Watercolor Mediums

[Kim_L]

I was wondering what kind of markers or other watercolor mediums do you use? I have seen distress markers used and they look fantastic. I want to get some opinions before I invest in new products.
Thanks!

[UnderstandBlue]

Everything! I love Tombow markers, just the reinkers from my SU Inkpads, FineTec pan watercolor, Peerless watercolor, Brusho and Koi. Oh and Dr. Ph Martin Hydrus (recently).

It's all fun!

[poppydarling]

I am loving doing "watercolor" with Distress Inks. LOVE! I like how water doesn't dilute the color, and I love all the different techniques you can do with the inks, making them very versatile.

[Annecards]

Quote:

Originally Posted by UnderstandBlue

Everything! I love Tombow markers, just the reinkers from my SU Inkpads, FineTec pan watercolor, Peerless watercolor, Brusho and Koi. Oh and Dr. Ph Martin Hydrus (recently).

It's all fun!

Watercolor is my favorite medium too. I'm not very good at it, but it's so relaxing and fun. I took a watercolor class this past spring and really fell in love with it. I wasn't happy at first since my instructor, it was a college course, required purchasing professional tube colors. WOW, one 10ml tube of Winsor Newton cost me $22.00! I may have found it cheaper, but waited till the last minute to get it. Well let me say, I've found there's a huge difference between artist quality and student products. The colors are so rich, clear, vibrant, and a tiny dollop of color in a pallet lasts a long time, I'm hooked!

I now have a substantial amount of colors, and just love them. I carry a portable palette with me to appointments and anytime I know there'll be a wait. My portable palette was a lifesaver while sitting in hospital waiting rooms and sitting with my DH during his five hospitalizations this year.

I love every single medium and product mentioned by Lydia, the real artist! Like Lydia, I love using all types of mediums! I'm certainly not saying one has to purchase artist grade, but if it's in your budget you'll be very happy you did. One can purchase a few tubes or pans at a time, and there are other brands as good as Winsor Newton priced cheaper. I've a set of White Knights artist grade colors, a travel pallet of full pans priced reasonably. Watercolor pencils are another option, although I find them cumbersome.

In the end, just buy what you like. Colors brighten a cloudy day and make you happy. Have fun and get lost in colors!

[Scrapjanny]

I love everything watercolor. I use everything from the inexpensive Recollections (Michael's) brand, to the Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers, to Gelatos, and I love them all. I use them all for different things. I haven't watercolored with my Distress Inks yet, but I'm going to try that soon too. My advice is to get the inexpensive brands first to see if you like the medium. Then you can invest in the better quality products. Have fun!

[Mrs Noofy]

When I do a large watercolour I use Windsor Newton tube paints but if I am just doing a quick watercolour on a stamped image I just scrape an SU stamp pad colour on a piece of acetate and wet with my water brush. Mostly because the colours match the paper and the stamped greeting etc.

[uncbballfan]

I toyed with cheap watercolor mediums for years, was never happy with my work and now I know why. Because I was using cheap materials. If you can afford to buy a small set of artist grade watercolors, I believe this will give you a much better idea whether you will enjoy using this medium or not.

If you're interested in distress markers, watch Dawn (WPlus9) work her magic with these on Youtube. You don't need every color. She works fairly dry, so you would have more control.

My personal favorite is the Gansai Tambi watercolors - it was love at first use! You can find the smaller sets at Hobby Lobby.

I also love distress inks, and you can get a great start on these by buying the mini cubes.

I have a small set of the Zig Clean Color Brush markers; I don't care for them, but almost everyone else I know raves over them. A lot of people love watercolor pencils, but they're not my favorite either.

So you really have to figure out what's right for you! Good luck!

[stamphappy1650]

I tried a lot of water color mediums and here is my take on them:

All time fav are Peerless watercolor papers - bright colors and they last forever

I don't use my markers direct to paper as I color them onto a ceramic tile and pick the color up with a brush - favorite are the old Marvy Brush Style. I have to order them directly from Uchida. They last a long time and also great for direct to stamp & misting

Brusho fun but can be messy

Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers - recently acquired them and I don't really like them. I believed all the rave reviews but I have other mediums that work better

Gelatos are ok but I don't do a lot of water coloring as much as I use them for making background and mixed media

Not impressed with Distress Markers - they dry out to fast and I'm not all that crazy about the colors. If I want to use these colors I just pick the color up from a Distress ink pad

I stopped buying the artist grade tubes because I didn't use them fast enough and they were drying out

[Kim_L]

Thank you so much for all the awesome suggestions! I have Winsor tube ones wanted to see what else would be good to use. I did see a lot of distress markers and inks so I will have to give that a try.