Tombow Markers – Review For Watercolour

Landscape Painting Tombow Marker Review | Whims And Fancies

 

 

Last month, quite unexpectedly, Mother Nature treated me to a weekend of rain. The sound of rain is like the calls of the mythological Sirens for me. Re-purposing John Muir’s quote – “The rain is calling and I must go”, and go I did. I put on my raincoat and my waterproof pants and went for a 4+ mile run, all the while feeling the rain on my face. I was so happy and full of energy after coming back, I painted this little scene.

 

 

Landscape Painting Tombow Marker Review | Whims And Fancies

 

 

Early this year in January, I got some art supplies for my birthday from my husband.  These markers were a part of it.

This review is specially for my Paint Party Friday peeps and anyone who loves watercolour or wanting to plunge into that crazy world.

 

Tombow markers are available loose, but they also offer a few sets.

 

 

Landscape Painting Tombow Marker Review | Whims And Fancies

 

 

The landscape set included 9 colours and a blender. 

They are water-based markers, so very easy to blend with a wet brush. I found the included blender to be useless.  It actually scuffed my paper when I used it directly on paper.

The markers only have numbers on them.  I found a chart on Tombow’s website which translates the numbers to standard colour names.  It’s a circular chart not ordered by number, so it was a bit tedious to find the names.

 

 

Landscape Painting Tombow Marker Review | Whims And Fancies

 

 

I applied the markers directly on paper, then used a wet brush to create the swatches.

There is no yellow in the set, that would have been useful.

A lighter blue would have been nice too.  The included blues diluted make very nice light blues. However, directly used on the paper, the initial strokes are too dark.

The colours change hue as they dilute.  So swatching them was very useful.

 

 

Landscape Painting Tombow Marker Review | Whims And Fancies

 

 

The markers are full of pigment.  A gentle dab on the porcelain palette deposited a lot of paint, which I was able to dilute into a much lighter shade.

 

 

Landscape Painting Tombow Marker Review | Whims And Fancies

 

 

I created a small sheet noting their behaviour.

 

 

Landscape Painting Tombow Marker Review | Whims And Fancies

 

 

1st row –

    • The markers blend very easily to create new colours.   Colours blended on the palette are less vibrant than the colours mixed directly on paper.

2nd row –

    • For wet on wet, I used a wet brush on paper and then added colour from the palette. The pigments move very freely.
    • To see if I can achieve a lighter shade directly on the paper, I drew 4 lines, and used a wet brush. While most of the paint diluted well, there was  still a faint hint of the lines on the paper.

3rd row –

    • When I needed to paint vibrant dark areas, it worked really well to use the markers on the paper directly, and then use water to move the pigments around.

 

 

Landscape Painting Tombow Marker Review | Whims And Fancies

 

 

1st row –

    • Here I applied paint from palette to dry paper, resulting in a softer application.
    • The markers themselves don’t work well on wet surfaces. They start fading very quickly.

2nd row –

    • I used brush-tips to write with two colours.  Blending them directly on paper with a wet brush created a beautiful effect.

 

The markers did stain my fingers.  The colours came off after a few washes.  If you are going to make food after painting with these markers, I suggest being a bit more careful when using them.

 

 

Landscape Painting Tombow Marker Review | Whims And Fancies

 

 

I first painted the scene on a Stillman & Birn paper. I couldn’t quite get it to work the way I wanted, specially with the tree.  The colours didn’t move very well.  They either got soaked in or lifted off.

 

 

Landscape Painting Tombow Marker Review | Whims And Fancies

 

 

I painted it again on a Strathmore 400 series watercolour paper. I really liked the way the markers behaved on that paper, it was a more fluid application.

Which one do you like better?

 

Overall I really liked them. They are full of pigment so a little goes a long way. Even on rough watercolour paper, a gentle application was all that was needed. Gentle touch also protects the marker-tips.

If you are thinking about learning watercolour, I think the Tombow markers would be great for that. You can start by drawing with the markers and then add water to blend / dilute the colours. For a softer shade, drop some paint on the palette, then use that with a wet brush.

 

Endless fun possibilities!!

 

Happy Painting!

-Soma

 

 

I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page.  Please pay a visit to some of them.  

 

 

Shop @ InkTorrents Graphics

 

 

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Red Telephone Box Travel Bag

Red Telephone Box quilt pattern, British Telephone Box quilt pattern | Whims And Fancies

 

Purchase Red Telephone Box Pattern

 

I had the idea of a Red Telephone Box quilt pattern for a long while.   As you know, I love old architecture, and I fell in love with the vine- and plant-decked Oxford windows.   So I added a Victorian street lamp along with a lit-up window – an Oxford window, if you will.  Once I had designed and made the block, it became obvious to me that I wanted to make a travel bag with it.

I not only finished sewing the bag, I also managed to make good progress toward an architecture-influenced painting.

 

 

Gothich Architecture Drawing | Whims And Fancies

 

 

After meticulously drawing out the previous symmetrical design with drafting tools, I changed my mind and reordered the elements in an asymmetrical fashion.  This is the planning sketch for the new drawing.

 

 

Gothic Architecture Drawing | Whims And Fancies

 

 

Now that the initial drawing is done, I will start adding shading and the ornamental details.  Then I get to start painting it.  Still a long way to go, but I enjoy getting lost inside a long project.

 

 

Red Telephone Box quilt pattern, British Telephone Box quilt pattern | Whims And Fancies

 

 

After the last two Wandering Camera posts full of Oxford photos and the drawing, I couldn’t ignore the Red Telephone Box block any more.

 

 

Red Telephone Box quilt pattern, British Telephone Box quilt pattern | Whims And Fancies

 

 

Last week I used my very own crossbody bag pattern to make this bag.  I had all the materials at hand, even a fire-engine red zipper.

As this was my One Monthly Goal, I am linking up with Patty at Elm Street

 

 

Red Telephone Box quilt pattern, British Telephone Box quilt pattern | Whims And Fancies

 

 

This blue fabric that I had been saving for a special project was perfect for the back.  I love that it has “Destination Adventure” printed on it.

 

 

Red Telephone Box quilt pattern, British Telephone Box quilt pattern | Whims And Fancies

 

Purchase Red Telephone Box Pattern

 

I pieced the red grid on my telephone booth.  However, for easier piecing, I also included pattern sections without the grid.  The grid can be added afterwards via a thick-width machine stitch.  The finished block is 12″, which I find to be a great size for fun projects.  The Red Telephone Box quilt pattern is available in my shop, if you wish to make one.

 

Now when I travel, I am all set to walk around in old cities carrying my camera, my little travel journal / notebook, even a sketchbook and colour pencils.  It’s even the perfect size for the day trips we love to take on weekends.

 

If you have missed the photos or want to revisit, here are the links for a few of my photos of Christ Church, Oxford –

Posts On England Travel – 2016

Oxford – Christ Church Part I

Oxford – Christ Church Part II

 

You can also still link up on this month’s Wandering Camera.

 

Happy Wandering,
-Soma

 

I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page.  Please pay a visit to some of them.  

 

 

 

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