How to Love Working in Markers (With Tips!)

(Updated 8/29/2017)
I still love these tips and they're still working for me! However, I have tried a new marker out for outlining from Faber - Castell. It's perfect! (and more affordable)

​Working in marker was by far the most terrifying medium for me as an artist, solely because it felt like I couldn’t make any mistakes. Don’t like your pencil sketch? Erase it. Messed up a brush stroke? Paint over it. Went outside the lines with marker… *crickets* So this blog is a mixture of my love/hate relationship with markers and how I learned to embrace them.

1. Just try it, you might like it.
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I first started drawing in marker in the 11th grade in my Advanced Placement Art Studio class. We were attempting to try different materials and different subjects to see what we liked best. The image below is my first real marker piece titled “American Dream.” It was an idea I had about a woman who worked in a sweatshop all day but longed to be a ballerina, and it’s still one of my most loved pieces (even if it's not my best work!)

1. Get involved in the community. We’d love to have you!
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After High School I stopped drawing. I worked in paint for a couple years and then, as everyone has felt at one time or another, life got in the way. It wasn’t until the Summer of 2016 that I really got into markers again thanks to a lovely woman on YouTube, Marie-Bits-n-Clips and her Facebook group #CuppaCraft.

Doing the first month long drawing challenge got me thinking more creatively, and really reignited my passion for drawing. The people in this group are also extremely supportive whether you’re a Picasso or it’s your first time trying something. Honestly, in my experience, I haven’t found a group of doodlers, letterers, or crafters yet that’s not supportive and uplifting.
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3. Challenge Yourself!
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I attribute my renewed love of markers almost solely to drawing challenges. It started out on #CuppaCraft and now there’s at least 10 challenges a month going on on Instagram for letterers and doodlers! Taking part in challenges helps you meet other artists, hones your drawing skills, and ultimately gets you to think more creatively.

4. Marker drawings have layers (just like ogres and onions)
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This is something that took a long time for me to figure out. The reason I originally favored paint over marker is because I thought that paint was more flexible. With paint, you could mix so many different shades of colors and layer them to create in depth pieces of art.

However, I found out that marker is essentially the same. You can layer colors over one another, it just takes more practice to discover the right color combinations. Adding layers to your work creates a lot of depth and makes it look more realistic. If you’re nervous to layer markers on your original drawing just use a scrap piece to test out your ideas. (Make sure you have a thick illustration paper because layers can saturate your page and you don't want it to bleed through.)

5. Outlining can make all the difference.

The more I work in marker the more I realize the importance of outlining. No matter how beautiful the colors are, they just don’t resonate as well if you don’t outline them. I would say that one of the best things I did for myself is buy a Sharpie stainless steel grip pen. It has a really fine point and doesn’t bleed at all like the majority of markers do.
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​So those are my tips for learning to love marker. Did it work? Do you love them yet?

Let me know in the comments if you’re a fellow marker artist, if you’ve got any tips, or if you’ve got a different beloved medium!

​Until next time,