How to get started with color markers. Do you want to learn how to draw perfectly with felt-tip pens and markers? You have come to the right place: in this article, we will sing the praises of these peculiar drawing tools, available in many colors, as well as in various shapes and sizes. Markers and markers are used every day by professional artists to vent their creativity quickly and effectively. Still, they are also increasingly common among budding illustrators, attracted by their brightness and ease of use.
A brief history of drawing pens
Indeed, the history of felt-tip pens and drawing markers is much shorter than many other artistic tools such as brushes or pencils: before the Second World War, felt-tip pens did not exist.
The birth of the first markers
At the end of the 1940s, the very first specimens began to arrive on the market, made with interchangeable felt tips. Their points, however, deteriorated rather quickly, losing their original shape and going to scratch the paper. Despite these first – and not entirely negligible – defects, however, the ancestors of today’s felt-tip pens and markers did not take long to fascinate artists, who saw an exciting innovation in these tools.
In the first years, the markers were produced not for artistic uses but to satisfy purely industrial needs. The producers’ primary objective was to supply the factories with convenient tools to mark the various products quickly, scribble acronyms on the boxes, and nothing further from the art world. However, in the fifties, someone realized that those same markers could have a less rough and more sophisticated use. Thus, markers were gradually introduced in the graphic arts, in the world of advertising, and, in parallel, in that of comics.
The turning point in the production of markers and felt-tip pens
The artistic fallback of the felt-tip pens also encouraged a change in their manufacture: in 1963, in Japan, they began to produce felt-tip pens which, unlike the previous models with tips in non-aligned wool fibers, were differentiated by their more defined tip. And resistant, made precisely with aligned fibers. The Japanese model, needless to say, was soon taken up and imitated internationally, once and for all, consecrating felt-tip pens to the world of art. The advantages, moreover, were several: the markers were handy, simple to use, fast and cheap.
As versatile as any other artistic tool, with clear and generally cheerful colors, markers are used in the most varied fields: from the hobbyist draftsman to the designer in the fashion field, from advertisers to the actual artist who works in his elegant atelier. Their color is fluid and bright, and the gratification of using them is almost instantaneous. But how many types of felt-tip pens and markers are there on the market?
Which marker to choose for artistic use?
On our e-commerce, you can find markers with a fine tip and a thick tip, markers with a chisel tip or a brush tip, and again, double-tipped markers, Fude Pen, and precise liners. There are, therefore, many different ways to classify markets: one of the most used methods is to divide the markers according to the type of color, which can be – mainly – alcohol-based, water-based, and paint.
Alcohol-based markers
Alcohol-based markers have indisputable advantages. They dry very quickly and are water-resistant. The disadvantage, however, is constituted by the emanations of alcohol which, although not as solid and annoying as those of solvent-based markers, can still cause slight irritation to the eyes and respiratory system. As well as those who use oil paints and turpentine, those who use alcohol-based markers should also work in well-ventilated environments. So why should you opt for alcohol-based markers? Thanks to their speedy drying, the paper you are going to draw will not remain wet to concretely decrease the chances of encountering a tear during the overlapping of colors.
The water-based markers
Water-based markers are also prevalent, which, having no odors or annoying effects and having no harmful effects on health, are undoubtedly the first choice when selecting markers for children. But this certainly does not mean that water-based markers are designed only for children’s drawings, quite the contrary! Most of the artistic markers on the market fall into this category, presenting different types of felt-tip or chisel tips in nylon or foam, and therefore more or less flexible. If you want to embrace the art of felt-tip pen drawing, you will most likely find yourself using this type of felt-tip pen above all, which among other things, have the advantage of not staining.
The paint markers
The paint markers, on the other hand, are unique permanent markers that work on a wide range of materials and surfaces, and therefore on wood, metal, plastic, and glass, also boasting excellent resistance to water and heat (yes, in fact, he speaks of paints that resist up to 300 degrees centigrade).
How to use markers for drawing?
There are many techniques for using markers. In many cases, to obtain a visual effect, we use the marker vertically, leaving many tiny dots on the sheet. To begin, proceed by drawing a light sketch with a pencil, and then begin to color the drawing ‘in dots’ passing from the lighter to the darker colors to obtain the nuances to be sought.
Another widespread technique is hatching, giving a uniform color to work: the important thing is to choose a direction of the sign and keep it that way until the end, overlapping the signs – but not too much, so as not to weigh down the drawing. Then, try the technique of straight lines, horizontal or vertical, handy for creating various shades on a single large surface.
A particular use: markers and markers for lettering
More and more people are starting to experiment with calligraphy, specifically hand lettering, a fundamental discipline in its own right within graphic design. But to make good lettering, it is essential to count on the right tools: it is necessary to have the proper paper support, the best pencils and the most comfortable mechanical pencils, and the perfect markers. The virtuosos of hand lettering are constantly looking for markers that are easy to control with tips of various sizes and shapes: on their desk, therefore, intermediate nibs, such as those of the famous Pigma Micron, should not be missing, but not even brush pens. Whatever your interest, from comics to hand lettering, through portraits and graphic design, on our e-commerce, you can find a category entirely dedicated to drawing pens and markers, where you can buy single markers or entire sets of markers. Good work, and have fun!
