Octopus and the shell garden

An octopus spreads eight curling arms above a row of seashells. The small sucker shapes offer a satisfying contrast to the broad head and shell sections.

How much detail?

The curled arms and patterned shells offer medium-sized spaces to work through. About the labels.

Try this palette: Shell garden

Give the octopus one main color and make each shell a different pale shade.

A small coloring tip

Colored pencils fit the small sucker ovals; use a lighter touch on the shell ridges to keep their patterns clear.

Assign one color to each pair of matching arms, then repeat your favorite pair in a shell.