Schmincke Aqua Drop Liquid Watercolor Pigment Review Liner Brush Marker Tutorial

Schmincke makes high quality watercolors and mediums, and the new pigment-based liquid watercolors called "Aqua Drop" do not disappoint. They also came out with empty "liner" markers that you can fill yourself. This allows you to have a marker that is any custom color you want and can be refilled as soon as it starts to go dry. The company has said they will offer tip replacements if it wears out.

 

For many years the only real choice for lightfast, pigment-based, liquid watercolors was PH Martin's Hydrus. I have had some issues with PH Martin's over the years though, as their colors often have odd clumping textures and sediment separation in the jars. These Schmincke ones do not appear to have that issue and are very smooth for being so densely pigmented.

 

In this video I'll show the 5 color primary mixing set used as watercolor, used in technical pens, aqua drop liners, dip pens and water brushes. I was quite happy with this product aside from the "Opaque White #50 750" which seems too thick/gloopy and not fully opaque enough to be useful to me. You also can't use the white in any of the pens/liners/water brushes without clogging them. That means no mixing pastels, and no tossing that handy white gel pen just yet.

 

 

In the video I filled 3 liners, their empty brush markers, with primary mixing colors. The magenta, yellow and cyan allows you to easily layer for secondary colors.

 

Primary color mixing and How to use schmincke aqua drop liner empty marker tutorial

 

Because these are pigments, and not dyes, they do not blend as well as most marker products. This is a very staining product, becoming almost waterproof on dry paper. You can increase blending ability by working on damp paper. Overall, these are a different type of supply that should be expected to have a learning curve, but offer some convenience and unique applications.

 

Schmincke aqua drop liquid watercolor painting art nouveau portrait marker art woman

 

Swatch cards:
PY3 Schmincke Aqua Drop Lemon Yellow Watercolor Swatch Card PY110 Schmincke Horadam Watercolor Yellow Orange Pigment Database Handprint Swatch PO64 Schmincke Horadam Watercolor Saturn Red Art Pigment Database Orange Paint Swatch schmincke aqua drop primary red magenta pigment based liquid watercolorPB15:3 Schmincke Aqua Drop Cyan Blue Watercolor Swatch CardPBk7 Schmincke Aqua Drop Deep Black Watercolor Swatch CardSchmincke Aqua Drop Opaque White #50 750 Watercolor Swatch Card

 

Available to purchase at Jackson's here for worldwide shipping.

 

 

Isograph technical pens by Rotring - https://amzn.to/2wNHaqg

 

Daler Rowney paint marker (lower cost) with tech pen tip - https://shrsl.com/28ci2

 

 

Blick usually has the best price for watercolor paper (US) at https://shrsl.com/2765w
or Amazon (when in stock) at https://amzn.to/2vLuwaM 

 

Mini mixing palette - https://amzn.to/3dN4HIA

 

Princeton brushes -  https://amzn.to/346FAfs
or brushes at Blick - https://shrsl.com/28ck5

 

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Note: this page contains affiliate links. All product opinions are my own. I am committed to honest reviews showcasing both the pros and cons of each product. I have not received payment from any brand for a review. I earn a commission from sales made through this web page's clickable banners or links to Amazon, Arteza, Scrapbook, Jackson's or Blick Art Materials websites.