Art Markers: The Ultimate Guide for Beginners

Whether you’re a beginner artist just starting, or a hobby artist who wants to try something new, art markers can be a lot of fun! This guide will cover the basics of art marker usage and provide some tips for getting started. So read on and discover everything you need to know about art markers!

What Are Art Markers?

Art markers are a type of marker that uses alcohol-based ink that is non-toxic. This makes them blendable, fast-drying, and waterproof once they’re dry. They come in a wide variety of colors, including both basic colors and more unique shades. Art markers make it possible to color surfaces evenly without creating any odd lines in the artwork.

They are ideal for drawing and painting on paper and can be used to create a wide variety of artwork. Alcohol markers are suitable for artists of all experience levels and can be an interesting change from traditional tools such as pencils or watercolors.

There are two types of art markers: refillable and non-refillable. Refillable markers have a nib that can be replaced, while non-refillable markers do not. Non-refillable markers are typically cheaper, but they cannot be used for as long as refillable markers.

How Do You Use Art Markers?

To avoid any frustration when using your art markers, I recommend that you use a smooth and nonporous type of paper. The choice is art marker-specific paper which prevents the ink from seeping through.

My recommendation goes out to the marker pad from Ohuhu. It’s quite a good choice, especially in terms of value for money. If you’re just starting out with alcohol markers, it’s best to take the first sheet in the pad and use it to experiment and familiarize yourself with your new material.

Be sure to avoid watercolor paper when painting with alcohol markers, as they are very absorbent and they draw a lot of ink from the pens.

Techniques for Painting with Alcohol Markers

To achieve different effects, you can experiment with different techniques, such as layering colors or using the markers to blend colors.

Stroking Techniques for Alcohol Markers

There are different types of stroke techniques you can use when painting with art markers. Some of the most common ones are explained below.

Parallel Stroke

With the parallel stroke, the name says it all: You draw several strokes parallel to each other in such a way that there are no gaps. It is not necessarily recommended for organic motifs such as a face, because the parallel strokes can be easily visible, making the area look flat.

Cross Stroke

Similar to cross-hatching when drawing with a pencil, you can also draw strokes that cross each other when painting with markers. To do this, first, draw all the strokes in one direction on the area to be colored and then draw another series of strokes in the other direction overlapping them.

Wavy Stroke

For this stroke, you move the marker with its chisel tip in waves over the paper, without leaving any spaces between the waves. This stroke technique is especially good for coloring large areas.

Swirl Stroke

With the swirl stroke, you draw the tip of the marker in closely spaced loops or swirls across the paper. It is similar to the wave stroke; the only difference between the two is the way the pen is guided.

Mixing Techniques for Alcohol Markers

Colors are not mixed with alcohol markers as they are with watercolors, for example. With Markers, the colors are blended together or layered on top of each other.

To blend colors with alcohol markers, you need two or more markers in different colors or shades. Start by painting an area with one color. Then take the second marker and paint a second area right next to it, but the new area crosses the old one a little bit. The two colors now mix in this area and create a transition. The more often you layer both colors on top of each other, the better they blend together.

With alcohol markers, you are also free to decide whether you want to paint from light to dark or from dark to light. Both are possible, it’s just a matter of personal preference.

The Best Art Markers for Beginners

When it comes to choosing the best art markers for beginners, there are a few things to consider. First, it’s important to find markers that are easy to use and don’t require prior expert knowledge. Second, the markers should have a wide range of colors so you can experiment and not be limited. Third, they shouldn’t cost a fortune, but they shouldn’t be the cheapest on the market either, because often you’re not just saving money here, you’re also saving on quality.

The world famous Copic markers are said to be unbeatable in terms of quality and to be the best alcohol markers on the market, but they are also extremely expensive and therefore highly daunting for beginners. A more affordable alternative that still performs quite well in terms of quality are the alcohol markers from Ohuhu.

I hope you found this article helpful and that you will try alcohol markers for your own artwork. If you’ve already had some experience with them, feel free to share it below in the comments.

Photo from Greg Rosenke on Unsplash