Watercolor is a timeless style of painting and sketching. Using markers instead of tubes of paint, etc. is a quick, simple, and more mess-free way to explore this type of art! This blog takes you through the markers we have at Marker Supply that are dye-based and will easily blend with water (and with other colors) to create smooth color gradations, shadows and fading effects, and of course- watercolor art!
(*All of these markers are water-based and should not bleed through most papers. However, it is recommended that if you are blending them with water to create watercolor style art, you use a thicker paper designed to handle the moisture.)
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Zig Clean Color Real Brush Marker
Colors Available: 80
Sets Available:
–Set of 48 with Case and Bonus Water Brush
–Color Tone Sets of 6
–Color Scheme Sets of 4
–Set of 6
–Set of 12
–Shade and Shadow Set of 20
–Trend Set of 12
–Grayscale Set of 20
Tip Style: Single-Ended, bristle brush
Currently a very popular watercolor marker, the Clean Colors have been recently featured on many craft blogs. Its hair-like brush tip resembles more of an actual paint brush, which makes it easier to thin out the color as the stroke grows larger. Clean colors have awesome blending ability and plenty of light and dark colors to create gradation effects. Their color range also includes fluorescents and a variety of gray tones.
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Sakura KOI Coloring Brush Pen
Colors Available: 48
Sets Available:
–Set of 12 colors
–Set of 24 colors
Tip Style: Single-Ended, Rubber Brush
A newer marker from Sakura, the KOI comes with its own fun and unique color palette. The brush tip is more of a sturdy, rubbery feel, but still flexible- allowing you to make thin or thick lines- but will quickly spring back to its original shape. This durable tip also makes these markers great for working with rubber stamps.
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Zig Art & Graphic Twin
Colors Available: 80
Tip Style: Double-Ended, Fine Tip and Rubber Brush
A dual tip marker (like getting 2 pens in 1!) that has a rubber brush on one end, and a fine point on the other- a handy combo for coloring both larger and tiny spaces. Available in a wide variety of colors, very similar to the Clean Color range. The brush tip on these markers is a little longer and more “bendy” than the KOI. The ink is also very fluid when pressure is applied to the brush tip- making it a breeze to dab some color on a palette surface for blending just like real paints.
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Zig Calligraphy II Dye
Colors Available: 15
Sets Available:
–Set of 6
–Set of 12
Tip Style: Double-Ended, 2mm Square and 3.5mm Square
Another double-ended marker that features 2 square (flat-edged chisel) tips in different sizes, common with writing many calligraphy font styles. The dye ink in this marker makes it possible to add some unique shadowing and other effects to your lettering!
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Prismacolor Watercolor Colored Pencils
Colors Available: 36
Sets Available:
–Set of 12 in metal tin
–Set of 24 in metal tin
–Set of 36 in metal tin
Tip Style: Sharpened pencil point
These special colored pencils from Prismacolor are water soluble and can create incredible blended effects and watercolor works of art. The pencil tip lets you apply pressures and shading techniques while drawing and writing that differ from what is done with markers.
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Sakura KOI Pocket Field Sketch Box
Outside the world of markers is this handy watercolor tool- featuring 24 half pan watercolor paints, a water brush, dabbing sponges, and a detachable palette tray. It’s small and portable- perfect for painting anywhere you go! The lid forms an easel that holds postcard size paper- helping you capture the perfect little scene at the park, on the beach, or in the city!
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Blenders
All of the above markers can be used with regular paint brushes and water, or try using them with any of these convenient blending pens!
Zig BrusH20 Water Pens: A refillable pen that holds water- just squeeze the barrel and it flows out through the brush tip! Available in 4 sizes.
Zig Blender Marker: A dual tip rubber brush marker full of water-based blending solution. Works well for more subtle blending than using water.
Zig Art & Graphic Twin Colorless Blender: A dual tip (fine/rubber brush) marker, just like the other Art & Graphics, only this one has no color, just a clear blending solution.
Sakura KOI Colorless Blender Pen: A rubber brush colorless pen, great for blending and mixing colors. Sold as a pack of 2 pens.
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Techniques
There are several techniques you can use to paint with dye-based markers:
-Use the markers to sketch out your drawing, then blend with a water pen to give it a watercolor look.
-Add a little water to the paper first, then soak in some color in places over the top of it.
-Briefly soak the color tip in water until the tip lightens. Then as you color, the shade will gradually darken.
-Touch the tip of a lighter color marker into the tip of a darker color until a little soaks in, then draw with the lighter tip for a smooth color-changing blend.
-Color a section with a darker color, then use a lighter color to blend it out.
-Dab the wet tip of a water pen over the colored marker tip, then apply to the paper from the water pen.
There are plenty more ways to create watercolor with markers! Let us know your favorite tips and tricks, and send us some of your painted watercolor works! We love to see what you markers are making!!
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