Review: MozArt Watercolor Brushpens
Dye based waterbased or watercolor markers can be a fun addition to your studio or supply hoard. There are many on the market, several of which we've covered here on the blog. Today we're covering the MozArt Watercolor Brushpens, which seem to only be available on Amazon.
I ordered these awhile back when trying to hit free shipping (when most impulsive decisions are made). When they arrived, I had doubts about their quality, but noodling around with these markers has turned that opinion around.
Get your own:
The Stats:
Dye Based
Available in sets from 12 to 20 colors
Refillable
About MozArt:
You can check out the official MozArt site here.
The MozArt site does a good job featuring inspiration and demonstrations from artists on how to use their products, and has a gallery of artwork made with MozArt supplies to get potential customers pumped up. The Catalogue has multiple sections, including Drawing and Lettering, Painting, Crafting, Kids, and Best Sellers, and their Guides and Tutorials are located in multiple places on thee site. The Gallery and Tutorial sections are a bit sparse, but hopefully as time passes, there will be more to enjoy.
The About Us section is incredibly empty- no mission statement, no history, no information- and is a big disappointing. For a reviewer like me, a lack of information means I have to come to my own conclusions about a brand, based on personal experience.
So here's what I can surmise, based on the catalog-
MozArt makes knockoffs of popular existing products, using existing moulds. The brushpens I'm reviewing today seem to be using the Neopiko 4 body and design, although they aren't as well made as my Neopikos. MozArt Alcohol markers seem to use the super common Kuretake style body, the Dual Brush pens seem to be a knockoff of Zig's Art and Graphic Twin brush pens, and the Perennial Paint Markers seem to use the same body as Zig Posterman or POSCA markers. The MozArt waterbrushes use a very common type of inexpensive waterbrush design and body- the same as the Sketchbox Signature waterbrush, with only a slight variation in branding. MozArt has generic Acrylic and Oil sets, and the watercolor set looks like the Bainyo watercolor set, slightly rebranded.
Like so many companies that've popped up to take advantage of the handlettering craze, MozArt tries to offer a little of everything, and does that by utilizing products that already exist. You aren't going to find any innovation with MozArt, but if you're looking for an inexpensive art supply dupe, they might just have it.
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The Package:
The packaging includes one flimsy, reusable soft plastic sleeve, and one flimsy hard plastic tray, with a cardboard insert. If you pop this set into your bag and hope that the colors will remain in order, your hopes are in vain.
The Comparison:
From left to right: MozArt Brushpens, Neopiko 4 Brushpens, Sakura Koi Brushpens, Kuretake Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers, Distress watercolor markers
From left to right: MozArt Brushpen, Neopiko 4 brushpen, Kuretake Zig Clean Color Real Brush marker, Sakura Koi marker, Distress Marker
As you can see, in terms of design, the MozArt Brushpens are very similar to the Neopiko 4 brushpens. Both feature a color indicative collar and post, as well as individual nylon bristles.
From left to right: MozArt Brushpen, Neopiko 4 brushpen, Kuretake Zig Clean Color Real Brush marker, Sakura Koi marker, Distress Marker
Swatches:
The colors in the 12 piece set are very bright and primary, and may be difficult for artists to use for realistic pieces.
All of the dyes used seem to hold together well even after water is added, making these a good candidate for watercolor brushpens.
On heavier paper, such as this Fluid EZ Block watercolor paper, you can get some nice wet into wet blending effects with these markers. The individual nylon bristles invite drybrush effects, which lend a nice texture.
Water was spritzed on this piece, and allowed to dry. Afterwards, hydrangea were sketched on using Copic Opaque White.
You can check out that process here!
Even without adding water, these brushpen markers can be a lot of fun! Here's a zesty citrus study done in a Stillman and Bern Beta sketchbook, using only the MozArt Brushpens.
The Verdict:
The body is very similar to Neopiko 4 markers, so if your'e looking for an inexpensive dupe for Akashiya Sai or Neopiko 4 markers, these might be the way to go!
These are not only not terrible, in terms of color and blending, but quite fun to play with. They're great for doodling on mixed media paper.
Unfortunately, they do shed bristles on occasion, so they're not built as sturdy as Neopiko or Akashiya Sai markers. However, they are a fun, inexpensive way to experiment with waterbased/watercolor markers.
I ordered these awhile back when trying to hit free shipping (when most impulsive decisions are made). When they arrived, I had doubts about their quality, but noodling around with these markers has turned that opinion around.
Get your own:
The Stats:
Dye Based
Available in sets from 12 to 20 colors
Refillable
About MozArt:
You can check out the official MozArt site here.
The MozArt site does a good job featuring inspiration and demonstrations from artists on how to use their products, and has a gallery of artwork made with MozArt supplies to get potential customers pumped up. The Catalogue has multiple sections, including Drawing and Lettering, Painting, Crafting, Kids, and Best Sellers, and their Guides and Tutorials are located in multiple places on thee site. The Gallery and Tutorial sections are a bit sparse, but hopefully as time passes, there will be more to enjoy.
The About Us section is incredibly empty- no mission statement, no history, no information- and is a big disappointing. For a reviewer like me, a lack of information means I have to come to my own conclusions about a brand, based on personal experience.
So here's what I can surmise, based on the catalog-
MozArt makes knockoffs of popular existing products, using existing moulds. The brushpens I'm reviewing today seem to be using the Neopiko 4 body and design, although they aren't as well made as my Neopikos. MozArt Alcohol markers seem to use the super common Kuretake style body, the Dual Brush pens seem to be a knockoff of Zig's Art and Graphic Twin brush pens, and the Perennial Paint Markers seem to use the same body as Zig Posterman or POSCA markers. The MozArt waterbrushes use a very common type of inexpensive waterbrush design and body- the same as the Sketchbox Signature waterbrush, with only a slight variation in branding. MozArt has generic Acrylic and Oil sets, and the watercolor set looks like the Bainyo watercolor set, slightly rebranded.
Like so many companies that've popped up to take advantage of the handlettering craze, MozArt tries to offer a little of everything, and does that by utilizing products that already exist. You aren't going to find any innovation with MozArt, but if you're looking for an inexpensive art supply dupe, they might just have it.
Reviews like this are made possible thanks to the generosity of my Artnerd community on Patreon.
Don't want to commit to a monthly pledge, but still want to tip? Throw a little money into my Ko-Fi account!
Buy Me a Coffee
The Package:
The packaging includes one flimsy, reusable soft plastic sleeve, and one flimsy hard plastic tray, with a cardboard insert. If you pop this set into your bag and hope that the colors will remain in order, your hopes are in vain.
The Comparison:
From left to right: MozArt Brushpens, Neopiko 4 Brushpens, Sakura Koi Brushpens, Kuretake Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers, Distress watercolor markers
From left to right: MozArt Brushpen, Neopiko 4 brushpen, Kuretake Zig Clean Color Real Brush marker, Sakura Koi marker, Distress Marker
As you can see, in terms of design, the MozArt Brushpens are very similar to the Neopiko 4 brushpens. Both feature a color indicative collar and post, as well as individual nylon bristles.
From left to right: MozArt Brushpen, Neopiko 4 brushpen, Kuretake Zig Clean Color Real Brush marker, Sakura Koi marker, Distress Marker
Swatches:
The colors in the 12 piece set are very bright and primary, and may be difficult for artists to use for realistic pieces.
All of the dyes used seem to hold together well even after water is added, making these a good candidate for watercolor brushpens.
On heavier paper, such as this Fluid EZ Block watercolor paper, you can get some nice wet into wet blending effects with these markers. The individual nylon bristles invite drybrush effects, which lend a nice texture.
Water was spritzed on this piece, and allowed to dry. Afterwards, hydrangea were sketched on using Copic Opaque White.
You can check out that process here!
Even without adding water, these brushpen markers can be a lot of fun! Here's a zesty citrus study done in a Stillman and Bern Beta sketchbook, using only the MozArt Brushpens.
The Verdict:
The body is very similar to Neopiko 4 markers, so if your'e looking for an inexpensive dupe for Akashiya Sai or Neopiko 4 markers, these might be the way to go!
These are not only not terrible, in terms of color and blending, but quite fun to play with. They're great for doodling on mixed media paper.
Unfortunately, they do shed bristles on occasion, so they're not built as sturdy as Neopiko or Akashiya Sai markers. However, they are a fun, inexpensive way to experiment with waterbased/watercolor markers.
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