Ribbons and gems.....

Here's a couple more tips on using your promarkers, and here is the card I made in the video. It's a bit of a rubbish photograph, I didn't take it until the light had gone, so there is a lot of bleaching of colour with the flash

now to answer some questions

Question: when you blend a darker shade with light, does that mess up the lighter pen tip?

Answer: No, not at all, you do not get a transference of colour onto the nib. There must be a technical reason for that, but I don't know what it is

Question: I saw on Create and Craft TV that you should always store your Promarkers horizontally. You store them vertically. Don't they dry out?

Answer: Create and Craft TV are wrong on this one. I asked the guys at Letraset this specific question. The ink in the Promarkers is such high quality, and the molecules in the ink are so fine, that you can store vertically or horizontally. I have noticed NO drying out of my pens with vertical storage

Question: I notice you blend colors with colors rather than a blender pen. Is this normal with this sort of marker?

Answer: Yes. You are probably used to using a blender pen with watercolour pencils, where the blender melts the wax and makes it possible to move the colour around. With alcohol ink, you lay down a sheer layer of ink, then build that up in layers to add your shading

Question: I have been onto the Letraset site and saw that they make alcohol ink Tria markers in 300 colors. Whats the difference between them and Promarkers?

Answer: Tria markers have three nibs, including an ultra fine one, they can be used in conjunction with the Promarkers. They are aimed at the professional market - architects, fashion designers, advertising agencies, animators etc etc all use Tria. They are refillable by a cartridge system, or ink bottle refills. They are more expensive than Promarkers.

Promarkers are aimed at the craft market and manga artists. I own the complete set and find that the colour range is excellent and more than adequate for my needs

Question: In one video you show how you color with a blender pen onto blank paper. Can you explain a bit more about the blender pen?

Answer: An alcohol ink blender actually pushes the ink away, sometimes it looks as if it is erasing the colour from an image. I am still getting to grips with the blender myself, but find it useful to saturate parts of an image that you want to leave white, then the ink that you apply to the rest of the image sort of blends and feathers into the blended area. I sometimes use it to take away colour - say at the front of a pair of jeans for example

Question: Sometimes when I color a large area with alcohol markers I get a streaky effect. Any tips?

Answer: I think you will find that if you use a small circular motion with the pen, rather than broad strokes (you can do this with the wedge end for quickness), you won't get a streaky effect. I got quite a lot of streakiness when I was using Copic markers, I don't seem to get that now I am using PM's - there is probably a technical reason for this as well, but I haven't a clue what it is

Question: I am really interested in the airbrush system. I have seen some amazing work done with the copic airbrush. Can the Promarker airbrush be purchased in the USA?

Answer: You need to email Macphersons, the US distributor of Promarkers to ask this question. There is a link to their site on my sidebar. You can also purchase direct from the Letraset site in the UK, their mailing costs are very reasonable. I am hoping to try one out soon, and will do a review when I do

Question: Why are there so many grey shades? I have noticed this with Copics as well and don't understand. I have watched your videos about shadowing, but still don't understand why there needs to be so many grey markers

Answer: Greys can be used as a 'mixer' colour with a great many shades. For instance, warm grey 4 & 5 makes fabulous brown fur, or dark brunette hair. Some of the paler greys can be used with other colours - blues and grey for a sea or lake for example

Question: How long did it take you to learn how to use alcohol markers?

Answer: I am still learning, and when you look at some of the truly fabulous artists out there, still a beginner. My advice would be to surf the web and gather together every scrap of inspiration you can. I have been using them for about 2 years - I started with Copics, and changed to Promarkers. They are truly easy to use and get great results

Question: Thank you for your starter list of colors, but I can't afford to buy 45 markers all at once, I can buy about 25. Any advice?

Answer: I would go for the first 25 colours on the list. You can add the rest later

Question: doesn't using the alcohol markers to ink sentiments damage the rubber stamp?

Answer: Well I suppose it would if you left it on the rubber, but I keep alcohol free baby wipes close by, and swipe one over the stamp as soon as I have used it. I haven't noticed any deterioration in the rubber or acrylic

Question: I have some Copics, but after watching your videos and checking out how well priced Promarkers are, I am going to switch over to Promarkers (I hope Santa is reading this) Will the Copic colors I have work with them? Will my Copic blender pen work, or will I need a Promarker one? Thanks

Answer: Yes, you can use your existing Copics in conjunction with the Promarkers, they are both alcohol based pens. You CAN'T use your Promarkers (or Copics) with Tombow or Stampin Up water based markers. The Copic blender will work fine

Okay, I hope I answered your questions. I'll be posting tomorrow, I've got a jokey video for you, and getting ready for the big draw, winner to be announced on monday