Water Color Markers now being used

Well, the pack of Winsor & Newton Watercolour Markers have been used for the first time!  Along with a 'Seawhite of Brighton' watercolour postcard.  Both items were combined to make a thank you gift for a good friend of mine who showed me a kindness last Thursday.  

ArtRba Photograph: Winsor & Newton Tin of 12 Watercolor Markers 

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I bought the 12 x Watercolour Postcard pack when we were recently in Malta. So it was lovely to combine these two new things to create some art.  The Watercolour paper is 350gsm so it's a tad heavier than what I'm used to, and as such, it has different handling qualities.  The thicker paper makes for a better posting process as the artwork should hold up better when travelling through the postal system.  Although I must admit that I address the postcard and write on the back in the usual way, but also pop it inside an envelope to address and stamp that!

Winsor & Newton Watercolour Markers

Awe what a lovely surprise when I got back from town and found that these Winsor & Newton Watercolor Markers had arrived today!  

Photograph ArtRba: Winsor & Newton Watercolour Markers

This is really good news on several accounts; as (1) I am really enjoying the original three markers that I already have (and which were gifted to me by the lovely people in Art Shop on Pier Street, Aberystwyth), and (2) we had popped home earlier in the day and they weren't with the post.  

I had forgotten all about the modern thingy of a courier service.  So disheartened, I went back to town; while unknown to me, the delivery chappies continued to work in the background.  

My experience so far; suggests that these Watercolour Markers can't be classed as the perfect water-soluble thing, but they can be classed as the perfect 'something different'.  I've read online that they are Cotman standard, and I would wholeheartedly disagree with that statement.  Don't get me wrong, their not Professional Artist quality Watercolour, but they ain't Cotman either.  Nope, the pigment is to vibrant to reduce them to that level.  

Now I need to find my level with these Watercolour Markers, by trying out some new techniques, trying out some new reference images, and then see how we get on.  They sell these in 6's, as single units, this 12 and I've sen other variations in quantity with and without the relevant Marker Pad.  I'm using different kinds of watercolour paper to see how the product handles and to find out what watercolor support if anything works best for me.

Oh ps they retail these at circa £44 but I sourced this set at £26 including delivery, so shop around!  

Another Version

Accidentally making the move to trying out Winsor & Newton Watercolour Markers has been a good, albeit frustrating thing.  The good points are that I like the product, I like the ease of handling, and I like the three colours that I was gifted.  The bad point is that I need a yellow, and you can't buy these watercolour markers (individually or in a set) in Aberystwyth.  So if you know anyone in Winsor & Newton product development or marketing, tell them to find me on social media and get in touch.  Because at the moment, I'm confined to a red, a green, and a blue marker.  Albeit, they are a pretty good red, green and blue.

Photograph: Venice

Using watercolour markers on circa 7 x 5 cheap watercolour paper 

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I've completed a few similar images, using various size and type of watercolour paper, as I begin to understand how the watercolour marker product works to best effect.  

I'm noticing that the nibs spread (but that was anticipated, so no problem there) and that the application of water needs to be thought through, as the paint merges (again, anticipated, but controlling needs to be learnt).  

The big pluses are (1) the vibrancy and punch of colour, and (2) the ease of use (which suggests that the Winsor & Newton Watercolour Marker is ideal for in the field sketching.

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Winsor & Newton Watercolour Markers

I've had a stressful few days, so this is the sum total of my artistic dabblings since Tuesday morning.  On the minus side, I feel a tad let down by someone of whom I thought the world of.  Whereas on the plus side, I was delighted by someone of whom I expected nothing.  It's a funny old World.

So I tried to park the stress by using three Winsor & Newton Watercolour Markers for the very first time this evening.  The watercolour markers that were used are Winsor & Newton 'Sap Green', 'Phthalo Blue (Red Shade)', and 'Alizarin Crimson Hue'.  Like most professional art products, they're expensive at £3.99 a pop. Although it's worth remembering that because they're watercolours, I don't own three colours, but four.  This is because the white of the paper is the fourth colour. 

Photograph: the markers and the initial drawing

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ArtRba

It's a little Venetian scene, mainly because Venice is my 'theme of the moment', and I guessed that these watercolour products that have sat unused in my bureau drawer for many months; would lend themselves to this watercolour style.  Of course, after obtaining the markers, I went and completed a 'Colour Theory' course with the WEA-YMCA.  So I now know that instead of the green one, I actually needed a yellow. 

Hey ho, my hand will have to dip into my ever deepening pockets, and instead of a bunny, pull out some more dosh. This time, for a fourth Winsor & Newton Watercolour Marker. 

Photograph: the result after water is applied and spread to suit

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ArtRba

The water spreading also includes 'on the paper' mixing.  This means that the watercolours get transferred around, blended, lightened, and darkened etc.,  Maybe this on the paper mixing is something that you could try.  Go on, you know that you want to!