Coloring Sengoku Warriors: How to Use Color Samples and Choose Your Palette
Coloring pages of Sengoku-era Japanese warriors are packed with things to color: armor and helmets, banners, battle coats and more. Yet it is easy to freeze at the start. Where should you begin? What colors should you pick?
This article walks through a step-by-step way of thinking about coloring warrior portraits. In the second half we introduce the Sengoku warrior coloring set from the Mori no Akari Series and explain how to choose it.
Why warrior portraits are good for coloring
A warrior's costume offers many parts to color separately.
- Helmet: the shape is individual, and decorative details make the strongest impression.
- Armor: overlapping plates and small patterns give you the pleasure of light and dark shading.
- Banners and flags: these express the design and colors of a clan.
- Battle coat and kimono: large patterns and a wide choice of color.
You can choose colors by the impression you want: red and gold for splendor, navy and silver for a calm mood. If you want to deepen your knowledge of history, use reference materials. If you are coloring as a creative pastime, feel free to try any palette.
Before you start
1. Look at the whole picture
Study the line drawing and decide what should stand out most: the helmet, a banner, a flame or the moon in the background. With one main feature in mind, choosing colors gets easier.
2. Decide how many colors to use
Starting with too many colors makes a picture hard to pull together. Try two or three main colors plus one or two accent colors.
3. Do a test stroke
Test how your tools, such as colored pencils or pens, look on the paper by trying them on a margin or a spare sheet.
A way to approach the order
There is no correct order for coloring. Here is one commonly used approach.
- Start with large areas in lighter colors.
- Color the mid-sized areas, such as clothing and banners.
- Move on to small details of the armor and decorations.
- Finally, add shadows and the darkest tones.
With colored pencils, press lightly at first so you can see how the color develops and build up depth gradually. Before you press hard, step back and look at the whole picture; it becomes easier to decide which color to add next.
How to use a coloring set with samples
A set with color samples gives you finished examples alongside line art. For a subject with many parts, such as a warrior, here are some useful ways to use them.
- As a palette guide: borrow the combination of colors for helmet, armor and banner.
- As a reference for order: study the bright and dark areas of the sample and plan to build from light colors up.
- Change just one thing: stay close to the sample overall and choose your own color for the banner.
Following the sample exactly and deliberately choosing different colors are both enjoyable ways to color.
The Sengoku warrior coloring set from the Mori no Akari Series
The Mori no Akari online store offers the following Sengoku warrior coloring set as a download edition. The product name in the store appears in Japanese.
- Format: digital data. You print the pages yourself.
- Contents of Set 01: 3 line-art pages and 3 matching finished samples, 6 images in total.
- Size: digital data at 8.5 × 11 inches.
▶ See the samples and line art: Sengoku Warrior Coloring, Download Edition Set 01
A printed edition of the same series is also sold, but its shipping settings currently cover Japan only, so this article links the download edition. Compare the pictures and contents on the product page, and check paper size, file format, price and notes before buying.
Frequently asked questions
Can I enjoy it without knowing much about Sengoku history?
Yes. You can enjoy the shapes and combinations of colors without any knowledge of the people portrayed. Start by looking at the line drawings on the product page and choose a picture you would like to color.
Do all sets have the same pictures?
No. Do not decide by number alone. Check the pictures and the contents on each product page.
Colored pencils or pens?
Either is fine. Colored pencils blend and layer; pens give crisp separations. Choose according to the finish you like, and do a test stroke to check how it works with your paper.
Small coloring tips
- Fine areas are easier to color with a sharp-pointed tool.
- Color all areas that share a color together, so you change tools less often.
- Place a spare sheet under your hand to keep the paper clean.
- If you get stuck, put the pencil down and look at the picture from a distance.
These are general coloring tips. Find the approach that suits you.
Summary
- Warrior portraits offer many parts to color: helmets, armor, banners and battle coats.
- Decide on one main feature and limit the number of colors to keep the picture unified.
- With colored pencils, start with light pressure and build up the colors.
- A set with samples can serve as a palette guide or a base for your own variations.
- The printed edition currently ships within Japan only; the download edition is the one linked here.
We hope you enjoy building up color, little by little, to create a warrior portrait that is entirely your own.
▶ Compare the line art and finished samples on the product page