Review on Vibrant Neon STABILO Pen 68 Wallet Set - Set of 6 by Barbara Simmons

I bought these straight after buying the Point 88 30 set. The colors mostly match the color of the hat. The handle is easy to hold and manipulate. I have used them for small drawings and they are great for feathering and blurring when used in conjunction with Pigma Microns. I've tested them on several art papers and with several water activation brushes. They work very well on Strathmore 400 smooth Bristol unless you plan on using a waterbrush. If you want a blur effect, the rougher side of Canson's XL Smooth Bristle is best, while Windsor & Newton Cottman's Round Brush is best for water-ink manipulation. Cheaper brushes like the Masters Touch used a lot of ink, and softer brushes like the Princeton Velvet Touch were too soft and didn't move enough. Hot-pressed watercolor paper, parchment paper, mixed-media paper, and marker paper all had their own problems with these pens, particularly when applying water. Canson holds well in a gentle hand, taking care not to get the spot too wet. Work in small areas as the ink will not wash off easily or evenly after drying. To do this I apply a small circle of ink to a ceramic palette and use a wet brush to pick up the ink and then apply it. I used the Point 88 markers over the alcohol markers after drying and they did a good job with shading and detail lines. I haven't tried 68s versus alcohol markers yet, but I can't imagine they would work any differently. Overall I am very happy with these pens and plan to purchase the full 47 colors soon.