Do you color with markers on mixed media paper? Wondering which mixed media paper is best for markers + colored pencils? No surprise, I have some thoughts. As always, resource page for this video with project and supply details here: www.vanillaarts.com/blog/resource-twinkle-light
Just when I thought I couldn’t be more impressed by your skill and talent 😳. Thanks again for another amazing and informative video. Feels like a gift from you to me 😁
I learned so much in this video and was so grateful for the clarity in how you explained everything. Immediately subscribed and will be watching more. Thank you for sharing your work and knowledge!
I'm glad you heard that part. So many people can't see the good things about their own project because it either doesn't match the instructor's sample or because they're expecting perfection from imperfect markers and imperfect paper. We can challenge ourselves and still have fun, even when it doesn't turn out the way we expected. Took me a long time to tell myself that, LOL.
Very helpful video. I love doing marker with other media on top. I did not know about using something under the paper to keep the working area wet longer. Great tip. I have put a few layers of copy paper under my card stock that I normally use. I am swatching my new 320 set of Ohuhu Honolulu markers. I have a smaller set of Ohuhus that I have had for a few years now. But while swatching these new ones I was really impressed with the lack of streakiness. Turns out that I am working directly on my glass desk top. Which was unknowingly probably helping me out.
@@Gingerwalker. The other thing working to advantage the new markers is that they’re at factory weight. Full markers are less streaky because they release a consistent and generous amount of ink. Each use of the marker makes it less generous which is why we want to refill long before it begins to feel/look dry.
I didn't mention it in the video but I discovered it when I bought a sheet of glass for my desktop. I thought it was an easy-clean surface but also, my blending mysteriously improved. Took me a while to figure it out, LOL.
The moment you added Ice green to the foot of the lightbulb I thought: she is adding that colour because of the colour of her the surrounding area’ And yes, you did! Woohoo, my brain stored the knowledge of last weeks video 🥳 And what the heck…How is it possible that you post a video about a topic that’s keeping me occupied (this was three times in a row). I am really struggling with paper lately. Mainly because I want to use dry graphite AND watersoluble graphite for a background, but watercolour paper doesn’t do well with lots of layers graphite and erasing. Someone recommended mixed media paper by strathmore (400 series). But now I hear you say that mixed media paper is soft and soft paper is terrible when you need an erased crisp high light. It’s driving me bonkers 😓 But then I can go in relax-mode while watching you create beautiful things with markers. Those marker blends are so relaxing to watch 😌 Thank you!
There are soooooo many kinds of paper nowadays, so there's got to be a solution for you. The trick is to find the right paper before you spend a fortune trying. Someone else can chime in here if they disagree-- but to me, the water always takes precedence. We can do a lot of non-water media on watercolor paper but the reverse is almost never true. So you really are looking for a watercolor paper, especially if you're getting the paper drip-ably wet. In my experience, mixed media paper takes a little bit of water but not nearly as much as I expect. It also has a more open tooth which is why it feels soft or somewhat draggy when we draw/color on it. I think with drawing graphite, the general rule is, the more open the tooth, the harder it is to erase. The graphite gets down into the valleys and takes a stronger erasure to remove. So it really sounds like you need a hot press or calendared paper (weight pressed) for the graphite... which is a bummer because I think you're probably drawn to the sedimentary/coldpress/texture look of water-soluble graphite???? Also take into consideration that "mixed media" paper tends to be mediocre paper the manufacturer has on hand but they're not sure how to market it. If this paper was excellent for watercolor, they'd call it watercolor paper. If it was good for drawing, etc. Since it's not excellent at anything, they slap "mixed" on the cover and charge a little less. Just a thought- Have you tried vellum Bristol??? Some texture, not soft, can get a little wet (especially the thicker boards)
I’ll echo the above and suggest a hot press water color paper. With the media you’re wanting to use, the water solubility should be the priority. To take some strain off the paper, rather than erase to get your highlights, it might be easier to try and plan them out ahead of time and just use the white of the paper as your highlights. This is a pretty common watercolor technique. Yes, they make white watercolor…but most of the purists are going to tell you to just use the paper. Are you doing your water soluble graphite first, activating it and then using the regular graphite over top to bring back some texture?
@@AmyShulke That key you’re talking about… where is it? 😂 just kidding. I have tried many (!) different papers. A while ago I was decluttering and made a list of all the different papers: 31 😱 There is one paper I like best: canson illustration. That is, like you said, not to toothy. The structure reminds me of Bristol Vellum but it is a bit softer. Which isn’t the greatest for water. I have tried Strathmore 300 Bristol vellum. Don’t know if I explain this correctly, but the layers of graphite look mat. So if I apply a 14B it doesn’t look like 14B. I also have hotpressed watercolour paper, but I haven’t tried all of them with dry graphite. Arches hotpressed I haven’t tried because it’s very expensive (I know it’s stupid) and Bahong watercolour paper. These papers do work very well with Inktens and I don’t use tons of water on it. Don’t like ‘wishy-washy’ effect. 🤣 The WC-paper I did try, and completely failed, was very (!) smooth paper. People were enthusiastic about this with graphite and I think that they are wrong now 🤭 maybe for a light layer but not for the kind of work I do. So I think my biggest lesson is to learn to have more confidence in myself. Try things out for myself instead of relying on what others think. I tend to doubt my own judgement and to get stuck in ‘rules’. Like, if the manufacturer says it’s watercolour paper than I only can use it as such. Like you said: try one for several months and FEEL how it works. That would be my biggest challenge: trusting my own judgement and let go of rules. 😣 I did had a very cool experience one time. I had to use soft pastels (crayons) and draw BIG. This was so out of my comfort zone because I’m very detailed with pencil and those stupid crayons were way to big, and I really don’t like all that dust on my fingers (I unintentionally smudge it of my face) but I put my big girl pants on and went for it. After five minutes I enjoyed it! It felt freeing. The product wasn’t the goal, but the process was. Remembering and processing that moment while I’m typing makes me decide to do the same with graphite: bugger off with the rules, feel the paper, trust what I am seeing and try to enjoy the process.
@@QueenofFlannelColors thank you so much! I will try my arches hotpressed and Bahong water colour paper for it. Leaving things white is what I normally do, but I can’t prevent the graphite completely. I blend with brushes and tissues so the dust will go everywhere 😆
@@Art_by_Nicole I love Arches for watercolor but honestly I have never liked it for colored pencil. Even the Hot Press is too toothy. Just mentioning because it may be similar for graphite.
Great video Amy, has always :) I thought I was the only one, who was not comfortable with sketchbooks. I've been working on loose sheets for years, it's more comfortable for me. I put them in a folder later, to preserve them Greetings from Agentina. :)
YES! We non-sketch bookers need to stick together. One of these days, I'll get a bunch professionally printed into a book but for right now, everything goes between sheets of tissue in a large flat file.
I love mixed media paper for my sketchbooks! I mostly work with watercolors, so when I sketch, I need something that will take some paint, but I also like to experiment with different art supplies. Having something that I can use for multiple art supplies is really helpful. But I probably wouldn’t use it for a finished project. It’s not really right for a finished watercolor project; I use Fabriano Artistico HP or CP for that purpose. But as a sketchbook paper, my Canson XL mixed media sketchbooks are awesome!
Sounds totally reasonable. Marker's a little different and I totally get that it puts me into a very finicky category when it comes to sketchbooks. Do you have a favorite MM sketchbook to recommend for those doing quick, light watercolor?
@ I usually use the Canson XL version, but the Grumbacher one is good, as long as you don’t mind the paper being removable and replaceable from the spiral binding. It’s usually pretty annoying to me because the paper along the binding curls up and doesn’t turn smoothly. It is good for taking a sketchbook on the go when you need a smaller thickness; you can take pages out for the trip, then put them back when you’re done. I haven’t tried many other types of paper, though, so take it with a grain of salt. I found one I like and haven’t really needed to try anything else.
Thank you so much for making this very informative video! I always found it difficult to blend markers on mixed media paper, and now I know why! When it comes to the vinyl placemat that you mentioned placing under the paper that you're coloring on, do you have any brands you recommend for it? Also, would plastic wrap work as well? Thanks again!
I link to the same placemats I'm using in the supply list on the resource page linked in the description. In my classes, I recommend acrylic clipboards (we don't use the clip part) and some students use large acrylic shims from die-cut machines. The shim needs to be new but they're perfect.The glass cutting mats and work surfaces used by papercrafters are less portable but they're great too.
Oh, and I'm doubtful about the plastic wrap idea. It'd be hard to get it to lay flat and any wrinkle would show in your coloring above. Plus, there's no way to know as you color that the wrap hasn't shifted to make a new wrinkle or move enough to not be under the whole page. In theory it will work, it's just far too fussy for my taste.
Hmmm... You're on this page, right? www.vanillaarts.com/subscribe-vanilla-beans You do have to confirm the subscription by hitting a button in a follow up email. Curious if that's not going through. Send an email to info@vanillaarts.com and put PamPam plus the email address you want to use. Either Katie or I will subscribe you by hand.
If we're talking about the same thing, it's part of their Visual Journal series. I have an old one, maybe 10 years old now??? I think it's less than 300 series. I sketched in it with fineliners and filled the areas with Tombow and I think it's because Copic bled in it. I'll have to look through my bookcase for it. I didn't buy another because there was something I didn't like about it.
Do you color with markers on mixed media paper? Wondering which mixed media paper is best for markers + colored pencils? No surprise, I have some thoughts. As always, resource page for this video with project and supply details here: www.vanillaarts.com/blog/resource-twinkle-light
Just wanted to give a shout out to your young editor. He does a good job and it’s fun to see his sense of humor sneak in every now and then.
@@ChristinaB-wy8ej Thanks! I’ll send him a screenshot! ❤️
Just when I thought I couldn’t be more impressed by your skill and talent 😳. Thanks again for another amazing and informative video. Feels like a gift from you to me 😁
You're welcome. This is the first year I've done so many Christmas projects and it was a total blast!
I learned so much in this video and was so grateful for the clarity in how you explained everything. Immediately subscribed and will be watching more. Thank you for sharing your work and knowledge!
Thanks so much! I'm glad you enjoyed the video!
You give the best pep talks. Really, the part about holding ourselves to an impossible standard was good for me to hear today. Merry Christmas!
I'm glad you heard that part. So many people can't see the good things about their own project because it either doesn't match the instructor's sample or because they're expecting perfection from imperfect markers and imperfect paper. We can challenge ourselves and still have fun, even when it doesn't turn out the way we expected. Took me a long time to tell myself that, LOL.
adding the contact wires and filament wire is a nice touch most people dont think about (yeah nothing to do with the paper lol😝)
Very helpful video. I love doing marker with other media on top.
I did not know about using something under the paper to keep the working area wet longer. Great tip. I have put a few layers of copy paper under my card stock that I normally use.
I am swatching my new 320 set of Ohuhu Honolulu markers. I have a smaller set of Ohuhus that I have had for a few years now. But while swatching these new ones I was really impressed with the lack of streakiness. Turns out that I am working directly on my glass desk top. Which was unknowingly probably helping me out.
@@Gingerwalker. The other thing working to advantage the new markers is that they’re at factory weight. Full markers are less streaky because they release a consistent and generous amount of ink. Each use of the marker makes it less generous which is why we want to refill long before it begins to feel/look dry.
Thanks for the tip about the vinyl blotter paper between pages. Just makes sense!
I didn't mention it in the video but I discovered it when I bought a sheet of glass for my desktop. I thought it was an easy-clean surface but also, my blending mysteriously improved. Took me a while to figure it out, LOL.
Is that the same kind of sheet which Ohuhu provides with their marker pads or do you mean something else?
@ Same concept, much cheaper.
The moment you added Ice green to the foot of the lightbulb I thought: she is adding that colour because of the colour of her the surrounding area’ And yes, you did! Woohoo, my brain stored the knowledge of last weeks video 🥳
And what the heck…How is it possible that you post a video about a topic that’s keeping me occupied (this was three times in a row).
I am really struggling with paper lately. Mainly because I want to use dry graphite AND watersoluble graphite for a background, but watercolour paper doesn’t do well with lots of layers graphite and erasing.
Someone recommended mixed media paper by strathmore (400 series).
But now I hear you say that mixed media paper is soft and soft paper is terrible when you need an erased crisp high light.
It’s driving me bonkers 😓
But then I can go in relax-mode while watching you create beautiful things with markers. Those marker blends are so relaxing to watch 😌 Thank you!
There are soooooo many kinds of paper nowadays, so there's got to be a solution for you. The trick is to find the right paper before you spend a fortune trying.
Someone else can chime in here if they disagree-- but to me, the water always takes precedence. We can do a lot of non-water media on watercolor paper but the reverse is almost never true. So you really are looking for a watercolor paper, especially if you're getting the paper drip-ably wet.
In my experience, mixed media paper takes a little bit of water but not nearly as much as I expect. It also has a more open tooth which is why it feels soft or somewhat draggy when we draw/color on it.
I think with drawing graphite, the general rule is, the more open the tooth, the harder it is to erase. The graphite gets down into the valleys and takes a stronger erasure to remove. So it really sounds like you need a hot press or calendared paper (weight pressed) for the graphite... which is a bummer because I think you're probably drawn to the sedimentary/coldpress/texture look of water-soluble graphite????
Also take into consideration that "mixed media" paper tends to be mediocre paper the manufacturer has on hand but they're not sure how to market it. If this paper was excellent for watercolor, they'd call it watercolor paper. If it was good for drawing, etc. Since it's not excellent at anything, they slap "mixed" on the cover and charge a little less.
Just a thought- Have you tried vellum Bristol??? Some texture, not soft, can get a little wet (especially the thicker boards)
I’ll echo the above and suggest a hot press water color paper. With the media you’re wanting to use, the water solubility should be the priority. To take some strain off the paper, rather than erase to get your highlights, it might be easier to try and plan them out ahead of time and just use the white of the paper as your highlights. This is a pretty common watercolor technique. Yes, they make white watercolor…but most of the purists are going to tell you to just use the paper. Are you doing your water soluble graphite first, activating it and then using the regular graphite over top to bring back some texture?
@@AmyShulke That key you’re talking about… where is it? 😂 just kidding. I have tried many (!) different papers. A while ago I was decluttering and made a list of all the different papers: 31 😱
There is one paper I like best: canson illustration. That is, like you said, not to toothy. The structure reminds me of Bristol Vellum but it is a bit softer. Which isn’t the greatest for water.
I have tried Strathmore 300 Bristol vellum. Don’t know if I explain this correctly, but the layers of graphite look mat. So if I apply a 14B it doesn’t look like 14B.
I also have hotpressed watercolour paper, but I haven’t tried all of them with dry graphite. Arches hotpressed I haven’t tried because it’s very expensive (I know it’s stupid) and Bahong watercolour paper. These papers do work very well with Inktens and I don’t use tons of water on it. Don’t like ‘wishy-washy’ effect. 🤣
The WC-paper I did try, and completely failed, was very (!) smooth paper. People were enthusiastic about this with graphite and I think that they are wrong now 🤭 maybe for a light layer but not for the kind of work I do.
So I think my biggest lesson is to learn to have more confidence in myself. Try things out for myself instead of relying on what others think. I tend to doubt my own judgement and to get stuck in ‘rules’. Like, if the manufacturer says it’s watercolour paper than I only can use it as such.
Like you said: try one for several months and FEEL how it works.
That would be my biggest challenge: trusting my own judgement and let go of rules. 😣
I did had a very cool experience one time. I had to use soft pastels (crayons) and draw BIG. This was so out of my comfort zone because I’m very detailed with pencil and those stupid crayons were way to big, and I really don’t like all that dust on my fingers (I unintentionally smudge it of my face) but I put my big girl pants on and went for it.
After five minutes I enjoyed it! It felt freeing. The product wasn’t the goal, but the process was.
Remembering and processing that moment while I’m typing makes me decide to do the same with graphite: bugger off with the rules, feel the paper, trust what I am seeing and try to enjoy the process.
@@QueenofFlannelColors thank you so much!
I will try my arches hotpressed and Bahong water colour paper for it.
Leaving things white is what I normally do, but I can’t prevent the graphite completely. I blend with brushes and tissues so the dust will go everywhere 😆
@@Art_by_Nicole I love Arches for watercolor but honestly I have never liked it for colored pencil. Even the Hot Press is too toothy. Just mentioning because it may be similar for graphite.
Great video Amy, has always :)
I thought I was the only one, who was not comfortable with sketchbooks.
I've been working on loose sheets for years, it's more comfortable for me.
I put them in a folder later, to preserve them
Greetings from Agentina. :)
YES! We non-sketch bookers need to stick together. One of these days, I'll get a bunch professionally printed into a book but for right now, everything goes between sheets of tissue in a large flat file.
Você é uma grande artista ❤❤❤❤❤
I love mixed media paper for my sketchbooks! I mostly work with watercolors, so when I sketch, I need something that will take some paint, but I also like to experiment with different art supplies. Having something that I can use for multiple art supplies is really helpful. But I probably wouldn’t use it for a finished project. It’s not really right for a finished watercolor project; I use Fabriano Artistico HP or CP for that purpose. But as a sketchbook paper, my Canson XL mixed media sketchbooks are awesome!
Sounds totally reasonable. Marker's a little different and I totally get that it puts me into a very finicky category when it comes to sketchbooks.
Do you have a favorite MM sketchbook to recommend for those doing quick, light watercolor?
@ I usually use the Canson XL version, but the Grumbacher one is good, as long as you don’t mind the paper being removable and replaceable from the spiral binding. It’s usually pretty annoying to me because the paper along the binding curls up and doesn’t turn smoothly. It is good for taking a sketchbook on the go when you need a smaller thickness; you can take pages out for the trip, then put them back when you’re done. I haven’t tried many other types of paper, though, so take it with a grain of salt. I found one I like and haven’t really needed to try anything else.
Thank you so much for making this very informative video! I always found it difficult to blend markers on mixed media paper, and now I know why! When it comes to the vinyl placemat that you mentioned placing under the paper that you're coloring on, do you have any brands you recommend for it? Also, would plastic wrap work as well? Thanks again!
I link to the same placemats I'm using in the supply list on the resource page linked in the description. In my classes, I recommend acrylic clipboards (we don't use the clip part) and some students use large acrylic shims from die-cut machines. The shim needs to be new but they're perfect.The glass cutting mats and work surfaces used by papercrafters are less portable but they're great too.
Oh, and I'm doubtful about the plastic wrap idea. It'd be hard to get it to lay flat and any wrinkle would show in your coloring above. Plus, there's no way to know as you color that the wrap hasn't shifted to make a new wrinkle or move enough to not be under the whole page. In theory it will work, it's just far too fussy for my taste.
@@AmyShulke Ah I see! This is so helpful! Thank you so much! :D
Hello Amy!! I want to get your newsletter….do you not do it anymore?? I put my email in but can’t get it, not sure what I’m doing wrong! 😢
Hmmm... You're on this page, right? www.vanillaarts.com/subscribe-vanilla-beans
You do have to confirm the subscription by hitting a button in a follow up email. Curious if that's not going through.
Send an email to info@vanillaarts.com and put PamPam plus the email address you want to use. Either Katie or I will subscribe you by hand.
Strathmore makes a wire-bound journal with Bristol Smooth paper (I believe it is 300 series). I wonder if you have tried it yet?
If we're talking about the same thing, it's part of their Visual Journal series. I have an old one, maybe 10 years old now??? I think it's less than 300 series. I sketched in it with fineliners and filled the areas with Tombow and I think it's because Copic bled in it. I'll have to look through my bookcase for it. I didn't buy another because there was something I didn't like about it.
@@AmyShulke I use that book for markers in your course. Thought it was the same as Bristol smooth 300 that you recommended 🫣
@@Art_by_Nicole oh noooooo! I’m pretty sure it was bleedy. I’ll look for the sketchbook to check.
@@AmyShulke I thought it was pretty good, but I only used one alcohol marker. So maybe that’s why I thought it looked good?
❤❤❤
Poster putty? Get outta here!🤯
Yep! So much better than the wads of gray chewing gum, LOL