Today I’m showing you how to blend Tombow markers 6 different ways. You can create so many different colors and hues with just a few marker colors, it is fascinating!
The blending techniques I show here using the Tombow Dual Brush Pens will also work perfectly for your Staedtler brush pens or Crayola Super Tips because all of these markers have water based inks. Also sure to check out my how to use watercolor markers for beginners before you start.
How to Blend Tombow Markers 6 Ways
1. Using A blender pen
The Blender pen is often referred to as a Colorless Blending pen, Colorless Blender, Blender Marker or simply as marker number N00. It has a white tip and when you write with it, it is actually colorless but the magic can be seen when you use it to blend colors.
You can color with the Blender Pen over two colors to blend them, or use it to pick up color off a palette and blend that way too!
2. Tip to Tip Method
Simply touch the two brush tips together and transfer each color to the other. There are so many new hues you can create by doing so. I used two vibrant colors- Yellow and blue. When I letter with the yellow now you will have notes of green from the blue and yellow mixing.
BUT here is a trick! The blue pen also gets a bit of yellow transferred onto it and when you letter using that you will have a nice teal shade of color instead of the blue. The color transfer works both ways!
Make sure you are using the correct paper for this technique. Here is a list of my Best Papers for Brush Lettering
You can also touch the blender pen to any colored brush pen to pick up some of the color and create a lighter version.
You will not permanently damage your brush pens by doing so. To clean of the brush tips, scribble onto a scrap piece of paper till it writes in it’s original color again.
3. Blending with any Paintbrush and water
I chose two contrasting colors of Brush pens- one lighter (yellow) and one darker (red) here. With the lighter color letter the entire word first. Then with the darker color, color just the bottom 1/5 of the letters.You just need a little of that darker color, don’t add too much. If you add too much, that color will dominate and color everything.
For this technique too, you need to be using the right sketchbook. Here is a list of the best papers for watercolor markers
Blend everything with a paintbrush dipped in just water. First paint over the light color- yellow here- and then slowly moisten the darker color and let the water meet and blend. Try not to overwork it (or it will turn into a muddy color) and let the water do the blending.
4. Blending Markers with a water brush
I love my water brush, and you can learn How to Use a Water Brush for Watercolor. It is so convenient to use, you will be taking it everywhere with you!
Simply add your marker color onto paper and blend the colors slowly with the Water Brush. You have more control over the amount of water you add this way.
5. Using a Blending Palette
Scribble your marker color onto a Blending palette, the ink from the marker will sit on top of the surface and you can use a paint brush or blender pen to mix the ink colors right on the blending palette to create new colors!
6. how to blend Tombow markers with ziploc bags
If you do not have a blending palette, no worries! You can use a ziploc bag from your kitchen. Actually any kind of slick surface works for this- wax paper, an acrylic stamp block or a ceramic dish will work too.
Scribble your darker color onto the ziploc bag and with a lighter color marker pick up color from the ziploc and letter. You will create a blended mix of colors.
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how to blend Tombow markers Video:
I have a YouTube Video showing all these above mentioned methods of how to blend Tombow markers Video.
Conclusion: How to blend Tombow Markers
In conclusion, there are many ways how to blend Tombow markers that you can choose from depending on the look you want to achieve. You can buy dedicated blending tools like a blender pen or blending palette or use what you have at home like a ziploc or a paint brush. There is no single right way to do it.
For a further comparison, check out my Comparing Blender Pen Vs Water Brush post.
