My Mixed Media Eureka Moment

 

10/28/26 Caran d'Ache Neocolor II, Museum Aquarelle, Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Brush Pens (photo reference)

Perhaps my Suflave cocktail had something to do with it, but I had a “Eureka!” moment. 

Being indisposed for most of the day, I decided to use the opportunity for more mixed-media experiments. You may recall from a recent post that while I appreciate how Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Brush Pens can be efficient for putting in the darkest of dark values, I don’t care for the hard, indestructible edges that markers make. I still haven’t found a way to make a smooth transition between waterproof markers and water-soluble materials like pencils and crayons.

I made another try (top of post) paying greater attention to the marks I was making, like dotting the Indigo Pitt marker lightly against water-soluble materials to soften the edges. Although this was somewhat better, I still wasn’t satisfied. Waterproof markers and water-soluble materials just don’t mix, I muttered, gulping down my beverage of the day.

Then the Eureka moment occurred: Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer Watercolor Markers! While containing inks just as intense as waterproof Pitt markers (and in a matching color range), the Dürer markers are water-soluble. I have a wide selection of colors that I bought several years ago and messed around with for a bit, but I never got into them. I pulled them out for the next sketch.

10/28/26 Caran d'Ache Neocolor II, Museum Aquarelle, Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer Watercolor Markers (photo reference)

To make a direct comparison, I used the same reference photo as used when I talked about the benefits of Pitt markers in achieving darks (that sketch shown below). First I did most of the drawing with Caran d’Ache water-soluble pencils and crayons. I activated those parts first with a dry-ish waterbrush. Then for the darkest shadow areas, I used an Indanthrene Blue Dürer marker. This time, I used the blue marker in the background trees (which I avoided the first time because I didn’t want to lose the texture). As I did the first time, I used a magenta Dürer marker on the foreground bush. At this stage (I wish I’d remembered to photograph it), the Dürer markers had a similar pasted-on look as their waterproof brethren.

Finally, I used a dry-ish waterbrush gently and sparingly to soften the marker edges where they meet water-soluble materials. The difference is subtle, but I like the result much better. With all that gentle, fussy activation, some of the efficiency of using markers was lost. But I’m encouraged that I can definitely see on-location potential for this mixed-media combo.

10/26/26 This was the original experiment combining Pitt markers with water-soluble materials.

Eureka! Bartender, bring me another Suflave!

Whenever I’ve dabbled in mixed media in the past, I’ve had fun using a variety of materials together, but it often felt random – just throwing in this and that with no specific intention or purpose (other than maybe fun, which certainly isn’t a bad thing). What I prefer, though, is each medium having a purpose – speed, texture, color intensity, or whatever it does best – that makes it the right choice. I’m looking forward to putting this combo to work in the field.

Sadly, these insights came to me at the end of InkTober and just before Pencilvember, when I have committed to using no water-soluble materials at all! Well, there’s always mixed-media Mondays (that’s a thing, right? All I need is a hashtag).