I’ve tried lots of different white pens and paints for adding highlights to my sketches, looking for a portable and really opaque(!) white. I’ve tried all kinds of gel pens, gouache, acrylic ink, colored pencils…you name it. It’s been like being stuck in a weird time loop: I would discover a new tool, then think: this is finally it! Then I’d try it out, notice it wasn’t really creating highlights as well as I hoped it would, aaaand the search would go on.
Of course you don’t have to use a pen for preserving white: you could paint around your highlights and this will give you the brightest white from the paper. But when you‘re in the middle of a busy sketch or want to add tiny white highlights, that‘s not always practical.
Until recently I’ve most often used white gouache for highlights, but since then I’ve found another great tool that might finally be a way out of that time loop for me – and I’m all for solving a science fiction plot with art supplies!
Let’s take a look at all of the tools I‘ve tried so far to add white details:
Gel pen
A pen is often the most practical solution when you’re sketching outside. Gel pens sometimes won’t start or give weird split lines, so they’re not optimal for really precise lines. I’ve had the best results with the Uniball Signo and the Gelly Roll pens. Sometimes these pens dry out, they can be reactivated by putting the tip into warm water for a few hours. Overall I find gel pens produce a rather weak white, often it results in a light grey. It happens with new and old pens alike, and I think they just don‘t have enough pigment to create a really bright white.
White gouache
This has been my go-to for white highlights until now, I even have a half pan with Titanium white in my palette, and it’s easy to use when I already have my brushes out anyway. Plus I can use it for mixing lighter or pastel colors. Gouache works best when you don’t add too much water to it, otherwise it sinks into the layer below and darkens. I try to activate it before using it with water, and then use a very small brush to pick up the thick paint. Steady hands will also help. Gouache gives me good coverage, and it’s versatile and easy to use, although it can be a bit hit and miss when you have just slightly too much water on your brush. And You can‘t paint over it with lots of water, or it will reactivate and muddy your sketch.
Acrylic ink
Last year I discovered acrylic ink for highlights and I tried it for a while (the last iteration of the time loop). This is not so handy for field sketching, but I thought at home it could be a really interesting material. I apply it with a nib or with brushes, and I shake it well before I use it so that the pigments are distributed. One good things about acrylic ink is that you can paint over it when it’s dry and it won’t reactivate – very handy. The acrylic ink I tried (Liquitex) doesn’t produce the same bright white lines as thick titanium white gouache, so that was a bit disappointing. Though I like the fine lines I can easily create with a dip nib.
Dr. PH Martins Bleedproof White
This is another very concentrated white that‘s similar to gouache, but comes in a small jar. I got it years ago for calligraphy. Obviously it‘s not that handy for outdoor sketching, but it works well enough. Similar if not better opacity than acrylic ink, but it‘s not waterproof.
Faber Castell PITT Artist pen
These waterproof brush pens come in many colors, and I recently found they also exist in white. I bought one, but was quickly desillusioned. The highlights look wonderful at first, but the pigment sinks into the paper, leaving a light gray. I imagine this could be useful for half-tones or very subtle highlights, but not for a bright white.
White Colored pencils
Just to make the list or my trials (and errors) complete, I also have tried colored pencils from several brands (Polychromos are hardest, Derwent Inktense and CdA Supracolor are really soft). I used this technique a lot when I started sketching, and I still like the slightly rough texture the pencils create, it can work well for bumpy leaves or some animals with soft fur – when you don’t want a crisp highlight. White colored pencils produce the weakest, or more nicely stated, most subtle highlights. I remember I was often a bit underwhelmed when I meant to create a really visible highlight and all the pencil created was a muddy undefined area.
White Posca pen
This pen has truly been a gamechanger for me. After experimenting with the acrylic ink for a while, and fighting with so many white pens, I thought: there must be a better and portable way to do this, and thankfully there are acrylic markers out there. Posca acrylic markers come in all shapes and sizes, and I went for the smallest one I could find: the PC-1 MR. It has a 0.7mm pin tip. You need to shake it a lot before use, since the acrylic paint has to distribute evenly, but then you‘ll get a very opaque, very responsive line. The tip creates even surprisingly tiny dots if you are careful. I‘m very happy with the results so far, the pen just works perfectly.
Plus, it‘s a very portable solution, and easily the most opaque and brightest white, easier to handle than gouache. Acrylic paint dries waterproof, so you can go over your highlights again. The only downside is that it’s not a refillable tool, but this applies to the other white pens as well.
Tips for adding white highlights to your sketches:
- If you can, leave white highlights on the paper from the start. This doesn’t work all the time (like for details or small areas), but for bigger highlights I find it’s the best method.
- Make sure your wash is completely dry before drawing over it, otherwise you won’t get a really crisp result, and colors might turn to mud.
- Reserve white highlights the main area of interest in your sketch, or where there is a lot of contrast – those will draw the eye.
- Similarly, background elements or areas with low contrast often don‘t need additional highlights and details.
What is your favorite way to add white highlights over watercolor?
Thank you very much, very useful information. I will get the Posca pen, didn’t try yet and even didn’t know it exists.
I too was very happy when I discovered it! They do come in several sizes, make sure you get the pin tip one, that seems to be the smallest.
Firstly, I try as much as possible to keep the white of the paper but when I have to add white the one I use the most in my work in studio is Dr. PH Martins Bleedproof White. In Plein Air, I like to use white gouache and/or Uni-Ball gel pens Signo broad.
Thank you for all the precious information you share.
Sounds like a good way of doing things!
Julia, I totally agree, the small white Posca Pen is one of the best and most consistent ways to get white highlights. Sometimes my pen burps a blob though, so now I’ll first test on a scrap and then apply the pen to my painting. I’ve found gel pens to be inconsistent and frustrating. Sometimes I’ll use a white pastel pencil (like General’s Chalk Pastel or F. Castell Pitt Pastel in soft or medium) for highlights that are more “subtle” though the pastel can smear. Lately I’ve discovered that a white Caran D’Ache Neocolor II works pretty well on top of watercolor though it’s best for when I need larger areas of white (like clouds). Since the II is water-soluble, I’m going to order a white Neo I and try that next to see if it’s more opaque. It was very interesting to read about your tests and hear your thoughts. I enjoy reading about how you problem-solve!
Ah, I’ve totally forgotten about pastel pencils, but you’re right they tend to smudge. Neocolor 1 sound like a good thing to try out! I’ve used wax crayons/candle pieces in the past for water resist techniques (applied before adding paint), it can be a bit hit and miss but it’s a fun technique for clouds.
Hello Julia, you don’t mention the DeAtramentis document white ink. Is it not white enough? Or I wonder if it dries up and clogs the fountain pen nib more than the other Document ink colours. Your blog is always interesting, thank you!
I haven’t tried it yet, but it’s an interesting alternative.
Thanks Julia for super information
I always value your newsletters!
oh wow, thank you for covering this subject Julia. Most interesting!!
Thanks Julia, I love all the options you’ve shown. I do love Posca pens and I also make sure it’s behaving correctly on piece of scrap paper before applying to my painting. One I also love is the White Caran d’Aches Museum Aquarelle pencil with just a dab of water.
Oh, haven’t tried this one yet, thanks for the tip!
Seems like this is a constant quest! After trying most of the things on your list and then hearing about Posca Paint Pens, I decided to give them a try. Sometimes it does what I want and other times not so much. Maybe my last attempt I did not shake it enough. Like Jill mentioned, the white especially can be prone to burping/blobbing. An urban sketcher that I follow who is on the same quest just discovered Sharpie Creative Markers which sound like a cross between acrylic paint and acrylic ink and don’t need priming according to the maker. She’s not using it over watercolor but directly on colored paper to create larger highlights and she is very pleased with its opacity and flow. They seem to only come in bullet tip or brush. At this point you might have to get the complete set of colors. They are probably Sharpie Brand’s answer to Posca Pens but that Urban Sketcher is initially happier with hers than with her Posca Pen.
I really appreciate this article because, except for the posca pen, I’ve tried them all, with similar results to yours. To this point I’ve been happiest with the Dr. Martin’s bleed proof white-applying it with a fine dip pen. Now, to hunt for the posca and sharpie pens…which in my art materials challenged area may be problematic ( I don’t buy online)
Thanks, Julia! I always look forward to reading your posts. I hope all is going well with you
Thank you Julia, just like so many said already, thank you for the helpful information. An art store near me started selling Posca pens, now I have a reason to try them. So far I’ve been using gels pens and chalk board pens.
Chalk board pens sound interesting too, I guess they also have good opacity.
I had been using riggers and white Gouache on the dry surface of watercolors I plan to frame. I my note books I’ve used mostly gelly roll pens. I wil use pencils on pencil sketches…I’m going to pruchase the Posca Pen and see how it works. I’ll let you know what I think Julia. Thank you
Riggers with gouache are also a good choice, they give nice thin strokes. Hope you like the Posca pen!
So helpful. thank you
Try using watercolor ground. it restores the area back to the color and texture of the paper itself; it is very nearly impossible to detect where it was applied. If covering a very, very dark area, or a large area, you may need to apply more than one layer. Always let it dry between layers. If you later decide to change the size or shape of the highlight, you can paint right on top of it. For a very tiny highlight, or a very fine line, I pick up a little on a toothpick.
Very handy, thank you, one of the few posts out there I’ve found which has sensible suggestions.
Will be trying the Posca Pen, although have tried a drawing gum which is also decent!
Thank you for your article and your very useful information! I tried some of them with the same result. I bought some markers, and I tried the acrylic marker Molotow One4All. The smallest tip is 1mm. When it works, it works really nicely, and it is refillable :-) But I did not try this. For me, these markers with shaking and pumping are unpredictable. And I sometimes use white paint marker Edding with a tip 0,8 mm on kids’ clothes when I need to sign them. But I did not try it on watercolour. Have a beautiful summer!
Yes the markers can be a bit unpredictable, I always test the tip first on scrap paper. But great to hear there are refillable ones, will look for those!