Introduction to Alcohol Based Markers

Copics, Prismacolors, and More!

Becca HillburnHeidi BlackMechacon 2014

7/29/14

Becca Hillburn

I'm a childrens comic artist and freelance illustrator originally from New

Orleans but currently living in Nashville, TN. I graduated from SCAD

with a Masters Degree in Sequential Art in 2013, and from the University

of New Orleans with a bachelors degree in Hypermedia (digital art). My

main focus is currently watercolor comics, and my hobbies include

writing for my blog, Keep on Truckin' Nattosoup and attending

conventions as an artist.

7/29/14

Heidi Black

Heidi is a sequential artist and illustrator from dayton, ohio. She likes

cats and potatoes and hates writing bios. Her work is at

electricabyss.com, including her tutorial artbook, Electricabyss, and her

newest comic, Sons of Fire.

What are Alcohol Based Markers?

• Markers that use an alcohol based solvent to suspend pigments, as opposed to water

• Prismacolor, Copic, Letraset

• Not Crayola, RoseArt, or other ‘student grade’ markers

• Used by comic artists, graphic designers, illustrators

• Quick, fairly consistent results

• Noted for ability to blend

“Kid Loki”Heidi Black

“Pippi in the South Pacific”Becca Hillburn

Alcohol VS Waterbased Markers

• Typically tend to be much higher quality than student grade brands

• Often feature refillability, ability to replace tips

• More expensive than most waterbased brands

• More difficult to find- usually have to go to a dedicated art or hobby shop, order online

• Able to achieve impressive results with practice

Anatomy of an Alcohol Based Marker

Image Via: store.copicmarker.com

Papers for Alcohol Based Markers

• Strathmore mixed media sketchbooks

• Copic (Too) brand papers, my favorite is the PM pad

• Cardstock paper

• Strathmore 400 series and above smooth and plate finish Bristol paper

• Hot and cold pressed watercolor paper

Selecting an Ink for Lineart

Always do a test swatch on separate sheet of paper ahead of time. Try to let your inks dry overnight before applying marker, to prevent smearing.

• Solvent based inks (or lacquer based) are NOT alcohol based marker proof.

• Waterbased inks tend to be alcohol based marker proof.

• Copic Multiliners are always alcohol based marker proof.

• Sakura Microns are usually alcohol based marker proof.

• Kaimei Sol K ink is alcohol based marker safe (I use it myself with brushes).

• Winsor Newton tends to be alcohol based marker safe.

• Avoid Prismacolor technical pens as they bleed

Good Alcohol Based Marker Brands

• Copic- Original, Sketch, or Ciao

• Prismacolor (available in bullet or brush tips)

• Shin Han Twin Touch (available in bullet or brush tips)

• MEXPY (available in bullet or brush tips)

• Letraset Flex Marker

• Letraset Pro Marker

Keep a Swatch book

All marker brands have different color coding systems, so it’s handy to keep a book of color swatches organized by color families, especially if you mix brands.

Copics: Worth the Expense?

• Refillable

• Fairly common

• HUGE color selection

• Often go on sale, if you know where to look

• Replaceable nibs

• Super brush tip available on Sketch and Ciao

• Copic Wides useful for effectively covering large spaces with less streaking

• Empty markers are available, so you can mix your own colors

• Plays well with a lot of other brands like Prismacolors, Letrasets

• Even a ‘wrecked’ Copic marker can be salvaged

Comparison Between Copic Markers Types

Image Source: http://fantasyartclass.blogspot.com/ Image Source:

http://whoopsiedaisy-jane.blogspot.com/2009/02/copic-demonstration-information.html

Copic Nibs

Copic Original

Image Source: http://www.refuelled.com/copic-marker-pen-nib-set-p-641.html http://www.carpediemstore.co

m/mlistCategoriesAndProducts.asp?midCategory=69

Copic Sketch and Ciao

Starting a set from scratch(Copic, but applicable to other brands as well)

• Start with a selection of Warm Greys (W00-W05)

• Colors can be layered for saturation

• Start with a couple colors in each family until you know what you need.

• Skin and hair colors are most pressing needs if you render figures

• Blue violets (BV000-BV01) useful for shading skin and cool shadows

Copic and Watercolor mixed media on Fluid watercolor paper

B

Copic Color Chart

Image source: https://www.copicmarker.com/demystifying-the-copic-color-system

H

Techniques

• Blending-

– Utilizing Colorless Blender

– Utilizing lighter colors in same family

– Tip to Tip Blending

– Palette to Tip Blending

• Applying a wash of marker

• Splatters with toothbrush or paintbrushImage Source: http://www.anniescatalog.com/copic/A-Perfect-Blend.html

B

Marker Technique- Shading

• Same color in layers (E00 on top of E00)• Same color family in layers (E02 on top of E00)• Analogous color (YR on top of Y, R on top of YR)• Complimentary Color (BV on top of YR)

Shading

B

Simple shading, layers of like color

B

Sketching with MarkersStrathmore 300 series sketchbook, Pentel Hi Tec C pen

Shading

Yellow to Red to Violet to Blue Violet

Orange to Brown to Blue Violet to Blue

Green to Blue to Blue Violet

Red to Red Violet to Blue Violet

H

H

Marker Storage

Alcohol based markers should be stored horizontally.

Image Source: http://store.copicmarker.com/pages/overview-marker-storage Image Source:

http://korpannita.wordpress.com/2013/04/13/my-copic-markers/

Home Storage

Image Source: http://inkinglyyours.blogspot.com/2011/03/ink-padre-inkermarker-storage-units-for.html

Travel Options

Image Source: http://www.marcopaper.com/products.php?product=Copic-Marker-36-Pc-Wallet-(Empty)

Image Source:http://store.copicmarker.com/collections/marker-storage/products/copic-carrying-case

Photo courtesy of Chris Paulsen

Marker Accessories

• Nib removal tweezers• Refill colors• Extra or additional nibs• Plastic palettes for

palette to nib blending• Airbrush System

Image Source:http://store.copicmarker.com/collections/accessories/products/twzr

Image Source:http://store.copicmarker.com/products/medrndn

Image Source:http://store.copicmarker.com/pages/overview-various-ink

Image Source:http://store.copicmarker.com/pages/overview-airbrush-system

Enjoyed our presentation?

Support our work!

Becca HillburnTable 512 in the Artist Alley7” Kara (children’s watercolor comic)Hana Doki Kira Shoujo anthologyMarker Review HandbookCommissions

www.nattosoup.blogspot.comwww.nattosoup.com/store

Heidi BlackTable 601 in the Artist AlleyElectricAbyss: The Art of Heidi BlackGameGoCommissions

www.electricabyss.com