Winsor & Newton BrushMarkers

BrushMarkers are the ideal tool for illustration, manga, graphics, animation and fashion design. The distinctive brush tip is inspired by the flexible qualities of a traditional paintbrush, making it fantastically versatile and malleable to provide the ultimate in precise line control. Twin-tipped, the BrushMarker allows you to create fluid strokes, varied line widths and the ability to fill in block colour.

Available in a spectrum of 72 colours, the BrushMarker offers an expansive range of shades from light pastels to bold tones. Each colour is blend-friendly and the translucent ink is non-toxic and alcohol-based, allowing it to be built up in successive layers. The high quality nibs provide print-quality, streak-free coverage that will not fleck, ensuring your work remains professional.

The brush tip differs from a traditional paint brush tip as it is comprised of one solid piece rather than lots of individual hairs. This is great as it means you won't be suffering any split ends and you won't have to clean the tip between use! Although slightly stiffer than a traditional brush, the brush tip still provides excellent flexibility for creating a whole range of different marks. The solid nature of the tip means that ink flow is predictable and consistent compared to a brush where colour and water are released more unpredictably from the belly. Overall the Brushmarker combines some of the best qualities of a brush with the ease and precision of a marker pen.

Each BrushMarker is dual nibbed, with a precise brush tip to one end and a chisel nib to the opposite end. This tip combination makes it quick and easy to add in fluid strokes or quickly fill in large areas of colour. Combine these with the bullet tip of the ProMarker and you have a complete set of mark making tools at your disposal! It is important that both caps are kept securely on the pen at all times. If you accidentally leave the marker uncapped for a short period of time (at maximum a couple of hours), replace the cap as soon as possible and allow time for the marker to 'recharge'. Unfortunately, if the pen has been left for more than a couple of hours it may have to be replaced with a new marker.

BrushMarkers work seamlessly with the ProMarker as they contain the same ink formulation. We would also recommend using specially coated marker paper, such as the Winsor & Newton Bleedproof Marker Pad. Bleedproof paper is specially coated to lift ink away from the page, making it easier to work with inks and preventing the ink from bleeding through the pages. If you need to work on softer papers for sketches, etc., try placing a sheet of greaseproof paper behind the sheet you're working on. If you prefer a more heavy weight paper, Bristol Board also works very well with ProMarkers and BrushMarkers.

Want to know more about BrushMarkers? Read the FAQ to get the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.

FAQ


How can I use the Blender?

The artwork surface used can make a difference to your results, therefore we recommend you use a bleedproof paper to achieve optimum results. This paper is specially coated to lift the ink away from the paper to keep inks wetter for longer and prevent ink form bleeding through multiple sheets. Using the blender takes practice and is a definite skill, unlike using water paints to blend.
To successfully achieve a blend you can lay down some blender ink before working on the area, but this is down to individual preference. To blend two colours you need to work quickly, keeping the ink wet and continue to work the area. The ink will appear more evenly blended when dry as the alcohol evaporates. This technique takes practice; try on scraps of discarded paper before going to your finished design.

What is the difference between water-based and alcohol-based markers?

Water-based ink is lightfast and acid-free which is perfect for archival projects such as scrapbooking. They are also easily manipulated with water. You can use a water-filled brush pen to blend and add washes to your artwork. Alcohol-based inks provide a vibrant, streak-free flat finish and can be applied to a diverse range of materials.

What do I do if I left the cap off my marker?

If you have only left the cap off the marker for a couple of hours you should be able to replace the cap and leave to rest for a few hours to allow the ink to recharge the dry nib. If the marker has been left for longer you may need to purchase a new marker.
How do I stop my inked lines bleeding into my coloured work?
If you're using alcohol markers you need to make sure you are using a water-based fine liner. Ensure your line work is completely dry before adding colour. For best results, try heat setting your line work before colouring.

My markers keep bleeding through my paper, what can I do?

We recommend you use a specially coated paper such as the Winsor & Newton Bleedproof Marker Paper. Bleedproof paper is specially coated to lift ink away from the page, making it easier to work with inks and preventing the ink from bleeding through the pages. If you need to work on softer papers for sketches, etc., try placing a sheet of greaseproof paper behind the sheet you're working on. If you prefer a more heavy weight paper, Bristol Board also works very well with ProMarkers and BrushMarkers.

What is the difference between ProMarker and BrushMarker?

The ProMarker features a fine nib and a chisel nib and the BrushMarker features a brush nib and a chisel nib. One can achieve very different effects with the fine nib (great for very fine details) and the brush nib (very fluid flexible lines of different width). ProMarker comes in 148 colours whilst BrushMarker is available in 72 colours. There are 11 colours in the BrushMarker range that are not available in the ProMarker range.  ProMarker and BrushMarker have the same ink formulation, and therefore they are very easy to use in conjunction with one another.

Can I use BrushMarkers on surfaces other than paper?

The alcohol-based ink is permanent and extremely quick drying. This means BrushMarker colour can be applied to a range of surfaces including card, glass, wood, plastic, etc. When applying BrushMarker to a textured or porous surface like bare wood or textile, the ink will bleed outwards slightly, so make allowance for this when working close to the edges. 

How do I need to store my BrushMarkers?

Alcohol-based markers such as BrushMarkers can be stored either horizontally or vertically.