This morning I started to colour the reef illustrations I posted yesterday. I’m using a mixture of Chameleon marker pens and pencils to do this. My photograph of the work in progress isn’t brilliant, but you get the idea I’m sure.
In the larger motifs, I’m using the Chameleon Color Tones markers along with the Color Tops to achieve gradient colouring. Flat colour is added to smaller areas using the pen.
Then, I use Chameleon pencils to add depth and dimension. I’m also adding more depth and dimension by using a white gel pen and a fine Unipin pen to add highlights and texture.
I’m enjoying the process, but I must admit I’m finding it more ‘fussy’ to do than when I digitally colour! Continually swapping pens and pencils is a little frustrating for me.
Maybe that’s just today as I’m tired. I didn’t sleep at all well last night. Stomach cramps were plaguing me throughout the night, though they do seem better today. Painkillers have stopped the pain completely today; yesterday, they merely dulled it.
Also, when I woke, my mind was very active with flashbacks related to my EMDR therapy yesterday. It was a very emotional session, lots of tears and upset. However, my therapist tells me I’m making good progress. I believe her.
Today, everything seems like hard work as I’m so exhausted, not just from the lack of sleep, but emotionally too. These feelings will pass; they always do.
I don’t know how much more I’ll do today. I don’t think I’ll get a lot of colouring done. I do feel I need to draw though, so perhaps I’ll do that after I’ve done some errands today. Typical of ‘adulting’ to get in the way of self-soothing and self-care.
Angela Porter 
My Mum bought some chameleon pens and can’t get on with them. I borrowed them and can’t make them work either.
I hope you find your therapy helpful. I’m waiting for CBT for CPTSD – it’s taking ages to get to the top of the waiting list.
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I absolutely love my Chameleons! There are some great videos on youtube that show how you can use them. I’d recommend watching them. EMDR therapy is the one therapy that is truly helping my cptsd. It’s all about reprocessing, releasing and healing from the trauma. You don’t talk about what’s happened to you over and over as that just retraumatises you. During EMDR the negative belief(s) you have about yourself are replaced by positive ones quite naturally. It’s a very gentle, but powerful therapy and is one of two therapies recommended by the VA in the USA for servicemen and women suffering PTSD. The other therapy is trauma based cognitive therapy. I’m sorry you’re having to wait such a long time. I hope you find CBT helpful.
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I love how the pens look so I will see if youtube can de-mystify them for me. I have heard about EMDR but I haven’t been offered it and as my CBT is via the NHS and IAPT, it is just going to be the standard type rather than trauma based I think. But at least I know that there are other options to ask for if I need them, I just don’t know how accessible they are for me. In the meantime I shall carry on colouring 🙂 Thank you.
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The NHS does offer EMDR! As for it! I’m fortunate enough to be able to pay for my therapy privately, but I know people who have had it on the NHS and successfully too. One person I know actually went and demanded it via their GP and have been put on the waiting list for it!
Yes, youtube will demystify the chameleons. They really are easy to use. I’d also recommend videos that show how to use other marker pens, particularly the Spectrum Noirs. Though the videos are older they show other techniques that work successfully with all alcohol marker pens.
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Hmmm maybe I need to have another chat with my GP??!
I am ok with promarkers thankfully, but don’t use them in colouring books as they bleed through … I use the white card from Rymans for stamping and colouring 🙂
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