Steve, I had no idea that the Sakura Gelly Roll pens dries waterproof! This is a game changer for me. I do prefer the Signa white pens for their reliability, even flow and opacity, but I can’t go back and rework my paintings once it’s applied. I have a few .08 mediums in the Gelly Roll which I never use. Now I will! Thank you for this information. xx
Thanks for the tip on the Uniball Signo, I didn't know it wasn't water proof. I was using the Sakura Decorese, but it leaves a raised, glossy texture; patting it out with my fingers may help. You have given a lot of options I did not know about, thank-you.
So many white pens to choose from out there, so it's nice to see such a thoughtful, comprehensive discussion on them. For me, I stick with the Gelly Roll as my go to, but when I did a comparison, I found the Sharpie products were also quite useful, as well. I do recommend those Posca pens, as they are accessible and work well! Of course, my standard go-to is always Windsor & Newton white gouache. But, you probably knew that! lol! Cheers, Steve!
Hey buddy, thanks for chiming in. Good pro input as usual. Just getting to know the Posca products so maybe that will become a staple. But as you said, Gelly Rolls are a dependable go to and rarely let me down!
I have such bad luck with Faber castell pens. And absolutely no luck when dealing with the company. I will never buy another one. Glad they work for you.Thanks for the review.
Thanks for the demo on these white pens.. I was just looking for one to use for Pen and Ink course I'm taking. I have a Posca and after your lesson feel that it would do what I need for the class.. I bought a pen but may return because my Posca will work just fine for what I need it for. Great information thanks again.
Thanks Steve I also have been trying white pens, markers, etc..I will check out a few of your suggestions, . I am in San Francisco so pretty good art supply stores here..
You might be interested in a little demo I saw by Stephanie Law where she does a small watercolour of Gelly Fish using white pen. I thought it was pretty unique. My favorite white is the Gelly Roll. I've purchased many of the Uni Ball and not one of them worked. Just my luck I guess because people seem to love them. Thanks Steve. Helpful as always.
First, thank you for your generosity by sharing your expertise, I always find this channel relaxing and with lots of great contents. Uniball Signo can be used as an effect pen in watercolor. Fx if you wish to make a blurred or smoked aura around an object ever so slightly it can be done with a Signo. Again thank you and I will look forward to the next video of yours.
Thank you for this! I've been trying to find a decent white pen forever now. I've tried to like the Gelly Rolls, but they consistently keep stopping and skipping, which sucks since I do otherwise like how white and manipulative it is. I do like the Molotow pen, but the smallest I could find was 2mm, which is too big for me. (I draw/paint small) But these all look interesting, thanks for sharing, will definitely be checking these out!
I've found one white Gelly Roll may not be the same as another. Its why I keep a ton of them around. I've had most like the ones in this video that flow so beautifully and others that I throw across the room. Maybe age? Don't know.
Good vid, as always. I use the jelly rolls and a thicker POSCA white and they work well. My only issue with the POSCA is the nib which can be too tough and a bit scratchy if you work the paper a bit. I DID like the pentel signo but I’ve had 2 just stop working, with a half-full barrel and I always put the lids on 🤔 so I won’t be getting anymore of them... just saying 😉
Great segment! I just got a Kuretake Zig White Color Brush Pen Fine and was surprised I was having so much trouble with flow because none of the other colors had issues. I can see now it may be common with their white. I think it was in a previous episode you showed bleed proof white - this made me wonder if it was watered down just a bit if it would flow with a converter in a brush pen. Or maybe a refillable watercolor brush. I think I'll try that... I had switched to Signo and just worked on a piece I nearly destroyed because I did a wash over it and it got all milky everywhere... it was terrible. Great ideas as always, thank you.
For anyone having issues with your white gel pens not working well, try drawing on the back of your hand, the oils on our skin lubricate the tip and get the ink flowing again. I do it each time I uncap one to use it
MeowMeowKapow has a very comprehensive white pen review as well! And she is a fantastic watercolorist. Thank you for this review I am surprised the Gellyroll is your favorite
Dick Blick now carries the black & white set...and then if you scroll all the way to the bottom of the colors, you can buy these same white ones a la carte.
That Deleter name seems appropriate if the white started out as correction fluid. Haha! I don't think it ever did though. I mostly remember needing to use White Out or Wite(?)Out occasionally in the 1980s when I was a secretary. When we got word processors, they were miraculous, life-changing things! Every highschool student should try typing a research paper, complete with footnotes on a typewriter just for the experience. There are working manual typewriters still around. Maybe they could offer a Steampunk typing class. 🚂🎩 That could be fun! 😊
Yeah, the bolder they are the more reliable the flow but sounds like you have had a bad one or two. Over time, the tips can dry out or a bad one surfaces so try more than one. For the most part they are the most reliable brand I've used. I do occasionally get some that just won't flow and picking up watercolor from the surface sometimes exacerbates the problem.
Steve, when a Gelly Roll blocks up, just scribble on the cup of your finger and it will carry on as before! Oh, and I was very curious about the Faber-Castell set. I have only ever seen those in a set since they came out late last year here in Germany (if I remember correctly). You showed some pens I had not seen before. So thank you for that. More supplies to try! 😂😍😊
Faber-Castell Pitt markers may be purchased individually and are available in open stock, at least in Ireland and Europe. I just bought one the other day from my local shop. Interesting that the Uniball pens are not waterproof; I didn't know that.
I have tried nearly all the white pens and they all crap out on me. I now use the refillable schmincke fine tip pen and I fill it with schmincke aero colour opaque white ink. If you want white then you get it with this combination. The pen is made to work with these inks.
I live in upstate SC too and wondered where you shop for art supplies? You mentioned your “local art store”. Is there any place other than Suburban Paint? They are great! Just curious if I was missing others.
Nope, that’s the one! They order and fulfill local student class supply lists and that plus the house paint keep them in business. We’ve had others that have all gone the way of the dinosaurs.
I'm curious at the counter number 4:05 you made some lines with a white pen and I noticed the pen left "gunk" behind...you know, more ink that it should have left behind. Then you scribbled out the top of the lines where the gunk is...why?
Yep. have used them all. Great for studio! Not so much for plein air. And there is something to be said for just reaching over and grabbing a pen. No fuss, no muss.
You can get the open stock white Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pens online at Blick. www.dickblick.com/products/faber-castell-pitt-artist-pens-and-sets/ :)
Been using the gelly rolls for a long time & I am a big fan of them. I had wondered about the Posca, so thanks for showing them. Off the subject of pens, I know you are a big Arches fan (me too) but wanted to know if you have tried the Dick Blicks Brand 140# cold or hot press. People had told me that they think it compares to Arches.... so I had to try it. In my opinion, it REALLY is very comparable. So, just saying, if you are into experimenting, I would like to know what you think.
I have some but not used it yet. I've also heard its very good. Rumors are that it may be Saunders Waterford by St. Cuthbert's Mill. Kilimanjaro from Cheap Joes may also be the same paper but nobody is sure. Its great also.
@@mindofwatercolor, well get on it :) LOL . I got online and had asked for a sample, as my store didn't have single sheets or any open blocks to check it out. After waiting almost 2 weeks, I had to laugh when I got the samples... one cold & one hot press piece...stapled together -3" x 4" !!! I wanted to purchase a 14 x 20" block (which is not cheap), for my 4th children's book illustrations. Anyway, I took a chance on it and have not been disappointed so far. I sure think they could sell a lot more of it, if they weren't so stingy and would give it more exposure! :)
Depends on who is defining "mixed media" and why. If it's not to adhere to any contest or show rules it doesn't matter. If it does they usually define it pretty closely.
Steve, I had no idea that the Sakura Gelly Roll pens dries waterproof! This is a game changer for me. I do prefer the Signa white pens for their reliability, even flow and opacity, but I can’t go back and rework my paintings once it’s applied. I have a few .08 mediums in the Gelly Roll which I never use. Now I will! Thank you for this information. xx
Perfect timing! I just spent an hour comparing white opaque pens and gave up and decided to come see if you had any videos on this. :)
Love that little painting you were testing on 👍🏻
Thanks for the tip on the Uniball Signo, I didn't know it wasn't water proof. I was using the Sakura Decorese, but it leaves a raised, glossy texture; patting it out with my fingers may help. You have given a lot of options I did not know about, thank-you.
likewise Jacqulyyn,,,I did not know either...thank you Steve!
Very helpful video, thankyou!! You're right, I haven't seen any other UA-camrs do a video like this. Well done!!👏🏻
I absolutely love watching everything you do . Your animals, birds are so beautiful and realistic.
So many white pens to choose from out there, so it's nice to see such a thoughtful, comprehensive discussion on them. For me, I stick with the Gelly Roll as my go to, but when I did a comparison, I found the Sharpie products were also quite useful, as well. I do recommend those Posca pens, as they are accessible and work well! Of course, my standard go-to is always Windsor & Newton white gouache. But, you probably knew that! lol! Cheers, Steve!
Hey buddy, thanks for chiming in. Good pro input as usual. Just getting to know the Posca products so maybe that will become a staple. But as you said, Gelly Rolls are a dependable go to and rarely let me down!
I have such bad luck with Faber castell pens. And absolutely no luck when dealing with the company. I will never buy another one. Glad they work for you.Thanks for the review.
Thanks..I have so much trouble with Sakura white, I'm always throwing them out. I'm going to try the Pitt pens. Good information...
Thanks for the demo on these white pens.. I was just looking for one to use for Pen and Ink course I'm taking. I have a Posca and after your lesson feel that it would do what I need for the class.. I bought a pen but may return because my Posca will work just fine for what I need it for. Great information thanks again.
Thanks Steve I also have been trying white pens, markers, etc..I will check out a few of your suggestions,
. I am in San Francisco so pretty good art supply stores here..
Thank you, Steve, great synchronicity too.
Thanks, Steve. Started with Signo but then found Gelly Roll. As always, terrific presentation of your review.🖒
You might be interested in a little demo I saw by Stephanie Law where she does a small watercolour of Gelly Fish using white pen. I thought it was pretty unique. My favorite white is the Gelly Roll. I've purchased many of the Uni Ball and not one of them worked. Just my luck I guess because people seem to love them. Thanks Steve. Helpful as always.
I recommend the Uniball Posca bullet tip white pen. Very opaque and doesn't seem to dry up.
Thanks Douglas. I'm pretty new to the Posca products so I'll give it some attention.
First, thank you for your generosity by sharing your expertise, I always find this channel relaxing and with lots of great contents. Uniball Signo can be used as an effect pen in watercolor. Fx if you wish to make a blurred or smoked aura around an object ever so slightly it can be done with a Signo. Again thank you and I will look forward to the next video of yours.
Kuretake Zig White Color Brush Pen can be loaded with more fluid white ink like Dr. ph. martins bleed proof or maybe another white watercolor?
Blick's has the black and white Pitt set, and they sell each individually. They're on backorder!
Thanks
Thanks, Steve. I really needed that information!
Thanks for a great review and suggestions regarding using it with watercolour. I just about gave up using it but will try some of your suggestions.
Thanks there were some that I didn’t know about and thanks for the information on how you use them.
Great info, Steve! I looked online and saw DickBlick carries the Faber-Castell Pitt pens individually in white - chisel, bullet, brush.
Thank you for this! I've been trying to find a decent white pen forever now. I've tried to like the Gelly Rolls, but they consistently keep stopping and skipping, which sucks since I do otherwise like how white and manipulative it is. I do like the Molotow pen, but the smallest I could find was 2mm, which is too big for me. (I draw/paint small) But these all look interesting, thanks for sharing, will definitely be checking these out!
I've found one white Gelly Roll may not be the same as another. Its why I keep a ton of them around. I've had most like the ones in this video that flow so beautifully and others that I throw across the room. Maybe age? Don't know.
Reese is camera-shy this week? 😊 So many options, but I’ll have to see which pens don’t dry out too quickly here in the Mojave Desert!
Good vid, as always. I use the jelly rolls and a thicker POSCA white and they work well. My only issue with the POSCA is the nib which can be too tough and a bit scratchy if you work the paper a bit.
I DID like the pentel signo but I’ve had 2 just stop working, with a half-full barrel and I always put the lids on 🤔 so I won’t be getting anymore of them... just saying 😉
Great input Gee, thanks!
I use and love the Gelly Roll pens. Great review !
Excellent tutorial
Great segment! I just got a Kuretake Zig White Color Brush Pen Fine and was surprised I was having so much trouble with flow because none of the other colors had issues. I can see now it may be common with their white. I think it was in a previous episode you showed bleed proof white - this made me wonder if it was watered down just a bit if it would flow with a converter in a brush pen. Or maybe a refillable watercolor brush. I think I'll try that... I had switched to Signo and just worked on a piece I nearly destroyed because I did a wash over it and it got all milky everywhere... it was terrible. Great ideas as always, thank you.
For anyone having issues with your white gel pens not working well, try drawing on the back of your hand, the oils on our skin lubricate the tip and get the ink flowing again. I do it each time I uncap one to use it
Brilliant! It worked imediately, thank you, my Gelly Roll pens hadn't worked since I got them, but now they work.
I love posca pens! Nice video, thanks 🙂
Blackletter guy from insta. Appreciate the italic calligraphy
thanks...this was very helpful!
I need a good white brush pen, but right now I have to wait. I save money to be able to paint
. Hugs tess
Dick Blick seems to have the Faber Castell (white) brush pens for $2.56 each. All of them seem to be available there.
Great comparison thank you
Thanks I appreciate the ibformation
MeowMeowKapow has a very comprehensive white pen review as well! And she is a fantastic watercolorist. Thank you for this review I am surprised the Gellyroll is your favorite
Yep, saw it. Good stuff! She is more of a graphic/comic illustrator and reviewed if from that standpoint and how opaque the pens were.
Dick Blick now carries the black & white set...and then if you scroll all the way to the bottom of the colors, you can buy these same white ones a la carte.
Blick has the faber castell white small tips open stock online :)
That Deleter name seems appropriate if the white started out as correction fluid. Haha! I don't think it ever did though. I mostly remember needing to use White Out or Wite(?)Out occasionally in the 1980s when I was a secretary. When we got word processors, they were miraculous, life-changing things!
Every highschool student should try typing a research paper, complete with footnotes on a typewriter just for the experience. There are working manual typewriters still around. Maybe they could offer a Steampunk typing class. 🚂🎩 That could be fun! 😊
Right you are. I hired a guy to type my papers I hated it so much. That white out was nasty stuff too.
I guess I've only used the small Gelly Roll? I hated them and swore them off, but didn't know they come in other sizes! Perhaps I'll try the bold :D
Yeah, the bolder they are the more reliable the flow but sounds like you have had a bad one or two. Over time, the tips can dry out or a bad one surfaces so try more than one. For the most part they are the most reliable brand I've used. I do occasionally get some that just won't flow and picking up watercolor from the surface sometimes exacerbates the problem.
@@mindofwatercolor I had a five pack and none of them worked for me haha. But I'm willing to try a wider point!
Holy moly! Ah, but... they were all from the same pack am I right?! Dried maybe? 🤔
I think I'm in the same boat, Gelly has been very meh for me, but this makes me want to find a bigger tip and give it another go!
Steve, when a Gelly Roll blocks up, just scribble on the cup of your finger and it will carry on as before! Oh, and I was very curious about the Faber-Castell set. I have only ever seen those in a set since they came out late last year here in Germany (if I remember correctly). You showed some pens I had not seen before. So thank you for that. More supplies to try! 😂😍😊
Yes, have done that too on occasion. Thanks!
Thank you for this. Do you have an opinion about whether it would work to usa a watercolor brush pen - with thinned Zig 30 white ink?
It might. You would probably need a build up for any opacity.
Faber-Castell Pitt markers may be purchased individually and are available in open stock, at least in Ireland and Europe. I just bought one the other day from my local shop. Interesting that the Uniball pens are not waterproof; I didn't know that.
Several commenters here have said they are available at the Faber Castell site and on DickBlick.com
I have tried nearly all the white pens and they all crap out on me. I now use the refillable schmincke fine tip pen and I fill it with schmincke aero colour opaque white ink. If you want white then you get it with this combination. The pen is made to work with these inks.
Oooh! I would like to see Steve try this out. Sounds interesting.
I live in upstate SC too and wondered where you shop for art supplies? You mentioned your “local art store”. Is there any place other than Suburban Paint? They are great! Just curious if I was missing others.
Nope, that’s the one! They order and fulfill local student class supply lists and that plus the house paint keep them in business. We’ve had others that have all gone the way of the dinosaurs.
The next closest is Starving Artist in Hendersonville. Then Cheap Joes in Asheville.
I'm curious at the counter number 4:05 you made some lines with a white pen and I noticed the pen left "gunk" behind...you know, more ink that it should have left behind. Then you scribbled out the top of the lines where the gunk is...why?
Gelly Roll is fine, but the Uniball Signo UM-100 (Creamy White) or the UM-151 is a much better white pen.
Not waterproof though. Thats a deal breaker for me. White is too stark, unnatural and cold white not to take a little glazing on top. At least for me.
Old-fashion ruling pen with white gouache, casein or acrylics. Pro-White is still being made, can be mixed and/or diluted.
Yep. have used them all. Great for studio! Not so much for plein air. And there is something to be said for just reaching over and grabbing a pen. No fuss, no muss.
Ok questions is the posca brush maker a paint or alcohol marker and can they be refilled cause I will have to try those's.
Paint is water soluble until its dry so Its not alcohol based.
@@mindofwatercolor thank you.
I have one of these pens I use it for fine lines I cannot achieve using mask and brush/ruling pen
Which pen?
The brand I have is called, Uni Paint Marker Extra Fine
You can get the open stock white Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pens online at Blick. www.dickblick.com/products/faber-castell-pitt-artist-pens-and-sets/ :)
Been using the gelly rolls for a long time & I am a big fan of them. I had wondered about the Posca, so thanks for showing them. Off the subject of pens, I know you are a big Arches fan (me too) but wanted to know if you have tried the Dick Blicks Brand 140# cold or hot press. People had told me that they think it compares to Arches.... so I had to try it. In my opinion, it REALLY is very comparable. So, just saying, if you are into experimenting, I would like to know what you think.
I have some but not used it yet. I've also heard its very good. Rumors are that it may be Saunders Waterford by St. Cuthbert's Mill. Kilimanjaro from Cheap Joes may also be the same paper but nobody is sure. Its great also.
@@mindofwatercolor, well get on it :) LOL . I got online and had asked for a sample, as my store didn't have single sheets or any open blocks to check it out. After waiting almost 2 weeks, I had to laugh when I got the samples... one cold & one hot press piece...stapled together -3" x 4" !!! I wanted to purchase a 14 x 20" block (which is not cheap), for my 4th children's book illustrations. Anyway, I took a chance on it and have not been disappointed so far. I sure think they could sell a lot more of it, if they weren't so stingy and would give it more exposure! :)
Wonder do any yellow or fade over time?
No
hope you can answer this have you ever used colored pencils and if so can you use them on the back of cold pressed water color paper thanks
Yes.
@@mindofwatercolor thanks
If a white pen is used on a watercolor painting, is the painting still consider watercolor or does it become mixed media?
Depends on who is defining "mixed media" and why. If it's not to adhere to any contest or show rules it doesn't matter. If it does they usually define it pretty closely.
dickblick.com lists the Pitt white brush in the set you showed plus as open stock.