You can blend Crayola Supertip markers by utilizing the water-based nature of the ink and the tip itself. A simple method involves using one side of the tip to lay down color and then turning the other side of the tip to achieve a more blended look.
Techniques for Blending Supertips
Blending with water-based markers like Crayola Supertips relies on reactivating or moving the ink while it's still wet or by layering colors.
Method Using the Marker Tip
As indicated in the reference, one approach is:
- Lay down a color using one side of the marker's tip.
- To blend or soften the edge, turn the other side of the tip and use it to work the color you just applied. This can help smooth transitions between colors or create gradients.
Why this works: Crayola Supertips use water-based ink. The "cleaner" side of the tip, or even a slightly lighter color marker or a water brush, can rewet and move the ink already on the paper, facilitating blending.
Don't worry about staining the tip of a lighter marker if you use it to blend a darker color. As the reference notes, "Don't worry about stealing the tip with a darker color because as long as it's water-based," the color will typically lift off when you continue drawing with the lighter color.
Other Blending Techniques
While the reference highlights using the marker tip itself, other common methods for blending water-based markers include:
- Layering: Apply a lighter color first, then layer a darker color on top, blending the edges while the ink is still wet.
- Wet-on-Wet: Apply water to the paper first using a brush or water brush, then touch the marker tip to the wet area.
- Using a Blender Marker or Water Brush: Apply colors side-by-side and use a colorless blender marker or a brush dampened with water to merge the colors together on the paper.
- Tip-to-Tip Blending: Briefly touch the tip of a lighter marker to the tip of a darker marker. The lighter marker will pick up some dark ink, allowing you to create a gradient as the dark ink is used up.
Experimenting with these techniques will help you discover the best ways to achieve smooth blends with your Crayola Supertip markers.
