BG49 Duck Blue is very bluish green Copic Marker which mimics Phthalo Turquoise watercolor. This marker makes a beautiful and sophisticated addition to any color palette in lieu of blue or green. BG18 is available in Copic Sketch, Ciao, and Classic marker styles.
Every Copic Marker has unique characteristics based on its unique ink formula.
Knowing how a color behaves will help you blend effectively and make art with confidence.
BG49 Duck Blue
Let’s take a closer look at this Copic Marker and its ink characteristics.
Temperature: A cooler turquoise (more blue than green)
Resemblance: Phthalo Turquoise watercolor.
Actual Value: N7 (note this is lighter than the 9 in “BG49” indicates)
All Copics are measured on a Neutral Gray value scale. The last number on the cap is supposed to indicate value but we’ve found discrepancies where the actual ink value is different than cap designation.
Cap Accuracy: The plastic on a Sketch marker matches 1 coat of BG49.
Buildup: BG49 develops a slightly oily look on the third coat.
Shattering: Shatters into viridian and cyan with hints of yellow on the outer edge.
Chromatography testing shows this ink’s behavior when it comes in contact with #0 Colorless Blender (solvent). High shattering colors may leak unexpected color when you make corrections or attempt to blend with any color that has a high solvent to colorant ratio. Shattering is not bad, it’s just something to be aware of.
Staining: BG49 is highly staining.
Lift: BG49 is stubborn and permanent. You can lighten it slightly but it can only be camouflaged, not lifted.
See staining swatch. Sample was given 6 stripes of #0 Colorless Blender, drying between each stripe. Results indicate how much lifting you can expect.
Lightfast: The fade was slight on this marker, about 10%.
Samples were swatched on X-Press It Blending Card. 1 layer of ink was exposed to windowsill sunlight for 21 days. Approximately 10 hours of sun per day based on weather conditions. Note: we do not recommend displaying original Copic art under these conditions.
Natural Ink Family: BG49 is the dark end of a very small family. This is disappointing because we’d use this family more if we had more natural combinations for it.
Family Members: BG45, BG49
We include this information because many Copic users never think deeper than the letter groupings (R, BV, G, etc.). Every ink has its own temperature variations and underlying flavors. Understanding what an ink looks like in its different dilutions helps when creating your own blending combinations.
Complement: A medium standard pink like RV13
Underpaint: We suggest underpainting with medium gray like N5
This is simply one suggestion. Many possible colors exist. Test to find a color that pleases you.
Pushing Pencil: Prismacolor 901 Indigo Blue is perfect for pushing BG49.
VanillaArts.com (our sister site) teaches a Push & Pull technique for dimensional coloring. This is simply one suggestion. Many possible colors exist. Test to find a color that pleases you.
Vanilla Arts Classes using BG49:
Key to My Heart: a lesson on finish & shine, two of the most under-appreciated elements of texture. Finish and shine are important to telling stories with your artwork. Find more info here.
Vanilla Arts Digi Stamps using BG49:
We continue to create new content and stamps and we will update here as more become available.
Visit the stamp shop page at our sister site VanillaArts.com for a wide variety of Copic classes.
Color palettes and swatches using BG49:
Looking for beautiful color palettes?
We absolutely love The Color Catalog 1 & 2 from Sarah Renae Clark. It puts hundreds of Copic friendly color palettes at your fingertips.
(note: affiliate link)
