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.
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!
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
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!
Affiliate links:
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Lee says
Hi! I was wondering, of you know if these are comparable to the Spectrum aqua markers or really a completely different animal? Thanks for the review! I have a set of 12 of these and am wishing I had bought the larger set now!
Robyn G. says
Jenny,
Could you tell me if there is a recommended storage method for these? Horizontal? Vertical? Brush tip up? Brush tip down? Thanks for your help!!
Jenny says
Robyn- I’m not the person to ask. They come in a box holding them upright, so that’s how I keep them. Others I try to store horizontally…but I have to store them according to my space, know what I mean?