Hello hello!
There's nothing like diving into a good old fashioned Product Feature to get things kicked off when feeling a little off-kilter. If you've been following me on Instagram, you may have seen that last week was a bit of a tough one. Things are slowly settling, the shock is wearing off, and I am more grateful than ever to have a craft room to escape to for some therapy. The plan is to resume regular scheduling tomorrow, but for today a fun share I've been wanting to do for some time. You can check out all my product feature posts here, where I ramble on about things I love using :)
Today's topic: Alcohol Markers.
Today's topic: Alcohol Markers.
Over the years, I've purchased a fair share of the infamous Copic line, but I would still consider myself very much a beginner when it comes to Copic collecting. The price has a lot to do with it, but being a novice at coloring, also has me wondering if the investment is really worth it.
You know the saying 'A crafts(woman) is only as good as (her) tools.'
But...Is this really true when it comes to alcohol markers? Is there a way to beat the cost and still get a great product? Burning questions, am I right??
You know the saying 'A crafts(woman) is only as good as (her) tools.'
But...Is this really true when it comes to alcohol markers? Is there a way to beat the cost and still get a great product? Burning questions, am I right??
So let's dive in and unravel the world of alcohol makers, shall we?
First up, the tried and true.
PROS
The gold standard in brush-like nibs, making precise color application and blending easy
Hundreds of shades, allowing for easy blending and a perfect color-match
Ink quality is phenomenal in richness, tone, and vibrancy
Refillable
CONS
Most expensive marker
Hundreds of shades make it very challenging and pricey to obtain the entire collection
Next up, this is a very inexpensive option.
PROS
Price is very reasonable
Beautiful colors
Harder nibs make this marker suitable for other techniques
Unique hexagon shape makes for easy swatching, as I've done above
Unique hexagon shape makes for easy swatching, as I've done above
CONS
Nibs are hard and not brush-like, making blending more challenging
While colors are beautiful, color selection is more limited
Ink is not as blend-able, and it also has a higher bleed factor
Not refillable
Michael's carries it's own line as well, but they are not quite as spectacular as Copics.
PROS
Price is very reasonable
Ink quality is beautiful in richness, tone and vibrancy
Ink is good quality in terms of blend-ability and bleed factor, comparable to Copic
CONS
Nibs are harder than Copic, but softer than Spectrum, thus blending is possible, but not ideal
Marker nibs wear quickly and last only about a year with regular use
While colors are beautiful, color selection is more limited
Not refillable
Last but not least, my all-around favorite!
PROS
Price is very reasonable
The next-best standard in brush-like nibs, making precise color application and blending easy
Ink quality is phenomenal in richness, tone, and vibrancy
Ink is good quality in terms of blend-ability and bleed factor, very comparable to Copic
Ideal shape for swatching right onto the marker, which I have yet to do
Ideal shape for swatching right onto the marker, which I have yet to do
Refillable
CONS
While colors are beautiful, color selection is more limited than Copics
THE VERDICT
Since I am a novice, with the hope of one day becoming a master-artist, I wanted a collection that I could practice with, that wouldn't break the bank, and one that would offer me good quality + not hold me back artistically - because when it comes to markers, it turns out tools can make or break your art. I learned this the hard way ;)
Personally, I found a clear winner in the Blick Studio Brush Markers, which satisfied all of the above criteria. Not super expensive. Beautiful, albeit slightly limited, color selection at 96 shades. Fantastic nib quality, and fantastic ink quality. Refillable, too.
Seriously, these markers are GOOD.
If you're on the fence and need extra affirmation, check all the great reviews here.
If you're on the fence and need extra affirmation, check all the great reviews here.
For all of my other-purpose needs, I find the other markers in my review to be just dandy. I use them to draw colorful lines, add text, and add accents to some die-cuts or stamped images. They are not markers I would reach for if I wanted to do intricate, blended coloring, but they sure do have a place in my collection. Plus at that price point, it's super easy to justify the spend.
So for me - a mix of the various brands is ideal. If you like to stick to one collection, I hope the above review is helpful in finding your soulmate.
So for me - a mix of the various brands is ideal. If you like to stick to one collection, I hope the above review is helpful in finding your soulmate.
And if you are a marker aficionado, tell me, have you used any of these markers? What has been your experience? Please share it in the comments! We all learn from one another - it's the thing I love most about this community.
I hope you enjoyed this review!
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I only share products I love, and think you will too :)
Thank you so much for your support - now more than ever!
I only share products I love, and think you will too :)
Thank you so much for your support - now more than ever!
I will never be an expert at coloring--not my skill, but I did buy Copics starting years ago at my local stamp store. Now I wish I hadn't & could just get a few Blick markers, but oh well. At least I now can use a Michael's coupon to add colors I should have gotten to begin with when I didn't know how to pick colors that go together! Thanks for all the info, Ivana!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I loved this! Coloring does not have my heart. I simply don’t have the time...and maybe patience...for it. I love options...but not too many. Copics are overwhelming to me. I haven’t invested in tons of coloring mediums, but certainly regret some purchases I’ve made, particularly when I jumped on the bandwagon so to speak. I love that you’ve explored various brands at various price ranges. PS I’m happy to hear a bit of an update from you. I’ve been worried. Thinking of you lots with continued prayers.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comparison Ivana, a couple of the brands are new to me. I'm not on IG, so I don't know what you've been going through. I'm so sorry to hear you're having a tough time. Sending you a BIG HUG ;)
ReplyDeleteThis is hugely helpful, appreciated and interesting. Thank you very much! I love alcohol markers, but have primarily just worked with (some of the) Copic Ciaos so far and am by absolutely no means an advanced alochol marker user. It's terrific to know that the Blicks rate highly with you. I will definitely keep that in mind if and when I should have the occasion to grow my alcohol marker collection further one day.
ReplyDeleteHappy colouring!
Autumn Zenith 🎃 Witchcrafted Life