SAI Japanese Traditional Watercolor Brush Markers- Review & Demo
I kind of feel like markers are taking over the art/craft world- every day I learn of a new brand or style. So this week I drug out this set I purchased from Amazon a while ago to give them a look-over– the SAI Japanese Traditional Watercolor Brush Markers.
Like other brush-style markers I’ve reviewed (namely Zig Real Brush and Artezia) these markers are traditional barrels filled with felt and ink, which is wicked down to a brush-style nib made of synthetic hair. This allows you to treat the marker more like a paintbrush and gives you thick or thin lines, depending on your pressure.
SAI Japanese Traditional Watercolor Brush Markers have an opaque barrel with a color indication on the end as well as on the brush tip, which is easily seen through the clear cap which also has a pen clip. There are no color names, as the packaging is all in Japanese.
The brush tip is slightly larger than the Zig markers, slightly smaller than the Artezia markers. It’s literally the “middle of the road.”
NOTE: I have not tested this first hand, but I have been told by other artists/crafters that this product is not light-safe; only use them in journals, cards, or other non-archival quality works.
I tested these by swatching, mixing with water, creating washes, blending with a lighter color, blending with water, and tip-to-tip ombre. Take a look at my 10 minute video for both information on the SAI markers AND some great marker techniques!
And here are those swatches and samples again:
Crafty Friends Stamp Set: http://shrsl.com/sqsx
Bamboo Rose Stamp Set: http://shrsl.com/sqsz
You can also use these markers just like watercolors in a pen- I made this double eclipse card using SAI markers and a water brush!
So the pros of the SAI Japanese Traditional Watercolor Brush Markers:
- very affordable
- nice color range
- includes skin/hair tones
- very water reactive
- lots of pigment so you can dilute them
Cons:
- not light fast
- not sure how much product is in there
- no color chart/names
I think these are excellet beginner markers- if you already have the Zig or Artezia markers, you probably don’t need these. But if you are looking for a set to get started, a set for a younger artist, or a second travel set, these are great. I actually love them- and I think you will too.
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