There are so many companies out there that has paper that work well with Copic markers that I can not say one is better than another. However, I can suggest a few to get you started and it's really up to you to test them out and see what works for you.
I know that most Copic users swear by the Neenah Classic Crest Solar White. It's Marianne's top pick. I need to get my hands on some, Mort! ;)
I have used Gina K's Pure Luxury 80lb cardstock and it is terrific!
Copic's Illustration Paper held up well during my paper test with light blending.
However, I found that it started to bleed outside the lines during my demonstration at the store as I laid down more colors and blended heavily. Needless to say, my notes from the Copics certification class says that Marianne does not recommend it. Good news is that Copics will be coming out soon with a prototype paper for Copics that is highly recommended by Marianne! Yay!
Another cardstock that I use often is Stampin' Up's Whisper White. It's what I have lying around so I use it the most often. I have said it before and I will say it again... not everyone agrees with me about the SU cardstock. It has a glossy finish that not everyone cares for. It goes against what is recommended for Copic markers, which is a "matte" finish on the cardstock.
Others enjoy using Walmart's Georgia Pacific and Papertrey's Stamper's Select White.
Anyone interested in sending me samples of GP or Papertrey cardstock so that I can do a paper test? :)
Whatever you do, avoid coloring on watercolor paper. It will have a beautiful effect in the end, but it will just suck your marker dry!! Trying to blend with watercolor paper is really hard. It took me 8 times with a blender pen before the ink started to even move around. Then there's some bleeding outside the lines once the area has soaked up ink because of the soft paper.
Just for fun, I played around with my copy paper from Staples.
Just remember that there may be no bleeding around the edges at this point but once I start "pushing" the color around with my colorless blender, the ink will start to seep out over the lines because of the quality of the paper. If you look at the sample above where I used the three different ink pads on the Staples copy paper, the colorless blender immediately starts to push at the base color... that's just after the first try!
Remember that the blending pen is not exactly a "blender" like the way we might think a traditional blending pen would work. These colorless blenders lightens and pushes colors and then fades to white.
Ink...
Memento is my favorite. Quick drying and no heat setting required.
Some love Brilliance but you MUST heat set or heat emboss with this ink pad. Brilliance ink pads are really wet and it took me so long to clean my stamps. Aside from those two things, I have to admit that it leaves a beautiful and bold stamped image, rich in color.
I received a couple of emails from my readers voting for A Muse black dye ink pads. I have not tried them yet so as soon as I do, I will post about it.
A quick share before I get started on the blending:
I colored my hand-color chart with the colors that I own.
Here is a copy of the hand-color chart that you can download. Marianne suggests that you download onto paper that you use the most often so that you get the most accurate colors.
I received my hand-color chart from Marianne's blog, I Like Markers.
Let's blend!
Paper: SU
Ink: Memento (Tuxedo Black)
This blending technique is a simple, basic one.
Select two markers to work with... one is the base color and the other is for shading (slightly darker). Find the color you want for the base and go 2-3 digits higher with the last number.
Example: Y13 and Y15
Lay down your base color on your image. Work in small circles, coloring quickly to "wet" your area evenly. If using a Sketch or Ciao brush end, use the whole side of the brush to color instead of just the tip of the brush.
Getting streaks? Is your marker juicy or is it time for a refill? Is your scratch paper (underneath) clean and even? Are you working quickly or perhaps a bit too cautiously? The faster you work, the more wet your image will remain, making for a more even blending. Is your paper too thick? Thinner paper is better for more even blending.
* Keep in mind that learning to color with Copics (and other mediums) take time so take a deep breath and practice! Practice... play... experiment!
Notice the Sketch marker laid down at an angle in the upper left hand corner? That's my pretend "sunlight". It's going to remind me where the sunlight is coming from so that I can shade properly with my darker marker.
Then I go back over the image with the lighter marker, smoothing out the shading.
Tomorrow I will finish up this image with two blending techniques for the little flower that you can use...
Now for Monday's Fun Day!
Isn't that froggie the cutest?
Leave me a comment here! Let me know what you think of my Copic posts so far and how you are doing with your Copic markers. Is there anything about Copics that you want to see posted?
I will draw a name when I return from my bowling tournament in Oregon on Sunday.
Did I forget to mention my trip? I'm leaving tomorrow for several nights to go bowl in JANBA (Japanese American National Bowling Association) tournament. It's a week long tournament that takes place every year in a different city. This year, it's in Portland, OR. I'll be back online again on Sunday.
BTW, does anyone watch The Bachelor? I'm catching up on TIVO right now but OH MY GOSH! Is this really happening? Is he really going to break up with Melissa on the show and go for Molly after breaking her heart? I'm signing off to go watch the rest of the show. WOW.
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