Markers are an essential crafting tool- for adding color to stamped images, custom-coloring accents, drawing, creating washes…well, markers are a timeless crafting and art-making staple. Today I’m reviewing the Zig Clean Color Brush Markers to see how they fit into my craft studio!

Disclosure: sample provided for review, but all opinions are my own and based on my first-hand experience with the product.

Here’s how they are described on the website:

Unlike many “brush” pens, the Zig Clean Color Real Brush pen has a genuine bristle tip that lets you create marks of any width — from broad strokes to fine lines.

Filled with a waterbased dye that is odorless and xylene-free, these pens are easy to blend. Both portable and versatile, they’re great for plein air work as well as manga and cartooning.

So let’s take a closer look at the markers themselves.

Clear cap lets you see the color of the marker.

The brush tip is so precise! You can make thick or thin lines depending on the pressure you put on it.

With my set, the color is written on a sticker that is placed on the barrel. This could wear off, but there is a number code screen-printed on the barrel that should keep you organized.

The first thing you need to know is that this is a water-based DYE marker. The color is vibrant, but transparent. This marker is only suited for light-colored surfaces.

Also….  while you can blend it with water, you need to do so BEFORE you place it on the paper. Because once the dye from the marker sinks into the surface of the paper, it becomes pretty permanent.

I made you this video to show you first hand. It’s about 10 minutes long, but it’s chock-full of information.

And here are some more photos!

You can control the shading by hand, and you can increase the color saturation with 1, 2, or three layers of color. Also use water to lighten!

You can get brush effects (think Sumi-E), thin strokes and artsy effects.

Low water content means that the paper doesn’t wrinkle. But if you “scrub” color in for a long while the paper might “pill” and the color could soak through.

Dye inks mean that you get the brightest effect on light colored paper. Also suitable for “coloring” acrylic stamps for stamping.

So… to recap:

• water based dye
• nylon brush tip
• dilute with water to create hues
• touch tip-to-tip with marker of an analogous color to create shading and ombre
• once it absorbs into paper, it does not move much
• only for porous surfaces
• brush tip is very flexible
• not good for “spatter” techniques
• use on light substraits only
• works on glossy paper
• does not wrinkle paper
• dries on glossy paper
• you can use them on stamps

The look of watercolor with the ease of a marker. Image from the “You’re Sublime” stamp set from Stampin’ UP, coming out June ’15.

So… after playing with these markers for a number of days, my take-away is that the give you the look of watercolor with the ease of a marker…and MUCH more permanence since it’s a dye ink that is not very water reactive once it’s applied. And that brush tip- I’m in LOVE. The best brush marker I’ve ever used!

What do you think? Would you try a real brush marker? 

Stay tuned… I’ll have a speed-color of that little froggy tomorrow!
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About Jenny

Chief Craft Test Dummy, Craft Evangelist, Founder, Editor, bottle-washer, trouble-maker, and creative whirlwind.

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