Today is the Featured Stamper challenge on Splitcoaststampers and our inspiration artist is PRCHVS- Renee Van Stralen. Here is a link to Renee’s card showing the layout I used for my project. I changed the card size but used the basic layout of her card.
There has been lots of discussion on SCS lately about Copic markers. Lots of people have purchased them, lots of people love them, and lots of people wonder if they are worth the expense and if they really color better than other mediums. After spending some time with Jeanne S and BadSherry last summer and watching them color with Copic’s, I asked my husband for the A, B, C, D sets of Ciao’s for my birthday. We had the opportunity to get them for a great deal and I just knew I would love working with them. When I actually got them in my hand and started playing they were not nearly as easy for me to work with as I had thought. They require practice and require a good eye for choosing colors to work with for coloring and shading.
I decided to try my own little experiment today while working on my challenge card. I wanted to make two identical cards using Copic markers for one and a watercolor brush and reinkers for the other. I stamped one image on watercolor paper and the other on plain white cardstock. The white cardstock is pure white and the watercolor is more of a natural creamy white. This is the one difference in trying to get nearly the same outcome. I photographed the two cards side by side for an easy comparison. The markers took me more time but that is because I am not used to working with them. I really like the crispness of the white cardstock with the marker coloring. The colors look vibrant and the contrast is really pretty. The reinkers on the watercolor paper do not allow for the same kind of crisp contrast but I still love the depth that can be created with the brush and layering color.
The image on your left is watercolor paper and painted with reinkers. The image on your right is white cardstock and colored with Copic markers. OK….so can you tell much difference? I can’t by looking at this picture. So what is the outcome of my experiment and is there any advice I can give you if you are giving thought to the purchase of Copic’s?
-You must work to learn how to use the Copic markers. But… you have to work to learn to paint with a brush as well. You will not become accomplished at either without practice. Sorry….there is no magic bullet.
-The Copic’s take a bit of work to figure out which colors, from light to dark, to use for coloring your image and for shading and adding texture. They blend together better if working with colors while still wet.
– Reinkers can be easily used to build layers of color but you need to allow time for drying to they don’t run together.
-A bottle of reinker cost’s less than a Copic marker and will last much, much longer.
So here’s the big scoop and you will probably be as frustrated now as you were before you started reading this. You can get great outcomes with any medium that you are willing to practice with and not be afraid of throwing paper away. Copic markers are expensive. Buy three colors in the same family to play with (light, medium and dark shades) before going to the expense of purchasing complete sets. I can only speak for myself when saying that this was not a good purchase for me. I will never automatically reach for these markers instead of my brush and reinkers. Working with a large pointed tip marker is not comfortable for me. I find working with a brush soothing and I’m sure that is because I have used one for so long. I am an old broad…and most times I don’t like change.
Stamps: Rubbernecker-Easter Collection
Paper: Amethyst , Designer, Watercolor, White Cardstock
Ink: Black Brilliance, Adirondack Dye Reinkers, Copic Markers
Accessories: Grosgrain, Diamond Glaze, Glitter
Wow – I truly like your honesty. I have looked at the copics and the big tip looked like I could make more errors. I found a wonderful “Watercoloring with Markers” from an artist out of Canada. Her instructions were easy to follow and I have liked my results. I like you “OLD” way better.
Wow, Kittie, I love that you did this comparison. Before I read anything, I picked the one I liked the best, which was the one with Copics; however I’m with you…I like working with reinkers much better. I just wish they’d make a nice bright white watercolor paper. You’re cards are both stunning. TSMFS
Linda
I’m pretty much where you are, Kittie. I have always loved to watercolor but I love the vibrancy and contrast I get with the Copics. I find myself reaching for the Copics a little more lately however. Maybe my comfort level is growing! I love both of your cards!
Kittie, I took your advice months ago and still have not purchased the Copics. I enjoy my water coloring and will always stick with my brushes. I used markers instead of the reinkers as my medium, Towbow markers are my top choice, followed by SU and Marvy. Your cards are both beautiful and I agree with you 100%, each person should choose whichever medium they enjoy working with the most and stick with it.
Great comparison! I have both and I love both. Depends on what look I want at the time. Thanks!
Thank you for that!! I am/was considering ordering the coptics…maybe not!! sounds like I need to practice with what I have first.
You are not an old broad…you are a maturing women…lol!!
Great comparison, Kittie! I purchased the SU set of Copics from Allthatscraps.com and have been “practicing” with them ever since. It’s interesting to use them. First of all, I find that I have to choose different images when using the Copics. I used to only stamp with the “pretty” floral SU stamps, and am now drawn to the colorable images of other stamp lines. Now I have a hard time figuring out how to stamp with my SU pretty floral images again after using the Copics/colorable images for these past few months!
I don’t know how to watercolor, so I’m sure figuring out how to do that with the reinkers and watercolor brush would be a process just as it was with the Copics. I think, either way, the more you try these techniques, the more versatile you can be! I feel like I’m on my way to mastering the Copics, and I’m sure if I dedicated the same amount of time to reinkers/watercoloring, I’d eventually be able to feel the same comfort level. Thanks for sharing your story!
oh you are a born teacher, aern’t you. I think both cards are lovely, I would choose the one on the left as my *favorite* beacause it is less crisp. Anyway, thanks for the pep talk about practicing, I recently aquired a set of prisma markers and am learning how to color with them. Love ya Kittie!!!
Oh, please don’t give up on your Copics yet! You are SOOOOO talented, and I’m sure, with more practice, you will LOVE them! It’s so nice to not have the drying time, and I KNOW you will get more used to them! I hope you will keep trying…I’m “old” too, but sometimes a new technique is GOOD! hehe 😀 (P.S. I totally admire your work, you are AMAZING!!!)
Can you believe I have YET to try and color with those reinkers Kittie?!! I am working on my reinker supply slowly so that I can give it a try….I DO love my few copics…but I know I have a long ways to go to mastering using them. I think your coloring tools are just like any other tool….it depends on the look you are going for in a certain project as to which tool you will choose!
Starla