What Waterproof Pen and Ink Should I Use For Watercolor?

Creative self-expression is important to explore. It nudges you towards finding different artistic styles and techniques to play around with. One of these is watercolor and ink. If you haven’t played around with watercolor and ink, you are in for a treat. We will explore combining ink with watercolor, including the best gear, inks, pens, and common questions people have on the topic!

Watercolor art is one of the best ways to explore and diversify your artistic skills. It presents a learning curve that is quite easy to master with a bit of practice and consistency. Watercolor with ink features a different look and effect compared to the usual art styles we see every day.

If this has piqued your interest, the first thing to get you going is to invest in the right tools. As you well know, the best investment is always in the tools of one’s own trade. With the right tools, you’ll get a better chance at learning and creating presentable and neat art pieces. So, what are the right tools? Well, watercolor art calls for the use of waterproof pens and inks for really incredible results.

First off, let’s explore the features of a great waterproof pen:

● Waterproof Labels

When working on a watercolor art piece, your aim should be on featuring the use of inks that will not smudge. Your pens and inks should come with a waterproof label to affirm that you are working with the right type of products.

Waterproof pens and inks come in handy to ensure that your drawings and sketches are perfect for watercolor. In some cases, you will find brands that do not state the waterproof capabilities of their pens and inks.

When this happens, you need to take a look at the pigmentation mentioned on the label. With pens and inks that have a high pigment, you can trust that they won’t smudge once you add your watercolor.

● Durability

Pay attention to how well the ink you’ll be working with performs. This is indicated by a term on the label referred to as lightfast. It is used to help you get a clearer understanding of how the ink will respond when exposed to different elements.

Getting ink that features a high degree of lightfastness assures you that your art will hold up well. You won’t have to deal with fading and discoloration, among other issues.

● Drying Time

The time it takes for the ink to dry will vary depending on the brand you invest in. Paying attention to the drying time of your ink is essential to avoid adding watercolor prematurely. The ink needs ample time to dry to ensure that you achieve that neat look on your art piece.

Best Waterproof Pens For Watercolor

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Watercolor art requires the use of quality waterproof pens to create extraordinary art pieces. Different brands offer quality waterproof pen options that you can work with. Here are the best options to get you started.

Signo Gelstick Pen By UniBall

Uniball’s Signo gel stick pen is a great pen option for watercolor art. It is designed to offer accurate transitions on paper and glides smoothly, making the experience pleasant. It features a grip that is quite comfortable to use and is made of a quality plastic material.

The plastic material contributes to the lightweight feel of the pen that makes it easier to use for longer art sessions. This pen features waterproof and fade-proof aspects that make the pen a great option to use for watercolor art. The inks come in 8 different colors giving you a great variety of options to consider.

Sakura Pigma Micron Pen

The Pigma Micron pen by Sakura is used by a lot of artists for its accuracy, especially when sketching or drawing. The pen is designed to feature waterproof aspects that make it a great option for watercolor art.

The ink in these pens also features fade resistance and chemical stability. The pen comes with different tip sizes that allow you to work with a variety of line widths.

They feature 01(0.25mm), 05( 0.2mm), and fine-tipped brushes, among others. The Pigma Micron pen is by far the best fine liner pen to invest in as an artist. It will come in handy for all the precision line work you need for your art pieces.

Lamy Safari Pen

As an artist, you may find yourself drawing a lot and going through different pens at a very fast rate. This can, at times, be quite expensive if you don’t find a sale. However, with the Lamy Safari pens, this hurdle is addressed, giving you the best of all worlds.

You get to work with a quality pen for your drawings, which is very affordable and also refillable. The Lamy Safari fountain pen is a refillable option that comes with an outer casing that is very appealing.

Even better, you can find these fountain pens for sale online!

The brand offers pens in a variety of colors to suit different individuals. The pens are perfect for watercolor art, given that you can use any waterproof ink on your art pieces. Additionally, the pens feature different nibs, including extra-fine, fine, medium, bold, and calligraphy nibs. This makes the pens perfect for drawing.

Impact Gel Pen By UniBall

Impact Gel pens are a great option when it comes to watercolor art. They are designed to feature smooth and bold lines featuring the use of rich ink options. The pen’s ink is designed to be waterproof and also fade resistant. This ensures that your art piece lasts longer.

The ink comes in a variety of color options with up to 10 different colors for you to choose from. The pens offer a comfortable grip that allows you to use them for long drawing and sketching sessions.

They offer an incredible feel and glide easily on paper, which makes the drawing process almost effortless. The tip on this pen is a great option for drawing, especially when working with wide lines, given that it measures 1.0mm.

Pentel Pocket Brush Pen

Pentel pocket brush pens are another great waterproof pen choice perfect for watercolor art. The pens are designed to feature a brush tip made of soft synthetic bristles ending in a sharp-pointed tip.

The brush tip comes in handy, given that you can achieve different stroke thicknesses depending on how you use the pen. Varying the pressure applied when using the pen will give you a great variety of strokes to work with.

The ink that comes with this pen is quite rich in color and features great pigmentation. This pen is a great investment since it offers incredible and effortless ink flow, unlike other brush pen options. If you are looking to work with a brush pen for your watercolor art, this is the best choice for you.

Best Waterproof Inks For Watercolor

When working with refillable pens like the Lamy Safari pen, it is always a good idea to have the right ink with you. For watercolor, you need to work with waterproof inks, and that will not smudge as you create your art piece. Here are some of the best waterproof inks to consider investing in.

De Atramentis Document Ink

De Atramentis Document is a great waterproof ink that is used by a lot of artists for sketching and drawing. The ink comes in a variety of colors to give users different options to consider when creating their art. The ink also features the ability to dry quite fast, giving you the advantage of working on your watercolor with ease.

Platinum Carbon

Platinum carbon is by far the best overall ink to invest in, especially for watercolor art. The ink is made with micro-fine particles that make it pigmented and rich. This contributes to the waterproof feature of the ink and ensures that it translates accurately on paper. The ink comes in a vibrant black color that is textured and perfect for watercolor.

SketchINK

Sketch ink is another great ink option you can use for your fountain pens or brush pens for sketching and drawing. The inks come in 10 different colors that offer incredible versatility when working on your art pieces.

The ink is made using nano pigments to facilitate an easier flow when in use. This also allows the ink to dry faster and allows you to add your watercolor without any smudging or bleeding. The ink is also designed to be lightfast, allowing it to last longer after use.

Waterproof Pen and Ink FAQ

What are waterproof pens and inks used for?

Waterproof pens are used to draw images on paper or work on the outlines before adding watercolor. Waterproof inks, on the other hand, come in handy to refill fountain pens or brush pens being used in the drawing process.

Why should I work with waterproof pens over water-soluble pens?

Waterproof pens are designed to feature resistance to manipulation by water. The inks will not bleed or smudge when watercolor is used on the drawings made by the pens. However, when it comes to water-soluble pens, immediately watercolor is introduced, the ink starts to bleed, resulting in a messy art piece.

How do I tell if my pen or ink is waterproof?

Most brands will label their pens and inks to make it easier for users to determine whether the pens and inks are waterproof. Additionally, with the in-depth list we’ve provided on waterproof pens and inks, you should comfortably find an option that works for you.

Conclusion

Waterproof pens and inks are essential when working on watercolor art. The best part is that all the brands we’ve mentioned are easily available! Take a look at the specific brand you’d like to invest in and get started on your creative watercolor art.

Guest post by KT Mehra

KT Mehra is an art entrepreneur and creative. She owns an art store for paper and pens in New Jersey, but really loves to get her hands dirty with actual paints, ink, and other mediums! She has written across multiple domains and publications on literature, painting, drawing, fountain pens, and, now, watercolor art!

What Waterproof Pen and Ink Should I Use For Watercolor?