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Has anyone seen these in person? I won't be able to get my order in time to show my customers at my first open house... jsut wondered if they are a branded item (like Niji or Dove).. or whether they are SU's design. I love using them!
I think Pentel (a pen company)makes them. They are the most fabulous brushes I have ever used. I currently use this $12 watercolor brush I've had for years. It doesn't even compare or come close. You NEED these aqua painters!!!
We got to use them for our make-n-takes at convention!! I don't think they are SU's design but when Linda Hanson (I think that's her name) spoke about the aqua painters, she mentioned that SU was the first company to carry this "brand" in the United States but she never mentioned what brand it was (that I can remember anyway)!
In make-n-takes they had us use them with the ink refills but I felt this made the colors look too dark. I think it would be better just to use them with the ink pads (squeeze the ink pad to get the ink on the lid and then use that ink on the lid to pick up the color). They also said we could use our markers and color/scribble on a stamp set case and pick up the color that way.
Thanks for the quick replies! I do love painting with mine... and I love blending my watercolor pencils with them too (not to mention my H20s which I dearly wish we carried) I'm planning on ordering... just wondered what to compare them to....
I totally agree about using them with the refills. Too much ink. It looks o.k. if you tap the pen on a paper towel first. I think they are neat, but not as user friendly as the blender pens. I guess maybe I just need more practice with them. They made them look so easy at Convention.
Amber
I have brushes similar to these. I used them for a few years now and I love them. The ones in the SU! catty look very similar to the ones that I have. Mine came in a 3 pack with 3 different sizes. I love that the water is stored in the barrel. It's very easy to control the amount of water too! I have to squeeze mine to release water. If it's too much I just blot it onto a paper towel. I do not have to change the water. It's easy to clean the brush. I love, love, love them. One of the best items I could have bought. I also use them with my watercolor pencils. JUST AWESOME!!!!
I personally don't care for the blender pens. I've used them for many, many years. Every brand, every style. Dislike them all. I totally love the agua pens. They work great with the pencils. If I use cheap cardstock, then the paper warps a little. Not bad. But it's all about you controlling the amount of water. The more you squeeze the barrel the more water comes out. Just play around with them some. You will get the hang of it in no time. They are very easy to use. I like to use watercolor paper. It's expensive, but I love the look of it. If I'm gonna do alot of watercoloring then I use the watercolor paper. But I've never had a problem with quality cardstock.
I've used bleach in mine... but not full strength... and I usually don't store the bleach in them... ( a little goes a long way)... if I bleach with a stamp... I try to use a paper towel (or Cut N Dry foam from Ranger) and then rinse the stamp immediately.
The blender pens IMHO are still best for chalks... they glycerine in them acts as a slippery surface to help them move a little better... but for inks and pencils.. I love my water brushes. I'll try to find some samples and post some photos (if I can figure out how!)
I took some notes about the Aqua Pens at Convention and they said they can not be used with the Pastels (too wet) and mentioned that you can use them with reinkers or squeezing the excess on the lid. My upline warned me that if you do that, and then pick up ink w/the water, make SURE to wipe that lid clean with a paper towel afterwards because any water in the lid will start to mold the ink pad after the lid is closed. I will probably use reinkers, because I have more than half the colors already, and I kept that cool Stampin Up lid since we didn't use it at out table!! (There are Yogurt lids out there that are a similar size, for drops of ink) Also, she mentioned that the best paper to use with the Watercoloring are the Confetti and Shimmery. More durable than regular US paper. I ordered my pens yesterday, and look forward to using them next week!!!
Just to add with something else that they told us at convention...........The confetti CS and shimmery white CS works the best with the aqua painters. Mine will be here on Wednesday!! Woo-hoo! I can't wait to play and experiment more with them.
New Aqua Brushhes?
However, I have seen other peoples work with it and it looks beautiful! So based on everyones responses here and I badly want to try one with bleach in it, I may have to get some and try again. I'm sure with practice I will do better! 
