A search for “watercolor brush pens” can lead to several different tools. Some have a barrel you fill with water. Others already contain colored ink. Similar names do not tell you what will arrive in the box.
Compare what each tool contains
On a phone, swipe the table to compare all three columns.
| Tool | What it contains | What you use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Refillable water brush | A water reservoir feeding brush bristles | Picking up watercolor paint and controlling water while painting |
| Watercolor brush pen | Colored ink intended for watercolor-style use, as specified by its maker | Putting color on paper, then working it with water when supported |
| Water-based coloring marker | Colored water-based ink | Coloring, drawing and paper details; added-water effects depend on the exact ink |
When a water brush makes sense
A water brush keeps a supply of water in its handle. The color comes from the paint or other compatible water-soluble material you touch with the bristles. It is a useful format for a compact painting kit because you can carry the brush with a watercolor set.
The JusArt six-piece water brush set contains three pointed and three flat brushes, each in small, medium and large sizes. Pointed brushes give you a tip for smaller shapes; flat brushes offer a wider edge for larger marks. These are six separate brushes, rather than six pens prefilled with different colors.
Pair them with watercolor paint and suitable watercolor paper. If you already have those supplies, check what is in your kit before buying duplicates.
When you want color straight from the pen
If your goal is a coloring page, a journal spread or precise paper details, a colored marker may be the more direct choice. The JusArt water-based coloring range includes fine-and-brush tip sets. The fine end helps with narrow spaces; the brush end offers wider strokes.
“Water-based” describes the ink system. It is not, by itself, a promise that a dry mark will dissolve into a watercolor wash. Read the exact product instructions before adding water. Likewise, water-based acrylic paint markers contain paint and should be chosen for their own listed uses.
Start with a small, clean-water test
- Follow the filling instructions for your water brush and begin with clean water.
- Test the water flow on a spare sheet before touching your painting.
- Pick up a small amount of watercolor paint and make one light stroke.
- Rinse and wipe the bristles between colors to keep the next mixture clear.
- Adjust gently if the paper becomes too wet, and recap the brush after use.
Use water in the reservoir unless your exact brush instructions allow another liquid. A different brand’s advice about ink washes does not establish compatibility with your JusArt brush.
Questions to ask before you buy
Does a water brush come with colored ink?
The JusArt six-piece water brush set is a brush tool for use with separate paint. Choose a colored marker set if you want pens that already contain colored ink.
Can I use every water-based marker for watercolor?
Check the specific ink. Use a marker intended for watercolor effects when you want to work its marks with added water; test it with your actual paper first.
What else should be in my first kit?
For water-brush painting, start with paint, suitable paper and something to wipe the bristles on. For dry marker coloring, start with a compatible paper or coloring book and a protective sheet underneath.
Continue with our paper guide or Marker Academy to compare tools by your project.
References: Pentel’s water-reservoir brush description and Winsor & Newton’s watercolor-marker guide illustrate the two formats. Their instructions describe their respective products. JusArt set contents above come from the linked JusArt listings, checked October 26, 2026.