Hullo Kimberly, thank you for sharing your experience and expertise with us! Your so well know for thoroughness and objectivity, a sweet review and a treasure trove of information, it is very much appreciated! Thank you.
I've been seeing this type of paint recently and I was interested at how they are different from other liquid watercolours - I've tried the Dr pH Martins and the ecolines and they weren't really my type of tools especially the ecolines (super bright and dye based.. a bit stinky). I'm so happy to see there are additional pieces/tools that schmincke has advertised to work with this medium - I actually saw Teo on his channel mention it but he didn't have a demonstration like this video. I'm not sure why but it feels to me that it really teaches or encourages colour mixing which makes me super happy.
Oh my god Kim, I totally forgot I had commented here on this video before. So fast forward one year later, I got two bottles of aqua drop: Ruby red (PR184) and Sapphire Blue (PB60). Afterwards I got thanks to black Friday a 8 bottle set of them. Thankfully the Ruby Red is a pinkier red (like a quin rose) compared to the Scarlet Red PR170 (the hue is similar to a quinacridone red. Not a true neutral red but not too cool) and the ink blue (PB15:1+PV23) is more of a true neutral / cobalt-y blue than my PB60. Now, revisiting this video and looking at others, I'm glad the issue I'm having with these paints is clearly visible in video: they are so concentrated and bizarre that they don't act like a regular watercolor gum Arabic paint: they soak into the paper fibers and hardly stay on top of the paper surface, giving a weird look and texture, as if the paper we worked on had sizing gone bad, but no, it's the nature of these paints! I think I'll experiment them using an empty dropper bottle with a portion of the ink mixed with a drop of ox gall and a liiiittle bit of gum Arabic, to see if I can give a body to these paints and don't let them soak too quickly into the paper.
I found this video 3yrs after you filmed it. Since then, I have acquired a small set...but still can't feel 100% comfortable using them. Have you revisited them since this first video?
Thank you for the awesome Review as always, Kim! I just want to buy some of them, I've seen the bottles since Jackson's started selling them. I want to buy certain different pigments, like their PB60 and, dunno, a nice carmine-y red from their collection. Maybe also an Indian yellow. I'd probably use them as normal watercolors. They'd last me a lifetime. Maybe I'd also try to make a small cute lightweight travel palette with a few drops? Who knows.
I'm not surprised that they're very staining, the particles have to be very tiny to work in a fine liner. It's the same issue I have with the Winsor & Newton watercolor markers, it's very hard to get soft edges or to blend on the paper. But I see the advantages of this product and am glad Schmincke filled a niche with high quality liquid watercolor.
Hi Kim, I really love your results with this little painting, so much so that I now actually want to buy everything, the ink and all the supplies. But before I go out and lay down a pile of money for all everything needed for this, do you think a person could achieve the same look with quality watercolors? I'm just getting started and have ordered quite a few (a pan of 12, plus several more half pan watercolors). Btw, I'm researching lightfastness before buying, and I'm using your excellent lightfast tests in order to do so. I'm also recommending your pages on the individual brand tests because I feel like many people assume that if they buy a quality brand, that's all they have to do.
You could absolutely achieve the same effects with watercolors, really the main difference is application. Some things are easier to do with ink, like fine line precision using a pen format instead of a brush. For the most part though, if you're just getting started having a small primary mixing set that includes a warm and cool red/magenta, yellow and blues will provide everything you need for a good long while :)
@@KimberlyCrick Thank you! I actually decided to hold off on it for now to concentrate more on watercoler, so hopefully the set stays around for a while. Jackson's is having a good sale right now, so actually I thought I would also get the colours in the W&N set you did the video on. I'm a bit undecided though, how much better the sale may be on say Black Friday.
Thank you, I appreciate that. It depends on what type of subject matter you like to paint. Sometimes the basics are more straight forward when applied to a specific subject matter. If you like fanciful figures like mermaids or fairies, I love Watercolor Fairy Art by Sara Burrier. For floral painting, Billy Showell has lovely books about botanical painting, Terry Harrison has a huge selection about beginner landscapes, beaches and snow scenes. For basics and color theory I'd have to flip through some of my older books. Speaking of, thanks for the idea - perhaps I'll get a pile of books together for a "my favorite watercolor books" video :)
I like these colors a lot and got the full collection. I use them to paint details when painting mandalas, I use a fine brush so no need to buy any liners. There is another set which include one liner, I think that is why there is the typo.
Yes you can dilute the inks with water first to make a pale color, but you'd have to make sure they are really well mixed before putting it into the marker. As water might dry slightly faster over time I have a feeling the marker may change color slightly as it dries up.
Lookig at these for my xmas prezzie. I love the fact that they are pigmentand maybe lightfast? I didnt hear you metion light-fastness, but I will listen again.I have ben enjoyingmy real brush pens with watercolor, knowing that they will fade. I will also keepDr PH M in mind, for the half oz bottles which might be more cost effective for me. I lve your reviews, Thanks very much, Kimberly.
Yes, these are pigment based and lightfast! The only down side is they do not blend as easily as dye based brush pens. They are a whole different type of thing, really good for layering colors though. I am so happy to finally have a convenience marker or pen of any color I want that can actually be used for a painting to go on the wall without fading :D
@@KimberlyCrick can you recommend a brand that is lightfast AND blends easily? New to watercolour, but lightfast is most important to me. Thanks for the video.
@@nikg3392 If you're looking for a watercolor paint (tube/pan, not just liquid/ink) that will blend well when using a paint brush nearly all pro grade brands would be acceptable. I'd probably avoid ShinHan (offers a lot of colors that fade) as well as anything labeled fluorescent/opera, prussian, aureolin or alizarin. Qor flows weirdly which really hurts its ability to blend smoothly, but other than that you have a lot of brands to choose from. I really like making smooth gradients with my Sennelier watercolors and White Nights is usually affordable with a ton of lightfast colors to choose from. The problem with blending lightfast pigment based -liquid- watercolors is that they just don't lift and mix the same way as alcohol or dye markers do (think copic markers) when used as an ink inside a brush pen/marker. They are easier to blend using normal painting techniques instead. Always working on a good quality watercolor paper, wet on wet, will help normal paint brush blending with whatever brand you choose.
I love your artwork as always but I don't care for the aqua drop thingies. Seeing you with the brush pens though it does remind me to ask you if you ever tried the new faber castell watercolour markers? I am yet too, but they are supposed to be lightfast and the same colours as the pencils which I love
I think the advantage is much more for certain artists, such as those who like to use pens or markers and want a permanent, lightfast and refillable custom color pen to draw with. They also can be used for airbrushing or mist bottles, for those who like mixed media art. Their perks likely have to do with the way you personally approach art, if you do urban sketching, and if you find pens or markers convenient.
I was actually pleasantly surprised, this primary colors set was about $25, seemed reasonable. I think the point is much more for certain artists, such as those who like to use pens or markers and want a permanent, lightfast and refillable custom color pen to draw with. They also can be used for airbrushing or mist bottles, for those who like mixed media art.
The Schmincke Aqua Drops are hands down the best aqueous watercolor I’ve ever used-thanks for sharing this, Kim❤❤
Excellent in-depth review. Thanks.
Hullo Kimberly, thank you for sharing your experience and expertise with us! Your so well know for thoroughness and objectivity, a sweet review and a treasure trove of information, it is very much appreciated! Thank you.
WOW,
What a wonderful Watercolor and liners, Wishing you more and more success Congratulations 💜🌺💐🌹
Thank you for this extensive test!
I've been seeing this type of paint recently and I was interested at how they are different from other liquid watercolours - I've tried the Dr pH Martins and the ecolines and they weren't really my type of tools especially the ecolines (super bright and dye based.. a bit stinky). I'm so happy to see there are additional pieces/tools that schmincke has advertised to work with this medium - I actually saw Teo on his channel mention it but he didn't have a demonstration like this video. I'm not sure why but it feels to me that it really teaches or encourages colour mixing which makes me super happy.
Oh my god Kim, I totally forgot I had commented here on this video before. So fast forward one year later, I got two bottles of aqua drop: Ruby red (PR184) and Sapphire Blue (PB60). Afterwards I got thanks to black Friday a 8 bottle set of them. Thankfully the Ruby Red is a pinkier red (like a quin rose) compared to the Scarlet Red PR170 (the hue is similar to a quinacridone red. Not a true neutral red but not too cool) and the ink blue (PB15:1+PV23) is more of a true neutral / cobalt-y blue than my PB60.
Now, revisiting this video and looking at others, I'm glad the issue I'm having with these paints is clearly visible in video: they are so concentrated and bizarre that they don't act like a regular watercolor gum Arabic paint: they soak into the paper fibers and hardly stay on top of the paper surface, giving a weird look and texture, as if the paper we worked on had sizing gone bad, but no, it's the nature of these paints! I think I'll experiment them using an empty dropper bottle with a portion of the ink mixed with a drop of ox gall and a liiiittle bit of gum Arabic, to see if I can give a body to these paints and don't let them soak too quickly into the paper.
I found this video 3yrs after you filmed it. Since then, I have acquired a small set...but still can't feel 100% comfortable using them. Have you revisited them since this first video?
Thank you for the awesome Review as always, Kim! I just want to buy some of them, I've seen the bottles since Jackson's started selling them. I want to buy certain different pigments, like their PB60 and, dunno, a nice carmine-y red from their collection. Maybe also an Indian yellow. I'd probably use them as normal watercolors. They'd last me a lifetime. Maybe I'd also try to make a small cute lightweight travel palette with a few drops? Who knows.
Thank you, I know what you mean - I was so tempted to make a credit card thin adorable miniature travel palette since they can be poured so thin :D
Interesting. I had heard about these and appreciate the review. Lovely demo, as always. Tfs
I wonder if you make your own masking fluid pen by filling one of those with frisket 🤔
I always enjoy your uploads. Your reviews have helped me with my watercolor journey.
Thank you so much, I really appreciate hearing that :D
I appreciate your work very much! Thank you💜
Excellent informative vid as always 😊
I'm not surprised that they're very staining, the particles have to be very tiny to work in a fine liner. It's the same issue I have with the Winsor & Newton watercolor markers, it's very hard to get soft edges or to blend on the paper. But I see the advantages of this product and am glad Schmincke filled a niche with high quality liquid watercolor.
Hi Kim, I really love your results with this little painting, so much so that I now actually want to buy everything, the ink and all the supplies. But before I go out and lay down a pile of money for all everything needed for this, do you think a person could achieve the same look with quality watercolors? I'm just getting started and have ordered quite a few (a pan of 12, plus several more half pan watercolors). Btw, I'm researching lightfastness before buying, and I'm using your excellent lightfast tests in order to do so. I'm also recommending your pages on the individual brand tests because I feel like many people assume that if they buy a quality brand, that's all they have to do.
You could absolutely achieve the same effects with watercolors, really the main difference is application. Some things are easier to do with ink, like fine line precision using a pen format instead of a brush. For the most part though, if you're just getting started having a small primary mixing set that includes a warm and cool red/magenta, yellow and blues will provide everything you need for a good long while :)
@@KimberlyCrick Thank you! I actually decided to hold off on it for now to concentrate more on watercoler, so hopefully the set stays around for a while. Jackson's is having a good sale right now, so actually I thought I would also get the colours in the W&N set you did the video on. I'm a bit undecided though, how much better the sale may be on say Black Friday.
Your drawings are always gorgeous 😍 Can you suggest any books on watercolor technique?
Thank you, I appreciate that. It depends on what type of subject matter you like to paint. Sometimes the basics are more straight forward when applied to a specific subject matter. If you like fanciful figures like mermaids or fairies, I love Watercolor Fairy Art by Sara Burrier. For floral painting, Billy Showell has lovely books about botanical painting, Terry Harrison has a huge selection about beginner landscapes, beaches and snow scenes. For basics and color theory I'd have to flip through some of my older books. Speaking of, thanks for the idea - perhaps I'll get a pile of books together for a "my favorite watercolor books" video :)
@@KimberlyCrick Thank you :) yes, it would be great 😄
Love this in-depth review! Did the white also work in the brush pens of same brand and was it more opaque used that way?
Thank you :) The white does not work in the brush pens, it's too thick and clogs them.
Thank you for this review! And your finished sketch is just beautiful. :)
How's the water flow of an Aqua Drop filled with water vs a normal water brush?
I like these colors a lot and got the full collection. I use them to paint details when painting mandalas, I use a fine brush so no need to buy any liners. There is another set which include one liner, I think that is why there is the typo.
Looks great. Do you know if you can fill such a liner with a mix of the watercolour and water?
Yes you can dilute the inks with water first to make a pale color, but you'd have to make sure they are really well mixed before putting it into the marker. As water might dry slightly faster over time I have a feeling the marker may change color slightly as it dries up.
Lookig at these for my xmas prezzie. I love the fact that they are pigmentand maybe lightfast? I didnt hear you metion light-fastness, but I will listen again.I have ben enjoyingmy real brush pens with watercolor, knowing that they will fade. I will also keepDr PH M in mind, for the half oz bottles which might be more cost effective for me. I lve your reviews, Thanks very much, Kimberly.
Yes, these are pigment based and lightfast! The only down side is they do not blend as easily as dye based brush pens. They are a whole different type of thing, really good for layering colors though. I am so happy to finally have a convenience marker or pen of any color I want that can actually be used for a painting to go on the wall without fading :D
@@KimberlyCrick can you recommend a brand that is lightfast AND blends easily? New to watercolour, but lightfast is most important to me. Thanks for the video.
@@nikg3392 If you're looking for a watercolor paint (tube/pan, not just liquid/ink) that will blend well when using a paint brush nearly all pro grade brands would be acceptable. I'd probably avoid ShinHan (offers a lot of colors that fade) as well as anything labeled fluorescent/opera, prussian, aureolin or alizarin. Qor flows weirdly which really hurts its ability to blend smoothly, but other than that you have a lot of brands to choose from. I really like making smooth gradients with my Sennelier watercolors and White Nights is usually affordable with a ton of lightfast colors to choose from. The problem with blending lightfast pigment based -liquid- watercolors is that they just don't lift and mix the same way as alcohol or dye markers do (think copic markers) when used as an ink inside a brush pen/marker. They are easier to blend using normal painting techniques instead. Always working on a good quality watercolor paper, wet on wet, will help normal paint brush blending with whatever brand you choose.
I love your artwork as always but I don't care for the aqua drop thingies. Seeing you with the brush pens though it does remind me to ask you if you ever tried the new faber castell watercolour markers? I am yet too, but they are supposed to be lightfast and the same colours as the pencils which I love
I haven't seen those yet, thanks for letting me know about them :)
Thank you for your in-depth review! I have no use for these liquid watercolors. Where is the advantage over watercolors in pans? 🤷🏼♀️
I think the advantage is much more for certain artists, such as those who like to use pens or markers and want a permanent, lightfast and refillable custom color pen to draw with. They also can be used for airbrushing or mist bottles, for those who like mixed media art. Their perks likely have to do with the way you personally approach art, if you do urban sketching, and if you find pens or markers convenient.
Wow! Amazing art..stay connected
Beautiful girl
Goooood
Your skill is excellent
Your video is perfect
See you again
😀😀😀😍😍😍
I love Schminke products but these just seem like a bit of a gimmick to me and a bit of a hassle to use, thanks for the review!
They look neat but what's the point? They're probably super expensive being Schmincke
I was actually pleasantly surprised, this primary colors set was about $25, seemed reasonable. I think the point is much more for certain artists, such as those who like to use pens or markers and want a permanent, lightfast and refillable custom color pen to draw with. They also can be used for airbrushing or mist bottles, for those who like mixed media art.
Kimberly Crick Art, thank you.