Your first page

A few pencils. A little time. Somewhere comfortable.

Start with one enjoyable area

Use your practice area or a spare sheet to try the method before working on a favourite illustration.

01. Choose the subject that catches your eye

There is no need to begin on the first page. Pick a machine you like and one area you would enjoy colouring: a tank, a bonnet or a wing.

02. Try the pencil first

Make a light mark in a practice area. Add another layer beside it. A few small tests tell you more about your materials than a long list of rules.

03. Protect the page

Use a clean sheet beneath your drawing and a scrap beneath your hand. Single-sided pages keep printed content off the reverse but do not make the paper immune to ink.

04. Leave somewhere to go

Keep the first layer light. You can deepen the colour later. Leave a few bright areas white while you decide where the light belongs.

Try it on a favourite.

Choose an illustration from the book collections and begin with a small area.