The Original Chartpak AD Markers, Tri-Nib, 25 Assorted Landscape Colors in Tabletop Cube, 1 Each (L)

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To be honest, the actual performance difference between alcohol-based markers from quality brands is largely negligible. Like Tombow markers, these markers havewater-based, non-toxic ink. These markersare washable but that also means that water can damage artwork. Remember, your preference is going to vary based on the type of artwork you are doing and the desired results. Try them out before settling! What Type of Paper Should I Use? Health Labeling: Use in a well-ventilated area. CL, Prop. 65 WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Har m. www.p65warnings.ca.gov I actually have this 64-color set of pip-squeak Crayola markers (pictured on side) for creating some basic illustrations.

You can also use water-based markers with alcohol-based markers. Just make sure you use the water ones on top since using alcohol last will affect the water-based ink. Unlike Copic or Prismacolor markers, they actually don’t have that strong of a scent which is always a plus! Tombow markers also have self-cleaning tips that are definitely helpful if you are blending quite often. I typically use them to sketch out and plan color schemes for work that I want to eventually create digitally. They’re simple to use, very affordable and just plain ol’ fun. ChartpakThe good thing about these markers is that you can layer the colors more so than you could with water-based markers without causing too much damage to the paper. Water-Based Markers Here is a comparison of several brands — I included only dual-tip markers with a brush tip (the other tip is usually a chisel, but some are bullet tips). All listed prices are MSRP, or my best approximation thereof.

Tombowis another popular brand used among artists. Tombow Dual Brush Marker Pens featurea water-based, non-toxic acid-free ink. Theycan also be professional-quality as illustration-grade or used for kids as school-grade markers.While quality, price, color availability, and longevity might directly influence the decision to invest in a marker or not, I don’t think marker design is likely to sway most people in the same way. The fine and extra-fine tips are great for technical and detailed illustration. However, the ink in these markers are both water and fade-resistant which can makethese markers appealing to many artists.

Color availability is the main consideration when choosing between Copic Sketch and Copic Ciao, but you can always start out with Ciao and add Sketch later if you decide you want more colors. Though really, since most alcohol markers play nicely with each other, there’s nothing wrong with mixing and matching brands, if you don’t mind a chaotic collection. The first two double-ended markers feature an alcohol, dye-based, non-toxic ink that’s comparable to the typical Copic art markers. The Original Copic has a squareish shape and comes with a bullet and chisel tip by default, though there are numerous other nib options you can swap in. The acid-free nature of the ink found in water-based markers also make them ideal for calligraphy and another type of artwork.

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For basic illustrations, uncoated paper works pretty well. If you are using art markers in any sort of paper crafts like making cards, they typically won’t bleed through for 120 lb weight paper. These markers aren’t so great if you’re looking for fine detail because they have also been known to bleed a lot.

I can’t speak to the longevity of other brands, but I still don’t understand why companies even bother to enter the alcohol marker space with products that aren’t refillable when their main and oldest competitor has had that option from the start. Disposable alcohol markers are just so wasteful, since their nibs will almost certainly outlast their ink supply.

Chartpak markersare pretty big markers but they hold tons of ink so it can last you for a while. These markers have a xylene-based, water-proof marker that come in 130 different colors. Prismacolor markers are more affordable than Copics, however the ink isn’t refillable and the nibs aren’t replaceable. Even though these markers are marketed towards kids, they still have potential to create great artwork. Types of marker colorants include dye, ink, or paint which can be dispersed within an alcohol, water, or solvent-based mixture. Even with blending, these markers may still show streaks. Streaks can be preventedby saturating the entire paper with color or by filling the paper with a blender before applying color.