A few months ago I showed you some Staedtler Pigment Brush pens – water-based markers that become permanent once dry. You might remember this one:
I was tickled to find out that while I was working on a freelance design project for one of Staedtler’s satellite offices, HQ saw it and was impressed. So much so they wanted to send me a pack of promo goodies!
It was so nice to hear their appreciation of my work; and though I didn’t know what would be in this promo pack, I looked forward to it. Just before Christmas a BIG box arrived, and I put it under the tree – so I’d have something to open on Christmas morning. Not only did I find the full line of 60 marker colors in it – they also included a 24-pack and a 12 pack of portrait colors – so read on for the giveaway later in this post!
Tutorial: Do these markers bleed through? (paper tests)
Watch the video below and scroll to the end to leave comments or questions — or click HERE to watch it on YouTube and leave comments over there. I read both dutifully!
SUPPLIES
Some product may be provided by manufacturers for review and use. Compensated affiliate links are here at no cost to you. I appreciate your support of my work with your purchases! Full affiliate and product disclosure | My trusted partners in art
MARKERS
- Staedtler Mars Pigment Arts Pen 36 BLICK | AMZ | JACKSONS
- Staedtler Mars Pigment Arts Pen 24 BLICK | JACKSONS
- Staedtler Mars Pigment Arts Pen 12 flesh AMZ | JACKSONS
- Staedtler Mars Pigment Arts Black pigment liner pens set BLICK | AMZ | JACKSONS
- Staedtler MultiInk Blending Liquid
PAPERS
- Canson XL watercolor pad 9×12 BLICK | AMZ JACKSONS
- Copic Sketchbook 9×12 BLICK | AMZ
- Coco Wyo coloring book (cheap paper)
- Kanoko Egusa Symphony of Cute animals
- Johanna Basford Rooms of Wonder
Student grade watercolor paper
For years I’ve recommended student grade watercolor papers for water-based markers. There’s just something about how they “cling” to anything with too much cotton in them, so something a little slipperier is warranted to help the color move more easily.
I didn’t fuss over streaks – because I chose a subject that I could use the marker lines to my advantage. Always think about that when choosing a subject for a medium – or your medium for a subject. Some things are just better for one or the other.
In this case the veins were calling me….my neighbor thought I was crazy when I asked if I could take a photo of her houseplant, and proceeded to move it closer to the window and cleared a shelf for myself. HA! I knew I could also capture the thin stems of the plant, and tiny leaves. These markers have a nice small brush for that kind of detail.
There was zero bleed through on the back, which would be pretty obvious if you know this paper – it’s pretty thick!
Marker paper
While marker paper tends to be more slippery, it also isn’t made to have any flow; it’s not soft enough OR hard enough! (It would be FABULOUS for lettering with these pens though!)
To simulate a blend, there’s a few possibilities:
-create a line of a dark color, and next to it a line of a midtone, then a line of a light, and let the viewer’s eye “mix” it for them. You’d be surpised how well a graphic approach like that comes across to a person looking at your art!
-use blending liquid to smooth out areas – even just the larger ones that are large enough to wield a brush in them.
-pull out the colored pencils after it’s dry! Colored pencils love working on top of any flood of color, since the white speckles typically left behind are pre-covered by the marker ink, so blending is easier.
And after all the application of color, it’s pretty awesome this doesn’t bleed through.
Cheap coloring book paper
While the cheap paper Amazon prints on can work fine with colored pencils and alcohol markers (though marker bleeds like mad, so choose books printed on only one side)……the streakiness is pretty much off the charts! I couldn’t get the blending liquid to work at all on it.
Nicer coloring book paper
There’s much more possibility with a higher end paper. Streakiness is still present if the spaces are large, but much more controllable. Wide open areas is where it’s mostly in danger of showing marker lines.
Kanoko Egusa’s style is one I love, primarily because it has both small details and open enough areas to have fun coloring. Might not be best for this particular marker though.
As I said before though, with practiced lines it’s possible to make the lines on a large space like the face look like muscle. Blending liquid had some efficacy so try it out – but as always be sure you test in your own coloring book to see how different mediums will perform.
Nicer coloring book paper, smaller designs
If you’re a Johanna Basford fan, her work is really suited for these pens! Lots of tiny areas that you can cover quickly and easily with the pigment brush markers, and the fine details can be easily handled with the fine marker tip.
No bleeding through means you won’t lose any of the back sides of any pages!
Giveaway!
Staedtler sent me extra markers, and I’m thrilled to be able to get them out to some lucky folks to try out! And I’d like to target each of them to someone who will actually use them, so do me a favor and check off all three items on this list, okay? I’d hate to pay all that shipping cost to send out a pack you won’t touch!
To qualify to WIN, do all three:
- Leave a comment – and tell me which of the two sets of markers would work for you! Even though the “portrait” set is called portrait, it’d be fabulous for animals too!
- Sign up for my e-newsletter below; it’s free! It comes out every Saturday and I let you know what’s posted that week, so you won’t miss out on any creativity. Or the winner announcement next weekend!
- Subscribe to my YouTube channel! I mean cmon. Seriously. It’s free, too, right?
I’ll be picking winners on Friday night and will include the winners’ names in the newsletter. Go tell a friend or two about the giveaway, you probably know someone who likes using markers!
Subscribe to receive blog posts by email:
145 Comments
Submit a Comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Not sure if the phenology wheel questions are suppose to be here but this is where the link took me.
I loved how this helped Marion with her watercoloring skills. That is an incentive by itself!
Decision 1: I would love to do one on birds at my bird feeder. If I had to pick just one, it would be the junco.
Decision 2: I would do it weekly. I would hope to observe when they arrive and leave throughout the year.
Decision 3: I would record the weather for the week and are the birds arriving in groups or individually.
Decision 4: I got to go with watercolor paper. I need to improve my skill just like Marion.
Decision 5: I love the wheel idea, so I probably will use that. Maybe a sketchbook would be fun too.
I love that these markers don’t bleed. I would love either set. Thanks for the chance to win!
I would take any. One you care to send. I like painting animals, landscape s. Haven’t ventured into people as much. But this the year to try.
The 24 set would be my first choice!
Love the way these pens work. I’ve used watercolors to paint transparent flowers too so would be fun to experience the difference. I am a subscriber of your channels and YouTube for some time. Also receive your emails too. Would probably prefer a basic color set but appreciate any set you have to share. Thanx for your generosity in all your videos and skills you share. Glad you had a present under the .
I would love the alcohol markers
They’re all water based…
I am already subscribed to your Youtube channel. Since I would like to try your flowers I think I would prefer the 24 set but either would be nice. Thank you for the give away.
Happy New Year!
Hi Sandy, I have been a subscriber of yours for quite some time, still catching up on some of your older Bible Journaling videos too. I love the transparency of the flower petals in the second marker video, just gorgeous. I would love to try the portrait markers, I have a lot of bright markers but nothing like the colors in the portrait set. Thanks for all the art inspiration!
Hi Sandy,
I have been a subscriber to your UTube site for a number of years. I love watching your videos and how they inspire me. I love the flower you made using these markers. They are so beautiful and would make nice cards for friends. I would be interested in the 24 set, though either would be great.
Thanks
Lisa Farrell
Hi sandy, your artwork looks amazing I love the science/ machinery blended colour page. I would like either set and with them I would hope to conquer my fear of colour, I have long been a black line only autistic artist and colour scares me as it never goes right and I never capture the colour I think I see hence why I work in monotone. I would love to make 2025 the year I put colour in my art and not be afraid of messing up my art by adding colour, I would love to try blending to make the right colour and I love the idea of these pens not bleeding through my favorite thin paper sketchbook. Thankyou for my chance to win and happy new year
These markers look like so much fun. I would use the colorful set, love to paint and color flowers. Would love to teach all the ladies in my card class at the retirement home how to use them.
Hi Sandy, thank you for the opportunity. I would love the 24 set but I would be pleased with whatever comes my way. I do a lot of mixed media, mostly acrylic, ink and watercolor. I would love to try these out for some transparent flowers!
Love your teachings
I’m new to the beauty of flowers! I’ve just started using watercolors and really enjoy the adventure. I’ve learned less is more with color sometimes. It’s learning about how much water you use. I watch you on YouTube and you help a lot. The markers would help me learn more about water control. Thank you for thinking of others when you have extra supplies because they can be expensive to buy.
Hi Sandy! Thank you so much for sharing your talent with us on YouTube! It would make my day to be selected for the colorful pack of markers.
Hi Sandy! Happy New Year and thank you for doing this giveaway. Love your work and appreciate all that you do!
The transparent flowers are spectacular! Nobody does flowers like you and these are so beautiful and delicate. I would be thrilled with any of the pens that are good flower colors. I’m fascinated by a marker that lets you work over dried colors, I have tried with regular water colors and it never works for me, always bleeds. I know this company makes excellent art products. Thanks for the video tutorials.
After watching your second video on these markers I had to go back and watch the first. I had brush markers years ago but the colors on these markers seem richer, more vibrant and can produce a better transparency. But then, Staedtler products are great so this doesn’t surprise me. Congratulations by the way!
If my name is drawn, I would love the 24 set please.
Ever so grateful for either set, but I do tend to go more towards the animals, or portrait set. You are so nice to do this. Thank you.
The portrait ones would be better for me . They are all beautiful though
I would LOVE the portrait set as I’ve never used markers for my portraits, only paint. It would be fabulous to try them. I’m in Australia, can I still participate in the draw? Thanks for the opportunity.
Sandy, I am excited about these Staedtler’s. I would love either set, but may be leaning more toward the portrait set. Do you think they will be providing you a discount code?
Hi Sandy, these seem to work similar to another set of Steadtler markers that I have had for a few years. I love them! They are now running out and I’ve been unable to find them again. I’m guessing they are now discontinued and these might be the replacement. I would love to try the 24 set before jumping into the larger set to see if they are the same. Thank you for this chance to enter a giveaway! (I’m in Australia tho, can I still enter?)
I would love the 24 set! I’m enjoying your coloring book class right now and I’ve been looking for markers that won’t bleed through the pages of my Johanna Basford books!
I gravitate toward bright colors, so the 24 set would be my first choice, but the portrait set would also be fun to try. Thanks, Sandy!
Hi Sandy!
I’ve been subscribed and following you for years now, and I hope you know how much of a positive inspiration to all of us in the community. You rock!
To answer your question- I’m an 80’s baby so “rainbow” is my favorite color! Heehee – therefore the 24 set would be my pick!
Hugs!
Gina
Hi Sandy,
This was a great tutorial and I would love the 24-pack to use in my horses coloring book that I have had for over 45 years, but found that most pens bled through the paper. It would be great to have a new medium to use! Looking forward to Tuesday’s video!
Happy 2025!
Hi Sandy, the portrait set would be fun for colouring the little critters on my cards. I’m already subscribed to both IGs, YT, your blog. Permanency is our art materials is something I only considered recently. When I make someone a handmade card I wanna know it’s gonna look just as vibrant in 10 years as it did when created. Loving your courses.
Hi Sandy! I’m a designer and have been following your channel for six months now — it’s been so inspiring! Your advice and techniques have helped me so much.
With so much AI-generated stuff these days, I’m focusing on handmade illustrations to make my designs more unique and original. These markers seem perfect for that, and I’d love to try the 24 set!
Last but not least, your coloring of the horse from Kanoko Egusa’s book is stunning! ❤
The 24 set of Staedtler Pigment Brush pens would work best for me. I make cards and LOVE color. I think these would be wonderful to own. I don’t have any water-based markers, so starting to use that medium would be so much fun.
I would love to try the portrait markers as I’ve been working on faces lately.
Thank you for the tutorial! It’s great seeing the beautiful markers used on different paper! And what a bonus that they don’t bleed through! I’d love to win the larger set with all the lovely blending colors!
I would love to try the 24 set, thank you for doing the giveaway and very good video about the markers, good luck to everyone.
I would love to get the 24 set! Thank you for doing the giveaway and thank you to the Staedtler company too.
I love the idea of a brush nib marker that doesn’t bleed through. I used another brand on a color book page and the bleed through ruined the design on the opposite side. I see now that some coloring books are not putting designs on back pages which is good. I just found you on Youtube when I clicked the “new to me” tab. Perfect timing!
I have done all 3 tasks… oh.. and just in case it matters, I live in Canada.
Good luck to all!
Ooh, the brush pens look like lots of fun! I’m drawn to the 24-pack because I love to do florals and botanicals and, well…more markers are better than fewer!
I’ve used the WN Promarkers & the FC pigment markers, and love them when I’ve drawn Marvel Characters. The Staedtler pigment markers seem beneficial over these because the nibs simply look beautiful! I am very intriguexd with the portrait set❤️
I think I’d love to have them all, I love that they don’t bleed though and the fact that they can go into really smaller spaces is fantastic! The brush nib looks like it bends a bit as well. Thank you for a chance at the giveaway Sandy, have been a YouTube subscriber for a long time and also a subscriber to your newsletter. Also just on January 1st gave myself a gift of your new class on the Coloring Book Basics+, enjoying it so far, just going slow as a lot going on. Happy New Year
I am always looking for new markers to try. I like that these are permanent and can be layered and blended. Bleed proof is a plus too! The 24 marker set would be a great set to start with for me.
Thank you for demonstrating these in Johanna’s book! I have been reluctant to try anything other than coloured pencils in case I ruin the next page! I would love the 24 set so that I can do forest scenes … though the portrait set would work well for the bears. Cheers!
Thank you dear Sandy for doing this giveaway…its generous of you…
i would love to have these markers since i saw them…i do a lot of colouring books (johanna basford and other coloring books) and calligraphy … the 24 set is wonderful…i cant use alcohol markers because i have asthma…so i stick with water based color..
thank you again for doing this giveaway…and thank you for all the videos that you put on youtube…i really enjoy watching them…
The 24-pack would be a great starter for me. I have several colouring books but became discouraged by lack of pencil crayon coverage or bleed through with markers.
Hi Sandy! I’ve been a Youtube fan of yours for years now and I’m looking forward to reading your blog lessons/thoughts. I’m very much a visual learner, so I hope reading can clear out some cobwebs in the ‘ol brain. I have always been creative but finances have been a barrier to that. I’m a pretty good artist when I have the supplies, but I have tended to treat ANY art materials as precious. For that reason (and a few others), I would probably pick the markers with the larger selection of colors as a big win for me – my mind is already racing through all the things I can do with them – the first being creating a big ‘ol ‘thank you’ card for YOU! Hahaha! Happy New Year! Take care.
I’d love the portrait set.
Thanks for the opportunity to win, I think I would love the portrait set.
waaw, awesome pens, didn’t know, would love the set because I have a couple coloring-books and I can’t paint with the pens i have without bleeding trough the paper.. Thank you so much for your video’s
I do follow you for such a long time and i just love your video’s so much.
Thank you for all your effort
I just started coloring again. I took a Copic & watercolor classes with you at Stamp Fever when you used to travel to teach!
I would like to win the 24 pack as it seems like a good sampling of colors. Thank you & Staedtler for the opportunity to win!
Sandy, I’ve been a fan of your for years – honestly, I could sit and watch you draw or color all day. These markers look interesting – I’d love to try the set of 24. Bright colors are my go to.
Big fan of your channel. Wish for the 24 set. Thanks, and good luck to all.
I would love a chance for the portrait set!
I love my color pencils but would like to find markers that I can use as a base for my critter stamps so I can add pencil on top. Plus these sound like they would play nice in my Johanna Basford coloring books with my pencils too!
Thank you for the info on these markers, and sending you wishes for a New Year that helps heal and brings fills you with happiness 🙂
I am a novice with markers and trying to learn how to color and blend. These appear to lay down nice color and not bleeding through the paper is very nice.
I thought I would try my hand at alcohol markers and bought a set of Ohuhu markers. I found I don’t like the way they bleed. So these markers sound amazing. I would love to try out the 24 set. Thanks so much for the opportunity, Sandy.
Hi Sandy, the best wishes for 2025 :).
I enjoyed watching your video. It is so cool that these pens don’t bleed through. I love that! I make cards and color my stamps. I am not an avid colorer. I am taking some classes of you to learn shadowing and watercoloring and blending with alcohol markers. Also I love in the Netherlands. But if all that is okay with you I would love for a chance to win the 24 set I already have a subscription on your newsletter and YouTube channel.
Thanks for the chance. Have a wonderful day and enjoy all the comments on your post
Monique
Great information for paper comparison! All signed up and following. The 24 set would be nice, but either would be fun to try out.
I’m a novice colorist but I’m trying to incorporate more markers into my pages. Right now I’m using Crayola markers so I don’t tend to use them as much for basing. These markers look amazing and I’d like to try them. Thank you for this chance to win them.