Sakura Koi Coloring Brush Pens Review & Demo

Welcome to another thorough review and demo video- and a look at another set of brush pens! This time it's Sakura Koi Coloring Brush pens.
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Packaging: 0:59
Pens: 3:44
Swatching: 7:26
Blending tests/characteristics: 10:58
Speedpaint: 14:00
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Extra links:
Frequently Asked Questions: claudiasketche...
Scan of my swatch sheet: imgur.com/a/gxZCR
Sakrura Koi website with extra product details: sakuraofameric...
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Mentioned videos:
Fibralo review: • Caran d'Ache FIBRALO B...
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Materials:
*Sakura Koi Coloring Brush Pens:
UK: amzn.to/2Gi6eJP
US: amzn.to/2BFSXJ8
*Canson Moulin Du Roy 300gsm hot pressed watercolour paper: UK: amzn.to/2OVzyWi
US: amzn.to/2OWXpF8
Cheap no-brand watercolour paper
Prismacolor Col-Erase pencil
Caran d'Ache waterbrush
Staedtler Pigment Liners
Recommended sketchbooks:
Canson Mix Media Artbook (224gsm)
Moleskine Watercolour Journal
(*By using the Amazon links above, I earn a small percentage commission- at no extra cost to you!*)
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References:
pixabay.com/en...
pixabay.com/en...
pixabay.com/en...
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Music:
Acoustic/Folk Instrumental by Hyde - Free Instrumentals / davidhydemusic
Creative Commons - Attribution 3.0 Unported- CC BY 3.0
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[@JsrSnchz]

just bought a koi brush pen and was searching for some tutorial how to use it, i find yours very helpful. nice work and thanks :)

[@claudiahemmings2080]

Another excellent review! It's obvious that you spend time preparing your videos and it really does pay off - you include so much more information than other reviewers, and you stay fully focused on the product. Really helpful - thanks.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Delighted to hear that you enjoy my videos and find them helpful. Thank you very much! I really enjoy making these review videos, there's something about being thorough and analytical that I find very satisfying. :)

[@sagarbedi359]

This is the best review that I have seen on KZbin for any art material! It was so meticulous and objective. Thank you 😊

[@yuro7585]

I bought these markers about 2 weeks ago when I saw them say 'super blendable' and I was very confused as to why my markers would'nt blend properly! Then I watched this and saw that you actually had to use water.. oops

[@ClaudiaSketches]

You don't have to use water to get them to blend though. :) At 11:02 I show that you can get these pens to merge seamlessly without any blender pen or wet brush. You do need some good quality watercolour paper that can stand up to being abraded by the nibs, but it's entirely possible to get smooth blends with the pens alone. However, you'll need the blender pen or a wet paintbrush in order to create pale/less saturated areas in order to dilute the ink.

[@yuro7585]

Thank you for the reply! I went back and tried to blend them again the way you did without the water and they were able to blend better. What I meant by 'blend properly' was that I was using the picture on the packaging as the reference and was wondering why I couldn't get my markers to blend the same way they did on the packaging. :D

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Oh I see! I'm pleased you were able to get a better blend this time round though :D Yeah, water certainly makes things easier!

[@kyokokirigiri4644]

Claudia Sketches umm how much was this?

[@ClaudiaSketches]

@@kyokokirigiri4644 I have a materials list and links in the description, but price can vary a lot depending on country and shop!

[@ParasolMushroomStudios]

Birdies!!! :DDDDDD I love the textures in this! Making watercolor look watercolory is hard for me because I always go for detailed rather than simple and soft. You got the perfect balance of detailed but simplified. I love it! :D

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Parasol Mushroom Art Thank you so much, Para! I always try and aim for as loose as Im comfortable now with watercolour because it's nice to have a little respite from the high detail and control achieved with coloured pencil. :)

[@marj9828]

Wow, I think this is the most detailed review.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you for watching and commenting, glad that you think that it's detailed :)

[@crystallp6274]

Oh my!! I have a complete set in a drawer gathering dust! I am definitely going to try these with hot pressed watercolor paper! Thank you so much!!

[@ClaudiaSketches]

You're most welcome, Crystall! I hope you enjoy them as much as I do :D

[@juliashireen6195]

What a brilliant, detailed video with good pace and clear instructions

[@judithmorgan1718]

Brilliant tips and insights. Hadn't made the distinction between fine art design vs professional tools, most clear description, thanks. i originally learned about these from lettering/calligraphy professionals rather than artists per se. as a beginning lettering devotee, it's wonderful seeing so many applications of tools on hand. Great job.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

I'm glad you found the video interesting and helpful! Thank you so much for watching and commenting. :) I also love finding out about products too and the more versatile they are the better!

[@MalamikArt]

Well done video and beautiful work on your painting. :) Looking forward to more water-based marker tutorials!

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Malamik Art Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed the video :)

[@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536]

Very nice birds. Congratulations to the designer and the maker of the pencils. 🌎👍❤.

[@christinapedersen1838]

Lovely birds and great, thorough review! I'd definitely be interested in the video on using brush pens!

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you very much! I've got some ideas and I think I can have something out early in the new year :)

[@martokotka4524]

If I didn't see this video id still be using them as regular markers ... bless you, keep up the good reviews.

[@samoafex]

Claudia, what an excellent review! It was like attending class - a damn good one. Thank you, your video was really helpful.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

This is so lovely to hear! Glad you approve of my videos and found the information useful :)

[@DJVoyagerXue]

I have just purchased my first set of brush pens and this was fantastic for me to see :)

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Awesome! I hope you enjoy working with them :)

[@YarraYora]

this is a really nice reference on what i can do w my brush pens

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you very much for watching and commenting, I'm glad you think so! Have fun with your brush pens :)

[@namjoonsbigtoe436]

I more than 20 of them and didn't know what to do with them so thank you this helped a lot!!

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thanks for watching and commenting! Glad you've been inspired- hope you enjoy your pens :)

[@lutsurugi]

i really liked the drawing at the end, amazing!

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you so much! :)

[@Coda02]

wow you sketched that in just 15 minutes, thats impresive!

[@stefos6431]

Your video is wonderful and but your verbal content is fabulous.....Thank you for sharing so much in this 21 min video!

[@ginasartcorner5686]

Wonderful video! Very good review and such cute birds from the demonstration!

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you very much Shiroichi! :)

[@frolein]

Thank you so much for making this video, I learned so much about my new pens!

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you very much for watching and commenting! I'm glad you found the video helpful. Enjoy your new pens :D

[@veronicamarquez1104]

This was so useful and fun to watch! Thanks for sharing all your knowledge

[@marinakryukova9599]

Hello, thank you for such a detailed review!

[@Soneliane]

Thank you so much for detailled review it’s very helpful. It great to know these brush pen seems blend so much without water cause I look for pen/marker with a good blend easy.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

You're very welcome- thank you for watching and commenting! I'm glad you found the review useful :)

[@btwn1n555]

Got these for my bday! Great set, great tutorial as well.

[@barbarawilliams7012]

Excellent thorough review. A similar one on Derwent Inktense would be great.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

I have a set of Inktense pencils (and blocks) that I'll review eventually- it will be a few months before I get to them on the list though. Glad you enjoyed my video :)

[@ruthh.935]

Just bought these brush pens. Your video will be very helpful. TFS.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

You're very welcome, thanks for watching and commenting! Glad you'll find it helpful- enjoy those new supplies :D

[@marionwigzell7334]

Lovely review of these pens Claudia. I love their vibrancy and watercolour effects. In Australia, I paid $60 for the 24 set and they retail for $2.40 each. The great thing about them too is that they are available as open stock. Have you tried Bristol board for any of the brush pens? Wishing you and your family a great Christmas. Thanks Marion

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you very much, Marion! Merry Christmas to you too :) I haven't tried it specifically on Bristol board but I'm sure that the hot pressed watercolour paper I use for these reviews (Canson Moulin du Roy hotpressed) is a similae surface.

[@BigBandWolf]

Thanks. This sold me over..

[@chloebarbopoulos5755]

What a great review. So detailed.

[@tombryan720]

Great video. Sakura owns Talens Rembrandt. Have you tried any Kingart markers?

[@harmansinghsoni6091]

Amazing artwork!

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you very much :)

[@dextergoffney9300]

Your a damn good artists!"🖒

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you so much! :D

[@empyreal84]

Very good review! I bought these and I was wondering how did they paint the carp, and your video made it clear that they need to be activated with water heh heh I like the colors a lot :)

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you very much for watching! Glad you found it helpful :)

[@qwyt_9778]

thank you so much for this !! excellent review, very helpful

[@abdulazizk6802]

Thank you so much for informative explanation💛💛💛💛💛

[@kingakalinowska7854]

Thank you for this extremely helpful video 🙏🌺

[@lolo_leeno]

Look at this wall wow 😮😍

[@spr15]

This was very helpful thankyou :)

[@NiaChan04]

No.Thank YOU for this video! I was searching for a video like this but when i clicked on this one i actually loved how you make this video very detailed for the reviews! I got these pens yesterday because my friend also have these but since i don't want to waste her pens by borrowing it 24/7 so i brought four of these in set myself i really love these pens because it's rare to find one where i lived so yeah! #YouveEarnedAsub

[@jamiesweet4352]

that was such a detailed review

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Jamie Sweet Thank you! I like to try to leave no stone unturned :)

[@mrpatato137]

I fell in love with their brush pens and I wished they had more colors and I found out about these

[@ellemller]

do you recommend koi brushes for beginners? I want to start coloring with markers and stuff like that but I don't want to buy something expensive that I won't be able to use haha

[@abdullahawad9679]

Hey 👋 there ! Thanx for the illustration and guide on how to use these bad boys . I have a question regarding the layering effect , is there any possibility where I can lay over a colored pencils over these water based after drying ? Thanx and have a nice day/night

[@artist-hyperrealisticart9485]

that's so good! beautiful coloring and awesome 😎👍

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you! :)

[@JaneMetcalfe]

Great review! I found that the nibs degraded very quickly but I did buy them on Ebay. I sent a couple of them to Royal Talens to test. In the meantime they are sending me a free pack of 12. That's wonderful customer service!

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Jane Metcalfe Thank you very much! Good to know that they have helpful customer service too :)

[@JaneMetcalfe]

Derwent are the same in case you have any problems with their products as well.👍

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Yep! I've dealt with their customer service twice now- they sent replacements and were incredibly prompt. Always a massive thumbs up in my book, shows they really care about customers and are dedicated to their product and experience :)

[@JaneMetcalfe]

I live in Cumbria so I guess I'm biased as their factory is only about 45 miles away.😀 I've also been to their Pencil Museum which, believe me, isn't as boring as it sounds. Really must go back there as it's been re-vamped since it got flooded a couple of years ago.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

I am a tad envious I must admit, it sounds brilliant to be so nearby! I've wanted to go to the pencil museum since finding out about it, but alas I'm originally from the south east (where all of my family lives) and going to Cumbria would definitely be a long journey.

[@fukurokun33]

U can also dip ur brush pen in water to make it more transparent/low in contrast

[@bethzabecastros7110]

I love your art!!!!

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you very much :D

[@wajahatrizvi6725]

hey, I have a question: how did you made a very light or different color using only one brush pen like you made the orange into a very light orange shade and can we dip the pens in water like we do in water brushes??

[@yes-fc5lg]

i think you use a water brush and dab on the marker nib and either use the marker on the paper for a temporary lighter marker colour or get a water colour effect by putting the water brush on the paper!:D

[@wajahatrizvi6725]

@@yes-fc5lg but how to blend if we dont have the water brush??

[@yes-fc5lg]

@@wajahatrizvi6725 just take a regular brush dipped in water and dab it onto the marker nib. I think then it will be like watercolour and maybe easier to blend:0

[@ramonad3593]

Lovely painting ! I'd love to see more such tutorials. Which do you prefer - Pitt brush pens or these ? They are available at similar prices here.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Ramona D The Pitt Pens are more value for money if they are both at the same price- here Pitt Pens are about twice the cost of Koi per pen. If you are interested in lightfast results, the Pitt Pens for sure. If you want a true watercolour/water activated pen, the Koi. :) Thank you very much, glad you liked it and are looking forward to more! :D

[@ramonad3593]

Thank you!

[@shaden2698]

I'm a beginner in watercoloring , would you recommend these coloring brush pens or the other regular palette ? (i mean from the same brand)

[@alystar97]

i bought a pack of these after i tried a couple of ones and really liked them! some of the brushes are super soft now though the ones i used the most, and idk what to do with them now, any suggestions?

[@keziarobertatanasale6170]

I bought these markers and already tried to blend just like you did. But I was very confused as to why my markers are not blended. I want to learn just like the video did. Should I use water and paintbrush for blend? or is there any material that I should buy?

[@ClaudiaSketches]

You can blend the colours together fairly easily without water, but you can use a water and paintbrush to dilute and spread the ink out. Although you can use these pens on regular drawing paper, I recommend good quality watercolour paper if you want to use a brush and water to dilute, or apply lots of layers.

[@aleksandrakawa7331]

Great rev!

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you very much :)

[@68Smehta]

Can I use this on different colouring books - mandala, paradise etc...

[@Leonardorath]

Hey one question pls reply !! Does it bleed on a 60-70 gsm paper like will it be visible on the other side of the paper ?

[@wzhatelier3755]

Hi, i do use good water color paper, but i have a problem here when try to blend color with water, it still can't blend properly with hard edge (unlike your video, its blend very well with water). And one of my koi brush pen, ink start to dry off after mixing with water when second use. Any advise? Tq

[@Ely-hf8yr]

This video was awesome!

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you :D Glad you liked it!

[@Ely-hf8yr]

Claudia Sketches you’re welcome :D

[@timmabbb]

This is very useful thank you

[@cherze8425]

I love your video and you accent.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you :D

[@jennifer309]

Guys please help me. Im a beginner. What do you think, should I buy these koi brushing pens skin color manga set? I just have MINISO brushing pens

[@kaylapendleton722]

Omg soooooo goooood!!!!!!

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you! Glad you think so :)

[@germaniumIodide]

Ok i just bought some, and wound up here so i can actually learn. And thank god too cuz i didn't think that you can use water. Im happy

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you very much for watching and commenting! Any waterbased markers can be dissolved with water to create interesting watercolour-like effects. I do suggest using watercolour or mixed media paper when using water though- something thick enough to tolerate being wet so it doesn't buckle or pill. Glad you learned something new! :)

[@maxinevandelaar6533]

Do you reccomend using these pens for your bullet journal? Or would they ghost top much?

[@ClaudiaSketches]

That's going to depend entirely what sort of paper is in your journal and how many layers you expect to do. It's not a question I can answer for you, I'm afraid. I'd recommend giving the paper you have a go with all sorts of waterbased markers you have access too before purchasing these pens. If you find that the ink goes through or the paper gets eaten up, then maybe these aren't such a wise choice.

[@inishkaat]

Hi, nice to see this video, as I have this color pens like now about 2 months and I was wondering how will i get that transparency. which i understood now. Can you please let me know the difference between this water paper to be used and normal artist water color paper? and mostly i found paper for this kinda pens (copic markers too) is not easily available, I keep serching and looking for it. Is the sketch pad for ink okay for this colours?

[@ClaudiaSketches]

This is "normal artist watercolour paper"- it's just hot pressed, meaning that it is very smooth. On the other hand, cold pressed is rougher and more textured (I like to think that "hot pressed" means that the texture on the paper has been ironed out, like how you would iron out wrinkles on a shirt!). Watercolour paper comes in all sorts of varieties, but the most common differences are if it's hot or cold pressed (smooth or rough) and the "weight" of the paper that's measured in grams per square meter (gsm) or pounds (lb). Generally speaking, the higher the gsm, the thicker the paper is and less likely to wrinkle, warp and buckle when wet. Copic markers are very different to these pens as Copic markers contain alcohol based in, and these Sakura Koi pens are water based. You can use sketch pad paper for these pens but the results wouldn't be as good as if you used something that tolerates more abrasion and wetting, such as watercolour paper. You almost certainly won't be able to use water to dilute and spread the ink on sketch pad paper. Sketch pad paper would be alright for Copic markers though as alcohol based markers don't seem to damage the paper as much as water based markers. However, you might find that the ink bleeds through the page and spreads/feathers more on the paper surface on cheap/sketch pad paper, compared to if you were using specially designed paper for alcohol based markers. Additionally, because marker paper has a coating to prevent bleedthrough, you'll use less ink on marker paper than you would on other types of paper. Other paper tends to be more absorbent and "soak up" the ink..

[@haylineric8954]

I need your help. Some videos say that rough thick paper will cause the tip to fray so don't use watercolor paper and then some videos say that you need to use it for best results or atleast mixed media paper. So I'm really confused on what I should do😭 and what should the minimum GSM be? Is 160 good enough? Will 250 be too rough? What does hot and cold pressed mean? Or fine grained and natural grain? I'm sorry I'm such a beginner but I want to know what I should buy! Also I don't plan to use them for lettering just for colouring

[@ClaudiaSketches]

From what I know, paper thickness isn't the thing that causes tips to fray, it's the paper texture that will. I used a very smooth paper (listed in the description). Hot press: smooth. Cold press: rough texture. I remember this by thinking of using a hot iron to smooth out creases in clothes. Thicker paper will be less prone to buckling. If you intend on using water to blend you'll need a thick paper- at least 200gsm, I think- though I'd recommend 300gsm. Heavier papers will generally tolerate heaver applications of water. If you plan on using lots of layers, you definitely want to use a watercolour paper as the sizing (coating on the paper) will prevent the ink being absorbed as much, which will help for blending and possibly help prevent the paper from pilling/disintegrating as quckly. There are no doubt websites that explain these things in more detail than I could- I'm not a watercolourist so my knowledge about the nuances is limited. But I hope this helps.

[@haylineric8954]

@@ClaudiaSketches Thank you so much! You explained it so well.❤️❤️I think I get it now. The one that you used isn't available in my country. But I found this one: Brustro Bristol Ultra Smooth Glued Pad 250 GSM A4-20 Sheets www.amazon.in/dp/B07YX63CYG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_F4l-Eb37Y4XP6 Do you think that's good enough? I think I'll try getting that. Thanks again 😊❤️

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Definitely use what's available to you! But I'm afraid I can't say either way if that specific paper is good or bad- I've never tried it and I don't feel comfortable putting my recommendation behind something I haven't tried or know about.

[@haylineric8954]

@@ClaudiaSketches oh that's fine I understand! Thanks a lot.❤️

[@fooddiaries5472]

Can we use it for calligraphy??

[@noob4453]

Can we open this brush pen to see the refill or cartridge

[@Cottonblade]

Please make another demo!

[@ClaudiaSketches]

I'd love to when I have the time :) Unfortunately I've been caught up in things that have had to be prioritised. Most videos take 20+ hours to make so it's hard to find time between commissions, full-time school and a mountain of other commitments.

[@marjoleingysels6637]

Hi Claudia, do you know if there is any alternative for the broad brush pens now that the coloured ones are no longer available from faber castell? Thank you

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Marjolein Gysels Unfortunately I'm not familiar with this product and don't know what they'd compare to.

[@marjoleingysels6637]

I just meant the faber castell pitt pens which you demonstrated as well but then with a broad brush. But thank you for replying so swiftly anyway.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Ah! Thanks for the extra info. Hmm... then it's going to really depend what you're looking for in a brush pen. I assume it's the broad nib that you want (otherwise you'd just move onto the regular Pitts). The Sakura Koi and the Winsor & Newton Watercolour Markers both have a large, springy and conical tip, but they're not permanent like the Pitts. The W&N have lightfast ratings (although they're mixed and I've yet to pick apart the rating system W&N use), the Kois don't. The Kois are cheaper and come in a larger range of colours though.

[@xdlee1274]

I saw does Markers In The Mall which is 450₱ and i was shock. But. These markers can be a good Experience for Bigginers thats all!

[@ClaudiaSketches]

I definitely recommend them- for beginners and more experienced artists too :) Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@eduardulan6759]

Lee-Lee does Arts are you a filipino cuz you used a peso sign

[@eduardulan6759]

And here in philippines in national book store koi brush pens that is 6 colors are 450 pesos the 12's are 900 and the 24's are 1800 pesos

[@uzmafatima5986]

Do these work on acrylic?

[@bic.550]

My nib pulls straight off, but I've used it for close to a year, so I suppose that's average.

[@milesedgeworth890]

You can buy them by itself (not in a pack)

[@veeruan]

Can i write calli with this Koi? And what papers can i use for this kind of brush?

[@ClaudiaSketches]

The answers you're looking for can be found at around 12:02 and 14:04 :)

[@HeartOfTheForest]

What is the name of the pen filled with water?

[@ClaudiaSketches]

It's a waterbrush by Caran d'Ache. If it helps, I always list my materials in the description :)

[@aaliyafarooq4289]

Can they be used for calligraphy?

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Check at around 12:02 :)

[@68Smehta]

Do they have alcohol in them??

[@hmm2020]

I have those :D

[@vanessamarella]

Vera pretty!!!!!

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you very much :D

[@nadlol9555]

Hi! Are they alcohol base?

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Hi! No, they are waterbased. :)

[@nadlol9555]

@@ClaudiaSketches i have a little problem at the koi brush pens cause i just bought a set of it earlier and the peacock green and light sky blue there tips are broken the light sky blue its tip is so sof and broken i cant even draw a thin line

[@ClaudiaSketches]

If you've just gotten them and they're brand new, I'd see if you can get a replacement from where they were purchased or by sending a message to Sakura's customer service. They shouldn't be broken before use- though the point of the brush tip can easily break if too much pressure is applied or if they're capped incorrectly.

[@czinczok]

can they be recharged or not?

[@ClaudiaSketches]

They're not specifically designed to be, but there's nothing really stopping you from filling them again with some sort of watercolour ink. That being said, you may find that the tips have worn down/frayed a fair bit by the time the pen is empty, and there's no way of getting replacement nibs, so in that sense it may just be better to buy a new pen. They are available open stock. :)

[@Szczurek-98]

what were the numbers of your markers??

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Don't know off the top of my head but I googled "sakura koi brush pen 12 set chart" and came up with this 😊 www.sakuraartmalaysia.com/image/sakura/image/data/XBR_Leaflet%20(Famous).jpg

[@raynah6815]

the tip is a real brush ??

[@ClaudiaSketches]

6:16 they are a conical piece of nylon foam

[@rhoddustine2491]

How much are those?thanks

[@ClaudiaSketches]

There are links to the products in the description box. Unfortunately, I can't give you a specific answer to how much they cost because prices depend on location ( & shipping costs), which shop you purchase from and also change over time.

[@rhoddustine2491]

Thank youu💕

[@sheelalakhwan7235]

Price

[@SleepingForAWeek]

Mine break all types of my papers

[@algi7399]

Me too but :'O