Testing Zig Clean Color Real Brush pens in LOTS of different colouring books :) | Adult Colouring

[@Tamilia777]

Hi Connie 🌷 I love Zig brushes and use them a lot! They reveal their brightness and beauty in full only with water. Usually, I copy pages from books on high quality paper . Canson XL series Mixed media paper is best for Zig. You don't need to cover the whole element with the ink. For example, If I color a leaf , I cover only 1/3 of it and then pull down the ink with a wet brush. They work amazingly beautiful with water and on the right paper .

[@colouringchemist]

Thank you so much for the advice! You're so right - I'm using them more like my beloved Pitt Pens and I haven't yet explored all the wonderful things they can do. :) Once the school year is over and I have more brain-space to devote to learning some new colouring techniques, I'm definitely going to try using them more like the watercolour inks that they are. :) I admit - I have very little experience with watercolour painting so I find it super intimidating. :) The only way I'll learn is to try, though, so that's what I'll do!

[@ck4429]

Great testing! Your inner scientist is showing lol. I sacrifice one page in each of my coloring books. (Similar to what you tested in the RJ Hampson book). Usually at the back, or on my least favorite page. I boldly write "Test Page" at the top. I use this page to test out different mediums, blending techniques, color combos, satin glaze, fineliners, etc and make brief notes. For example, I may try 3-4 different types of colored pencils. I color a leaf or small portion and make a note of the brand. I also use a 5-star rating method for each. Then the next time I pick up the book, I flip to my test page to see what I had tried previously. I used to record these details in a separate journal, but it's much more efficient to record it in the book itself. I'm amazed at how even different brands of the same medium work on each page! Keep experimenting!

[@colouringchemist]

That's a fabulous idea - thank you so much for sharing!! I love the idea of having a little "colouring journal test page" in each book - so very handy!! And yes - I've tried to keep my inner scientist quiet in the past but she just keeps speaking up. I've decided to just embrace her and let her be free. ;) :)

[@lindaverkade438]

@@colouringchemist That’s what makes your so unique Connie!

[@Rusty-Raven]

Hi Connie. Just a thought.. maybe a challenge for the both of us, would you try using the brush pens as a true watercolor with water and a brush? I really think it would solve your blending issues and the amount of pigment you are using. Correct me if I am wrong but I feel like you are using them like you would Pitt pens (because that is what you are comfortable with) and these brush pens are so much more than that. I have also glazed paper with the Golden satin glazing liquid and watercolors work so much better on a variety of different paper. There is also a lot less buckling in the pages. Maybe give that a try. I love that we are all learning together. Thank you so much for taking the time to experiment. Love the process! -Callee-

[@nedanashu5025]

Yes I agree with you, try them that way it’s much better, also they work well in circle of life book that paper is the best, try the colorless blender theirs or better yet the Tombow one. Also I have found the tombow brush pens to be dryer & easier on the coloring books, the zig ones are just too moist & better for mixed media images.

[@colouringchemist]

I could certainly try! :) Do you mean putting the ink down on a smooth palette and picking it up and blending with a waterbrush (or an actual watercolour brush and water)? Or do you mean colouring with the pens directly on the paper and then blending with water and a brush? I could try both methods. :) And you're definitely right - I am using them like Pitt Pens. :) I had kind of bought them with the thought of using them that way, to be honest. :) I have very little experience with watercolour painting/colouring - it kind of scares me. :) But I'll never learn if I don't try! :) Let me get through the end of the school year and when I have more brain-space to devote to a new type of colouring, I'm willing to give it a try! And yes - I've prepped pages with the Satin Glazing Liquid in the past - it's definitely a game-changer for those paper types that just don't play nicely with water-based mediums! Thank you so much for encouraging me to keep growing! :)

[@colouringchemist]

And yes - Melpomeni's books work wonderfully with the pens! :)

[@Rusty-Raven]

I did go ahead and get the 180 set! Connie you are a terrible influence...just kidding! I am a bit intimidated using them. The brush pens are so fancy and so pigmented. I suppose you just have to keep using them and expementing to learn what techniques work best for you. I am going to try both methods of watercolor with you and see how it takes on treated and untreated pages. I can't wait to see what conclusion you come to. I pray this time at school is not too hectic and you can find some time to relax. Looking forward seeing more from you, thank you Connie.

[@DrennanColors]

Ok, Connie you are making me want to order a small set of these Zig pens to give them a try. They look like fun!

[@colouringchemist]

They are fun! :) They have some lovely, lovely colours and are so easy to work with. I'm really enjoying them!

[@waymire01]

Paper isn't polished, it's pressed. The three factors in finish are the size and composition of the fibers, the finish of the press itself, and how hard it is pressed. Pressing is typically either screen pressed (the pulp is put on a screen and pressed from above giving a different texture to each side) or roller pressed (the pulp is run though a series of rollers and pressed from both sides at once, giving either the same or different textures to each side). Smooth paper is fine particle, smooth pressed, and hard pressed. High quality printing paper can be so hard pressed it's glossy, and those work better for marker blending. Actual marker paper is coated and typically doesn't work well for anything other than marker. Watercolor paper is sized which controls the absorbancy of the paper... and there are plenty of totally smooth watercolor papers, typically labeled as "hot pressed", although finishes vary between brands. Arches hot press is slightly fuzzy. Fabriano hot press is very smooth (and the paper of choice for many professional pencil artists as it is available in large sheets and archival), they also offer a "soft press" (the only brand I'm aware of that does) which is kind of an orange peel texture. The usual watercolor finish you see is cold pressed which is textured on purpose. Rough is.. rougher. The texture effects the distribution of the pigment in watercolor paint (not an issue with most watercolor markers which are dye based), most use cold pressed because it makes it easier to get even washes, but it's not ideal for pencil or pen. Every brand of watercolor paper has a different texture for any of these categories. Sizing can be internal, external, double sided, or any combination of the above. It can also be made of different materials and have different effects.. most common are gelatin and plant starch. Multimedia paper is typically smoother with some sizing. It's decent at everything but best at nothing. Absorbancy is the usual issue with using wet media of any kind in a coloring book. The problem is that coloring books are made to color in, not paint in, or marker in. We are trying to force them to function off label. Paper that handles marker well generally doesn't do well with pencil as there isn't enough tooth. Good watercolor paper is too expensive for publishers to make entire books out of... I've yet to find any "watercolor" books that have actual decent watercolor paper in them. The only exception to this is a couple I've seen that were handmade on Etsy. There is an entire market for "watercolor" books in Asia that are a thin shiny paper, generally you have to import them. They will say watercolor on them, and are typically set up with a full color plate on one page and and an outline on the opposing page, often hardcover. I'm not 100% certain of the paper composition of these books, but they appear to be used wet on dry with minimal water. The best workaround I know of for waterbased markers in professionally published coloring books is to put them on a palette and pick them up with a waterbrush, this adds just enough water to help them move better on the paper and not get sucked in on contact. Alternatively, some coloring books, especially those produced in Korea and Japan, will allow you to apply a small amount of marker and then immediately move it with the brush, but IMO they still do better off a palette. If you want to use these alternative media (waterbased marker, watercolor marker, or paint) to the best effect, by far the best option is to copy the design onto appropriate paper.. either using a printer, lightpad, or graphic transfer. Let me know if you want a breakdown on any of these.. I've done all three, and each has it's pro's and con's.

[@colouringchemist]

Thank you so much for all the info. :) My apologies - I worked as a student at a pulp and paper mill and the papermakers talked about the "polishing" step but I might have misunderstood them - they may have been referring to the pressing/rolling step. I'm curious about the microscopic aspect of different paper surfaces, though - I may break out my stereoscope to see if I can look at the surface of various papers under magnification. If it turns out to be interesting, I'll let folks know. :) And a second apology - I was definitely simplifying the science behind paper and sizing, wasn't I? :) There is a fantastic amount of info on the chemistry of art paper types in my set of the "Handbooks of Colorant Chemistry" - I've thought about doing a video on the chemistry of paper but I wasn't sure if anyone else would be interested. :) It's funny - I prefer to colour in my books even though I know I can scan and print on different papers to better complement the tools I choose for that image. That's why I thought I'd test the Zig pens in a number of different books/on different paper types - I was trying to find out if there were any books with paper that would work at least somewhat well with a pen like the Zig pens without treating the paper or scanning onto different paper. I'm afraid I don't think or plan much like an artist, do I? :) Some of the Japanese/Korean books definitely had some of the best paper for the water-based dye ink even though they aren't watercolour paper. I was somewhat disappointed in the Woodland Watercolor book - I love the artwork but I thought the paper would respond better to watercolour-type tools. Maybe it would work better with pigment-based true watercolour paints as opposed to the dye-based inks in the Zig pens. I'll have to give it a try with some actual watercolours. :) Thank you again for all your info and advice - it's truly appreciated. :)

[@waymire01]

@@colouringchemist absolutely no apologies needed. Just sharing information. I've actually just watched a video by the artist herself painting in Woodland Watercolor with WN paints.. and it's just pulp paper, lots of weird puddling, blooms, etc. Sizing doesn't prevent absorption, it just slows it down so the paint can sit nicely on top long enough to even out and blend. The problem with pulp (wood) is that it's just not that absorbent, not like cotton. It's like trying to wipe up a spill with a paper napkin, vs a cotton washcloth.

[@colouringchemist]

@@waymire01 Excellent analogy! I suppose it would be too expensive to produce an actual watercolour paper colouring book. The only one that I know of is the books that Jennifer and Steve Stay sell on their Coloring Bliss website. You can choose to print some of their books on 90lb watercolour paper. It's a pretty unique thing in the colouring world. :)

[@lisasmith6000]

Wow, theses were really long comments. 😂😂😂

[@colouringchemist]

@@lisasmith6000 What can I say - I like talking about the technical details of things. :) Thanks for chiming in!

[@l.beukema8570]

Great video! One way to blend is to put a layer of the blender beneath and then color over. I am not sure about the Zigs, but that is how I blend with alcohol markers and Ecoline brush pens.

[@colouringchemist]

Ah - excellent idea - I'll have to try that! Thank you! :)

[@MarcieColors]

I have been prepping my pages with either watercolor ground or Golden Satin Glazing Liquid in order to use my Zig clean color brush pens! The treatment allows you more movement and time to blend the inks! Game changer!

[@Ninjamom_colours]

I was just coming here to suggest the same thing! Would love to see examples of that!

[@colouringchemist]

Yes! I've done that in the past with other water-based pens. :) I wanted to see if there were any papers in books out there where I might not have to do that (my inherent laziness coming through ;) :)). But you're both absolutely right - I could totally do that if I wanted to work with the pens in any books with paper that wasn't "playing nicely" with the water-based mediums. :) Thanks to both of you for chiming in!

[@Ninjamom_colours]

@@colouringchemist I’ve done it once with watercolor ground and didn’t like the gritty texture - I worried that it would ruin the nibs on my markers.

[@colouringchemist]

@@Ninjamom_colours Yeah - watercolour ground is very gritty. I tried it a few times, too, and didn't like working on it. I'm so glad that someone was smart enough to try the Satin Glazing Liquid and then to share the idea with the rest of us! :)

[@Ninjamom_colours]

@@colouringchemist I haven’t tried that! Is it smooth?

[@ritakelsey4606]

I’ve been looking for that Korean watercolor book that you showed that has the sample colored page. Then on the facing page is the one for you to color, if you could possibly find that in English, so I know what to put in my Google search I would be forever grateful. I think it’s beautiful and I love watercolor coloring books.

[@colouringchemist]

I'm not sure what the title is in English but you could search for it by its ISBN number. If you type ISBN 9791191937336 into Google, you should be able to find that book. If not, let me know and I can try to get an English translation of the title for you. :)

[@lindaverkade438]

Hi Connie! Because i want to use my zig brushpens, i was wondering how they work in dfferent colouring books….well, this video is just what i need! I just bought the woodland colouring book a couple of days ago to use the zigg’s, sorry to hear that they not working properly in this book… you are a daredevil! Try out the zigg’s at the risk of ruining your colouring books😮!! Nice to hear they work fine on Malpomeni books!

[@colouringchemist]

So glad you enjoyed the video! Yes - they work like a DREAM in Melpomeni's books!! :)

[@dawntappenden1804]

Thanks Connie, interesting and helpful 😊

[@colouringchemist]

You're very welcome - glad you enjoyed it! :)

[@Anjavdb2000]

I have also much pitt pens, they suggest me, after finish a mandala book , all emty...to have paper like smooth paper for handlettering

[@colouringchemist]

The Pitt Pens definitely like smoother paper! :)

[@felicegreen8433]

Thank you so much for this video! I love coloring on smooth paper. I have Zig brushables which are double sided and water based. Do you know if they are the same as the pens you are using? Thanks again, Connie, this was wonderful!

[@colouringchemist]

So glad you enjoyed it! :) The Zig Brushables (as far as I know :)) are a water-based dye ink pen with two ends - both of which have a foam rubber brush tip. There is a slightly lighter version of the colour in one end and a slightly darker version in the other end (which makes them nice for blending). The Zig Clean Color Real Brush pens have only one end (and one colour of ink) per pen but instead of having a foam rubber brush nib, they have a brush tip that's like a real little paint brush with actual nylon bristles. They are still a water-based dye ink pen, though, so that part is kind of similar to the Brushables. Hope that helps!

[@robynbroderick6822]

Hello Connie Thankyou so much for this wonderful comparison. 🌷

[@colouringchemist]

You're welcome - glad you liked it! :)

[@robynbroderick6822]

Connie may I ask which Staedtler brush pens do you use. 🌷

[@colouringchemist]

The pens are the Staedtler Pigment Brush Pens. You can buy them in sets from Amazon or you can buy them through open stock from Cult Pens. Currently, they have 36 colours and them make a wonderful addition to my set of Faber-Castell Pitt Pens. :)

[@robynbroderick6822]

Thankyou Connie.⚘

[@louisescherbain312]

Very informative video. Thank you. What pencils case to you store yours in?

[@colouringchemist]

Glad you liked it! :) I have them in this case: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09895QCNY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 It's the 200 gel pen case so I have some extra slots (in case they come out with more colours ;) :). Hope that helps!

[@louisescherbain312]

@@colouringchemist Thank you.

[@colouringchemist]

@@louisescherbain312 You're welcome! :)

[@JessicaSzempruch]

Interesting experiment. I do know that watercolor is tricky to blend, in that water is needed to move the colors. In theory, the colorless blender would be needed to blend those pens, especially on the watercolor paper. I always use hot pressed watercolor paper, since it’s smooth, and watercolors are much easier to work with on smoother paper. I am a huge fan of super smooth paper for any medium I use.

[@colouringchemist]

You're definitely right - a fair amount of liquid is required for watercolours to blend nicely. :) You wouldn't necessarily need to use the blender pen - you can use any pen to blend any other pen as long as you're putting down enough liquid on the paper. :) I'm assuming the coloured pens have the same base liquid as the blender pen with different dyes added to each pen (but I could be wrong on that :)). And yes - I'm a big fan of smooth paper! Thanks so much for chiming in!

[@lisasmith6000]

Thanks for doing that. ❤️

[@colouringchemist]

You're welcome! :)