Thanks for the advice. What do you mean by thinner washes? I’m actually not following any tutorials, but rather figuring this on my own, so I don’t know any jargons I’m afraid. I’m using 200 gsm a6 watercolor sheets, and some low quality watercolor brush pens. I’m rubbing the paint on a clear watercolor brush pen and painting it with that. I mostly don’t use the color pens by themselves on paper.
Ah, that explains that look you got. It’s best to start with actual watercolors, and not brush pens. These brush pens don’t allow you to use them in a thinner (watery) consistency, which will allow you to build nice-looking layers. By the time you have layed the color on paper, it goes inside the paper and it doesn’t create a nice looking “wash” (spread of the pigment). The brush pens are more interesting to be used in specific kinds of illustrations, rather than traditional watercolor. Also, 200gsm is a bit thin for watercolors.
I’d highly suggest you get 300gsm paper (I’d suggest Meeden 10X7" Cotton Watercolor Paper, $21), watercolor “round” brushes at various sizes ($10 for a set), and a set of good watercolors. I’d suggest the MeiLiang Watercolor Paint Set for $21 (best quality for the price). The look you will get from these will be much different than the brush pens, and will be a lot more versatile.
Thanks for the advice. What do you mean by thinner washes? I’m actually not following any tutorials, but rather figuring this on my own, so I don’t know any jargons I’m afraid. I’m using 200 gsm a6 watercolor sheets, and some low quality watercolor brush pens. I’m rubbing the paint on a clear watercolor brush pen and painting it with that. I mostly don’t use the color pens by themselves on paper.
Ah, that explains that look you got. It’s best to start with actual watercolors, and not brush pens. These brush pens don’t allow you to use them in a thinner (watery) consistency, which will allow you to build nice-looking layers. By the time you have layed the color on paper, it goes inside the paper and it doesn’t create a nice looking “wash” (spread of the pigment). The brush pens are more interesting to be used in specific kinds of illustrations, rather than traditional watercolor. Also, 200gsm is a bit thin for watercolors.
I’d highly suggest you get 300gsm paper (I’d suggest Meeden 10X7" Cotton Watercolor Paper, $21), watercolor “round” brushes at various sizes ($10 for a set), and a set of good watercolors. I’d suggest the MeiLiang Watercolor Paint Set for $21 (best quality for the price). The look you will get from these will be much different than the brush pens, and will be a lot more versatile.
I’d suggest you start with this tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDdfPMTX15Y and then continue with these ones: https://www.youtube.com/@Nianiani/videos Feel free to message me or email me directly if you like some more help!
Thank you, that makes sense. I’ll try that.