White Opaque Details on Watercolour

July 14, 2023 | 6 Comments


I often get asked how I add white details over the top of watercolour. I’ve tried lots of different things but always come back to the Uni-ball Signo broad gel pen. It’s convenient and easy to find in all kinds of stores in Australia.

The trick to getting good results with this pen is to make sure that your watercolour paint is totally dry before drawing over it.

I have often said that the gel pen works best over dark pasty washes but this test proves that the pen works fine over watery washes of light value as well. You just have to make sure that the watercolour is dry!

Two other tips for using this pen (thanks to Liane for reminding me that I do these)… draw slowly and hold the pen vertically.

Some people use paint pens, gelly roll gel pens or gouache. What do you use?

Lots of amazing comments on my Instagram post see here

I was hoping to get some good comments here on the blog as it’s much easier for people to find down the track… so instead I’ll list the suggestions from Instagram below

  • gouache – Designer’s white gouache (Winsor Newton)
  • colored pencils
  • chalk pencil
  • pastel pencil
  • oil pencil
  • Posca paint pen
  • Jane Davenport Musical Marker
  • Staedler white brush pen
  • Gelly Roll
  • General’s white charcoal
  • Zig Kuretake brush pen white
  • correction fluid.
  • oil pastel
  • dermatograph pencil
  • Officeworks “budget” brand Born posca-style paint pens
  • Bleedproof White by Ph Martin with a ruling pen
  • Pentel Pesto! correction fluid
  • White ink and dip penDaler Rowney FW acrylic ink

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