When done right, art can be fun. And nothing is more fun than art markers. They are unique tools that require special talent. Since they are mostly permanent, you cannot erase them. This makes art markers one of the most difficult art tools to use.
Nevertheless, whether you have just begun creating arts using markers or a professional who needs some good-quality art markers, things can be a little intimidating because of the options you are showered with.
If you look at the market, you will see a plethora of brands offering the so-called art markers. But, which one’s the best?
It’s about time that we help you and get you out of this dilemma. That’s why we have already researched some quality products for you and reviewed them thoroughly so that you can make an informed decision.
Without further ado, let’s get down to business. The following are the 10 best art markers for professional coloring.
Top 10 Best Art Markers
1. Ohuhu 120 Colors Dual Tip Art Markers
If you are an amateur painter or just getting started, these art markers from Ohuhu will be the best for you because it comes in a set of 120 colors, offering both basic and elaborate mixtures and special tips to design perfect artworks.
When we talk about the special tips, Ohuhu Art Markers have two – thin and thick. The thin one is a fine brush that’s perfect for adding or underlining precise details with thin lines.
And the thick tip comes in handy for drawing bold lines, highlighting quickly, and for coloring a large space. Both the tips have chisel ends that allow you to create numerous patterns, styles, and sketches with ease.
The 120 colors offered are quite vibrant and unique, thanks to the fact that they are highly pigmented for prolonged usage without fading. Most importantly, the manufacturer has included a colorless blender in the set for superior blendability. With this, you can add beautiful dimensions to your artwork.
Unlike cheap, low-quality art markers available on the market, these Ohuhu markers don’t bleed, and the formula used ensures that the ink dries faster without causing any blotches and smudges. These markers are adequately pigmented in a way that a single marker can color up to 984ft worth of drawings.
Highlighted Features:
- Comes with color-coded caps for easy identification
- Quick drying ink prevents smudging and blotches
- Dual tips in a single marker for seamless artwork design
- Comes in a pack of 120 unique, vibrant colors and a carry bag
- 1 colorless blender for adding dimensions to the artwork
2. ZSCM 60 Colors Dual Brush Art Markers
Whether you are a professional or just a coloring fan who enjoys art projects, this art marker set from ZSCM could be perfect for your next masterpiece. This set of 60 dual-tip markers comes in a variety of color variants for your different artistic creations.
All the colors included are vibrant that are great for sketching, coloring, drawing, adult coloring books, and even simple doodling, among other things.
The primary reason why we included this marker set from ZSCM is that it uses water-based inks that are acid-free, non-toxic, doesn’t leak and are odorless. What this means is that these colors are extremely safe around children and pets.
Another perk of being water-based is that the colors can be mixed and dispersed with water for adding dimensions without worrying about smudges. Also, water-based inks are formulated for fast drying and are long-lasting.
There are two tips – one is a fineliner, and the other is the brush. The fineliner is perfect for adding precise details to your artwork and for refining patterns that are awkward.
The brush, on the other hand, is 1-6mm thick that is perfect for coloring large areas, highlighting, and drawing bold lines.
What’s interesting is that ZSCM offers a lifetime warranty on this product. They claim that if you are not satisfied with the product, they will replace it immediately or give you a full refund.
Highlighted Features:
- Flexible dual tip art markers for different artistic creations
- Comes in 60 different color variants
- The water-based ink is non-toxic
- The markers are formulated to be long-lasting
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
3. GOTIDEAL Liquid Chalk Markers
If you are looking for something new and different for your artistic creations that can be erased, then you should try GOTIDEAL liquid chalk markers. Unlike permanent markers, these chalk markers are water-based and easy to wipe off.
These are highly popular in restaurants and cafes for writing down the “Today’s Special” menu board in an attractive and artistic way. The new and upgraded ink technology brings more fluorescent colors to the design.
Unlike chalk, that’s just dull; these liquid chalk markers offer vivid neon colors that are incredibly vibrant, extremely pigmented, and long-lasting. This allows you to add character to your business.
You can use these markers for creating artwork on any porous, non-porous surface, including walls, slates, blackboard, chalkboard, metal, plastic, vinyl, glass, wood, ceramic, painted surfaces, and even concrete. These markers are highly adsorbent, so they easily stick to any surface, offering bright and vivid colors.
The ink is formulated to be easily cleaned with a simple wipe from a damp cloth or paper towel. The best part is that the liquid chalk is non-toxic. So, it is safe to be used around children. Kids can also use these markers for their art projects at school.
Highlighted Features:
- Available in 30 vibrant, fluorescent colors
- Can be used on a variety of surfaces – both porous and non-porous
- The liquid chalk formula is non-toxic
- The markers will keep the design intact for prolonged periods
- Can be easily cleaned with a simple wipe using a damp cloth
4. Prismacolor Premier Hand Lettering Set
From street signs to chalkboard menus to love notes to product ads, hand lettering is everywhere. Hand lettering is something that requires a lot of practice to master it, and most importantly, it needs the right supplies.
If you are new to hand lettering, this hand-lettering set for beginners from Prismacolor is just perfect.
The set contains three illustration markers, two pencils, a dual-ended art maker, a tips and tricks pamphlet, and an eraser – everything you need to begin hand lettering. Both adults and children can use it to hone their handwriting skills.
Prismacolor has designed this set for artists on the go. The pencils and pens are lightweight, slim, and easy to carry around. They are also perfect for quick doodles and sketches, and you can try out different styles and fonts of writing like calligraphy, among others.
Graphite pencils are perfect for first-timers. The graphite tip is hard, making the pencil easy to control. The best part is that since it is a pencil, it is responsive enough to create slightly thick lines with a little pressure.
The illustration markers, on the other hand, come in three tip types. Each tip is different in size and is perfect for adding details and tracing over pencil to make your art enhanced.
Lastly, there is a dual-ended art marker included in the set that produces black ink and can be used for highlighting or filling letters and designs.
Highlighted Features:
- The hand lettering tips and tricks pamphlet acts as a great guide
- The graphite markings can be easily erased using a kneaded eraser
- A dual-ended art marker creates bold letters and designs
- The graphite pencils offer smooth laydown
- The illustration markers help enhance the pencil drawings
5. Binayo Classic Dual Tip Art Markers
This is an alcohol-based art maker set of 72 that delivers excellent performance for different art projects. Since it uses alcohol-based ink, it dries quickly, produces less odor, is smudge-proof, waterproof, and is completely free of any toxic chemicals. This makes it a perfect set of art markers for professional and hobby use.
Unlike your traditional round markers, the markers from Binayo are square, which gives them a unique look and aesthetics. Also, this shape is comfortable to hold while drawing.
The dual markers come with a broad chisel and a fine point that pretty much covers all your artistic needs like detailed writing tasks, coloring in large areas, and even outlining to add dimension to your design.
The nibs are of super quality and provide a consistent ink supply. This particular ink set caters to the needs of artists who are always on the go.
That is, it comes with a travel case for easy portability. The markers are made of high-quality material and can easily handle daily wear and tear without compromising performance.
Of 72 markers, one is a colorless blender that is perfect for underlining, highlighting, landscape design, advertising rendering, and architectural design. Lastly, the manufacturer offers a one-year warranty on the markers.
Highlighted Features:
- Alcohol-based markers deliver permanent results
- Dual-tip design allows for both detailed and precise work
- The marker has a sturdy body, and the ink can last long
- It includes a colorless blender for different designing needs
- Comes with a travel bag and a 1-year warranty
6. Hethrone Dual Brush Pens
The next on our list is a set of 72 dual brush art markers from Hethrone. It is perfect for children’s crafts, but you can also use it for professional artworks like sketching, journaling, doodling, painting, drawing, and coloring.
What we like the best about these markers is that each marker has a color-coded cap that makes it easy to identify each color, particularly for children.
The markers boast a dual-tip design combined with felt, which delivers a smooth performance on paper. Also, it allows you to write and draw in both thick and thin lines, which include shading, coloring and outlining.
When we talk about ink pigments, they are formulated to appear vibrant and bright with quick-drying properties. The ink will evenly spread on the surface, giving a satisfying finish.
The nylon felt tip features good breathability and elasticity, ensuring that the ink smoothly spreads over the surface. And the high quality of nylon tip warrants the durability of the marker for prolonged usage.
You will love how this marker set from Hethrone is packaged. The paper box and sponge as a base make it ideal for home use. You don’t have to invest in a pen stand or holder for keeping these 72 markers properly organized.
Highlighted Features:
- The set includes 72 markers of awesome colors
- Dual tip design offers incredible flexibility
- The markers are of high-quality made from premium materials
- Ideal for writing, doodling, and sketching
- The tips offer great elasticity
7. ARTIFY Dual Tipped Twin Marker Pen Set
If you are on the lookout for the best affordable art markers with premium quality for your artistic requirements, ARTIFY brings you this ultimate product that will surely improve the artist in you. ARTIFY markers are one of the most renowned artistic pens among professionals that are known for their vibrant colors, premium build, and good value.
These markers use alcohol-based ink that draws great flowing lines without any breakage.
The ink is very fluid yet smooth, so you won’t feel any interruption when drawing or writing. Above all, since it is alcohol-based, the ink dries quickly. Thus, there will be no smudging – your art remains intact.
The set comes in 40 different color variants, each offering unique vibrancy.
You get all the primary colors in the set, including white, to draw, write, shade, illustrate, sketch, and render, among other things. What’s interesting is that you can use white ink as a blender to create your own customized colors.
Furthermore, like the majority of the professional art markers available, this too is double tipped – one is broad, and the other is thin pointed.
This combination allows you to create a variety of styles, patterns, and sketches without any hassle. We like the fine tip the most because it offers accurate line control.
Highlighted Features:
- Alcohol-based ink dries quickly and creates uninterrupted lines
- The triangle handle design offers an easy grip
- Broad and fine tips make the marker a complete package
- Includes all the primary colors
- Comes with a plastic carrying case
8. Lelix Dual Tips Art Markers with Coloring Book
This is an all-inclusive art marker set from Lelix that will look after all your art needs, including hand lettering, drawing, journaling, calligraphy, and coloring.
The primary reason why we included this product on our list is that it comes in a set of 120 markers with a coloring book, making it a great present for children and hobbyists for all occasions.
Lelix has used water-based ink to create the art markers for this set. Water-based formula warrants that the ink is odorless, acid-free, doesn’t bleed and is non-toxic.
All these attributes of the ink make it perfect for children. And it conforms to ASTM D-4236, meaning all the hazardous components used in its manufacturing have been clearly labeled on the product packaging.
The markers have dual tips – one a fineliner and the other a broad, soft brush tip – for multiple purposes. An anti-wear material is used for making the tips, which ensures durability with a smooth spread.
It contains 120 different color variants. That is, you will find different shades of a specific color. So, you can create different designs and patterns with ease. We would recommend it for both children and professionals for daily use.
Highlighted Features:
- Comes in a sturdy box with different slots for each marker
- There is a coloring book included for practice
- Water-based ink is safe
- Dual tip design allows for multiple uses
- 120-color set ensures you get all the primary shades
9. Chalkola White Jumbo Chalk Markers
This is a second chalk-based product on our list, and it is quite popular among teachers, businesses, and artists. This marker boasts a unique 3-in-1 nib design with a rectangular tip. This allows you to use the marker for creating fine lines, bold lines, and wide lines with ease.
We would like to mention that the ink formula is quite advanced and works best on porous surfaces. It delivers a permanent result on porous surfaces, and when used on non-porous surfaces, the markings can be easily wiped off with a damp cloth.
You can use Chalkola Jumbo Markers for creating cafe and restaurant menus, gym boards, workspace boards, chalkboards, and more. Also, you can use it for design purposes as well for highlighting the dimensions of any pattern or design.
It is a clean alternative to your dusty, old chalks and is extremely smooth on the surface, allowing you to draw or write uninterruptedly. Chalkola has used a water-based ink that is washable, delivering dust and smudge-free flowing lines of different broadness.
One of the most significant benefits the marker offers is that the ink dries within minutes. All you have to do is shake well before use, put a little pressure on the tip before writing or drawing, and once the tip fills with ink, start with your drawing.
Highlighted Features:
- Jumbo marker set of 2 with long-lasting ink
- Water-based chalk ink is best for professional use
- Intelligent rectangular tip design gives you 3 nib shapes
- Permanent on porous surfaces
- Can be easily wiped off from non-porous surfaces
10. Crayola Signature Brush and Detail Dual Tip Markers
The last on our list is the art markers from Crayola. This is probably the most affordable of all the art markers mentioned in this review. But it is a little unique art marker.
A single marker contains two different colors. So, there are 32 different colors available in 16 different counts. These dual tip markers have ultra-fine tips and brush tips for thick and thin lines.
While it is meant for children, you can use it for professional work because the color and ink quality are quite premium, and you will love drawing or writing with these markers. Children can use it for indoor activities and at-home crafts.
These markers have a slim body, just like a pen. So, these are best for hand lettering practice as well as calligraphy, drawing, sketching, and coloring.
The ink used is non-toxic and safe and delivers great flowing lines uninterrupted. You will like the fact that the marker set comes with decorative storage space, allowing you to keep your markers organized for everyday use.
Highlighted Features:
- 16 dual tip brushes offer 32 complementary colors
- Designed for hand lettering practice thanks to fine tips
- Includes all primary colors
- Comes in a decorative storage box
- Safe and non-toxic ink
Best Art Markers – Buying Guide
Markers have been there for a long time now. Earlier, they were particularly used in the education sector by teachers and students for highlighting and pinpointing important stuff in books and notebooks.
Then, it got revolutionized, and graphic designers started using it for creating different artworks for their clients. Over time, markers got so popular that Manga artists started using them for creating art for the internet.
Today, you will see a different market for art markers. They are available in different shapes and sizes with a ton of color options. The best part is that there are different markers for different purposes.
From hand lettering markers to coloring markers, markers for outlining, dual markers, and more, if you are an artist, you will never be disappointed with the options you have.
Nevertheless, choosing the best art marker for your art requirements can be a little tricky if you don’t know what to look for.
But we are here to help you with that!
1. Tip Shapes
The first thing you should notice in an art marker is the tip shape. There are primarily four different types of tips made for art markers, namely Brush Tip, Chisel Tip, Fine Tip, and Bullet Tip.
Brush tips are the most popular of all marker types. They are highly versatile can you can create artworks of different depths using this type of tip. Basically, it is perfect for detailed work for creating thin strokes and filling in large areas.
The chisel tip is also quite common these days. Unlike traditional brush tips, chisel tips have different edges, which can be used for different purposes. The pointy side can be used for creating thinner strokes, and the flat side can be used for laying down lots of color.
The fine tip markers are every artists’ favorite because they are highly used in hand lettering and are fantastic for patterning and fine details. Since the tip is extremely fine, you can only use the marker for precise strokes and not for larger blocks of color.
Bullet tips are somewhat outdated, but some brands still use them. They are highly used in markers meant for teachers and students for glass boards or whiteboards. They are extremely tricky to use, and you cannot get super fine details out of them.
Nowadays, the majority of the markers produced are double-ended markers that offer the best of both worlds. That is, a double-ended marker has a central ink reservoir with tips on both ends.
Based on the brand, a dual tip marker could boast a fine tip on one side and a chisel tip on the other, or a fine tip on one side and brush tip on the other. The fine tip seems to be common in the majority of dual tip markers available in the market.
2. Alcohol-Based Markers or Water-Based Markers
Both alcohol and water-based markers have pros and cons. The marker inks are suspended in either alcohol or water, which dries and leaves the color behind. Here is what you need to know.
Alcohol-based markers:
- Offers transparency, so colors can be layered
- Can bleed through paper
- Can have an odor
- Dries quickly
- Better fade resistance
- Some are refillable
- More color options
- Can be expensive
Water-based markers:
- Can be reactivated with water
- Can warp paper
- Easily available
- Produce no odor
- It takes time to dry
- Poor fade resistance
- Usually disposable
- Fewer color options
- Quite affordable
We recommend you to try both types before making a decision. You should always be using artist-quality markers; it doesn’t matter whether it is water-based or alcohol-based.
3. Color Range
The next thing you need to consider is the color range. When you are looking for professional art markers, you would not want to buy just a single color but the whole set that offers different colors.
Now, depending on the brand, some offer the widest color range, while others are limited to certain colors. The goal is to choose a marker set that incorporates all the primary colors.
4. Blending
This is something that many don’t understand. Blending is the capability of markers to combine with each other to create a unique blend. Both alcohol-based and water-based markers can be blended together.
Blending allows you to create different shades and textures to make your artwork stand out. Suppose you are using two different colors to color a single space.
When you use two different colors, the markers can leave streak lines, which is not only unpleasant to the eyes but also makes the drawing less desirable.
When you use a blender on the streak lines, the layers get diminished, and you will see a more detailed artwork. In short, a blender adds dimension to the drawing.
5. Lightfastness
Lightfastness is the ability of the ink to resist color fading. You would want your artwork to remain preserved for years to come. So, you need to invest in art markers that can hold the color for decades.
What Markers are as Good as Copic?
Copic markers are considered to be the Mercedes of the marker world. The brand produces high-end markers for professional artists.
The way they feel on the hands, how they render ink on paper, the vibrancy of the colors, along with effortless blending, Copic markers are truly a luxury. But it is not meant for everybody. To take the advantage of such high-quality markers, you need to pay a hefty price.
Now, until or unless you have a lot of money to spend on markers or you are a high-end professional with a high pay rate, there is no point in investing in something so pricey.
Don’t worry! There’s always an alternative. If not Copic markers, some other marker brand will help you fulfill your requirements without putting a dent in your wallet.
With that being said, there are several different marker brands in the market, which are giving tough competition to the Copic brand with their versatile products. We would say these markers deliver somewhat the same performance as Copic but at a lot less rate.
After a thorough investigation, before we wrote this review, we managed to narrow down some of the best Copic marker alternatives that are as good as the premium product.
The marker brands we are going to list are the ones we have reviewed above.
- Ohuhu: known for consistency and smoothness on paper
- ZSCM: its dual tip markers are one of a kind
- GOTIDEAL: you will love its selection of fluorescent colors
- Prismacolor: the best art marker for hand lettering
- Binayo: you will be surprised by the vividness of the colors it offers
- Hethrone: the markers offer a premium feel
- ARTIFY: its fluidic ink every artists’ favorite
- Lelix: available in a plethora of color shades
- Chalkola: premium-quality chalk-based marker
- Crayola: the cheapest alternative to Copic markers
These are some of the most popular art markers that are as good as Copic markers. If you have just started your journey, then these art markers won’t disappoint you.
How to Use Art Markers for Quality Outputs?
Markers are one of the best tools to make art with. You can use them to create a diverse range of patterns and styles. They are equally great for doodling, sketching, coloring, hand lettering, calligraphy, and finished art.
However, if you are a beginner trying your hands at using different types of markers, it can be intimidating at first because they are so permanent. A single mistake could cost you your art because a mistake cannot be erased or reversed when it comes to art markers.
There are different techniques for using art markers. And the quality of your artwork will be heavily influenced by the type of marker you are using, including the ink as well as the tips.
With that said, here are some tips and tricks that may come in handy to get quality outputs when using art markers.
1. Familiarize yourself with different tips
First things first, you already know that there are different types of tips or nibs available in art markers. Thus, you need to understand what their uses are and how the strokes from each tip will define your artwork.
- Chisel Tip: good for large area coverage
- Brush Tip: good for smoothly spreading ink similar to how you spread watercolor
- Fine Tip: good for detailing and close lines
2. Take things slowly
Creating artwork is not something you can do within minutes, particularly when using art markers.
Since they are permanent, a single mistake could leave with a disaster. So, at first, take things slowly. Master your strokes and apply different techniques of using a marker.
3. Test colors before using them
While you are all excited about using the art markers for your artwork, you should first check all the colors on a separate piece of paper before working on your art.
Now, the same color can look different on different types of paper. So, you have to be sure whether the colors you are using caters to your art requirements.
4. Start light
Work from light to dark when you are using art markers. Use the lightest shades first and deliberately go darker. But you cannot do the opposite. For this, you will have to plan your highlights in advance so that you know in what areas you are keeping things light.
5. Detail using pencil
Finally, when your artwork is finished, give some touchup using colored pencils. It will add dimensions to your art and will make it more appealing.
In the end, it is all about practice. The more you practice, the more you get familiarized with art markers. Try drawing or writing something every day. You will get better day by day even before you realize it.
Which Markers Last the Longest?
Alcohol-based markers tend to last the longest of all the marker types. Alcohol markers contain dye ink, which delivers a permanent result. Unlike a water-based marker, which includes a water solution, alcohol-based markers dry quickly and have impeccable lightfastness.
This means the colors of alcohol markers won’t fade away for decades. This is the reason why alcohol-based markers are expensive as compared to water-based markers. There are a variety of brands that manufacture alcohol markers.
However, they have a certain odor but nothing toxic. The primary reason why professional artists prefer alcohol markers over others is that they don’t leave any streak marks, making it easy for the artists to do the blending job.
Final Words
So, what do you guys think? We have tried to cover every aspect of art markers through this post. After thorough research and using certain products, we were able to create a list of some of the best professional art markers that you will find in 2023.
Each product has been chosen wisely. So you can rest assured that any product you use from this list is worth the money spent. Art markers are a tricky tool and need a lot of practice before you can use them freehand without making any mistakes.
So, start with choosing the right product and then practice your way out to become a master artist. If you have any queries regarding the reviewed products or other information discussed, feel free to ask.