Crisp ink lines and soft watercolor washes complement each other wonderfully,
but for that to happen, the ink needs to be waterproof.
In this video, we’ll be showing you the best waterproof inks to pair with your watercolors.
Let’s begin!
Gel pens are accessible and easy to use, making them well-suited for beginners.
More Colors
The Uni-ball Signo Gel Pen is one of our most popular pens for its smooth, pigmented ink.
The tip sizes range from 0.28 mm to 1 mm.
And it has an expansive selection of over 30 colors!
With the amount of options, you’re sure to find a perfect pen.
Fast Drying
Pilot’s Envelope Address Writing Gel Pen was designed
for writing on envelopes but can do much more.
The thick, oil-based ink is completely water resistant and dries quickly
so you can get right to using your watercolors.
Fineliners are designed for precision work
and have plastic or felt tips that make consistent lines.
Bright Colors
Made with artists in mind, the Sakura Pigma Micron Pen
is well-loved for its smooth, waterproof ink.
The ink is even Copic-proof, but lightens a little with erasing.
It comes in a handful of vivid colors and is also available with bullet or brush tips.
Muted Colors
The subdued color selection of the Copic Multiliner is great for soft outlines.
The ink is waterproof immediately,
and it only lightens if you erase vigorously.
The available tip sizes go down to 0.03 mm for precision inking.
Brush pens have flexible, tapered tips that allow you to create expressive lines.
Fast Drying
The ink from the Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen can be painted over right away.
The tip is made with a flexible material that won’t bend out of shape.
You can pick either a hard or soft tip depending on how much control you want over stroke width.
There’s also a slower-drying grey version for making softer outlines.
Bristle Tip
The Pentel Pocket Brush Pen is a calligraphy pen
with a sensitive brush tip capable of making expressive, varied strokes.
Its deep black ink takes about an hour to dry.
It has a bit of a learning curve, but with practice, you can create beautiful lines.
Fountain pens let you choose your pen and ink,
making them more customizable than disposable pens.
Since waterproof inks are pigment-based, remember to clean regularly
to prevent the inks from clogging up your pens.
Reliable Black
If you need a dependable black, try Platinum Carbon Ink and its bold, dark lines.
It takes an hour to dry, after which it’s ready for watercolors.
You can also get Platinum’s pigment ink in other colors.
More Colors
If you need even more colors, check out Rohrer & Klingner’s sketchINK Fountain Pen Ink.
It comes in both subdued, natural tones and bright colors that pop.
A dip pen refers to a nib and nib holder.
It’s the most customizable choice: you can choose from a variety
of inks and firm to flexible nibs.
Dip pen inks can also be used with paint brushes
but you should never put these inks into a fountain pen or water brush as they will clog.
Reliable Black
Kuretake Black Manga Ink is a solid black ink for your dip pens.
Its rich, glossy strokes dry within minutes to become completely waterproof.
It’s also Copic-friendly so you can color with alcohol-based markers, too.
More Colors
Speedball Calligraphy Ink is vibrant and opaque
for those who want to add a dash of color to their art.
The ink is waterproof in an hour.
If the selection isn’t enough, you can mix the colors to create new ones.
There are also metallic colors for that extra sparkle.
You can find all of these pens and more at JetPens.com.
Be sure to check out our blog for more about these pens and how waterproof inks work.
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Thanks for watching!