Color Wonk - Monthly

Intermediate Artistic Coloring Community

You've got lots of markers and colored pencils but you feel lost...


Everyone said "learn how to blend", so you did.

Then everyone said "color digi stamps or coloring pages", so you did that too.

You've been watching YouTube videos and reading tutorials out the wazoo. You've even taken a few coloring classes-- it just never feels like enough information to color the way you want to color.

It's not like you want to be a great artist making art for museums...

You just want to color better than you're coloring right now.


I hear ya. Coloring should be fun. And it's hard to have fun when you're frustrated.

 

Join Amy Shulke, professional illustrator and art instructor in a casual coloring community.


Every month, we'll color something new.

The projects are fun but they'll also make you think a little deeper about the coloring process.

Because good coloring happens between your ears -- it's not about your hands.


Improve your coloring by improving how you think about color.


Copic Markers. Prismacolor Colored Pencils. Minimal Supply lists. Maximum Impact.

 

It's not about techniques.

Techniques do not... actually, they can not create realistic depth or dimension.


Techniques are how to apply the ink or pigment-- swishing, flicking, dotting, smushing, scumbling, etc.

Techniques don't teach you where to put the color. Techniques also don't explain why to put it there.

That's the part you're missing.


Month by month, we'll figure it out. But first, it's gotta be fun.

 




Color Wonk is an intermediate level artistic coloring community

A community of learners, a family of support.


I teach plenty of classes where we grit our teeth as we drill down on specific concepts and hone our skills with serious determination. And that's great if you like havin' the whip cracked.

But that's not Color Wonk.


Color Wonks play it zen. Zero pressure. Zilch in the intimidation department.

We're learning and we're growing but we're not dyin' to do it all today.


Casual coloring with a purpose.

 

Your Monthly Subscription Includes

  • New skills challenge every month
  • Original Vanilla Arts digital stamp
  • Beautiful full color guidebook featuring:
    • Detailed step by step instructions and process photos
    • Full supply list
    • Photo reference(s)
    • Reference exploration
    • Digital color swatches
    • Full color final project pics
    • Underpainting guide
    • Color map
    • Value guide
  • Monthly livestream-- Amy demonstrates the entire coloring process and takes your questions
  • Archive access-- livestream recordings are available for 6 months after the stream date
  • Exclusive community forum access for discussion, assistance, and feedback


Supply List for April 2024 here.

WARNING: COLOR WONK IS NOT A FOREVER ACCESS CLASS

Color Wonk is membership access to a ROTATING SELECTION of coloring lessons.

All lessons are available for ONE MONTH and are then retired to make room for the next lesson. It is your responsibility to download all lesson materials before the expiration date.

YOU ARE NOT PURCHASING LIFETIME ACCESS TO THE LESSONS

 

We recommend The Blend as a prequel to Color Wonk

The Blend is encouraged but not required.

Beginner marker blending and basic underpainting techniques WILL NOT be taught in Color Wonk.

All members of Color Wonk will need intermediate level skills to successfully complete Color Wonk projects. The Blend teaches everything you need to know before joining.


Your Instructor


Amy Shulke
Amy Shulke

Amy is a professional freelance technical illustrator with 25 years of experience in graphic arts. Amy began using colored pencils in 1985 and she started with DeSign markers in 1989. Colored pencils with a base of either marker or watercolor is her preferred process for portraiture and scientific illustration. She has a special passion for teaching crafters and shy artists to stretch their boundaries by adding established fine art techniques to their coloring projects.

Join Amy for fun and highly informative lessons which will not only change the way you color but the way you see color in the world around you.


 

Frequently Asked Questions


Is this a coloring class? Will there be video instruction?
Color Wonk is a bit more than a class. This is membership based access to a series of monthly lesson packages, so you basically get a new class every month. Every lesson launches with new line art plus a 20+ page guidebook with extensive information and tips. Then at mid-month, Amy hosts an exclusive Color Wonk livestream where she demonstrates the process for the entire project while answering your questions and offering amazing tips and insight.
What skill level do I need for this group? Is there a pre-requisite class?
Color Wonk is an intermediate level coloring group. We will not cover beginner techniques such as marker blending or how to layer colored pencils. To learn these beginner skills, please see our beginner level 12 week Copic Marker course, The Blend.
How do I participate? Is a membership required?
You must have a paid membership to download project materials, to access the private forum and livestream broadcast, or to view recorded streams in the archive. Members download the monthly line art and guidebook, then color the image on their own or with help from the livestream/video instruction. Upload .JPG images of your project to Color Wonk's dedicated forum for help, feedback, and support from Amy, the Vanilla Team, and community members.
What is included in the monthly lesson materials?
One original line drawing from Amy Shulke of Vanilla Arts Co in your choice of PNG or JPG format. Printable PDF guidebook contains 20+ pages of photo reference(s), supply lists, step by step instructions with progress photos, tips, and numerous learning aids. The monthly livestream session includes a full coloring demonstration plus Q&A session. Private forum discussions and feedback are participant generated, the discussion can lead anywhere.
Can I participate without joining the forum? Is this a Facebook group?
All communications must take place in the forum. We do not accept email images and will not offer project feedback via email. The forum is a private group, exclusive to paid Color Wonk members. It is hosted by Vanilla Arts Co and housed on the Teachable platform. We do not use Facebook for this group.
How long do I get access to the lesson materials? Can I keep them?
Lesson materials are issued around the first weekday of the month and are available to paid members for personal download until the next month's lesson launches. It is your responsibility to download the materials while they are available. Sorry, we can not email missed items after the challenge has expired. You may keep the digital downloads for personal use. You may not share materials with friends or family. Your access to new challenge materials ends when your paid membership expires. Sorry, the livestreams and recordings are NOT downloadable and they do expire.
What if I can’t keep up with the monthly lessons?
Relax. Download all the printable lesson materials before they expire-- that's your top priority and the only thing with a time limit. Then when you're running behind schedule, the livestream recordings are kept in the archive, a full 6 months of videos are stashed there. Use the archives to view the livestreams you've missed. As long as you download the printables on time, there's really no issue with working weeks or a few months behind the group. We don't chart your progress and the lessons are non-sequential, so there's no pressure to complete every project.
Can I download the videos to watch offline?
Sorry but no, you must have a current membership and must be logged into your account here at Teachable to view the videos and livestreams.
Will I get feedback on my project directly from Amy?
This is a self-directed group with guidance from the Vanilla team. The more you support other members, the more quality feedback you can expect. We can not guarantee feedback from Amy on your project. She is active in the community, monitors content, and offers guidance when possible but her primary focus is on creating new lessons, classes, courses, free videos, newsletters, and articles.
What if I enroll but find that I’m not happy with the group?
Please contact us within 14 days of your first subscription month for a full refund— after that, no refund is possible. Sorry, we do not offer refunds when you've been a member for months because by that point, you're fully aware of Amy's teaching style, what the classes include, and how the subscription works. Unsubscribe using the MY MEMBERSHIP menu in the upper right corner. Contact us at [email protected] if you need assistance.
How are subscriptions and payments handled?
We use the Teachable platform to manage your subscription. Your one month subscription auto-renews each month on the anniversary date of your subscription (sign up on the 21st, get billed each month on the 21st). Use your MyTeachable account to make subscription changes. Subscriptions run for approximately 30 days. When you unsubscribe, your subscription will remain open until your anniversary date at which point you'll lose access to Color Wonk materials and the forum. Contact us at [email protected] for assistance. PAYMENT PROCESSING: Teachable uses Stripe to process Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover payments. PayPal is also an option and runs through the PayPal checkout system. Several major currencies are accepted but prices are listed in USD. VAT is automatically charged where applicable.
How do I cancel my subscription?
Please use the MyTeachable account area to self-unsubscribe. Look for the MY MEMBERSHIP menu in the upper right corner on desktop. Contact us at [email protected] if you need assistance. For security purposes, we can not access your MyTeachable account or banking information. Refunds are available during the initial 14 day period after your FIRST subscription. We do not pro-rate membership refunds if you unsubscribe mid-month.

Course Curriculum


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"It's the OMG moments. That's why Amy's classes rock. She explains things that you've maybe noticed before but never thought much about. I love it!"

"At 62 years of age I have no illusions about becoming a great artist but. I am so appreciative of the change in my perception since taking classes with Amy at Vanilla Arts Co. Now I see the play of colors, the motion and the grace... It's a great way to view the world around me."

"I just love the things I'm learning and can't wait to start the next project. Your images are challenging for me and I like that. I'll never look at another image and how to color it the same again!"

Get started now!