Blending is a technique that’s mandatory in calligraphy. You get to play around with different shades and create new colors for your masterpiece. Merging colorants creates soft edges when you want to transition from one color to the next one.
It is essential to blend colors so that you achieve a realistic image that has fine details. While there are several blending methods you can use on your art, we will focus on how to combine Crayola markers.
But first, let us learn how Crayola markers work.
How Do Crayola Markers Work?
Crayola manufactures two types of water-based markers. The classic, extreme, color wonder, and mini stamper markers. Classic blending markers are perfect for any art project since they are mostly plain and do not have any special decorators added to them.
Specialty Crayola markers, on the other hand, allow you to create unique details on the artwork. You can use all these markers on regular paper aside from the color wonder trademark products, which require color wonder paper.
This manufacturer’s have broad and thin tips that enable you to create beautiful watercolor effects on your artwork. While you can use regular paper using most Crayola blending markers, it is better to opt for Crayola water paper to avoid blotting your art.
There are several blending techniques that you can incorporate into your artwork. Here are inspirational ideas you can include in your artwork using colorless blending markers.
Easy Ways to Blend Crayola Washable Markers
If you are a novice artist trying to find your way around blending techniques, here are some of the ways you can blend Crayola markers.
Kiss the Tip Technique
The trick to acing this technique is to choose two colors that compliment each other. Yellow and green, red and orange or purple and blue are great color pointers. For starters, take the darker (blue) colorant and gently rub its tip over the brighter (purple) shade.
This way, the vibrant color absorbs ink from its darker counterpart, making them merge. You will use the lighter blended marker to create art.
Once you begin coloring, you’ll notice that the blue shade is more prevalent, but it will fade off into a blend of the two shades and then into purple.
Keep turning the Crayola markers as you write so that you get a more blended shade once the paint starts fading back to its original color. You do not have to worry about permanently staining the tips of your lighter pens.
Because the stick will retain its actual color after a few uses since these markers are water-based.
Layering Technique
Layering is among the first blending techniques you learn as an artist. You can use any of the shades from the Crayola markers series. The secret to creating perfectly blended hues is to use light pressure on the painting, which you would use when taking notes during a lesson.
This method requires you to start with a lighter color. As you make your way up, use a darker shade of the colorant you used previously.
Alternate between the blending markers you choose and gradually create a transition as you layer these colors over one another.
Note that if you press too hard, your painting will have visible harsh lines, and if you don’t exert enough pressure, you’ll end up with artwork that looks faded. You’ll have to get watercolor paper for this technique to absorb the excess ink and give you a clean blotless craft.
Colorless Blender
If you’re looking to achieve a smooth texture and watercolor effect, using colorless blending markers will get you there effortlessly. When using colorless blending markers, you do not have to exert too much pressure on the paper. Slightly heavy strokes will work fine in creating the effect you’re chasing.
This method also enables you to smoothen lighter shades without affecting the color’s texture. Layer your colors on paper and then take your colorless blend and use it overtop to smoothen out the harsh edges.
Remember to use shades that have blend-ability properties if you want to achieve seamless effects. Also, ensure that you apply enough of the colors you’ll use to avoid ending up with a painting with uneven coverage.
Use a Solvent 🙂
The pigments that hold blending markers are called color binders. When a thinner comes into play, it dissolves these binders allowing you to merge the shades on our picture. For this technique, you don’t need to put down plenty of layers on the paper.
However, it would help if you made sure that the color is dark enough because once you add a solvent, it’s going to get thinner.
When you fail to do this, you’ll end up with a spotty or uneven painting. Another significant thing to note is that using too much thinner will make your colors look dull and feather your edges.
For this exercise, you’ll need art supplies, brush markers, and a solvent. Since this series of Crayola are water-based, it will work just fine. Layer your blending markers on the paper and allow them to sit for a few minutes or until they dry.
Lightly wet your blending brush using the solvent and lightly brush over the colors you want to merge. If you’re going to increase the colorant’s shade’s intensity, you need to wait for the paper to dry before adding more color.
The reason behind this analogy is that the solvent will wet the paper making it hard to color. An attempt to write on the paper while it’s wet will ruin it, and unfortunately, once you destroy paper, it’s impossible to fix it.
Recommended Products For This Article
Before you start blending, you need to get some insight into some of the art supplies you need for your craft. Here are some of the products you can get as you begin your journey as an artist.
Crayola Blending Markers 16 PIC
If you’re a creative person or know someone who is, this Crayola blending marker set would be the perfect tool for adult coloring. You get 16 water-based Crayola markers when you buy this package.
14 of these are beautiful vibrant shades of red, blue, green, yellow, slate, black, bubble gum, sea blue, peach, violet, wisteria, cornflower, sea green, canary, and red-orange.
Additionally, two colorless blenders come with these colorants as part of the deal. These Crayola markers allow you to play around with your imagination and develop exciting new shades as you learn how to blend seamlessly. It also helps to create beautiful watercolor effect.
And once you’re done coloring for the day, a decorative case helps you keep your colors in one place. You also get a few illustrations that give you ideas of how you could paint your work using these Crayola water-based colors. The coloring kit is good for kids and adult coloring books alike since it is non-toxic.
Crayola Ultra Clean Washable Markers
Getting kids to stay put in one position for extended periods can be a hassle, but with this Crayola markers, you can achieve this goal. This coloring set has 40 markers of diiferent colors in different shades, making them ideal for anyone who is a beginner in drawing art.
These line markers are also washable, so you don’t have to worry about Crayola marker stains on skin, clothes, carpets, and walls.
You only need a little soap and water to remove any color stains from your clothes and surfaces now that they are water-soluble.
And in case, if a marker is left uncapped, and it dries up, unscrew the bottom lid and drip in a generous amount of water on the cotton filter. Leave the marker to sit for some hours to absorb the solvent and revive the pens. In this way, it can last years after years.
As is the case with other Crayola markers, this is a non-toxic marker set safe for kids as young as three years old. It is also a cheap water-based marker set that you can get from as low as $12.
Staplebound Amazing Note Pads
Using Crayola water-based marker pens on regular paper can be a bit messy, considering that the ink might bleed depending on your paper’s density. Most notebooks have a fragile and light paper that cannot withstand ink from water-based marker pens.
One notepad contains 80 sheets of heavy-duty, Ph neutral, and acidic free. You get to paint using any Crayola marker pens without worrying about blotting the paper, thanks to the extra smooth satin finish. More so, its non-acidic property allows you to use any color of your choice without the fear that it will change to a new shade.
These notepads come in different styles that range from blank, ruled, small square, dotted, and ruled + margin. You can also get them in different sizes of your choice.
Best of all, you get to choose from black, white, and orange shades. A reinforcement of staples helps to keep the pad intact as you color away.
Once you finish painting, you can effortlessly tear off the page now that each paper is microperforated at the top.
Wrap Up
Blending colors can be tedious if you are new to the job or using subpar products. Find some of the best products to help you create smooth and seamless edges. However, this does not mean that you should compromise on your budget.
You can get thrifty and shop for cheaper Crayola markers that will work equally fine. Remember that you have to use easy blending techniques when merging colors.
Start with the easier ones and work your way as you master these blending techniques. Finally, check to see that the shades you choose have blend-ability properties.