I really appreciate the time you took to demo these paint pens! I too would have grabbed them because of the Copic brand name. I rarely use my acrylics anymore. So many choices for watercolor now! Thank you for posting your honest review, like someone else said, you saved me $$ too! 👍🏻
Sandy, thanks for sharing your honest opinion of these markers. It seems Copic is relying on its former reputation rather than increasing the quality of its products. I just wanted to mention that I bought my 25 yo son some Tooli-Art acrylic markers last Christmas on Amazon and he absolutely raves about how good they are, they don’t have to be primed, and are super opaque. He says that they are way better than Posca and they are much less expensive. I remember searching RUclips last year, and unfortunately I can’t remember the artists who recommended them. To my inexperienced eye, the nib is similar in shape and feel to the Posca but really, they don’t have to be primed, shaken, etc and come in several nib sizes. And the white is white and can go over the other colors easily.
This is my gut speaking here but "Tooli-Art" sounds a lot like the Chinese companies making cheap supplies. I'm very careful to try to find the product from a reputable country before trying something because it's cheap, because I don't want to send my resources to China if I can help it. (There are some I can't find alternates for, but not many.) Since I generally don't like paint pens at all, I'm not likely to be trying others. I'd rather paint in gouache💙
I’m partly curious to wonder if the issue was the watercolor paper itself. It’s such a weird paper. So I wonder if the difficulty was the Stonehenge watercolor black paper. I’m glad someone made black watercolor paper but it definitely isn’t that great of paper to watercolor on. It almost reminds me of strange construction paper like when you were a kid. 😆 idk… it is its own difficulty to watercolor on. I wonder how these would work doing this same technique using quality watercolor paper with these markers… blend-ability with water and layers. Maybe you already tried with good quality watercolor paper that wasn’t Stonehenge black. Either way, if anyone is to make something look absolutely amazing no matter the materials or quality of materials, it’s most definitely you. Everything you do is so beautiful and your continuous work has made it seem effortlessly achieved, which I know it’s anything but. You are extremely hard working and always pushing yourself to self improve. Thank you for showing these markers and the beautiful work they can achieve.🙏🏻🤗
Could be the paper, I'm playing with them more this week. I still don't think they're a "must have," but for folks who like the results they may we'll enjoy them.
@ I’m excited and looking forward to seeing the results from the video yet to be released trying other papers. I always enjoy listening, learning, and watching the beauty you create in ALL you do. No matter how simple or small, to me it’s beautiful His presence and gifts flowing through you in all you create. It’s beautiful to witness, thank you for your channels and fun.🙏🏻🤗
It appears those are acrylic paint pens, much like Posca. They clean up with water (which may be why they say "water soluble," but they don't lend themselves to the things you're trying to do with them. You would have better luck using them if you used a gessoed surface, I'd imagine. We seem to have two sorts of acrylic paint pens these days. One sort requires pumping (e.g., these, Poscas); the others flow more easily (Sharpie and Altenew have them; there are others). Time will tell which sort are useable months after opening.
Did Copic actually recommend a specific paper for those pens? I'm just wondering if it's one of those items that only works with their own products. That type of trap door isn't normally their style, but it did cross my mind as you described the struggles. Also, loved your pic!
I think it's honestly what I find irritating about ALL paint pens. In the next video I'll try on several different papers to see what it could be good for with stampers.
I think this video is a good reminder to research a product a little online before falling victim to the "want" monster, and buying something that you'll likely never use after swatching it once. With a little googling, I think Sandy would have learnt that these are similar to fine tipped Posca's, and it just doesn't mesh with her style of preferred art making. That's OK, but it also means it was pretty pointless/wasteful for her to buy this product. If Sandy is reading, please never feel you need to buy something simply because viewers ask you about it. It's ok to say "I don't know....I don't own that....I'm not really interested in that product" etc
I almost did research since I don't enjoy paint pens--but if it's this cheap anyway I'd prefer not to have others opinions in my head when trying a new product. I already have a bias against paint pens and didn't want to add to it. Too many artists use the same words to all describe products (good or bad) and I think a lot is them listening to each other. If you've watched my videos, you know I like to find the sweet spot for a medium--which often isn't what people get to if they're joining a chorus of people panning the product. There's another video Saturday trying to use them in other ways. (and I haven't done any "fun" shopping in ages because I'm so broke lol...these were inexpensive so I decided I'd try them.🤣)
I love the image you did! Thanks so much❤
I'm glad you like it!
I really appreciate the time you took to demo these paint pens! I too would have grabbed them because of the Copic brand name. I rarely use my acrylics anymore. So many choices for watercolor now! Thank you for posting your honest review, like someone else said, you saved me $$ too! 👍🏻
Sandy, thanks for sharing your honest opinion of these markers. It seems Copic is relying on its former reputation rather than increasing the quality of its products. I just wanted to mention that I bought my 25 yo son some Tooli-Art acrylic markers last Christmas on Amazon and he absolutely raves about how good they are, they don’t have to be primed, and are super opaque. He says that they are way better than Posca and they are much less expensive. I remember searching RUclips last year, and unfortunately I can’t remember the artists who recommended them. To my inexperienced eye, the nib is similar in shape and feel to the Posca but really, they don’t have to be primed, shaken, etc and come in several nib sizes. And the white is white and can go over the other colors easily.
This is my gut speaking here but "Tooli-Art" sounds a lot like the Chinese companies making cheap supplies. I'm very careful to try to find the product from a reputable country before trying something because it's cheap, because I don't want to send my resources to China if I can help it. (There are some I can't find alternates for, but not many.) Since I generally don't like paint pens at all, I'm not likely to be trying others. I'd rather paint in gouache💙
I am very grateful for your honest review of these pens. You just saved me the misery. Thank you.
Glad I could help! Next video could change your mind or confirm...we'll see LOL
Thank you Sandy!! You always offer honest input. I appreciate you so much!
Thanks for the heads up. I was all excited to see something new from top brand Copic. Then I watched the video! 😞
You are so crazy talented!
I’m partly curious to wonder if the issue was the watercolor paper itself. It’s such a weird paper. So I wonder if the difficulty was the Stonehenge watercolor black paper. I’m glad someone made black watercolor paper but it definitely isn’t that great of paper to watercolor on. It almost reminds me of strange construction paper like when you were a kid. 😆 idk… it is its own difficulty to watercolor on. I wonder how these would work doing this same technique using quality watercolor paper with these markers… blend-ability with water and layers. Maybe you already tried with good quality watercolor paper that wasn’t Stonehenge black.
Either way, if anyone is to make something look absolutely amazing no matter the materials or quality of materials, it’s most definitely you. Everything you do is so beautiful and your continuous work has made it seem effortlessly achieved, which I know it’s anything but. You are extremely hard working and always pushing yourself to self improve.
Thank you for showing these markers and the beautiful work they can achieve.🙏🏻🤗
Could be the paper, I'm playing with them more this week. I still don't think they're a "must have," but for folks who like the results they may we'll enjoy them.
@ I’m excited and looking forward to seeing the results from the video yet to be released trying other papers. I always enjoy listening, learning, and watching the beauty you create in ALL you do. No matter how simple or small, to me it’s beautiful His presence and gifts flowing through you in all you create. It’s beautiful to witness, thank you for your channels and fun.🙏🏻🤗
@ aw thank you!
It appears those are acrylic paint pens, much like Posca. They clean up with water (which may be why they say "water soluble," but they don't lend themselves to the things you're trying to do with them. You would have better luck using them if you used a gessoed surface, I'd imagine.
We seem to have two sorts of acrylic paint pens these days. One sort requires pumping (e.g., these, Poscas); the others flow more easily (Sharpie and Altenew have them; there are others). Time will tell which sort are useable months after opening.
Hmm gesso. Good for a test, I'm trying out stuff this week on social media💙
Are they compatible with the other Copic replacement nibs since they are Copic? Would they work with a brush nib?
No, not in the least. I'm pretty certain paint would never flow through a soft nib which is why they're made with these hard ones.
Did Copic actually recommend a specific paper for those pens? I'm just wondering if it's one of those items that only works with their own products.
That type of trap door isn't normally their style, but it did cross my mind as you described the struggles. Also, loved your pic!
I think it's honestly what I find irritating about ALL paint pens. In the next video I'll try on several different papers to see what it could be good for with stampers.
I think this video is a good reminder to research a product a little online before falling victim to the "want" monster, and buying something that you'll likely never use after swatching it once. With a little googling, I think Sandy would have learnt that these are similar to fine tipped Posca's, and it just doesn't mesh with her style of preferred art making. That's OK, but it also means it was pretty pointless/wasteful for her to buy this product.
If Sandy is reading, please never feel you need to buy something simply because viewers ask you about it. It's ok to say "I don't know....I don't own that....I'm not really interested in that product" etc
I almost did research since I don't enjoy paint pens--but if it's this cheap anyway I'd prefer not to have others opinions in my head when trying a new product. I already have a bias against paint pens and didn't want to add to it. Too many artists use the same words to all describe products (good or bad) and I think a lot is them listening to each other. If you've watched my videos, you know I like to find the sweet spot for a medium--which often isn't what people get to if they're joining a chorus of people panning the product. There's another video Saturday trying to use them in other ways.
(and I haven't done any "fun" shopping in ages because I'm so broke lol...these were inexpensive so I decided I'd try them.🤣)
The Deep set is more like a pastel 😂
Right!?
I agree. They look soso