Alcohol markers are cool because they’re such a fast medium. They provide color and dry almost immediately. But being dye based they are not lightfast. Not really at all. Make sure to scan your work when it is fresh
Oh! And I forgot to add my favourite tip! Since they are alcohol based they are unaffected by water. I sometimes use them in mixed media projects together with watercolor. They don’t dissolve the watercolor and the watercolor don’t dissolve the markers. It’s kind of cool! Careful not to use them on acrylic since the alcohol will dissolve and destroy the nib
Markers are so much fun in my sketchbooks, but it took me a while to get comfortable with them. I usually use Tombow and also have some Koi watercolor brush pens. I think I tried alcohol markers and didn't like how they bled through everything like crazy. Do you have a favorite paper to use with them?
That is definitely the downside. Sometimes I glue paper on the backside to still use the space that got ruined. 😊 I like the texture watercolor paper Borden & Riley 135lb. I cut it down into those small cards and keep a stack for easy access. I love texture, so I usually prefer thick, toothy paper.
Alcohol markers are cool because they’re such a fast medium. They provide color and dry almost immediately. But being dye based they are not lightfast. Not really at all. Make sure to scan your work when it is fresh
See that I did not know. I usually use a sketchbook. Now this cards are pinned up all over in sunlight. Good tip! Thanks.
Oh! And I forgot to add my favourite tip! Since they are alcohol based they are unaffected by water. I sometimes use them in mixed media projects together with watercolor. They don’t dissolve the watercolor and the watercolor don’t dissolve the markers. It’s kind of cool! Careful not to use them on acrylic since the alcohol will dissolve and destroy the nib
Thanks for these tips! Good to know. I love mixed media but never mixed these with watercolor.
This is so helpful! Thank you for taking the time to write it up and for sharing what you’ve noticed.
Sure thing! I feel like they encourage a fun art practice without having to get out all the stuff.
Oooh thanks for that breakdown!
🙌
Markers are so much fun in my sketchbooks, but it took me a while to get comfortable with them. I usually use Tombow and also have some Koi watercolor brush pens. I think I tried alcohol markers and didn't like how they bled through everything like crazy. Do you have a favorite paper to use with them?
That is definitely the downside. Sometimes I glue paper on the backside to still use the space that got ruined. 😊 I like the texture watercolor paper Borden & Riley 135lb. I cut it down into those small cards and keep a stack for easy access. I love texture, so I usually prefer thick, toothy paper.
Thank you! I'm now curious about the alcohol markers on fabric 😁
I got cheap ones online here. They're fine but the cap colors can be deceiving! Also, they started running out sooner than expected.