I made the leap to Copics

I use alcohol based markers in my illustrations of Ferdinand Flamingo. I like the vibrant colors they produce. I was using Spectrum Noir markers and have liked them. They do have some downsides compared to copics. Spectrum markers come with a bullet nib and not a brush nib. This affects the smoothness in blending the markers. I originally thought the bullet nib would give me more control but it really affected the blending. Sometimes I find there is some feathering with the Spectrum and this bleed can ruin your precision. The up side is that they were affordable and I could afford to get the whole set at once. The colts are vibrant. They are refillable but I find the replacement inks in the glass bottles often evaporate before they can be used. I even had an unopened bottled kept in dark place evaporate before opening. I am not saying not to buy them but it is good to understand the ups and downs of a product.

Why go to Copics? Copics have brush nib and blend beautifully with little feathering. They are amazing with 358 colors. There is a big downside and that is they are costly. At full price you pay about $8 a marker. This is quite expensive. You can purchase online at Michael’s using their 40-50% off coupon. You can also do this in stores but I could not find sets in my store. Amazon also has some competitive prices but as with everything on Amazon make sure you price compare. Dick Blick and Oozak online have some of the best prices so check them out as well. I have about 48 markers to start and I will add to my collection with time. One of my first focus on color choice were the pinks so I could use them in my illustrations for my next book. 

Here is a personal piece that is a work in progress to see what they look like. I am learning how to use the brush nib. I find the brush nib on Copics to be firm enough for the feeling of control but flexible enough to blend colors. I know I said it before but WOW! I have upped my game using Copics. Stay tuned to see Ferdinand in his new copic colors! 

Also check out my Copic reveal video