How to use Kingart Gel Sticks

Psst! Want the TL;DR?

• Water and brushes are your friend
• Practice with gradients
• Layers, layers, layers!
• Let go of your inner perfectionist

 

So you're here for gel sticks, eh? Maybe you just opened a new pack, scribbled a couple of lines and circles in your sketchbook, and are feeling a little lost. These art supplies are colorful, but also kind of sticky and clunky. Can you get any real detail with these? Maybe not. 

 

But that's the point.

Read to the end of this post to find out why I love these things so much, and why I think you will too. 

 

 

When I first tried gel sticks out (thanks, Miss Michelle!), I immediately started texting my friend to tell him about them. After trying to explain how cool and satisfying they were, he said:

“So they’re like fancy crayons.”

No! They’re like creamy crayons, almost like you’re drawing/painting with lipstick. But I digress. 

I own this Kingart Gel Stick set, and these Faber Castell metallics, and I promise you, you will not regret them. But I understand -  if you look up examples of gel stick artwork, most of it looks a little… dull. And that’s why I’m here! I’m gonna show you tips and tricks, plus some of my own examples, of just what these bad boys are capable of. 

 

- Add Water

 

If you want to use these gel sticks to their full potential, you gotta get a brush, dip it in water, and put pen to paper! Well, brush to paper.

 

 

Here's an example of how gel sticks create a pastel/watercolor effect all at once! As you can see, a lot of the gel stays on the paper and can be seen underneath the watercolor-ized patches, but you still get a ton of pigment loaded onto your brush. 

 

- Practice with Gradients

 

Because these colors are so vibrant, you can create awesome gradients and dramatic lines. I've found this works best when where two colors overlap, lay the gel down a little more lightly, and don't go too overboard with the water. 

 

All I did for this example was paint/draw/color over the two lines from the previous tip, and it looks awesome! 

 

- Add Layers!

 

Like I said earlier in this post, the gel sticks behave a lot like watercolor when you throw a wet brush into the mix. That's why, if you want to add layers, you have to wait for the first one to dry. And not just the water, if you added any. The gel itself needs to dry, too. 

 

The darker the color, the more consistent it'll appear, and the lighter the color, the less consistent it'll appear. What did I tell you? Just like watercolor. 

- Why Use Gel Sticks, Anyway?

 

Why would you use these instead of regular old paint? You may be asking. 

 

These are my therapy art supplies. 

 

Gel sticks are perfect for letting loose or calming down after a hard day, and they are the most effective way I've found for getting rid of Artist's Block. After playing around for an hour or two, you just have masses of color and texture, and it's. So. Awesome! That's why I like the fact that detail is difficult, or in some cases impossible. You have no choice but to let go of your stress and just enjoy the bigger picture. 

 

If you purchase any gel sticks through the links at the top of this post, I won't get any commissions. This is just to share how obsessed I am with these things, and my favorite ways to use them. Feel free to message me photos of your work, and have fun 😉

 

Until next time!