• About
  • Press
  • Advertise

Craft Test Dummies

The Crafting Blog for Crafters, By Crafters

  • Craft News
    • CHA Coverage
    • Crafting for a Cause
    • Giveaways
    • CTD on TV
    • Quilt Market
  • Craft Product Reviews
    • Apps & Sites
    • Art Supplies/Mixed Media
    • Beads/Jewelry Products
    • Books, Magazines, Events
    • Comparisons
    • Crafty Tools
    • Fabric, Needle, & Quilting Arts
    • Food Crafts
    • Paints, Inks & Dyes
    • Paper Crafts
    • Polymer Clay & Tools
  • Craft Storage and Tips
  • Crafty People & Places
    • Crafty Field Trips
  • Kids Stuff
    • Hands On Crafts For Kids-TV show
  • Winter/Christmas
  • Home Decor
  • Food Crafting/ Party Crafts
  • Valentine’s /Sweetest Day
  • Spring/Easter
  • Wedding & Shower Crafts
  • Father’s Day Crafts
  • Baby & Shower Crafts
  • Mother’s Day Crafts
  • Patriotic crafts
  • Summer Crafts
  • Fall Crafts
    • Halloween Crafts
  • Jenny Sez
    • Sponsored Posts
  • Periscope Superfans Page
Home / Jenny Sez / SAI Japanese Traditional Watercolor Brush Markers- Review & Demo

SAI Japanese Traditional Watercolor Brush Markers- Review & Demo

February 23, 2018

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.

SAI Japanese Traditional Watercolor Brush Markers

DISCLAIMER: I purchased these with my own funds. I’m not associated with the brand in ay way. However this post may contain affiliate links and I may receive a commission, but it adds no additional cost to you.

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

My purchase price was $27.00 USD for 20 markers via Amazon.com http://amzn.to/2EM4HKX

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.”

SAI Japanese Traditional Watercolor Brush Markers

The SAI brush tip is slightly larger than the Zig brush, and a little smaller than the Artezia tip.

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:

Save on Paper Crafting Supplies at CreateForLess!

SAI Japanese Traditional Watercolor Brush Markers

The colors move beautifully on watercolor paper- on cardstock, not so much. They blend equally well with water, another marker, or sparkle pen. Great for brush lettering, too!

SAI Japanese Traditional Watercolor Brush Markers

On this sample I scribbled the marker on a piece of plastic and then picked up the color with a waterbrush to create this watercolor-effect card. (Stamped with Versafine Clair Morning Mist and Nocturne. Stamp set from Wish.)

SAI Japanese Traditional Watercolor Brush Markers

Stamped with Versafine Clair in Nocture; stamp sets by Altenew. Links below.

Crafty Friends Stamp Set: http://shrsl.com/sqsx

Bamboo Rose Stamp Set: http://shrsl.com/sqsz

 

SAI Japanese Traditional Watercolor Brush Markers

I used the markers as a stamping wash so it matches the Unicorn perfectly. LInk to that stamp set below.

Magical Unicorn: https://www.ellenhutson.com/my-favorite-things-clear-stamps-magical-unicorns-by-birdie-brown/

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.
Shop Your Fav Brands at Scrapbook.com

  • About the Author
  • Latest Posts

About Jenny

Chief Craft Test Dummy, Craft Evangelist, Founder, Editor, bottle-washer, trouble-maker, and creative whirlwind.
  • Spooky Spider Halloween Bookmark Craft - October 24, 2018
  • Review and Demo of LDRS Hybrid Ink Pads - October 15, 2018
  • Review and Demo of Nuvo Hybrid Inks - October 1, 2018
  • Craft Studio Tour and Organization Ideas - September 20, 2018
  • Wax Paper Resist Background Technique - March 20, 2018
  • Comparison of Liquid Watercolor Markers/Pens - March 16, 2018
  • SAI Japanese Traditional Watercolor Brush Markers- Review & Demo - February 23, 2018
  • Rinea Metallic Foil Paper & Ghost Ink Review - February 21, 2018
  • Jane Davenport debuts at Creativation 2018 & Watercolor Card - February 13, 2018
  • Creativation 2018: New Product Showcase - January 20, 2018

Posted in Jenny Sez |

ctd-headshot-round

Hi! I’m Jenny, the co-host of Hands On Crafts for Kids on PBS and the Head Dummy behind CraftTestDummies.com where you’ll find craft product reviews, tutorials, and craft industry news.

ctd-fb ctd-pin ctd-twitter cts-insta ctd-youtube ctd-g ctd-email

Search

ctd-subscribe
Want weekly craft projects delivered straight to your inbox?

YouTube

Disclosure

CraftTestDummies is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

jenny-headshot-square

Jenny Barnett Rohrs is Head Dummy and Pied Piper behind CTD, which focuses on reviews, tutorials, and craft industry news. Jenny has appeared on HSN, Scrapbook Soup PBS series, and is currently the co-host of Hands On Crafts for Kids on PBS.

ctd-fb-30  ctd-pin-30  ctd-twitter-30  cts-insta-30  ctd-youtube-30  ctd-g-30  ctd-email-30  ctd-rss-30

Copyrighted Content Permission All images and tutorials on this blog are copyrighted material. Please contact me if you would like to borrow any media (photos, video or audio files), tutorials, or ideas from this blog. 99% of the time I would be happy to allow you to use one photo with appropriate credit and link back to CraftTestDummies.com (preferably to the same post it was borrowed from.)
clever-network  linqia  viglink

All content copyright © 2015 Craft Test Dummies | Privacy Policy | Disclosures | Site design by XO Sarah

MENU
  • Craft News
    • CHA Coverage
    • Crafting for a Cause
    • Giveaways
    • CTD on TV
    • Quilt Market
  • Craft Product Reviews
    • Apps & Sites
    • Art Supplies/Mixed Media
    • Beads/Jewelry Products
    • Books, Magazines, Events
    • Comparisons
    • Crafty Tools
    • Fabric, Needle, & Quilting Arts
    • Food Crafts
    • Paints, Inks & Dyes
    • Paper Crafts
    • Polymer Clay & Tools
  • Craft Storage and Tips
  • Crafty People & Places
    • Crafty Field Trips
  • Kids Stuff
    • Hands On Crafts For Kids-TV show
  • Winter/Christmas
  • Home Decor
  • Food Crafting/ Party Crafts
  • Valentine’s /Sweetest Day
  • Spring/Easter
  • Wedding & Shower Crafts
  • Father’s Day Crafts
  • Baby & Shower Crafts
  • Mother’s Day Crafts
  • Patriotic crafts
  • Summer Crafts
  • Fall Crafts
    • Halloween Crafts
  • Jenny Sez
    • Sponsored Posts
  • Periscope Superfans Page