Today I have a Show & Share coloring project featuring Watercolor Brush Markers. And since I'm playing along with Kathy Racoosin's coloring challenge, #THEDAILYMARKER30DAY, where we are encouraged to color for 10 minutes a day for the month of February, I wanted to practice using the Spring Garden Set and Winter Wonderland Set from Altenew.
Here is what I shared on my IG feed.
I first started by stamping and masking the pretty poppy image from Gina K designs: Through Think and Thin, onto Distress Ink watercolor paper.
Going for a no-line-coloring look, I chose inks that are water soluble for inking the images.
- Flowers are stamped with Rouge and Coral Berry Crisp Dye Ink
- Leaves stamped with Silver Lake Crisp Dye Ink
Then I chose Rouge and Rubellite Watercolor Brush Markers to layer color in the petal areas. I really like the soft mix of peach/red that is created by mixing the two colors and layering them on top of each other straight from the markers themselves being careful to allow for the ink to dry on petals that were next to each other.
Thinking of Chocolate Covered Strawberries....
In choosing the color for the leaves, I must have been craving those valentine delights of Chocolate covered strawberries! Yes, I am a Choc-A-Holic!
The Espresso Watercolor Brush Marker was a scrumptious choice in my opinion! I added clear water from a water-brush to get varied shades of the espresso on the leaves. I also added a kiss of it to the places I thought needed more shadow depth on the petals.
I'm happy with how things are looking at this point. the flowers are light in color which is what I was going for.
Adding color to the center of each flower:
- Using Citrus Burst and Warm Sunshine Watercolor Brush Markers , black fine liner and white Gel pen for highlights.
- Adding a hint of Moss Watercolor Brush Marker to the leaves.
- Adding Midnight Violet Watercolor Brush Marker for more shadows on the petals
****At this point I added Ruby Red Watercolor Brush Marker to deepen the shadows of the petals and I feel it got much too dark. It looks okay, but I was hoping for softer peach colored bloom. But that Strawberry image kept creeping into my head. so RED it became :)
Moving to the background
- adding clear water with a brush around the colored image
- then splattering with Rouge, Warm Sunshine, and Rubellite Watercolor Brush Marker
- carefully added a drop shadow with Evening Grey Watercolor Brush Marker
- Stamped the sentiment with Dark Chocolate Crisp Dye Ink
Added more detail to petals and leaves with a Fine Liner pen
Splattered more color onto the Dry background for tiny flecks of color directly from the water brush markers
***tapping the marker with another brush or pencil creates a very fine fleck/splatter
To finish the card
- Cut a pretty Creative Edges: Lace Die and colored it with Dark Chocolate Crisp Dye Ink
- splattered the Lace die-cut with Antique Gold Metallic Ink Spray and Pure White Ink Spray
- colored a thin strip of the A2 card base edge with the Espresso Artist Marker
- added the finished front panel to teh card base
- layered the Lace die-cut on top and called it done!
I'm pleased with how it turned out, even if it is darker in color than I had hoped. With more practice, I might be able to keep it soft and light :)
My findings:
Watercolor Brush Markers:
- There are currently 19 colors in the two sets, (Spring Garden Set and Winter Wonderland Set)
- I've been using them since October 2018
- Are much more vibrant in color than the Ziggys , a little goes a LONG way.
- When mixed with clean water onto a palette or stamped image, the colors dry very bright and not washed out unless a lot of clean water is added
- One drop of color is enough for a large coloring space
- Color can be flicked onto an image like an alcohol marker without any added water..which is my preferred way of coloring with brush markers
- The brush has a fine point tip, almost as fine as the ziggys
- It takes some practice to control the flow of color
- paper is very important for ease of use...that being said, I have not figured out which paper I like to use with these yet...I know I like the Bristol Smooth for the ziggys
Here is my first blog post coloring with the Altenew Watercolor Brush Markers:
My findings:
Kuretake ZIG Clean Color Real Watercolor Brush Pens
- I have all 90 colors and have been using them since July 2015
- It took me 6 months to figure out that I liked using the Ziggys without water, directly from the pen
- Bristol Smooth 100 lb. paper is my choice to color on
- Color can be flicked onto an image like an alcohol marker without any added water..which is my preferred way of coloring with brush markers
- Very fine brush tip that is fabulous for detail coloring
- The pens run out/get used up very quickly, I have replaced my favorite 40 colors twice already
Here is my first blog post featuring the Ziggys:
Here is an IG post sharing a visual comparison of the same image using three different Watercolor Brush markers, colored without adding any water: Click here to see close-up photos
Hope you enjoyed my coloring Show & Share journey today! Feel free to ask questions in the comment section below.
***As a disclaimer, I purchased all the Watercolor Brush Markers compared in this post with my own money. These are my unprofessional coloring opinions posted here in hopes that you choose what works best for you :)
Thanks for stopping by and have a Blessed day!
LauraJane :)
****I am part of Altenew's affiliate program. Which means I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you every time you click through and purchase Altenew product(s) linked in this post. Thank you for your support!
