What You Need to Know About Alcohol Markers

Have you ever looked at a display of hundreds of colorful markers and thought how fun they would be to use, but you weren’t sure where to begin? We’ve got a few alcohol marker tips and tricks for you, whether you want to begin creating marker art or just need some basic tips for adding markers to your artistic practice.

What Are Alcohol Markers?

Alcohol markers are popular art and design markers where alcohol is the vehicle for the color, as opposed to water-based markers where water is the vehicle or xylene-based markers where xylene solvent is the vehicle. If it smells faintly like rubbing alcohol, it’s an alcohol-based marker and can be blended with other alcohol-based markers from different brands. Popular alcohol marker brands include Copic Classic Markers and Copic Sketch Markers, Prismacolor, Ohuhu, Arrtx, Arteza, and our own Koda Art Dual Tip Brush Markers and Sets. 

They’re easy to use for a wide range of subject matter and styles. The colors are vibrant and clear right off the bat and give great coverage. Because they offer rich results quickly, they’re a favorite of illustrators, manga artists, graphic designers, interior designers, landscape architects, fashion designers, architects, and artists. 

The transparency of these markers works similarly to watercolor in that colors can be layered to create darker values or optical color mixes, like yellow over blue makes green. Also similar to watercolor, the white of the paper plays a role in the light that comes from the background and through the colors, making them more vibrant and affecting the values. 

The inks are usually dye-based and therefore not fade-proof, so they’re best for design work where they will be scanned for their final iteration or for planning and sketching, but they’re not recommended for a final artwork for display. 

What Are the Pros and Cons of Alcohol Markers?

Pros: 

• Easy to layer with excellent blending capabilities.
• Come in a variety of tip sizes and shapes for a wide range of marking possibilities. Most have dual-ended tips, which give you multiple drawing style options in one marker.
• The colors are vivid and clear.
• Wide color ranges are available, from intense, highly saturated colors to muted, low-intensity colors. Even more colors can be created through layering.
• Wide value ranges are available from very light to very dark. Even more values can be created through layering.
• They allow for quick coverage, so you can cover more ground quickly compared to colored pencils or pens.
• Most brands smell only faintly of alcohol fumes compared to the dizzying xylene-based marker fumes.
• They can create hard edges between colors or softly blended transitions.
• They don’t smear when you’re working because they soak into the paper immediately and are quick-drying.
• Some brands are refillable and offer replaceable nibs, saving money and waste. Refills and nibs may be compatible between brands.
• They play well with other media, like pigmented ink pens, Chartpak AdMarkers, acrylic paint pens, and colored pencils.

Cons: 

• The inks are fade-resistant but not lightfast - meaning that eventually, they will fade. Best for design work that will be scanned for the final product instead of displayed artwork. 
• You need a wide range of colors to get the best results, from light to dark in the same color family, so it can get expensive.
• Can be too quick-drying if you want to blend, so timing is important to manage.
• Not as forgiving if mistakes are made so advanced planning of the layers is a good idea.
• The ink bleeds through the paper, so thicker or marker-specific paper is required. There are bleed-proof shields you can use, or use an acetate sheet, or use bleed-proof paper like Crescent’s Rendr.
• Cannot be used on just any paper. The right paper must be used to avoid too much feathering or unintended dulling of the color. 
• Some people can be sensitive to the alcohol fumes.

What is the Best Paper for Alcohol Markers?

Starting with the right paper is half the battle when using alcohol markers. For best results, look for papers specifically labeled for “Marker” or “Pen and Ink”, but smooth bristol board and smooth illustration board are also good. Heavyweight, smooth white paper that doesn’t bleed or feather is the best paper to use for alcohol markers. Feathering means that the ink spreads out from where you put it down, wicking through the fibers of the paper, which means you lack control over where the ink flows. What you want is a paper that’s balanced between bleeding too much and too little, allowing you the most control.

Paper not designed for markers can dull the colors. For example, if you color the same marker on a sheet of printer paper vs a sheet of marker paper, you’ll see the color remains more vivid on the marker paper and isn’t quite as vibrant on the printer paper. You’re better off spending a bit more for better paper so your marker techniques will have more success. Each type of marker paper will react a little differently, so it’s important to do some test sketches so you can figure out how the paper will cause the ink to behave. You can discover its strengths and limitations and work those into your drawing process. You may choose a paper that blends easily for one project and another that leaves strong marks for another.

Juicy alcohol markers bleed through paper easily, so you’ll want to use a heavier-weight paper or board. Cardstock, bristol board, and illustration boards are great options. There are some bleed-proof papers available, but they don’t tend to blend as well. Thicker paper is also sturdy enough to withstand the amount of layering and scrubbing of the surface that’s typically required. Thinner papers can disintegrate if repeatedly layered while wet.

The smoother the paper, the better the results and the longer your nibs will last. If the paper’s tooth, or surface texture, is rough, it’s more difficult to create controlled lines and fine lines. Your nibs will also suffer and become less sharp as the fibers that make it up are roughened. Smooth paper is also best for scanning your art because surface texture shadows aren’t an issue.

Bright white is the best color of paper to use with alcohol markers because it shows the colors at their truest and purest intensity. However, off-white paper or light-value toned papers offer interesting effects, such as a vintage look. You’ll just want to experiment with how the colored background affects the marker colors.

Different Marker Tip Types

Alcohol marker tips come in different shapes and sizes for various line weights and expressive character. How you apply different pressure on the nib also affects the line quality, so you can be really creative with this tool. Just like a pencil, lighter pressure produces lighter marks, while heavier pressure creates darker marks. Pressure variations when using a brush nib are where these markers really show their versatility. Spend some time testing the different mark-making capabilities of your marker nibs.

• Bullet Tips
  Bullet tips are bullet-shaped and either slightly pointed or rounded at the end. They can be very fine or broad, but in general, they create consistent fine lines with little variation. They’re commonly used for outlining and laying out the general design before coloring, and for adding details. They’re also great for cross-hatching and adding texture. Different-sized bullet tips will offer thicker to thinner line weights, so having a couple of size options can be handy.
  
  

• Chisel Tips
  Chisel tips are the widest nib type and have an angled edge for covering large areas quickly or drawing bold lines. You can create 3 different line weights with this one tip if you draw with the broad side left to right, the broad side straight down, or the tip alone. They tend to be very durable, so wear down less quickly than a fine bullet or brush tip. They’re also great for hand-lettering and calligraphy with their ability to change width depending on the stroke direction, just like a calligraphy nib. They can also be used for interesting gestural marks.
  
  

• Brush Tips
  These tips look like round paint brushes and act in a similar way by creating marks similar to brush strokes. They’re flexible and respond easily to changes in pressure, achieving a fine line with light pressure and a thick line with increasing pressure. They’re the most versatile tip, great for coloring medium-sized areas, creating calligraphic lines, and blending, and they work well for both large and small areas. They’re a bit more fragile than the other tip shapes and can wear down over time. Avoid using too much pressure on the nib to color in a large area and switch to a chisel tip instead. Brush markers tend to lay down more ink, so if that’s not what you want for a particular area, switch to a bullet or chisel tip for less ink. 
  
  

Alcohol Marker Drawing Tips

Markers are not considered a forgiving medium, which can make them intimidating. But they can be much more forgiving than you imagine with just a few basic tips.

• Sketch first in very light colors that can be covered by darker colors later. That way, if you sketch something you end up not liking, you can cover it up, and that light color will blend into subsequent layers.
• Save the whites of the paper for lighter passages. Draw around them instead of planning to lighten them later.
• Working from light values to dark values will give you the most latitude to make changes and adjustments as you go.
• Be aware that using a light color over a dark color can bleach it a little because the alcohol in the light color will dissolve what’s underneath somewhat.
• Working in layers is a huge part of successful marker art. The misconception is that you lay down one color at a time as if you’re coloring by number, but the truth is that there’s a great deal of layering going on. It can be a very organic expressive process.
• If you want areas to blend, work wet on wet. If you want them to layer, work wet on dry.
• Swatch out all your colors to see what they really look like. The marker cap colors are not always accurate and definitely won’t show you the value range available by layering a single marker over itself.
• In the initial stages, err on the side of less is more. That leaves you more leeway to make changes as you go. In other words, don’t fill in every detail or form right away. You can always add more later, but it’s harder to take away.
• Use some of the same colors or family of colors across the drawing to enhance unity in the color scheme.
• Use smaller tips for smaller areas and bigger tips for bigger ones. This will help avoid unwanted streaks and keep the ink from drying out too fast for you to blend effectively. 
• If you make a mark with a color that’s not the value or shade you thought it would be, just go with the flow and add a little of it here and there to make it look like a deliberate choice rather than a mistake.
• Having many beautiful colors at your fingertips is fun and full of expressive possibilities, but you can get seduced by the color and forget the value. Relative lights and darks are how space is pulled forward and pushed back, and how a form shows its volume. 
• Take the time to do some tests, swatch out your markers, and try different techniques where you can “mess up” without consequences. This is where the best learning is done, which will translate into better marker art. It can be helpful to print the same design on several sheets of paper as you approach it in different ways and see the possibilities. Also, having a little test swatch sheet of scrap paper by you while you work is handy to avoid surprises.
• Don’t get discouraged in the first stages. Things may look rough in the beginning before all the layering is done. Don’t give up! Keep going and you’ll see your design bloom as the surface becomes richer.
• Be sure to check out our blog post on alcohol marker blending techniques for more helpful tips and lots of visual examples.

How to Store Alcohol Markers

• Store alcohol markers horizontally so the ink is evenly distributed in the spongy material inside, especially if the marker is double-ended. This keeps the markers from drying out on one end or from depositing too much ink on an oversaturated end. However, if you have a marker that’s getting dry on one end, you can store that marker vertically toward the end you want to use. After a little while, the available ink should seep into that side of the marker. 
• Keep your markers in a dry space away from heat and out of direct sunlight. 
• Keep your markers organized, and you’ll have an easier time making art with them. Organize your markers into color families. If you want to go further, organize them into values within that color family. Want to go further? Organize them from high intensity (bright) to low intensity (muted). This will make it much easier to see your options and compare them to each other in terms of hue, value, and intensity. Once your creative session is over, take the time to put the markers back in their rightful place so you’ll be ready to create when inspiration strikes next.
• If your markers become messy around the nib or barrel, use rubbing alcohol to clean them off.

How to Revive Dried Alcohol Markers

Art markers can be an investment, so you want to get the most out of them. If they start to dry out on you, you won’t be able to achieve all the special effects that require lots of juice. Or maybe you’re nearing the end of a drawing and just need a color to last a little longer so you can finish up. There are a couple of ways you can revive a dried alcohol marker.

• Some marker brands sell ink refills. Hold the marker tip upright at a 45-degree angle and add single drops of the refill ink onto the nib. Wait a second for the ink to absorb before adding more. You’ll see the nib go from shiny to dull. It could take 20 - 30 drops, depending on how dry the marker is. It’s best to underfill than overfill, where ink leaks out of the pen and creates a mess. Lay the pen horizontally for a few minutes to allow the ink to disperse evenly throughout the pen. 
• If the nib is removable, you can carefully pull the nib out using your fingers or tweezers. Drop the ink directly into the hole left behind. Gently squeeze the ink refill to slowly add ink that can be absorbed. A little goes a long way, so don’t flood the marker. Start with less and only add more as needed. Carefully reinsert the nib and let the pen rest horizontally for a few minutes. You may want to avoid using this method on brush nibs since they’re more easily damaged compared to chisel or bullet nibs. Use the ink-drop method above instead.
  
• Don’t have ink refills? You can remove the nib as above and drop alcohol directly into the marker. Once the nib is reinserted, let the marker rest horizontally for several hours to evenly redistribute the ink.
  
  
  
  

  

We hope this gives you the inspiration to incorporate these versatile creative tools into your artistic practice. We have everything you need to get started with alcohol markers, plus all kinds of other drawing pens and markers in the Art Markers and Marker Sets on our website.