Everything I know about Drawing with Alcohol Markers!

Summary

In this video, Sparkle shares her experience and tips on coloring with alcohol-based markers. She covers important aspects like preventing ink bleed-through, choosing the right paper, and using different marker brands. Sparkle also demonstrates how to blend colors effectively and provides shading tips. Throughout, she emphasizes the importance of experimenting and practicing with different supplies. Additionally, Sparkle talks about combining markers with other mediums such as colored pencils and watercolors to enhance artwork. Despite feeling low-energy, she delivers a detailed guide to help viewers improve their skills.

Takeaways

• 🎨 The video is a tutorial on using alcohol-based markers for coloring, shared by Sparkle and June.
• 📄 Alcohol-based markers tend to bleed through paper, so using a protective sheet is recommended.
• 🖍️ Sparkle has been using alcohol-based markers for over three years and has built a sizable collection of different brands.
• 🖌️ Different marker brands like Artex, Prismacolor Premiere, and Copic are mentioned, each with their unique features.
• ✒️ Fine liners are also important tools for detailed work alongside markers, with brands like Oh! and Stabilo highlighted.
• 📑 Paper choice significantly affects marker performance, with printer paper and thicker art paper having different outcomes.
• 🎨 Blending with pastel markers is often easier due to their lighter and more desaturated nature compared to darker colors.
• 👩‍🎨 Practice is key in mastering blending and color selection, and starting with simple sketches is advised.
• 💡 Understanding values is crucial for shading, with Sparkle recommending having light, medium, and dark shades.
• 🌟 Mixing alcohol-based markers with other mediums like pencils, gel pens, and watercolors can enhance the final artwork.
• 💰 Expensive markers are not always necessary, as more affordable options can offer similar or even preferred results.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is about coloring with alcohol-based markers, sharing tips and techniques for using them effectively.

How long has the presenter been using alcohol-based markers?

The presenter has been using alcohol-based markers for about three and a half years.

What is the first thing the presenter recommends when using alcohol-based markers?

The presenter recommends using a protective sheet to prevent ink from bleeding through to the next page.

What are some of the marker brands mentioned in the video?

The brands mentioned include Hulu brush Marker set, Artex, Ohu, Stabilo, and Copic.

Why does the presenter suggest using fine liners with alcohol-based markers?

Fine liners are suggested for adding details and for use alongside alcohol-based markers and watercolors due to their precision and variety of sizes available.

What type of paper does the presenter suggest for using with alcohol-based markers?

The presenter suggests using thicker art paper rather than printer paper, as it handles ink better and allows for easier blending with less bleed through.

How does the presenter feel about the ease of setup and cleanup with alcohol-based markers compared to other mediums?

The presenter finds alcohol-based markers easier to set up and clean up compared to watercolors or paints, which require more work.

What advice does the presenter give for blending colors with alcohol-based markers?

The presenter advises practicing blending on simple sketches or blank paper, using colors that are close on the color wheel, and experimenting with different blending techniques.

How does the presenter approach shading when coloring with markers?

The presenter emphasizes understanding values and using a light, medium, and dark shade to create depth and dimension in the artwork.

What other mediums has the presenter combined with alcohol-based markers?

The presenter has used pencils, white gel pens, and metallic watercolors in combination with alcohol-based markers to enhance their artwork.

What is the presenter's opinion on the necessity of using expensive marker brands?

The presenter believes that it's not always necessary to buy the most expensive markers, as more affordable brands can also produce high-quality results and allow for more freedom in creation.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Introduction to Alcohol-Based Markers

Sparkle and June introduce the topic of the video, which is about coloring with alcohol-based markers. Sparkle shares her personal experience of using these markers for over three years and expresses her eagerness to pass on the knowledge she has gained. She mentions that the video will cover various aspects of using these markers, including tips and tricks that she wishes she had known earlier. The video is structured to be informative and helpful for viewers who want to learn or improve their marker coloring techniques. Sparkle also encourages viewers to draw along and mentions that she will be working on a drawing that she made in February but hasn't colored yet.

05:02

📝 Tips for Using Alcohol-Based Markers

The paragraph discusses the tendency of alcohol-based markers to bleed through paper and recommends using a protective sheet to prevent ink from staining the next page. Sparkle shares her preferred marker brands, including Hulu brush Marker set, Artex, and Copic, highlighting the variety in brush tips and sizes. She also talks about fine liners from different brands that pair well with alcohol-based markers and watercolors. The paragraph includes a demonstration of how markers perform on printer paper versus thicker art paper, emphasizing the importance of finding the right paper for blending and preventing ink bleed-through.

10:03

🌈 Blending Techniques and Color Selection

Sparkle explains her journey with alcohol-based markers, starting with her initial dislike and eventual love for the medium due to its ease of use and setup. She demonstrates blending techniques, emphasizing the importance of color selection and the use of intermediate colors to achieve smooth transitions between contrasting colors. The paragraph also covers the ease of blending pastel markers and the author's preference for medium and dark colors for shading. Sparkle shares two methods for blending: starting with the main color and adding shadows, and starting with the darkest color and blending towards the light. She encourages practice and experimentation with blending.

15:05

🖌️ Shading and Mixing with Other Media

The paragraph focuses on the importance of understanding values when shading with alcohol-based markers. Sparkle uses a simple sketch to illustrate the concept of light, medium, and dark shades in relation to a light source. She also demonstrates shading on a face and discusses the idea of establishing values through colors. The video then explores mixing alcohol-based markers with other mediums, such as pencils and white gel pens, to enhance the artwork. Sparkle shares her preference for more affordable markers over high-end brands, emphasizing the importance of personal experimentation and comfort with the chosen art supplies. The video concludes with Sparkle's reflections on her completed drawing and a promise to return with a more energetic voiceover in the next video.

Keywords

💡Alcohol-based markers

Alcohol-based markers are a type of art supply that uses alcohol as a solvent, which allows the ink to dry quickly and blend smoothly. In the video, Sparkle shares her experiences with these markers, explaining their advantages, such as smooth blending and ease of use, but also their tendency to bleed through paper. She emphasizes that they are ideal for certain types of projects, especially for creating vibrant artwork with smooth gradients.

💡Bleed-through

Bleed-through occurs when the ink from markers seeps through a sheet of paper to the other side or onto the next page. Sparkle mentions this as one of the main challenges of working with alcohol-based markers. She advises using a protective sheet or thick paper to prevent ruining artwork on adjacent pages.

💡Blending

Blending refers to the technique of smoothly transitioning between different colors, creating gradients or smooth color shifts. This is a central concept in Sparkle’s tutorial, as she demonstrates how to blend colors like pink and purple. She explains that lighter, pastel colors are generally easier to blend, and stresses the importance of practicing this skill to achieve smooth results.

💡Protective sheet

A protective sheet is placed under a page being worked on to prevent marker ink from bleeding through to the next page. Sparkle uses a sheet from her marker set to stop the ink from ruining other drawings in her sketchbook, and also suggests alternatives like cardboard.

💡Fineliners

Fineliners are pens with very thin tips, used for detailed work like outlines or fine details. Sparkle discusses different brands of fineliners that she uses in combination with alcohol-based markers. She mentions that certain fineliners, such as Staedtler and Stabilo, are ideal for both marker and watercolor art because they don’t smudge or bleed when used with these mediums.

💡Sketchbook

A sketchbook is a bound book of blank pages used for drawing or painting. Sparkle highlights the importance of choosing the right sketchbook paper for alcohol-based markers, mentioning different brands and weights of paper (like 165 GSM) and how the paper affects blending and bleed-through. She encourages experimenting with different types of paper until finding one that works best for the artist's needs.

💡Color wheel

The color wheel is a visual tool that shows the relationships between colors, helping artists choose colors that blend well together. Sparkle uses the color wheel to explain how certain colors, like pink and purple, blend smoothly due to their proximity on the wheel, while others, like purple and orange, require intermediary colors for smoother transitions.

💡Layering

Layering is the process of applying multiple layers of color to create depth and richness in an artwork. Sparkle talks about layering different colors and shades to add dimension to her drawings, such as using light, medium, and dark shades to build up color and shading in her artwork.

💡Shading

Shading is the technique of adding darker tones to an image to suggest light and shadow, giving it a three-dimensional appearance. Sparkle explains how to use multiple values (light, medium, and dark) to create depth in her drawings. She emphasizes the importance of understanding light sources and applying shading accordingly to make artwork more realistic.

💡Experimentation

Experimentation refers to the process of trying out different techniques, tools, and materials to see what works best for a particular style or project. Throughout the video, Sparkle encourages viewers to experiment with different brands of markers, papers, and blending techniques, explaining that personal experience is key to mastering alcohol-based markers and developing an individual artistic style.

Highlights

Introduction to alcohol-based markers and their usage by the artist for over three years.

Recommendation to use a protective sheet to prevent ink bleeding through the paper.

Discussion on the differences in marker brands and their nib types.

Comparison of blending capabilities on printer paper versus thicker art paper.

Personal preference for a specific Sketchbook brand due to its blending and ink control qualities.

The importance of experimenting with different Sketchbook brands to find the best fit for marker art.

Initial struggles and eventual appreciation for the convenience and ease of use of alcohol-based markers.

Techniques for blending colors effectively using alcohol-based markers.

The significance of understanding color theory for successful blending and shading.

Practical demonstration of shading techniques using a simple ballpoint pen sketch.

A personal approach to shading faces with alcohol-based markers.

The value of experimenting with marker colors and blending before starting a full illustration.

Mixing alcohol-based markers with other mediums like pencils, gel pens, and watercolors to enhance artwork.

Reflection on the importance of not necessarily investing in the most expensive markers for quality art.

Final thoughts on the artist's personal growth and learning journey with alcohol-based markers.

Apology for the monotone voiceover and assurance of a more energetic presentation in future videos.

Transcripts

hey magical Sparks welcome back to my

channel it's Sparkle here and June as

well and today I'll be sharing with you

guys everything I know about coloring

with alcohol-based markers so I'm not a

professional or anything but I have been

using alcohol-based markers for about

three and a half years now and I've

learned a lot along the way and some of

these things are things that I wish that

someone would have told me sooner but

it's okay today I'm here to teach you

guys or at least tell you guys

everything I know and hopefully some of

these things might help you out so if

you want to draw along as well feel free

to grab your Sketchbook and relax for

the next 16 minutes as I tell you guys

everything I know about coloring with

alcohol-based markers and as I do that

I'm also going to be working on this

drawing that I actually made in I think

about February but I just have not got

around to working on it so now it's

currently April and now we're going to

color it in and anyways let's get

started and this video is going to

follow this kind of structure but don't

worry about that it will make sense once

the video starts alright so first things

first alcohol-based markers do tend to

bleed through paper when you're working

with them so what I recommend is using a

protective sheet such as this one that I

got with my Hulu brush Marker set and it

actually works really good to stop the

ink from bleeding Throne to the next

page so that way while I'm coloring this

drawing the drawing on the next page

won't get ruined or stained in anyway

and you can also use different things as

Alternatives like for example a piece of

cardboard if that works for you but

again have a play around also it's

important to mention that not all papers

are like this just some papers and now

here are the supplies that I like to use

so as you can see these are my markers I

have quite a big collection and trust me

I didn't start with this much but it has

grown so the first spread I want to show

you guys is which is my first ever

alcohol-based marker brand that I

actually used so I love that brand a lot

and here are how the nibs look my other

favorite brand is artex so these markers

are also really amazing and again you

can find markers with different kind of

brush tips and brush size sizes

depending on what features you're

looking for these are her color markers

which are slightly different and they

also look really cool another brand of

markers that I do like a lot are

prismacolor Premiere markers which for

some reason I forgot to show in this

video but that's okay you guys can check

it out with my older videos and this is

also a very well known brand which is

Copic or Copic and they are really good

markers but they are definitely a bit

more towards the expensive side compared

to the other markers that I showed you

guys before so now that I've showed you

guys some of the marker brands that I

like to use I think it's time to show

you guys the fine liners so I love using

this brand it's oh again but the oh fine

liners are actually really good for when

it comes to using alcohol-based markers

as well as watercolors as well in my

opinion they come in lots of different

sizes too and I also like these ones

these Stabilo fine liners these were

what I used to use and this is what I

currently use The Statler Tri plus fine

liners which will also really good and

they come in a good variety of colors as

well and now that next thing I want to

show you guys is paper so here is some

printer paper and I'm just going to show

you guys how these two colors work on

printer paper I'm not going to make any

kind of judgments but I will personally

say that from experience I have seen

that printer paper is not the best paper

for markers especially when you want to

try and blend because the ink does tend

to expand and blending is just a little

bit more difficult and there is just a

lot more bleed through than there is

with thicker art paper and now the next

paper I'm going to be showing you guys

is from my Sketchbook that I used last

year it's a mole skin Sketchbook the

paper is 165 GSM in thickness and let's

test out how it works so Step One is

finding a page to be made victim and

this page is going to be our victim

today so the ink does kind of expand in

this paper as well and I think it's

really important to say that it's not

always true that the thicker the paper

the better you can blend and use markers

because in that kind of logic like

watercolor paper is really thick but

markers do tend to expand and not work

too well on that as well like in terms

of blending yes but in terms of

expanding not really so I think it's

just really important to experiment

until you find a Sketchbook that you're

happy with so for me currently I'm using

this born Sketchbook that is b or RN and

this Sketchbook is actually really good

in my opinion when you're using markers

because I personally find the blending

to be really easy and the ink doesn't

expand too much which is something I

love but again it's same as the printer

paper there is still bleed through or at

least some kind of glue stick that

always happens but it's not as bad as it

was with the printer paper again it just

comes down to personal preference and

really just trying out a bunch of

different Sketchbook Brands until you

find something you're satisfied with

anyways time to keep working on this

drawing and something else I also want

to say is that if my voice sounds really

dull or boring in this video it's just

because I'm really not in the mood to

record a voiceover right now but I

really just want to get this video out

at the same time I was going to add

captions instead but then that would

have gotten way too confusing for you

guys to read captions and constantly

look at what I'm doing on screen so here

we are with the voiceover hopefully

things will go back to normal by next

week and the voiceover can be a bit more

enthusiastic but for now this is just

what we've got so hopefully it's not too

bad for you guys so when it comes to

alcohol-based markers they really

weren't something I knew about and for

me I was more of a colored pencil and

watercolor person but then once I

started using alcohol-based markers

initially I'm going to be honest I hated

it but then once I got the hang of how

to use them I started to fall in love

with the medium it's just so easy to set

up and pack up and they're just so easy

to use as well once you learn what

you're doing once you're able to gain

the experience and the practice and

after that it just becomes so much fun

and it's also just really satisfying and

one of my favorite things is definitely

the fact that you don't have a lot to

pack up like with watercolors or paints

there's just so much work that goes into

packing up and setting up but with this

it's just really easier and now the next

thing I want to show you guys is how to

pick colors alright so when you're

blending out two colors like pink and

purple then it's pretty self-explanatory

that these colors will kind of just

blend together because they are close to

each other on the color wheel but when

it comes to colors like purple and

orange these colors aren't too close

together on the color wheel so they

weren't blend that well unless you have

a color in the middle now for example

here you can see me blending purple and

orange and in the middle there's a bit

of a brown color but as you can tell

with the little blending test on the

left I used pink in the middle which

really helped to make the blending

process just a whole heap smoother and

just turn out a whole heat better as

well now something that I've personally

found to be easier is to blend with

pastel markers because I think it's

because of how light these markers are

or because of how they have like a

desaturation about them but they just

blend a lot more easier than darker

colors so if you're someone who wants to

practice maybe start here before you

head over there by the way when you want

to color in something and add some

shading to it it's really important to

make sure that you pick a medium color

and dark color which is what I'm doing

in this case and I've personally found

that colors like this tend to be easier

to blend because they belong to the same

color group such as red in this specific

scenario by the way let's say I'm

coloring in a random apple drawing like

we're doing right now let me quickly

show you guys two ways that I like to go

about blending so in the first half I'm

going to be using the main color the

medium color then adding the Shadows

around it with a darker color and then

just going over it to blend it out the

second way I also like to do is I like

to go ahead with the darkest color first

and then grab the medium color and just

add it until everything is Blended now

those are just two examples of ways that

you can blend but of course there are so

many more other options as well and when

it comes to blending let's just try

blending out these three primary colors

and see how it goes I feel like a part

of the reason why they didn't blend is

my fault but another reason why I didn't

blend is because it's a bit hard to

blend between these colors since they're

so different from each other but as you

can tell once I brought in the orange

and the green it did make things a lot

more easier I mean she is a bit rough

but I think she's still beautiful and

now like I was saying before when it

comes to alcohol-based markers when I

initially got my set I was really

excited and happy because it looked

really cool and I got this set that I

saw a lot of YouTubers using and this

was in 2019 by the way and I was just

really excited but then the second I

tried to create something with them I

realized that I had no idea what I was

doing and that it wasn't as easy as it

looked and I really just wanted to give

up because I felt like alcohol abuse

markers just were not for me and I think

that's partially because of the paper I

was using but also because of how I just

did not know how to pick the right

colors or how to blend so I do just want

to emphasize the importance of that it's

really important to just practice

blending and practice picking out right

colors and when you're practicing don't

do it on like a full illustration just

do it on a simple sketch or just a blank

piece of paper and it's really just

important to keep practicing because

while I am making this video to help out

as many beginner artists as I can it's

really just down to you and down to you

learning through your own experiences

and going going through those learning

curves just like I did as well and

personally I like to consider myself as

a beginner Artist as well because I do

still tend to make a lot of mistakes in

my art but at the same time I do learn

from them and grow from these

experiences and now the next thing I

want to talk to you guys about is in

regards to shading and when it comes to

shading the most important thing to know

are your values so I always like to have

three values when it comes to shading as

you can tell I kind of messed up here

which is why I crossed out this one and

picked the shade lighter but I think

it's important to have a light shade a

medium shade and a dark shade so if you

look at the bowl I've actually drawn

like an arrow pointing towards the ball

that arrow is going to pretty much

represent where the lighting source is

coming from and the direction that it's

pointing at so it is pointing towards

the top left hand side of the circle

which is why I should stop saying Circle

it's a sphere okay it's pointing towards

the top left hand side of the sphere and

that's where I'm going to place my

lightest color and then from there I'm

going to add my middle color and finally

I'm going to add my darkest color where

the Shadows go now this is just a really

rough like a example with not so great

blending just you guys get the idea of

shading though but if that's not clear

enough let me show you guys a bit more

of a simpler explanation with this

really pretty Diamond pen that also just

happens to be a simple ballpoint pen so

here's just a messy version of what I

mean as you can tell I'm drawing the

same thing here again but I feel like

with some people it's just a bit more

easier to understand it in a more messy

way than with markers and a bit more

like kind of complex way with air

quotations but I do hope this messy

example does kind of explain what I'm

trying to say because it's pretty much

the same concept applied with the marker

drawing on top as well as the ballpoint

sketch at the bottom and now because

someone is going to ask me in the

comments how do you shade in the face

I'm going to quickly show you guys how I

like to go about shading interface this

is just a really rough and messy example

as you can tell with like a sketch that

is barely a sketch and it's just super

rough and that's pretty much how I did

it it's the same kind of logic you go

with the lightest color then the medium

color then the darkest color and in the

end everything just kind of pulls

together but just make sure you practice

doesn't understand what it means when

you're establishing these values and now

here's just another example of

establishing values through colors when

you have a lighting source and again it

just really comes down to practice and

it's also something that I need to

practice myself because coloring with

lighting is not something I feel

comfortable with but that's okay guys

let's learn this all together and now

we're back to working on this drawing

and for this entire page my idea was to

have it all themed around the color

purple and just maybe a bit of pink and

blue here and there but mainly just

around the color purple so that's why I

decided to make everything purple

obviously and even for the skirt I feel

like I could have done a different color

and it would have contrasted well

against this shirt and the jacket that

the character was wearing but since I

wanted to keep it within the color

palette within the theme I went with the

purple same with this vase or Vaz I made

all the flowers and other things inside

completely purple and even the penguin

as well which by the way for some reason

whenever I draw an animal I just do not

tend to use a reference which I kind of

hate myself for but I also kind of like

the fact that I'm trying out new things

but I feel like next time when I do draw

an animal I should use a reference it's

like even for the penguin up there that

was just me trying to guess how a

penguin would look if it was like oh

chibi and cute but it did turn out

looking just a little bit weird but you

know what that's okay weird is also

perfect and weird is also beautiful oh

and also back to the topic of alcohol

based markers I think another important

thing for me to say is that when you're

coloring with alcohol based markers it's

really important that you make sure that

you experiment with your markers

beforehand and get a feel for them

because when it comes to layering and

coloring some colors will lay down

different than others sometimes the ink

might not match the color on the caps

and sometimes some colors just won't go

together too well and also just check

out how well your pastel markers work

and whether they're actually able to

lighten mid colors and just play around

with it because when it comes to

layering and coloring I feel like it's

really hard to explain every single

aspect of it and the best way to learn

about layering and coloring is through

personal experimentation so for me for

example I did not just make sure you

experiment play around and see what

works best for you and just play around

and now it's time for the final thing I

want to talk about in this video which

is mixing other mediums with your art so

in the past I've gone ahead and I've

drawn on top of my marker drawings with

pencils like Crayola pencils and

prismacolor pencils and I've also just

used a lot of white gel pen on top of my

art to add highlights and other features

and I like jelly roll gel pens by the

way and I've also used a bunch of other

mediums but when it comes to markers and

other mediums again it's really

important to experiment and see if the

specific Art Supply you have works on

top of the markers or with the markers

but I just find it really cool how

markers like that flexible medium that

you can use with almost almost by the

way every other medium like for example

there are certain brands of pencils

where if you color with them and then

use markers on top the pencils

underneath kind of just like melt and

blend and come together really cool and

you can also go ahead and use pencils on

top of markers just to add more detail

more shading in depth which is what I

did when I added more blush to the

penguin here and you can also use

watercolors underneath markers and once

they're dry you can use markers on top

to add more shading and there's just a

really really great variety of ways to

use these mediums together and in this

specific drawing I decided to use my

white gel pen I decided to use a bunch

of like coloring pencils these are all

like kids Brands by the way nothing like

too expensive here and I also used my

white jelly roll pen as well as these

metallic watercolors which I used on the

background they also just so satisfying

by the way like look at that so pretty

but anyways my point here is that using

other mediums where the markers really

just helps to bring the final drawing

together even more and make it look even

more beautiful and now something else

I've personally come to like understand

is that it's not always a great idea to

buy the most expensive brand of my

markers because it doesn't guarantee you

that they're going to work better than

every other brand of markers like for

example you can buy a great shoe from

the shop and you can compare that with

like a really really well branded shoe

but in the end it still performs the

same job of protecting your feet so in

the same way markers that are like

slightly more on the affordable side do

actually work really well in my opinion

and I actually prefer to use them over

my Copic markers because I don't feel

that stress of having to use expensive

markers to create the best art I just

feel a bit more free with the more

affordable markers such as and artex

markers but again it just comes down to

personal preference anyways here's how

the final page turned out I'm not a big

fan of how it looks I don't know why but

it just looks really weird on camera but

I do like how it looks in person anyways

guys that is about all I had for this

video thank you so much for watching I

hope you guys have a fabulous day and

I'll see you guys in the next video by

the way I'm sorry for the boring

voiceover again I'm just really not in

the mood to read record a voiceover

right now but I'm not in the mood to

type captions as well but I do want to

get a video out for you guys and

hopefully this might have helped you out

anyways don't worry I will be coming

back next week with a bit more of a

happier voice so hopefully that might

help him anyways guys thanks for

watching and I will see you guys in the

next one bye

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