How to Color with Markers 

+Michele Johnson-Utter Thank you Michele, sometimes it just takes giving something a try and see how it feels and how it works. have fun exploring!

+Shania Martin I think the real secret is learning to use what you have and becoming a master at it. Then you know how it works the best for you and your paper. I found that some of my students do not understand "do not press hard" until they have ruined a few markers, unfortunately, so it's great that you are learning how to uses Crayola super tips in the way that works best for you. Remember, changing paper can change how the marker works. Happy coloring!!

Thanks for watching Kathy - happy coloring!

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+Linda Nash thanks Linda!1 (we are ALL learning - it never ends - there so much out there to learn!)

There is another video I made that gives a much better instruction on water-soluble markers with completely different examples. check out this one to see if it works even better for you: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-z__yYx06Zp0.htmlsi=CfRX9uYg9_7ARhXx Or you can look up my video in my play list : How to Color with Water Soluble Markers.

Thanks, Jasper! Yep, there is always more than meets the eye!!

YaY! I hope you are still coloring!

Great! I'm glad to hear it! Happy coloring!

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+Phyllis Bowens Crayolas are in general considered more of a student grade quality...that being said, I absolutely believe that one can become a Master of anything if they really get to understanding and working with a medium. For instance there are drawings made with ball point pen (ball poin pens!!) that look like photographs - truely unbelieveable! So, if you spend enough time with a Crayola, I have no doubt you can create wonders! It's all in the practice and play with your tools. (keep in mind - the paper quality can make a big difference on the result!)

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Glad you found it useful! Here's another way to play with markers: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-z__yYx06Zp0.html

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Yes, Michelle! (and thank you by the way!), Check out the new book, Mandalas and More; A Meditiatve Drawing and Coloring Book for Mind Body and Spirit. This book shows drawing with more of an awareness approach. It is more substantial book on life and drawing and learning how to see with eyes open, so to speak. :). You can check out the Meditative Drawing videos for snippets of the ideas and teaching from the book. Happy day, happy coloring!

+M doodle ABSOLUTELY....markers are tools and one can become a master of any tool given time to understand it's nature.

Markers are a funny thing. They take some practice and you'll find the paper might make the difference. You might also like this video for water based markers: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-z__yYx06Zp0.html

OH YES! Book stores will often reply to requests from their readers if they know what to look for! Ancient Alchemy has been translated into a few languages in Europe, but I don't think the Spanish/Latin Languages are one of them (as far as I know). Thank you for dropping a line - I love hearing from people from around the world! Happy Coloring!

I'm glad to hear it! Love hearing that people are still willing to learn new things and explore new ways to experimenting with creativity. Happy coloring!

Thank you for taking the time to drop me a line! I so appreciate when a viewer "gets it" - the freedom to play, explore and have fun. Art is expressive, freeing, personal and there doesn't have to be a single direction in figuring out what brings us joy. I hope you continue to use art as a means of being you, finding you and sharing you.

You're welcome! Happy coloring!

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Aw, that is awesome! Thanks Jim!

I have a MUCH better videos on water based markers you should check out. It explains blenders a bit better, too. Keep exploring! Look at the Water Based Markers Video on my channel.

Get creative, play with the tools to see how they work in different ways, what are the tools little quirks and what are their strengths? Have fun with them! I just posted another video on water soluble markers I would suggest to you as well. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-z__yYx06Zp0.html

It's been a while since you left this message and I hope you have been coloring and experimenting with different coloring methods! Happy day!

@@CherTheFire Thanks for your concern but in India conditions are worsened as many people are dying constantly because of Corona and viral diseases and there is total lack of essential medicines, oxygen, remdesivier, and malaria medicines. Every cremation grounds are overloaded with so many bodies, hospitals overloaded with patients, no beds, no oxygen, no medicines. Even essential items are not available. Every 4 minutes someone is dying. Some of them are known ones, but others are also our country people. Even I could not get many of art materials. My mother is weak she suffered with viral fever and I barely managed to get viral medicines, Dr. Clinics closed. I was afraid to take my mother to hospital for viral as corona cases are overflowing in hospitals. Now I have to take care of my mom to get better so that she gain some health to get Corona vaccine as weak people can not sustain vaccine. Thanks for your concern but promise Eithin one week I will overcome my problems and start drawing once again. Thank you . Keep safe. Most dangerous period is going on.

Glad you got some tips - check out my water based marker video for some playful, beautiful results. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-z__yYx06Zp0.html

CherTheFire Thank you! :)

+Chrissy Coloring Thank you Chrissy!!!! Appreciate it!!!! may I ask what your coloring page is? And have you had a chance to watch other videos I have for blending, pencils and backgrounds?

+CherTheFire it's here: facebook.com/coloringbooksaddicts/ and I have a website coloringbookaddict.com :) I Plan on adding video's on how to pages as well. :)

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Hi Casey, I have mentioned many times that I would rather people start with what they have access to and begin to learn about tools and your control over your own pressure and grip than jump into a fancy tool. Markers certainly have different tendencies (but it most certainly depends on the paper you are coloring on!!). I have a tendency to like the fine tip tools, but certainly some of the more expensive markers have variable tips on both ends for versatility. I have used Stabilo, Stradtler and Copic. I like the color of Sharpies, but I strongly dislike the smell, so I use the the least, but have many of them for availability as needed.

Oh, I'm sure someone will tell you that you can't, but why not. Use what you have, create with what you have access to. You will find that the quirky things between the two might not give the results you want, so maybe pay attention to the quirks so you can use it to your advantage. I did do a video on the water based markers (only) that I just loved working on.

+patricia turner Thanks patricia!

HI Schwarzer, you might be correct - access for refill only is an interesting note! (I think I would most likely do this video differently now if I were doing it the first time today. Markers are an interesting medium and work very differently than other tools!) However, I did use the chisel for some larger areas when I worked with markers.

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Thanks Just Julianne....happy coloring!

Here's a video from a few weeks back that might be helpful...start with what you have access to and go from there! Happy coloring! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Q2ovHLdp3OI.html

I say keep doing it if it works! Play around and see what else might work for you as an option. If you haven't seen the 12 Blending Tips for Colored Pencils, you might find some other ideas there, too!

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+Juliana Leo at this time I have very little time to experiement with markers, and haven't had much experience with Spectrum...I just haven't played with them (yet!). I think all markers do change depeding on how much pressure you put down (most people press too hard with markers) and the type of paper you use. I have liked the Copic markers I've played with and I have a few Windsor Newton water soluable markers that are fun to play with too and of course the fine tip Straedlters. In the end, I don't have a preference. I do like the option with all my markers to have a small point. I do encourage everyone to try a little bit of everything if you get a chance, but always always always start with what you have, don't wait for the special markers. :-).

+Lilette Autrey HI Lilette! the blender pens are clear, no pigment or dye, and technically for markers they act more as a "repellent" rather than a blender like the way blenders are used for colored pencils. The blender markers move the marker "away" rather than "melt" it - again that's a colored pencil result. The blender pens/markers are usually an alcohol solution. By the end of this year I'll have 6 different books you can choose from! you can check out my books and your husband can see the covers if you look me up on Amazon or Barnes and Noble. Happy traveling!! And remember you can always revist the videos whenever you need a reminder or review. I posted a new video last night on Meditative Drawing!

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In my opinion, there is no "better", but they certainly work differently. Here is a video on water based markers. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-z__yYx06Zp0.html

hmmm...I don't know. Have you worked with markers over clear gesso before? I know that colored pencil certainly helps gel pens glide over the surface easier without absorbing into the paper...I suppose it is possible to try the gesso on the paper, but my guess is it depends on the paper and how heavily the gesso is applied. I haven't worked with gesso in, gosh...over 20+ years! If you try it, let me know!

+auntrenae Stewart no, sorry, I do not, but I bet there are some out there!

Thanks, I found one.

auntrenae Stewart yay!

Hi Marshall.....I am assuming you are asking about proper skin tone coloring, but knowing what a creative bunch that colors, I can also not assume you mean traditional skin tone colors as there are many many ways to color using non-traditional colors and still represent an object. My first thought is always always do a test run on a scratch piece of paper to see if you can create some of the effects you are wanting. For a professional commission I did, I needed to create a reflection on a wooden frame. I always do a color sample before going to the final product if it is an important piece of work. But take heart, the learning curve is a wondrous teacher. I'm sure you learned a lot about how the tools you used work with each other. Another thought, go slow, layer slowly. For traditional skin tone, I would suggest looking up videos that show that since as of now I do not have skin tone videos listed. "mistakes" can be our best teachers!

Hi Erika, I would not suggest Sharpie. They are easily accessible for people to get, but they have a very strong odor and seep through the paper quickly. The ones I have been using the most lately are not too expensive but I love the versatility of what I can do with them. Prismacolor Scholar water based markers. I find them to be fun to color with in the style I use with is more of a watercolor approach. See this video for more ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-z__yYx06Zp0.html. If you want really inexpensive markers to simply play with you can do a lot with Crayola. It takes patience to learn the best ways to play with markers for clean color and no streaky lines. Lots of people like to jump to fancy markers like Tom Bow or Chameleon, Faber Castell or Streadtler, and others, all of which are great. What I would really suggest is to get one or two of open stock found at an art supply store and see which ones you like in performance and what fits your budget. I'm a huge fan of starting with what you have access to and learning from there.

oh my god thank you so much!

+Amliw Otyed Thank you Amliw!

Steadtler fineliners might be your best bet. I would try those first. But use caution, test it out first and be aware that very thin papers regardless of your marker will absorb the ink. Also if you tend to press heavily or hold the marker down for an extended period of time, you increase the chance of a bleedthrough. Happy coloring!

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HI Alou....I haven't had much experience with FC markers, but it is a brand of art supplies that has been around a long time. FC was "the" original developer of the pencil! If you get a chance to play with a few markers, I'd suggest giving them a go! You might look online to see if there are any reviews of the markers as well. Would love if you could report back and let me know what you thought!

Do you mean brush tip marker?

Oh yes! I'm sorry I typed it wrong 😄

Brush tip markers can be used to color in the smallest tiniest corners and circles, but also have the ability to do broad strokes when used more at a flat angle. I do not recommend using your brush tip straight on as a new tool, or you'll have a high chance of fraying that wonderful brush tip point. Experiment with using it to do delicate edges (using light pressure!) and play with the longs strokes of the flat side on a coloring paper you don't mind experimenting with. I used my black brush tip to help me coloring in larger areas of black when I was designing my Artful Mandala Coloring book and had to coloring in a much of black around the yin/yang illustration. It allowed me to go from large areas to around the tiny petals I had drawn.

OH yes, absolutely. Caligraphy strokes do use pressure and variation of connection to the paper. Absolutely experiment and play with your tools - it's the best way to get to know them. If I made this video now (at the time of this writing, it was 7 years ago), I would have added a few things and done a few things differently. However, if it still ignites creativity and the curious mind (like yours) then it is still doing it's job. Enjoy your markers! Have fun!

@@CherTheFire Got it. Thanks so much for answering my question.

+auntrenae Stewart to be honest I don't have a preference with working with any one in particular becuase when I'm teaching classes, we use such a variety of papers and mediums on a given day that it can vary. And I ususally am teaching students to be aware of the relationship between the medium and the paper so they can see what works for them. Markers by themselves glide with a nice smoothness on marker paper (glossy paper), but to combine pencils and markers I have often used drawing paper or sketch paper, usually strathmore or canson. Oh, I have used printmaking paper, too, but keep in mind different markers do different things on different papers! Also, one video I probably need to create to clarify, marker blender pens don't really work like pencil blender pens. Marker blender pens move the marker ink/dye *away* which is not the same as blending with pencils. Happy experimenting.

Nah, your goal is to be YOU. Thanks, though, very flattering.

good question. yes sometimes. what you can do is immediately rub the tip of your lighter marker on a clean paper to run the true color through. Sometimes things that are stained don't necessarily mean they are damaged. It you get your color to run clean you're probably ok.

CherTheFire Thank you for your quick response,I bought fine tip markers and I am going to try your tips 🤗 I would really like to know how do you use a white colored pencil ☺️because some websites say it's for blending,highlighting?!An answer by a professional like you will be appreciated 😊sorry for long post Thank you 🎨

They are correct! white pencil is great for blending and highlighting! That may be a future video sometime. I have a video coming out shortly. It's at my editor's right now. It is on using different tools together in one image. Stay tuned!

CherTheFire Thank you 😀🎨

+Kikiz Creations Absolutely! Yes! Color with what you have - coloring book artists would rather have the books colored in rather than waiting for that special "something". Give it a go...the more you work with Crayola, the more you'll have wisdom and experience in the best ways to use them. Some people do not know how to work with different tools because they don't spend enough time to check out the best ways to use them. A really good colorist will be a master of any tool and the person who is having the most fun can color with anything! Enjoy!

+CherTheFire thank you!

+Kiera Anne I am also new with markers and i have a small budget, I bought some Markana markers, they are very vivid colors, but they sometimes have small tips, deformed ones, etc. Then I bought the Stabilo pens, I like them a lot, but some of them have a unpleasant odor. I do enjoy the Crayola markers, but i haven't bought them because they are pricey where i live.

I encourage all colorists and artists to start with what they have access to. Masters of a craft will always have a variety of tools and experiences they have over the lifetime of their development. If Crayola is what you have, become a master of crayola. If Stablio is what you have then become a master of Stablio. There is no right or wrong way to get amazing results. There are some artists who get photographic images by simply mastering ball point pens! the tool box will expand naturally, do not worry about that. Sales on awesome markers will happen and you can add as you go/grow. I support you in what you have and start there. having fun is the MOST important part - the process is where the satisfaction takes place, the end result is bonus. :)

Gamsol is odorless mineral spirits. Usually, in most cases anyway, alcohol is used, not mineral spirits, to "blend" markers. I'm not sure the effect of Gamsol on the integrity of the marker, but you can try it and see what happens. In "real" marker blending (not shown in the video), the paper is absolutely KEY in providing the surface for markers to move around. The best way to truely blend a marker is to use actual Marker Paper (slick surface), apply the blender *before* the color to create a slick surface for the marker to momentarily slide upon before beginning to dry.

+Kittylovei hmmm...I just bought some Stabilos recently and I didn't find them nearly as offensive as the smell of Sharpies. I'm not sure, but mine don't have much of a smell. I have a fine tip group of multi colored markers, pack of 24. I did notice that when a lighter color is close to a darker color that the lighter color gets a bit muddy. That also tells me I have some potential blending fun ahead!

Thanks for asking - I have 5 books in print and 3 more being released in January 2017. *Artful Mandala, Ancient Alchemy, Mandalas and More* (a Meditative Drawing and Coloring Book), *Joy*, and *Gratitude*...In January 2017, *Dream*, *Love* and *Peace* will be released. The pocket books are *Joy, Gratitude, Dream, Love* and *Peace*. The big book series is *Artful Mandala, Ancient Alchemy* and *Mandalas and More*. You can find my books at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Target, Powells and independent book stores all over, including Hudson's booksellers and Barbara's book stores in airports across the USA.

CherTheFire thanks! Can't wait for the joy, peace, etc to come out! I would put them on my wishlist but they're not out by Christmas. Maybe my birthday. :)

JOY IS out already - in the US it is anyway. JOY and GRATITUDE are in print now. PRE-ORders for Peace, Love and Dream are open with delivery to you in January! I think you might need to hint to someone close to you to get you JOY now for Christmas and pre-order PEACE for you to have delivered just a few short weeks after Christmas! (I really like the group coming out in January, btw :).....Joy and Gratitude are on the shelves of Target, Barnes and Noble and on Amazon, plus in airports around the country as we speak!

CherTheFire that's great! I just wish you or someone else would post a video of the coloring books to show what's inside. I did see your video on artful mandalas and I'm putting that on my wish list!

BunnyLaRue hi, I have video flip throughs of all my books on my RU-vid channel!

Every blender must be "cleaned" by rubbing it on a clean piece of paper BEFORE closing the cap on it - after each use. If you do this your blender will become stained, but it will not be dirty, muddy or transfer color because it will be cleaned off of the previous marker or pencil used. If you use it and cap it with out cleaning it, it will indeed hold all the colors and you'll end up with a brownish something or other on your paper. I haven' t had a problem with mine drying out, but you might be using yours a lot more than I use mine. Keep it closed for a while and it usually helps to "moisten" the tip again. They are alcohol based blenders and alcohol does evaporate very quickly. Clean, Cap, Close is what I would suggest. It might also be time for a new one!

Try my 12 blending tips for colored pencils. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-luC6GMVBlbw.html Happy Coloring!

Prismacolor blender pen can be used that way...but most marker brands have their own blender pen. Most are an alcohol based solvent that can work with most markers.

I like your username! It's dangerously clever! :D Now wouldja mind givin me some tips on how ta use those Secret Writer Markers? Ya know those markers with the invisible ink? They come in white?

+Amy Play oil based tend to be associated with paint markers, and are best used on non porous surfaces.

Have you looked into water color markers? They look fun to me. I wish U had found someone to give those Copics to a few years back.LOL! I can’t even dream of having them, let alone not using them. LOL, Oh, life is funny isn't it. I have some prismacolor markers but you need so many colors & it’s so much money to have fun. I just can't do it. With water color, one color is many colors in one & it’s so much less money. I have CHROMATIX markers I'm letting the kids use in hopes they will dry out & I can add my own ink into them & use them that way. Who knows if that will work. Maybe a company will make some reasonable priced marker for the crafters. One great thing about Utube is, you can learn anything you want to and as long as you have fun, you are a winner. So, go look into all the things u feel you missed or things you do like. If you want to learn about color, it’s on line & everyone is teaching it. It takes a little time to find who you want as your teacher. Go see how it works out for u. DON’T BUY CHROMATIX MARKERS they are less money, but they don’t blend, they do the same thing as the cheapest marker in the toy section does but they do have a nice brush tip, what good it that alcohol ink if you can’t blend with it. That’s what most of us want. We want to blend it nice and smooth or not at all. Good luck, & have fun learning new things.

HI Shayde, there's no quick answer here. The paper makes a HUGE difference on what the markers do. The brand makes a huge difference, as does your pressure and application. Markers, by design, absorb into the paper. Using special marker paper allows the markers to "sit" on the surface of the paper, allowing for better blending and layering as well as light to dark effects. That being said, mediums have certain looks to them - it's what makes watercolor so identifiable and pencils have a certain texture to them and oil paint has a certain smoothness. What I would suggest, given the tone of your note is that your frustration has you wanting an immediate result the first time. It's hard to tell a frustrated artist to take a breather and slow down, relax into the process. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. If you have someone locally that can help you, I'd suggest working with someone in person because sometimes they can see something you can't that can easily be tweaked. But in the end, if another medium works better for you - use that! It's not worth getting so upset over, kinda takes the pleasure out of it. It might be worth getting some open stock of different brands just to play around with a few different kinds so you can see what they do. Wishing you many coloring blessings!

Oh one more suggestion...if you use markers, try smaller strokes more closest together so they run over each other in a slower motion. IN other words overlap deliberately to get dense color.

CherTheFire I actually did a little experimenting and found out it was the brand of markers. The Staedtlers don't blend very well at all.

+Sunya Clark it a good quality paper used for the coloring book, i don't know exactly what paper it is, but I'm quite pleased with the publisher's choice....for examples outside of the coloring book used in the videos and for classes, I use drawing paper ranging anywhere from mixed media medium texture to drawing paper with smooth textures. I will tell you, having good quality paper will make a big difference on the coloring experience! Copywrite allows for a single copy made for personal usage, but not for purposes beyond that. For your personal use, try a cardstock paper for starters for colored pencil and see if you like working with that...but I'll tell you, the paper is partly what makes the experience. The paper used in The Artful Mandala and The Ancient Alchemy Coloring Books is perfect for colored pencils and I highly recomment giving yourself the experience of coloring on the actual paper at some point. happy coloring!

Thanks, i have some cardstock but its to thick, it colors well, but i dont like coloring in my books and prefer to copy to another drawing paper, i wish they have it in sheets verses a pad, but if i have to tear it out the pad i would lol

The type of markers and the type of paper used together can make a difference on whether you see the ink bleed. Try different papers with your markers and see what you notice.

Steadtler are the ones in this video, but you could use Stablio as well.

+CherTheFire It's actually Stabilo. ☺

The way to get even color with markers is to GO SLOW and GO OVER our initial pigment. Go back and forth with nice even strokes and it should fill in the area with solid color. I do not tend to use markers that way as I am always overlapping colors, but that helpful hint is the best way to get solid color with markers.

CherTheFire Thanks so much!!!! :)

Cool. Different spelling than mine :-)

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People use what they have, not always the most expensive nor highest quality. You gotta start somewhere! I do not recommend Sharpie markers because I think they smell too strongly, but for people that have them because they were available, it's good to know at least a bit about how they work.

Copics are the best quality ink

@@CherTheFire "Ppl use what they have". Thank You! I can only dream of a day I can just go and purchase preferred mediums. Sometimes it's just what you have on hand. I am self taught and Love Art! I do what I can

@@anxngel618But Copics are not lightfast and fade in mere weeks in the sunlight, whereas Sharpie don’t… go figure!

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