● Simple line patterns
You can also start adding small details to other areas of the illustration, such as texture in the bunny’s fur, extra lines in leaves, or small accents in the flowers.
Use a few different shades when creating patterns so they still feel layered and vibrant rather than flat. These details help bring personality and visual interest to the scene.
Step 5: Add Florals and Greenery
Fill the illustration with spring flowers, leaves, and grass.
Layer each element using multiple tones:
● Light base colour
● Mid-tone for form
● Darker shade for shadow
● Small highlights
These layered details help create depth and a lively spring atmosphere.
Step 6: Finish with Highlights
Add small bright highlights using the ohuhu acrylic brush markers to make the illustration stand out.
Place highlights on:
● Eyes or facial features
● Egg edges
● Petal tips
● Decorative details
Use highlights sparingly so they enhance the focal areas and bring energy to the final artwork.
Final Tip
The key to a vibrant illustration is layering colours gradually. Start light, build mid-tones, deepen shadows, and finish with highlights to achieve smooth transitions and rich colour depth.
I’m incredibly grateful to Ohuhu for supporting my creative process. Ohuhu makes it possible to achieve smooth blends, rich layers, and vibrant colour that really bring illustrations like this to life. Without their products, creating this colourful Easter illustration with such depth and clarity would not have been possible.
