Garden Network gardening forum - Bluespike - Marker pens for Plans - Hi everyone,I've got to do some coloured plans for my college projects using different mediums. I already use water colours and coloured pencils. I want to experiment with

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Bluespike's blog

Marker pens for Plans

9:48 AM on 21 June 2008

Filed under: Colleges, courses & training

Hi everyone,

I've got to do some coloured plans for my college projects using different mediums. I already use water colours and coloured pencils.

I want to experiment with some marker pens, something more vivid, but there seem to be so many different makes and sets out there, of which some can be quite expensive, and don't know which to go for. Someone has already recommended Tria markers. I've looked on line for them and there are a number of different sets available.

Can anyone recommend which sets are good for general garden plans?

Cheers

Trevor

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bob1947 - 11:11 AM on 23 June 2008	[ message ]
Try putting 'tria' into Google and there are a few places where Tria markers and refills can be purchased online including London Graphic Centre, Letraset etc. The markers seem to work out at about a fiver apiece

markengland - 9:17 AM on 23 June 2008

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i use Tria - they've changed the design of the pen lately and i think for the better. Stephen is right re sets: they did do a garden designers set at one point which was worth looking at, though even in that some of the greens were a bit duplicated. I've just had a quick look, and the greens I use are 346, 356, 351, 3405, and 358. some bluey-greens such as 333, 337 and 339 are useful as well for shadows, planting under trees and so on. i'd add a pale brick red shade to stephen's suggestions too. Gets expensive quite quickly! I get a lot of my stuff from Heatherbank Design Direct - no website I don't think but ring 0800 013 2514 for a catalogue. They often do bulk discounts. it's worth buying the ink only for the colours you use most - you can refill lots of times for the price of one pen.

stephenjwhite - 1:03 PM on 21 June 2008

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Probably best not to be a set as you end up with colours you don't really need for GD purposes. Best to buy them individually in your colour choice - I would suggest 2-3 greens for plants, trees, lawns, 2 greys (1 warm and 1 cool) and 2 buff colours for hard landscape elements, a light blue for water features and perhaps 1 or 2 greeny yellows for lighter plants or for highlights etc. You can do basic plan colouring with about 10 - 12 colours and always add more later.
Tria markers are good used on the back on tracing paper where you can rub them and blend them with paper tissues for a softer, no lines air brushed effect - I then add colour pencil highlights on the front of the tracing paper. Most Japanese markers and American Markers (ChartPak) have a different solvent base and work better on copy paper or special marker paper which you can buy in pads.
Try www.refuelled.com for some of the cheapest prices on markers and pads with swift delivery.

Experiment a lot first to develop your style and then do a concept or master plan.
Enjoy but remember to have a window open or it can get a bit heady - no sniffing the markers although this might make for a more creative approach!!
Best regards

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