Coloring With Sharpies

I found a post on SCS about using Sharpies to color in your stamped images instead of Copic Markers. Now I already was familiar with this, having seen a wonderfully done video on YouTube, but I thought that I should investigate it a bit further.

I love to experiment. Especially when it comes to coloring mediums. Since my background is in fine arts, with 7 years having worked in the Graphics field, I'm no stranger to all the different mediums out there and how to use and combine them together to create lots of different looks. But to be honest with you Sharpies was never on the list! LOL

So I gave it a shot. As you can see from my card the results are rather similar to Copic coloring. There are however  some exceptions.

Sharpies do not blend as easily as the Copics. I had to really go over the areas a lot for the lines to blend smoothly.

The tips of the Sharpies are not flexible. Since I haven't used them much I do not know how well they will stand up to all the blending and coloring that you need to do to achieve a nice even layer of color.

Sharpies have a very strong odor. They are dye + n-propanol (71-23-8)+ n-butanol (71-36-3) + diacetone alcohol (123-42-2). Copics are dye + ethanol alcohol (77%) + n-propanol (8%) + isopropanol (4%).

I have a feeling that the pens will dry out quickly for me as I do a lot of coloring. I have had my set of Sharpies for a few years and some have already begun to dry out.

I noticed that with the blending some of the Memento stamped ink areas of the images did bleed. I've never had this happen with my Copics.

The metallic Sharpies are way cool! I can see using them again on other paper craft projects.

Sharpies lids do not match the ink. So you will have to make a reference sheet to see what the colors look like before you apply them to your project.

When blending with the sharpies, or even when coloring in an area, make sure that you use the whole surface of the tip. This way you will be applying more dye to the papers surface. Also, use the side of the tip when you are blending. This makes it much easier than if you used only the point.

Sharpies come in limited color choices. (I had to use a much darker green for shading in his face than I would have liked.)http://www.sharpie.com/enUS/Product/Sharpie_Fine_Point_Permanent_Marker.html

Sharpies are not refillable.

I was able to use Copics colorless blender to remove a mistake.

If you want to try creating a Copic blended look without buying Copics than I think you should go right ahead and experiment.

But please understand that you are limiting yourself to growing as an artist when you make a choice to use something that is limited in it's use. I learned to color with alcohol markers using  Prismacolor Markers, which have a much bigger learning curve do to the broad chisel tip. (The smaller tip dries out rather quickly.) With a lot of practice I have become very good at using Prismacolor markers. But now that I have Copic markers I realize that I made a mistake and should have spent the money more wisely on Copic markers instead. They are easier to use and because they can be refilled I will never be frustated again when the tip dries out. And oh all the color choices!

(To view the smaller images just click on them and a larger window will open.)

Comments

[Lesley Stein]

I have been curious about the Sharpie markers myself... thanks so much for taking the time to look into it :)

[joslyn]

love the vivid colors this created.

[Tracey]

Love the bright colours on this. Such an adorable image!!

[Mary Duffek]

Very bright and cheerful....Love everything about your card. The layout rocks too!

[Lynette]

Cute card! I have Sharpie markers and have never used them for coloring. I'll have to give them a try. Thanks so much for all of your inspiration!!

[Libby]

This is so interesting Asela, thanks for sharing. It never occurred to me to try coloring like this with Sharpies - I have a set of them just sitting on my shelf collecting dust. I love my Copics, but it could be fun to just give the Sharpies a whirl and see what happens! :-)

[Bernadette Tibbo]

Asela, what type of paper
are you using to color with sharpies