Artist Mark Dean Lim was a marketing assistant at a stationery company before he quit to follow his dream of becoming a full-time illustrator and sharing his creations with the world.
Mark is known for his Color Me Doodle coloring sheets: dainty, whimsical and intricate pieces you can buy individually or as books. He also has a growing roster of clients, and comes up with designs and concepts for wedding invitations, planners and logos.
Just like most artists, Mark was bitten by the doodling bug when he was a kid. The self-taught artist credits his skill to practice—lots of it. “I always try to learn new techniques and tricks to help me bring my illustrations to life,” says Mark.
Color Me Doodle was inspired by his desire to create homegrown adult coloring books and encourage other Filipino artists. “I believe it’s high time for local illustrators to create versions that people can identify with. It’s also my hope to inspire more local artists to do the same.”
Combined techniques
Mark also holds workshops to help coloring enthusiasts take their shading to the next level. “I teach my own style of coloring, like combining two techniques to add more texture to the image. I also teach them how to pick and combine colors that will look good together, which you can also apply not just in coloring—you can pick coordinating colors for your clothes, designing your house or room, etc.”
If you’re a first-time colorist, here are Mark’s top five tips on how to color like a pro:
- Know your tools first. Choose the medium or coloring materials you are most comfortable in using.
- Don’t be afraid to combine colors. Go experiment. Be playful.
- Remember to balance the colors by using light and dark hues.
- When in doubt, have scratch paper on your side to test the colors first before using them.
- Keep on coloring!
The ultimate Color Me Doodle toolbox
Mark shares his must-have coloring tools.
- A set of different markers
- A palette of Simbalion watercolor (I got it from a workshop I attended)
- Fine liners
- A set of Zig Clean Color real brush pens. They’re my favorite pens because they work as markers and watercolors at the same time!
- Drawing pens (I can’t live without them!)
- A sharpened pencil
- Fountain pens—coloring with fountain pen ink is good; it’s rather costly, but it’s good.
- Gel pens in different colors—they’re good for detailing and filling in small spaces.
Mark is currently busy with new coloring sheets and is also working on a book.
To find out more about Mark Dean Lim’s workshops and how to get your hands on Color Me Doodle, follow the artist on Instagram: @markdeanlim and @colormedoodle