Art Markers Drawings: Unleashed Creativity

Markers are the best choice for drawing, helping to create beautiful colors, and are extremely precise and sharp for your art pieces. Currently, many types of markers are on the market, and they are diverse in models and brands. At the same time, they also possess different price levels. Along with that, the quality of these pens will undoubtedly vary. The Jorz.art blog will help you understand which marker type is good, sharp, and precise, with suggestions for easy reference and selection for your art marker drawings! 

I – Overview of Art Markers Drawings

For those who rarely use different types of paint, they will undoubtedly wonder what a marker is. This is actually a type of pastel used in fine arts. Because this material has distinctive properties, it has been produced as a pen for consumers to operate more efficiently.

The advantage of using them is that they don’t require setup or cleanup. You just open the marker cap, create marker artwork, and close the marker cap when finished. This is very easy and convenient, especially compared to preparing a canvas, squeezing paint onto a palette, and then cleaning brushes when you finish.

Art marker sets are also a perfect creative tool for hobbyists! As they are more affordable than many other art supplies and do not require additional accessories, you just need to buy a set of markers for drawings and paper and are on your way to a new creative adventure!

II – How are Art Markers Different from Children’s Markers?

As a child, you probably grew up using Crayolas and Sharpies. Both are fun brands with many bright, vibrant colors. In recent years, both brands have developed new products aimed at artists and professionals, but let’s focus on comparing their “child” brand markers with professional quality markers. For example, their children’s brands are the types you would see being sold in grocery stores.

The most significant difference relates to quality and price, which are ultimately tied together. Children’s markers are significantly cheaper than art markers because they are made from more inexpensive materials (such as cheaper dyes). However, those cheaper materials do not mean they will last as long as the higher-quality art marker materials. Thus, the color and vibrancy of children’s markers will generally fade much faster.

Art markers also come in different price ranges, from cheap to expensive, but generally, they are intended to last longer. Professional quality artist markers can be refilled and have replaceable nibs, so you can use them multiple times over many years if not decades! On the other hand, children’s markers will be thrown away after they dry out.

Art markers also have different types of nibs used for other purposes, allowing artists to create different effects, such as blending.

These are the main points where professional quality artist markers differ from the cheaper children’s markers you grew up with. If you’ve never tried using art pens but are curious about them, try it! Even if you haven’t done art since childhood, holding a marker now can instantly take you back to the carefree days of childhood creativity. 

III – Types of Art Markers

There are several different ways to describe the types of art markers available:

– Alcohol markers

– Water-based markers

– Acrylic paint markers

– Solvent-based markers (a.k.a oil-based markers)

There may be some overlap in how specific art markers are defined. For example, Copic markers are alcohol-based, but broadly speaking, they are also oil-based. Posca markers are filled with acrylic paint, making them paint markers but also water-based.

In summary, marker inks are typically either water-based or alcohol-based. They contain pigments (in paint markers) or dyes (in alcohol markers and some water-based markers). This might sound confusing, but don’t worry! I delve much deeper into the difference between water- and alcohol-based markers in Marker: Buying Guide, which is an excellent place to start if you’re new to art markers.

IV – Alcohol Markers

1. Alcohol Markers

Alcohol-based markers can color evenly and smoothly over larger areas. The initial color may be slightly uneven, but after the alcohol evaporates from the paper, the color will be smoother. The color of water-based marker pens always creates rough, streaky areas.

Markers with an alcohol base can be used on paper and other materials like fabric, metal, and wood. You can easily personalize many items with these markers. Water-based markers can only be used on paper.

Alcohol markers dry quickly on paper, and the color remains vibrant! Also, you don’t have to worry about water spilling onto your marker illustration and ruining it.

Alcohol-based markers can be used to create impressive blending in portraits! They work very well, especially with skin tones. Use 3 to 5 markers with a close color range to achieve beautiful color blending results.

Alcohol-based markers can be layered to create new colors on paper. You can layer as many colors as you like without pulling the paper. Water-based pens tend to wet the paper, and then the paper will pill and disintegrate.

2. Art Markers Drawings of Alcohol Markers

Below are a few examples of marker artwork created using alcohol markers:

V – Water-based Markers

1. Water-based Markers

Water-based markers can be used as watercolor markers. Simply paint on with water to spread the color, lighten it, and it works like watercolor. You can create lighter shades with just one marker by adding water or using a blending pen. Water-based markers are odorless, so many parents often purchase them for their children to use. And it’s not just children, adults can also utilize these markers to create marker artwork.

Unless there is a change, all types of water-based markers possess a pen tip made from flexible nylon fibers or foam, creating strokes that are not inferior to traditional brushes. You will find this type of pen more friendly if you have been familiar with painting with brushes before. According to personal experience, this type of pen is very suitable for creating calligraphy, diaries, and art markers drawings.

Related topic: Watercolor Techniques To Create Masterpieces

2. Art Markers Drawings of Water-based Markers

Below are a few examples of marker artwork created using water-based markers:

VI – Art Markers

To choose the suitable art markers, you need to clearly define your purpose of use. For example:

You can use art markers with brush tips or chisel tips with various colors for marker illustration.

Water-based art markers with high precision will be a good choice for architectural or interior design.

For graffiti or street art, consider using round-tip art markers, which allow for the creation of bold and powerful strokes.

VII – FAQ

1. What is a Copic Marker?

Copic Marker can be said to be the highest premium line produced in Japan, a product that many artists at all levels prefer to use. Over many years, this brand has launched many high-end products recognized by users worldwide. The best-selling products of the Copic brand are Brush Tip Markers and Line Pens. Especially the Copic Sketch, Copic Ciao, Copic Multiliner series, etc.

Copic Marker is divided into 4 lines: Classic, Sketch, Ciao, Wide. These are high-end alcohol-based markers that are fade-resistant and produce bright, smooth colors without causing an unpleasant smell for the user. The pen tip is of high quality and very flexible. You can replace the ink so each marker must only be purchased once! And the number of colors will amaze you as it goes up to 358.

This brand has been affirmed over many years. If Copic self-proclaims itself as the second-best marker line, no other brand would dare to claim the first. 

2. Criteria for Choosing Quality Art Markers?

To be able to create beautiful and impressive artworks, choosing good quality art markers is very important. Here are some criteria to consider when buying art markers:

Ink quality: Choose art markers with high-quality ink, deep color, and do not fade over time. Alcohol-based or water-based ink is a popular choice.

Softness of the pen tip: A soft pen tip allows for smooth and flexible strokes, while a harder tip will be suitable for more detailed and accurate lines.

Diversity of colors: A set of various art markers will bring artists more creative possibilities.

3. Which are better: water-based or alcohol-based markers?

As helpful as it can be to read about markers online, it’s essential to try them yourself to understand how they work, which will help you decide which ones you prefer using. Thankfully, both markers are available open stock (singles) or in small sets, so you can try some out without breaking the bank!

Water-based markers are available everywhere, most commonly in those cheap sets designed for children, but you can also buy artist-quality water-based markers that are amazingly versatile. Because water-based markers don’t bleed through the paper as much, they’re well-suited for use in coloring books. The major downside is that they can warp or damage the paper if you lay down too much color. For hand lettering, water-based markers are also viral.

The color laydown capabilities of alcohol-based and water-based markers are contrasted in the image below.

Take off the lid and give them a gentle sniff if you are in the store considering buying some markers but are unsure if they are alcohol- or water-based (some can be strong, so be careful). These are markers based on alcohol if there is a strong smell.

Water-based and alcohol-based markers each have benefits and drawbacks of their own. Therefore, both types of markers are unique and excellent. Enjoy creating with art markers drawings!