2 Videos: Clean Color Real Brush Markers + Giveaway!
Hello! Today I have two videos. The first gives an intro to the Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens and the second shows 6 ways to use them. There is a lot of info… but I think you will really like this product!
[All supplies are linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails at the end of this post. Affiliate links used at no cost to you. To watch the videos in HD on YouTube, click HERE and HERE.]
VIDEO 1: INTRO TO PENS
VIDEO 2: SIX WAYS TO USE PENS
Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens are very unique. They have an actual brush tip with a water-based ink inside. You can blend the colors effortlessly with or without water, so there are many fun techniques they can be used for.For any and all techniques with the Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens, I highly recommend using watercolor paper. My favorites are the Tim Holtz (4.25″ x 5.5″) and Ranger (8.5″ x 11″) papers… which are the same exact paper but in different sizes. The ink in the pens simply blends better on watercolor paper.
If you are interested in seeing the options available for purchasing these pens, you can check the thumbnails at the end of this post. You can get them individually at Ellen Hutson or in packs at Simon Says Stamp (they will have more options next week) or Amazon. They are also available at Dick Blick. I would recommend picking colors and getting them individually or make an investment and try the 36 pack. However, the 12 or 24 would be great, too!
Here is a closer look at 6 different ways to use the Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens.
#1: BASIC WATERCOLOR
Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens are fantastic for basic watercolor. Simply lay down a bit of color and use water and a brush (I like a waterbrush) to pull the color to blend in an area. While the paper is still wet, you can bring the pen tip back to add more color – it will not damage it. This is by far the best experience I have had with watercolor – very easy to control and blend. If you want more of a watercolor look, you can use more water to blend. I like having the option! (Yes, I still like my Peerless and Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolors. This is just another option.)
#2: SHIMMER WATERCOLOR
A fun way to make the first technique even more fun is to use a Wink of Stella shimmer pen to “watercolor” instead of water. The bit of added “thickness” in the Wink of Stella fluid allows even more control than a waterbrush… and results in gorgeous shine. (By the way… if your Wink of Stella runs out, simply add more water and you can give it more life. A lot of the shimmer settles and can be “revived” with the added water.) You can also use any shimmer mist you may have on hand with a brush.
#3: SOFT WATERCOLOR
I have always struggled to get super soft watercolor looks. However, the Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens are available in very light colors. Therefore, you don’t have to add a ton of water to get a soft look. Or you can put down just a tiny bit (thanks to the fine tip) of bold color and blend it out to be soft.
#4: MULTI-COLOR WATERCOLOR
Blending two different colors with water is also very simple with Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens. I can’t even begin to describe how effortless this is. I use this technique a lot when I am on the go.
#5: NO-WATER BLENDING
Love the look of Copic Markers but struggle with blending or the high cost? The Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens can be used *without* water, also… with wonderful blending capabilities. Check out the bold color and smooth blending. I am so tickled by how this works. This technique is a huge reason why these pens are so very unique from others.
#6: NO-WATER MULTI-COLOR BLENDING
It is even possible to blend multiple colors without water when using the Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens.
Fun, huh?
I finished off all six cards by die cutting the stamped piece with the WPlus9 Love Showers tag die. I created 5.5″ x 3.75″ notecards and stamped either the new Hero Arts 6×6 Woodgrain or Forest Floor backgrounds. Since the card is narrow, the tag can hang off the edge but still fit in an envelope.
CLEAN COLOR REAL BRUSH COLORS
There are 80 colors of Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens available… which can be bought individually or in packs of 4, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60. (See thumbnails below for the various sources that have these available.) These pens are not super cheap (although they are less than half the price of Copic) but you do not need many to have a great experience with them.
Below are ink swatches of the colors included in the Clean Color Real Brush 48 pack. (Once I receive all the 80 colors, I will share my updated swatches. I bought them all so I can share them with you.) My favorites? 28, 25, 22, 50, 41, 36, 37, 94, 64, and 65.
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NOTE
As always, I was not paid, sponsored or even asked to do this post about this product. As a thank you for using many of their other products, Zig had sent me 12 Clean Color Real Brush Pens to try. I fell head over heels immediately and purchased the 48 pack on my own. I assure you that my excitement about product stems completely in their quality and unique properties… and that they are so easy to use that I feel like a “real artist.” 🙂
GIVEAWAY
When I told the folks at Zig that I really enjoy this product, they said I could give a 24 pack of Clean Color Real Brush Pens away to a lucky winner! For your chance, leave a comment here by 11:59pmEST on 5/20/15 telling me your favorite tool for coloring (watercolor, Copics, etc). (The winner’s name will be randomly selected and posted on my “Winners page” after the giveaway closes. International folks are eligible, too!)
SUPPLIES
Interested in the products I used? To make them easy for you to find, I have listed them below. (Affiliate and product disclosure can be found here.) Click on the letters below each picture to go to a favorite store: Simon Says Stamp (SSS), Ellen Hutson (EH), Dick Blick (DB), Amazon (AZ), etc.
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