More on Winsor Newton Pigment Markers

This is Winsor Newton pigment markers on primed canvas, just a commercially bought small canvas, about 8" x 10". The flowers are a rub out technique with a damp cotton swab, the rest is the markers. Who knew these markers are so versatile on the right surfaces.

Winsor Newton Pigment Marker Review

I got these markers a few weeks ago on clearance at a local hobby store, they were a lot less than the retail price since they were on clearance. I read about them and watched videos online then tried them and I've come to know the tricks to working with them successfully. I thought I'd share it with you. First, these Winsor Newton Pigment markers are a high quality worthy of the company name. They are lightfast to 100 years so they stand up well to thbe light. They are ethanol based, similar to alcohol base except most also how based markers don't mix with water, these do. They can be blended with a damp brush, cotton swab, finger or soft cloth. They can be reworked after they dry, I let it dry 24 hours then went back with a damp brush and rubbed out circles, worked beautifully. The trick to using them successfully is to use them on the right paper or surface. they work well on any non absorbent surface like these in ththe picture. I have Yupo paper( a polyethylene paper), tracing paper and poster board on the use shiny side. I've also learned they work well on gessoed paper or board and I expect they'd work on gessoed Canvas but I haven't tried that yet. I wouldn't use any absorbent paper because the marker colors sink into the paper and can't manipulated the way they are on coated papers.

They come in a dual ended barrel, one end broad and one fine end, in a rounded barrel- shown below) that's easy to hold nad are available in about 100 colors, but at about $8 each US, a full set would be pricy for most of us.

On the coated paper the strokes ar visible and look very painterly but can be blended, worked over and do well once blended. It just depends on the look your going for, there is also a white blending pen and a clear blender available that can be used to blend th colors but they both leave a streaky look to the colors I don't care for. they also have a specific marker paper made to go with ththe we markers but it's thin, about 20 pound and is not really thick enough to withstand very much over working. Other than the price Winsor Newton has again proven to have a quality product, the trick is to use the proper surface and playing with th markers first to see how they operate. Would I buy them again at regular price? Maybe, but only to replace colors that dry out ( they are not refillable) or get specific colors not in my collection. Here are some samples of works I did with these markers. The yellow flower is on ths shiny side of poster board, the butterfly is on Yupo paper and the frog is on tracing paper. Pardon the typos, th IPad wasn't cooperating to fix them.

Ecoline Products Review

I used Ecoline, a Dutch brand, liquid watercolors and brush pens for the first time on this painting and thought I'd give my thoughts on the product. The watercolors are very easy to work with, come in sets or in a variety of colors. I ordered a set of 10 online, which is the only way I've been able to find them. They blend well, can be lightened or thinned with water And can be used in any surface regular watercolors are used on, paper, boards, or for lettering. Only drawback I see other than only being available online is that they're not lightfast. The colors are bright but I wouldn't want to put a painting done with them in the sunlight for a long time, it might fade. The brush pens come in the same colors as the bottles do but must be ordered as well and the tip is a flexible fiber core instead of a real brush tip. I got a set of 10 and got a free blender. The markers are good for details, as in the eyes in this leopard. They are water soluable so they're easy to remove if you get them on your hands or anywhere else they don't belong. Would I buy them again? Probably, they suit my needs as a watercolorist and calligrapher. Do it like them? Yes, they're easy to work with since the color is liquid, only a small amount is used at a time so they last a long time and they come in many colors. Here's a small, 9" x 12", painting done with both the liquid colors and the brush markers.

Zig Clean Color Brush Pens Review

I bought these brush pens a few weeks ago online. They are Zig Clean Color Brush pens and came in many colors, I got the set of 48

PROS- the pens have an actual brush tip with fine brush hairs instead of a fiberous flexible pointed tip, so they arcan actual brushes. They come in a Variety, up to 80, colors. They blend with water because they are watercolor pens. And you can put them tip to tip to blend colors, the color from one tip migrates to the other tip enough to blend into a third color for a short while before returning to its original color. the fine tip makes it easy to get into small spaces to color and the brush strokes are easy to control. They do not bleed through the page. CONS- They are a bit expensive, the set of 48 costs about $62 and can be hard to find in stores, at least that's my experience. They are not refillable. Would I buy them again? Maybe, but only if I could find them open stock to replace pens that are empty.

Stay tuned for more reviews of different products I've tried.

This is a oag from an adult coloring book I colored with Zig Clean Color markers.

A Break from Quilting

Im taking a short break from making quilts, partly because I getting so many stacking up and partly to avoid burnout. I'm doing coloring pages, collecting more gel pens, markers and the like, more supplies. I've also become interested in something called Bullet Journals.

The bullet journals are not exactly the diary type journals but rather a book of your own design, from a blank book, that fits your individual needs, things you want to track, tasks to do, events, that sort of thing. There are many you tube videos on the making of Bullet Juornals that have good ideas on what to put in them, how to go about it and such. This photo was borrowed from Pinterest, don't remember who posted it originally.

Because of this new interest of mine, I'm rekindling my lettering hobby. I taught calligraphy many years ago but set it aside for other hobbies. The bullet journal affords me the opportunity to use lettering skills again. So I'm taking up lettering again, at present I'm very rusty at the craft. Although I don't have a photo of a Bullet journal and I don't want to impede on anyone who's already shown their own online, here is an excellent source for getting a look at them. It's BoHo Berry, listed online, instagram, Facebook and other social media. Another is called Tiny Ray of Sunshine, also online and on social media. Check it out if you'd like. I gather info I'll post my own photos of my journal. Have fun . .

Progress, March Project

Progress on the wall hanging, pieces cut out but not yet set together and the inspiration for the piece.

Strange happenings on the Full Moon

This appeared as a smudge no one of my windows. There's a face in it. Do your u see it? What do you make of it? I have no idea where it came from or if it means anything, it's just weird.