Markers is what really got me into making RUclips videos back in 2013. I wanted them so badly and loved them so much, and now I barely use them! I feel like it was a necessary stage for me BUT I wish I used watercolour or something instead. The smell of copics is so nostalgic for me though, I was so inspired back then, haha. IMO some cheap alcohol or water based markers are great for sketchbooks 👍 no sunlight fading! Water based ones don't even bleed through the pages so I'd definitely recommend those over alcohol ones. I don't think it's immoral to sell marker pieces as long as it's made clear that it will fade. I think you can get uv protected glass? Not sure about that though. Very interesting video, Alice!
yesss I had the exact same experience! And now I hardly ever use them. it was fun and nostalgic to go back honestly and that's what got me thinking about the way I used to feel like I NEEDED ALL THE COPICS! I agree with you!! And yes uv glass is a thing!!
I love my copics but I have started using watercolor and I am finding I am using it much more. It is way more portable and you can get juuuuuust the right color with only a few pans instead of having to settle for a copic that's similar because you don't have the right one.
I work in a museum and one of our primary jobs is trying to keep historic artwork vibrant and unchanging over time. I can tell you that many - if not most - artists throughout time do not think about the longevity of their work and how the materials they are using may or may not last over time. Not just thinking of the damage from UV but many other things as well. Even things that are ‘lightfast’ are extremely vulnerable to UV over time! I think it’s great that your starting this conversation and asking artists to start thinking about these things. if they choose to work in a certain medium or with materials they know will degrade in certain environments, that’s fine - as long as they are cognizant of that and intentionally making those choices! And the point you bring up about selling art work and disclosing those kinds of things is great too!
And to add on to Vickie's point, if anyone finds this stuff interesting, look up the issues that have been dealt with preserving the last supper. Da Vinci used an experimental fresco technique that has proven very tricky over time! He painted on dry wall instead of wet, which did not adhere in the same way. It started flaking within 20 years of completion! Other artists that have shown disregard for this include Pollock - his work often has his cigarette butts in it!
That reminds me of something, my Mom works with fibers and experimented with natural dyes. One of her homespun wall hangings completely bleached out because the dyes faded but another made from natural wool made from black, brown and white wool and blends never faded even decades later because no dyes were used. She also spun natural cotton in off white brown cotton and a blend which she used to make patterns and that will also never fade.
Very sorry for this late comment, I agree, but sometimes we’re making art just to make art, and not particularly for museums so that they can last for centuries. So I agree you can do this if your aware of it, and don’t mind. I don’t know I just had to say that.
I think the reason copics got as popular is because for a while it has the only marker is a brush nib refillable and had a huge color selection. It wasn't until recently these good and cheaper brands have came in.
This is the reason I do the occasional art with cheap supplies (ex: Sharpies, crayola, etc). I don't want people to feel like they HAVE to use expensive supplies for "good" art. Tbh, I am a huge Copic artist, but I didn't even know that the colors faded over time. I've always had my art displayed on my wall and never noticed anything, but it's only been about 5 years since some of those were colored. Thank you for this video, Alice!
Personally, when I first heard that alcohol based markers aren't lightfast it really turned me off of them. It just doesn't really appeal to me (I also don't really care for the texture of a lot of marker pieces but the lightfastness was just the nail in the coffin). I definitely agree that more people, especially those looking to purchase originals, should be notified of this since it doesn't really seem to be common knowledge yet but the idea of not selling something just because it will change as it ages? I don't really think that's much of an issue. Wood carvings, for example, can and will break down over time due to light, humidity, etc. but that doesn't make it immoral to sell. The buyer just needs to recognize that the art they are buying has a life expectancy.
I think it's also important to understand this as someone who might buy a commission (especially at an artist alley) since I see so many making commissions with markers at shows. There's nothing wrong with these but it's important to understand why a watercolor commission may be more expensive simply because of how long it will last. It's also important to have a pretty good scanner and to scan your marker pieces as quickly as possible after completing the piece so you can reproduce quality prints. Most mediums like this were not developed to be long lasting BUT were made as a way for sketching and for scanning. This is a really important aspect that not enough artists on YT chat about. I never even heard about alcohol markers until after completing my illustration degree and I think thier lack of lightfastness was a major reason for that.
THANK YOU for talking about marker lightfastness. When I was getting back into art, I jumped on the marker train because of all the videos I've seen about them and they seemed like a great way for me to get back into the art world easily. I am NOT a younger viewer, btw... I'm in my 30's, married, with kids, etc. Because I had been OUT of the art world for so long, I actually didn't know anything about lightfastness, or the importance of it. It wasn't until I started watching Lachri's videos that I realized what it was and how vital it was, especially if you're going to sell originals. That's also when I learned that alcohol markers aren't lightfast. This, of course is AFTER I had a bunch of markers (W&N Pro and Brushmarkers, which I love btw), and had sold at least one original. I really, really, really wish I had known about marker lightfastness before this point. Of course, the onus is on the viewer to research these things for themselves, totally... BUT, like you said, it would have been nice if more of these marker artists on RUclips made it clear that *alcohol markers ARE NOT lightfast* and that *your originals WILL fade over time*! Because of this, any time I use markers on my channel, I make sure to make that clear. As for selling marker pieces. I still think you CAN sell them, but you need to make clear to the buyer that these pieces will fade over time and to protect the artwork behind UV glass to help it last longer. AND it should be priced far less than your pieces that are done with lightfast materials. Again, thank you for this PSA!!
I definitely agree that there’s an insanely amount of hype around copics. I follow a few art channels, and I know some of my favorite art RUclipsrs practically swear by them. I don’t think this is necessarily a bad thing - people naturally have favorite supplies and like using them - but I do think that this gives viewers the idea that they MUST have copics, and copics SPECIFICALLY, in order to achieve the same effects. I know that’s kind of how I felt for a while, and I remember very clearly feeling like I had to order a $300 set of copics in order to have enough color selection. I didn’t at the time, because I didn’t have the money, and I’m glad that happened, because I’d never used alcohol-based markers before and I probably would have wasted all the ink on attempts to learn what I was doing. Instead, one of my best friends got me a set of Touch New (or Now?) markers, and I’be been able to learn and experiment with the medium without feeling guilty every time a marker runs dry. I do intend to get Copics eventually, because I do prefer brush pens to chisel tips, but I no longer feel like they’re the only plausible option. As far as light-fastness goes, I essentially agree with your view. I don’t think it’s immoral to sell a work done with alcohol-based markers; if someone is a huge fan of an artwork and they want to purchase the original, I think that’s up to them and the artist isn’t scamming them by selling it. I do, however, believe that it is then artist’s responsibility to know the limitations of their medium, and to communicate that to the buyer so no one is blindsided a few years down the road. And I do think that should, in the interest of fairness, influence pricing to a certain extent. In any case, I really enjoyed this video and the topics you discussed, and (as usual) I loved the final result! I thought the colors worked great together, and loved the whole feel of it. It made me even more excited for fall :D
I have always loved drawing and I used to use just regular colored pencils, but then when I started watching youtube (this was like 2010) i noticed everyone had those copic markers, and I really really thought that my art wasnt as good as others because I didnt have the markers.. weird to think about now haha. I got some promarkers tho, and touch later. Now I have copics. But yea I think they are kinda overrated at the point that people think that their art isnt good because they have the wrong marker, thats at least what i thought back then
all that is necessary to draw is a piece of paper and a pencil. Other mediums are there to expand your horizon and fulfill your preferences. Are markers necessary ? No. Should you use/buy them? Sure, if you want.👍🏻
So as an older, pre-RUclips artist, I was never exposed to any Copic hype through the internet. I created my own hype around them by reading the "making of" sections of artbooks. All my favorite manga artists used alcohol markers (CLAMP, Naoko Takeuchi) and Copic was pretty much the only game in town. There are so many options now, but there weren't back then! If you wanted that soft blended watercolor look but in the crisp control of a marker, it had to be Copic. They're still not cheap, but back then they weren't easy to come by either. They had to be ordered directly from a Copic supplier, and picking up a set was the best way to save money in the long run. There was no way to pick up a marker or two at Michael's whenever you stopped by. I feel like the original RUclipsrs doing Copic art were probably like me- inspired by their favorite manga artists and limited in their options. If you wanted to try alcohol markers, you pretty much had to go all in with Copics, and they probably built their technique around that investment. I'm glad you did this video though. I feel like too many young artists think that they need the best supplies to create the best work, and not enough artist's emphasize that's not the case. They happen to have professional supplies because they are professional artists. It's practice they need more than anything, with whatever's available. Some of my best drawings are just ballpoint pen! And your information about a material's longevity is extremely important, and definitely something every artist needs to take into consideration.
I'm a custom framer, so I can say that you very much so can get UV protective glass. It's a standard in most custom frame shops. But as a customer, I will avoid something that isn't light fast because custom framing is expensive.
Rain depending on where you frame customers could order just the glass (at least at my job they can) while it still isn't cheap, It's cheaper than getting a whole frame
@@BlackFox999 Yes, you can definitely do that. I often recommend that customers shop around thrift and antique stores for a frame because I can easily change glass and mats at a lower cost.
This has probably been mentioned already but there are UV protectant sprays you can use (like a fixative) to protect the piece from sunlight and make them last longer. That and if you have a lot of original copic pieces (like Baylee lol) you can store them in portfolio books and binders where they’ll be protected.
True, but I think she was refering more to selling originals, which even Baylee doesn't do that much of and her prices are low enough to justify her selling her originals anyway.
I am a complete beginner, but I bought my first set of alcohol markers a few months ago (Windsor and newton, not copics) and I love the smooth look you can achieve with them. I agree that you should start with less expensive markers to see if you like them, I’m not a professional so my opinion doesn’t mean much, but I think you can get away with using any supplies, even crayola, as long as your skill level is there. Of course if you’re selling your pieces that’s a whole different story.
I think that it's great that you are talking about this subject, because you are right, no one really talks about it! I think it is disappointing to see how expensive Copics are, considering they aren't lightfast. I personally do not use alcohol markers because of the lightfast issue. I like to use Faber-Castell Pitt Pens and Windsor & Newton Pigment markers instead. I think almost the whole line of Pigment markers is lightfast, and the Pitt Pens have all their lighfast information on the side, and most are lightast. They are not as easy to blend as alcohol markers but it can definitely be done, and I feel more comfortable offering my originals for sale!
ohh my gosh yes. When I was still in highschool and started watching art youtubeI felt like they all had copics, and I always felt bad that I couldn't afford a 400 dollar set of art supplies to simulate what they were doing (which now looking back on it, is really silly). I still love copic videos but now theres a lot more variety with what supplies are used which I think leaves a much better impression for people
Thank you! "Overrated as to how beginner friendly they are" may be the most honest statement I've ever heard about alcohol markers. I think they're great but not exactly how to learn blending. Thanks for the reminder/warning about light-fastness too. Just discovered your channel this morning & subscribed. Your work & your videos are great.
It's good to bring up the lightfastness point. A lot of justification for more expensive paints (for example) is that they are lightfast. I totally agree with you on the whole point that Copics (and honestly, markers in general) aren't beginner friendly. They're tons of fun, and I love them, so I don't necessarily think they're overrated but for sure, no one needs them.
When I was young I wanted copics because Tanemura Arina used copics lol and I thought one day when I become a professional I will reward myself with copics. I started out as an artist offline so I don’t have any idea how it feels to be young and impressionable and watch youtubers show their supplies. I started with cheap shitty art supplies learned how to make then work and then bought small professional sets and learned how to make those work. I personally feel that’s the only way to truly appreciate artist grade supplies when you’ve felt the difference. As for the lightfast ness 🤷♀️ markers in general are made to be quick and easy, not to last forever. they were designed for designers and manga artists who needed to work fast and get it printed. so I personally am not bothered by it. I scan my marker art and keep it in a drawer so it’s not a big deal. But I guess if younger artists just see older artists supplies and don’t know the info about markers it’s good to bring it up sometimes :) also this drawing looks great! Love how you did the leaves!
I haven’t tried copic markers/markers in general , and they’re everywhere here in Japan! Maybe I should give it a go. Been wanting to try markers for awhile. なんか面白そう✨
Try out the Winsor and Newton brush markers, they're probably my favorite alcohol markers right now. Tombow is my favorite water-based. And they are very different mediums.
I don't think it's immoral to sell copic art or non lightfast art in general... Alcohol Markers aren't the only supply that isn't lightfast. Most colored pencils aren't light fast either. Prismacolors, the most accessible brand of professional colored pencils aren't lightfast (some of them are but most of them aren't). I think when selling work that isn't lightfast it is very important to adjust the price based on that fact. You cannot sell a non lightfast market piece for the same price as a watercolor piece made with light fast paints - even if you spend the same amount of time, its the same size, etc. - to do so would absolutely be immoral because the lifetime of the product is going to be inevitably shorter. I also think there are some extra optional things a seller could do to attempt to combat the lightfast issue to be able to price the art work higher. Things such as using a lightfast varnish spray or selling the piece in a frame with UV glass. Even if these things are done I don't think the art should be priced the same as a piece made with lightfast supplies, but the price could be set higher than selling the work without these precautions. I think this is a very important topic for the art community to discuss! It's important to be aware of issues like lightfastness as either a seller or buyer of art so that you aren't accidentally ripping your customers off or so that you can be an informed buyer and not allow yourself to spend too much money on a piece that won't have as long of a life as you expect from a professional art work. Thank you for discussing this topic!
I never heard of copics until someone asked if one of my watercolors was made with them. I looked them up and started buying them. I currently have almost all the colors but only because of how I use color. If I colored like most people I see here I wouldn't have bothered buying so many but I layer many colors. I also use other brands when I draw with them which might be a good way for someone to keep prices lower. My interest in the markers has never been the name, it's been the range of colors and how well they blend. I think sometimes it's worth it for that.
I've been painting/drawing for 2 hours a day, constantly for the last 13 years, and haven't once used an alcohol based marker. I don't use any specific medium, but haven't ever had the need/urge to even touch them. I've never understood the fascination with these markers, and honestly don't think I ever will. Until they've been around for hundreds of years, I don't honestly believe they are worth the hype over traditional colour methods.
it really depends on the art and career path you're in, because copics are the standard in so many art fields you wouldn't even think of would find use for them. Like industrial, drawing concept images for new car designs, fashion drawing new clothing, shoes, etc ideas/concepts on the impossibly tall, thin "models" that are so iconic in the fashion world, animation and comics for doing thumbnail work quickly, even web and graphic design concept work. Traditional paints/mediums are good for traditional work, but markers have their place in the professional world too.
Sadly I only know of one type of markers that are lightfast and that is Winsor & Newton Pigment markers, which can act more like paint than alcohol markers (if you do a search here you'll find some videos). Faber-Castell Pitt pens are also lightfast but, again, aren't alcohol markers. I was disappointed when I found out Copics weren't lightfast, but then all my originals are filed away and I scan anything I want to keep within a few hours of its completion. I agree with pretty much everything you've said, and I'm a major Copic fan. I love the design and use of them, the fact that I can buy refills and they'll potentially last for decades, the gorgeous colour spectrum. But. If someone asks my recommendation for markers, I'll always point them to the cheap ones to start. Unlike some other people in the comments here, I find myself using my Copics a *lot* more than my previous marker pens. Because I know I can buy more ink rather than needing a whole new pen, I'm more comfortable using them and trying out things.
I hate when your finally early (ish) and you can't think of anything cool to say yet when your like 5 months late you have the funniest thing to say but it won't get noticed
I've always thought that alcohol markers make for incredible prints. I definitely agree though that there should be a disclaimer about the lightfastness if someone is buying the original. I mean, obviously that is the case for watercolor and stuff too, but I think it's serving people don't think about as much with a marker illustration. Also, I love this illustration. The colors are so pretty and it makes me so excited for autumn. If it could just be October forever I'd be so happy.
I recently sold all my Copics because I was never using them😅 But now I kinda miss them a little bit. regarding your question, I think its OK to sell Copic originals. But as you said, you as an artist/seller should be clear about the fact that they will fade over time. If the customer is ok with that than it shouldn't be a problem to sell those drawings.
I was also very concerned about Coptic longevity especially being a fine art artist and realizing many of these mediums are not light fast, you do have to be careful when picking out your pigments. I think Coppic markers bloomed because of RUclips, here your artwork is the actual videos, not always the finished artwork piece. Thanks again Alice a wonderful piece of artwork drawing and video! You’re a very talented lady thank you for continuing to inspire us.
I really love this video! I think you're absolutely right about how intimidating it can be for someone to be able to jump into alcohol markers because of the number you may need in order to blend, etc. I really hope that no younger artist feel like they HAVE to have a million Copics to be able to make any art, though I know that's not the case. I wish they were more accessible for people just starting out! I personally started out with Ohuhu markers, then went on to Master Markers, and have only recently began my copic collection. To all artist just getting started, just a word to say it's fine to not start out with copic markers! ♥♥♥ Don't stop making art because you think you need to have copic markers! Keep on creating. :)
I first used alcohol markers in a Rendering class in college and HATED them because I just couldn't understand how to blend them and why other designers loved to use them over paint. After a few years of watching tutorials on youtube I didn't dive into the Copic brand, but got winsor and newton promarkers to try and finally understood how to use them. I still prefer paint today, but I do use them occasionally on sketches in my sketchbook and rough designs, but not so much on original drawings because I agree that there are SO MANY more colors I can get out of paints.
im so glad this is available as prints and merch! I absolutely LOVE the colors and mood of it all. Amazing job and thanks for reminding us that we dont need all these things, we can make beautiful art with the materials we have. Hope you have an amazing week 💕
First, your art is gorgeous! This piece turned out great, especially in love with the leaves! I think comics are great for people who are better with traditional mediums and want to scan their work. I would be against selling the originals or commissions but I feel like the price usually matches the medium. I don't usually see a Copic commission going for hundreds of dollars. They usually match the price point of the medium.
I ADORE everything about this piece. Fall is my absolute favorite season. I don't get to experience it where I live so I'm desperately missing it. Images like these make my heart happy. I also truly appreciate your honesty on the topic and think people, especially on YT should be braver in opening honest discussions especially about popular mediums. Personally, I've been slowly working my way back into Art and definitely have felt an underlining pressure to invest in Copic markers even though I'm a beginner. Like you said, they're ALL over the YT art community (Still) lol so videos like these that are honest and educational from an Artist's standpoint are very much appreciated!
i love your use of the gel pen in this piece! i also love how you blended your markers~great job! and i totally understand what you were saying about putting too many expectations on beginners, because back when i first started art, i got a bunch of copics that i didn’t need, thinking that’s what i had to do to be a “good” artist...you made great points in this video!!
I used to ONLY work with copics back when I started. Now I only use them here and there to add on top of either watercolours or pencil crayons. They are great when they are needed, but I no longer use them to create solely market art. I still love my copics 💕 they’ve lasted me years.
I agree with your statement about starting with cheap markers and then decuding if they are really something you want to invest in. I started with a huge set if TouchNew markers for super cheap. And I liked them, but I had this idea that somehow copics were mindblowingly better. When I finally got to try a copic I was disappointed. Like, other than having a brush tip, I didn't feel like they were really any better than the markers I already had. It was a big bummer, but also made me a lot,more appreciative of the markers I had, so I've never gone out of my way to get new copic markers. I also want to add, that I agree with you about the mixing new colors part. Alcohol markers blend really well, but it's difficult to get consistant smooth results when you are trying to blend colors into a new color instead of just blending from one to another. And having a lot of markers makes that a lot easier because you have a larger selection and don't have to try to make new colors. BUT. I also feel like I get really overwhelmed by the mass of color choices and I end up just gravitating towards my favorites or spending way WAY to much time on color swatches, trying to find just the color(s) I need. A better understanding of color theory would probably help, but I feel like it would still be a problem because of the sheer amount of markers I have to sort through.
Thank you for broaching this subject. I recently picked up a set of the Ohuhu markers to try because I really liked the look you can achieve with alcohol markers, but I didn’t want to invest in Copics until I knew whether I liked the medium or not. So far, I really enjoy them though I’m just learning and practicing, so I haven’t produced anything that I would give away or sell. I hadn’t thought much about lightfastness, so this was a very good video to learn more about the subject-not to mention how enjoyable it was to watch you create your beautiful piece. I don’t think there is anything wrong with giving away or selling pieces made with alcohol markers (or any other medium for that matter) as long as you give the receiver information about how to care for the piece. I have artwork under UV glass hanging in my house, and it seems to do a good job of protecting the art over time.
I appreciate this so much! I definitely agree that Copics aren’t beginner friendly and when I saw constant videos of artists using them that’s all I wanted to get. I know that there are many people out there who have probably felt that way too. Thank u for this Also this piece is getting me ready for fall to actually start showing up where I live and decorating for it. It’s making me want to draw a fall piece so I may go do that!
I had the same thing happen today that you said happened with that one dark marker, where the ink didn't go down right. I usually use mixed media paper with my copics, and I've never had that problem, but I used bristol board today. I layer and blend a LOT, and it started happening whenever I went over an area too often. It was like the ink started forming tiny puddles and sitting on top of the page instead of sinking in -- very obviously over-saturation. It actually feels like it ruined the piece in a few places... but that's what editing on a PC is for. It's back to mixed media paper for me when I use markers.
What a great topic, light fastedness is not something I've given much thought to. I honestly never knew why some work faded, it's so interesting to hear it's about the dye! I know that acrylic and oils are best, but what watercolor do you recommend that has the least fade? I'd be super interested to see what material has the least damage from direct sunlight.
Lightfastness is the main difference between an artist-grade quality art medium and a student/craft-grade art medium. Artist-grade supplies are much more expensive than student-grade, for good reason. Using a non-lightfast/student-grade art medium is good if you're just starting out and just learning the medium, you're going to use it in journals (which won't see light often), or you're going to make prints of the work instead of selling the original piece. If you want your artwork to stand the test of time, though, then lightfastness of the art medium is extremely important. Always research the brands you're planning on getting. If they are an artist-grade brand, then their website will list the lightfast ratings of each of their colours (that's right, even with a brand that is lightfast, some of their colours may not be). Yellow pigments and violet pigments are the most likely culprits to lack lightfastness. My personal favorite brand for artist-grade watercolour is Daniel Smith. But there are lots and lots of other fantastic artist-grade watercolour brands. :-) Hope that helps!
it's not so much about the brand of watercolour (this includes _any_ professional grade paint) but about the pigment used for that paint. It's extremely valuable to know your pigments and which are more lightfast than others, because it makes buying lightfast paint much easier across all brands if you know the code for the particular lightfast pigment you are looking for.
I guess I can also add to the discussion by saying that I slowly upgraded to Copics by buying a large set of cheap markers, then replacing each cheap marker with the closest Copic marker one-by-one as the cheap markers dried out. This was especially nice, because you often can't get all the colors individually in cheap sets, so it saved me the conundrum of buying multiple large sets over to get one of my favorite colors back. Laying down hundreds of dollars for a set of Copics is hard, buy buying one for $5 every week is the same as treating yourself to an expensive coffee... it's a doable treat. I have a really hard time coming up with an answer to the lightfastness question. I actually get a little miffed when I see people selling really expensive marker art, because I know it won't last, and I know if I scan the art I bought and try to print a photo of it at, say, Wal Mart, that's just a huge can of worms. So I try to avoid buying marker art, and I feel bad for folks who buy it an assume they're gonna put it in a regular frame on the wall and it'll last. But I've also tried to do fast commissions at cons, and the ease of bringing a marker makes it so much easier. Unfortunately, the only lightfast marker options I know of: Winsor & Newton pigment markers and watercolor markers, only work really well on specific paper. I can use the watercolor markers on regular paper for flat pops of color, but they don't blend at all and streak terribly when not being used on W&N's specific cold-pressed paper.
Heh if that upsets you, I follow a painter on instagram who sells original pieces for _thousands_ of dollars using neon paints and doesn't state *anywhere* in the listings that the paint used can fade. I've commented multiple times on his page about it, but he just ignores me and it's like lmao have fun when you get a bunch of angry customers coming back when their paintings have faded significantly because you don't know what lightfastness is ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@@godzandheros Yep. I'm sure lots and lots of artists do this knowingly. But it falls under the "what can you do?" category. We all just have to be the best at customer satisfaction ourselves and hope customers will gravitate to the artists who they know are watching out for them. It was good of you to try to let him know, even if he ignored you.
Lightfastness is why we asked people to not use a flash in museums and monuments. There are a lot of media that are not light stable and it has to be taken into account in the display and viewing of art.
I adore this painting! And I agree with you - the fact that it isn't light fast means that selling originals doe in alcohol markers should be carefully thought about, and I think it should impact the price. I'd be more comfortable buying a print, because it'll last longer. But that's just me. Speaking of, do you still have this painting? Fall is my favorite season, and you captured so much of the season in this picture! I'm putting together my own art room and building my own style, and so much of what I want to do is inspired by you. I'd love to frame it and put a print of this up on my wall! It would be a great reminder of what I'm striving towards and a tribute to a great artist ;) My favorite medium is also watercolor. I love it so much
Yeah I just love when my raincoat’s hood is half the size of the body and I live for one that can fit 2 other people in it but still have fitted sleeves
I love your art and your videos! I'm not an artist, but watching these always makes me want to go make something anyways. ❤️ I appreciate your bringing a different viewpoint to alcohol markers - I have some different art supplies I like to work with and almost got into the Copic world (I bought a few Michael's brand ones), but I'm so glad I didn't go any further down the rabbit hole of Copics.
I think this is a very important discussion! I totally agree with your points. I love alcohol markers and use them a lot. I think you definitely don't need lots of copies straight away (it's partly why I have done a series on techniques for bullet nibs). I think that you can sell original marker art as long as you price it properly and are open about light fastness with the buyer. ALSO LOVE THIS PIECE 😍😍😍😍
This looks so good😍🌙 I never use markers because I don't know how😂 I feel like everthing I do with markers looks off and weird😂 I prefer paint (oilpaint & watercolor) 😊
Thank you for addressing this. I’ve heard of many young artists wanting copics, prismacolor, and other high end art brands just because they would think it would make them a better and acceptable artist. And I personally think that copic artists should sell their original pieces but put a bold disclaimer on the light fast as well.
I dont think its necessarily that they are pushed on "younger viewers" but maybe on viewers new to the world of youtube art, and that's just probably because there is so much hype about them. Almost every youtube artist have used copics at some point so anybody interested in art, typing that into the search, copics will come up pretty quick. Needless to say, this video was very educational, I had never had those considerations when approaching copics or any alcohol based markers before. Thank you for doing the research!
I stopped selling any original art made from copic, as soon as I found out about lightfastness issues. I use copics for sketches, roughs and my notes. Creature, racial and character profiles that end up in my large reference binders. I also use copics for anatomy studies and other study and note taking. I also will use non lightfast materials for artwork intended to be scanned/photographed for prints but I keep rather than selling the original. If I bought an original non lightfast I’d keep it in a binder but unless the price was lower I’d wait and buy a Lightfast original work. Some people may be unaware so forgive them. We all learn as we learn and we don’t all know the information right from the start. Also they are cheap in Japan and over the long haul refills still make them not too crazy expensive. I keep my refill inks in a sealed treasure chest to preserve the colours even better. Nice video thanks!
I love my Copic markers and I wanted to upgrade to copics because I wanted a marker that I could blend and be refillable but like you said in the video when I first got copic markers I didn’t actually realize that realize that you needed specific blending groups to blend the markers together which is why I just used my prismacolor pencils for the longest time (I still use them now but it’s really hard to choose between markers and my colored pencils) until I had about 20 marker (I have 33 markers now). I think that copic markers are so expensive because they are somewhat overhyped and because the markers have to be shipped overseas a lot which makes them even more expensive
I completely agree with you. A few years ago I saw an artist who mainly used copics and I thought I had to get them. So I did get one pack but a really didn't use them much. One of my friends felt like this more than me though and ended up getting a lot of them and rarely using it. I really don't know what i'm doing with copics anyway so I normally stick with coloreed pencils and paint. I love the art work you made in this video by the way. I love the theme of fall
I started with alcohol markers- Prismacolor and Copics. Now I have watercolors (MGraham, DanSmith, VanGogh and a touch of Holbein) and colored Pencils (Prismacolor, Polychromos and I'm going to collect some Derwent pencils open stock since I only want certain colors from the Derwent line). I still feel like markers can be an important tool and perhaps a gateway into the art world though. I'm glad I started with the less expensive brand to see if I liked markers. I also believe that they're only a necessary tool if the artist wants them to be. But not every artist in the world absolutely has to have them. If a person is more comfortable with watercolors and/or colored pencils then that's fine too. I've seen incredible pieces made using all three mediums as well. I feel it's down to the individual artist and how they want to create what they want to create.
I 100% agree. I got my first 4 Copic markers 3 years ago as a gift and never used them out of fear of ruining them/wasting ink. A few months ago my local art store had a sale and i picked up 10 Winsor and Newton Brush Markers and struggled to make anything look good with so few colours. And literally today, my package just arrived because I ordered a 6 pack of Copic Ciao markers in an attempt to get better transition colours. I haven't made on piece of work I'm proud of, but cant stop thinking that its just because I need to buy more. So stupid.
I did a curation elective last year, and the main museum we worked with for the subject had a piece by Patricia Puccinini. The piece a sculpture made out of silicone, human hair, leather, timber, and acrylic. They said that it was a really expensive piece and they knew when buying it that it had a limited lifespan, however they felt that it was significant enough that it was important to have in their collection. I guess it depends on the artist, but I don't think a piece having a limited lifespan makes it a "bad" or less valuable piece. There have been so many artists who have made pieces that have a limited lifespan due to the materials in order to achieve the effect needed. But it is important that the buyer is aware of this, of course.
This is completely off-topic, but this piece reminds me of Coraline and I am loving it!! Though I have to agree with you, I feel like Copics are overatted due to their prices and to the 'lightfast' thing, but then again they are really good quality and have refills! I love that they have a brush tip, but I wil recommend and personally say that if you are going to spend money on alcohol-based markers to purchase brands such as Ohuhu and ArtnFly! They are much cheaper and are also really nice quality marker brands!
I agree with you; if you make it clear that it's light fast but the customer still wants to buy it, then why not? it's a completely informed purchase and it's ultimately their decision, right?
speaking as a "younger viewer" i TOTALLY think there is a copic hierarchy(all alchohol markers really but.. everyone wants copic). I would NEVER find watercolors in the more popular youtubers and if i did it was like "ooh i try watercolors for the first time!!" it took me a long while to even attempt watercolors (from a friend's suggestion) and i had to specifically seek out watercolor youtubers to look up to. All the more popular channels with copics made me subconsciously prefer the markers even though i LOVE watercolors so much more! Its definitely pushed too much, love my copics though.
omg! I honestly never knew that copics would fade over time. thanks so much for talking about this in your video. I was straight out clueless and it sucks. I am one of those copic suckers. I just love them to the moon. they’re so much fun for me to use especially combined with coloured pencils. But I never used them for professional work really, only personal joy and went to pencil or digital for professional work. Still a huge shame to hear my copic pics probably won’t last forever. Sounds a bit like a rip-off now thinking about how pricey they are
this piece is gorgeous! i recently bought some alcohol ink markers and i really enjoy them, but i happened to stumble across the fact that they aren't lightfast right after I got them. I don't really plan on selling any of my art, but my friends and family would like some of my pieces and I decided to scan my art and make prints instead of giving them the originals because I didn't want their art to fade
this came up in a search for marker paper. fantastic information. i just bought my first set of markers (not copics), and i want to use paper that's not going to damage the tips and waste the ink. i make cards, scrapbooks, and do mixed media. and i agree, i feel copics are pushed. every person i watch has switched to copics, almost exclusively. there are a few who find, test, and recommend others, and i appreciate that. i'm never going to be a professional artist, and i have no idea how much i'll use alcohol markers. i do like having a variety to chose from, so i try to find a happy medium. also, a personal quirk, i tend to rebel against something that everyone seems to insist upon. does that make sense? i'm not a trend follower. now, if i get really into using markers, i will likely purchase individual copic colors as i run out, simply because, in the long run, they are worth the investment because of being refillable. thank you so much for this and i LOVE, LOVE, LOVE fall and this piece is wonderful. about buying art - if you're going to buy something, i think it's sort of on the buyer to know a little about the medium they're looking at. watercolors, markers....not so lightfast unless you take certain measures. i have a lithograph that's amazing, but i know to keep it out of light, have it framed a certain way, etc. sorry so long.....great video!!!
i have a lot of “knock off” copic brands (like Studio 71 and Ohuhu) and i LOVE them! i also love watercolor and gouache as well tho. i honestly think copics are wayyy overpriced. i really want some, it’s just the amount of money they cost is absurd :| i started getting serious about art back in April, and i started with markers. it took me a whole month (making art EVERY DAY with these markers) i finally got better at it. soon i got watercolors and whatnot. after these six months of loving art markers i think i am going to invest in copics. would i recommend art markers as a beginner? sure, whatever floats your boat. but i strongly agree with you that you should buy cheaper markers from amazon or something just to see if you like them. much love
Good job 👍🏼 It had always been my perception that professional art markers (alcohol markers) are meant for art that would be reproduced such as comic book artist make and mock up work as well as concept art and of course paper crafters. It surprises me to see young artist here on RUclips sell and commission original marker artwork knowing that they are far from archival. I wouldn’t sell my artwork done with markers. They are fun and I enjoy them, actually love them but I think they are a luxury. Starting artist would certainly benefit more from using watercolors over markers i think.
This is the first time watching your channel. I've never heard of alcohol markers. Right now, I'm just trying to learn how to color and figure out how to shade and why so many colors are used for shading, and how in the world do you know which colors to use to shade in the first place. 😁
I love me some alcohol markers. I own literally one Copic marker (a black Wide one that I got on clearance from Michaels). But the rest are either Spectrum Noir or Winsor & Newton ones. I love some colors, even though they're challenging to me (mildly blue-yellow colorblind)
I reaaaaally like this piece !! You're right, markers can create lovely textures :) All the colours you used are great (I especially love the sky and the bush in the foreground) and I love the details you put in the hair and the shoes ^^ I very rarely use markers but sometimes it could be fun, like to do one of your challenges for example. It was really tempting me :) But you're right, I think that for any Art supply, you shouldn't go with the super good quality first. Already because you probably wouldn't see the difference or wouldn't know how to fully use "fancy expensive brands" and also because, who, maybe you wouldn't like the technique ! :) I had to buy markers for school and two different brands (one for each of my two schools...) which were Promarkers and Touch markers... I think I prefer the later one because it has a broader tip :) (Sorry, I don't really know why I rambled so much :D)
I don't own any Copics, but I do have a few Alcohol markers in my collection. I love the way they look at a final piece and they're incredibly fun to work with. As far as selling, I think it is okay to sell them as long as you let the buyer know the issue with color fading. If the buyer is interested in something more durable, maybe a Giclee print can be an option. BTW, love love how this piece turned out!!!! I want her outfit ^_^
I was super into markers when I was younger but never actually got try Copics until high school since our art class happened to have them. I liked them a lot but I was fine with the Promarkers I had too so I never ended up getting my own Copics. Also all that lightfastness stuff was interesting because I've never even thought about that kind of stuff :O
Really enjoy your work. I am just starting out learning to draw and sketch. Great point about copics, I have some cheap alcohol markers and they are just fine for me. Will have to see how things go as my art changes.
As a mostly marker based artist.... And sometimes watercolor, i will say i have copics but tend to gravitate to my other cheaper markers first... Or my chameleons. I tend to mix brands bc different marker brands tend to work differently at times and that can be used to your advantage when wanting certain things in a piece. Ive also noticed blacks and very dark colors fade very fast... I do sell originals, but honestly my prices arnt super high to begin with bc i create to create, not to sell.
You bring up good points. I love how marker art looks but the learning curve is kind of steep. At least, I struggled when I tried them. None of the pictures I did ever turned out the way I wanted them and I've watched ton of tutorials on how to use them lol Needless to say, I never got into them but I love the results other people get.
i agree, honestly the cons of alcohol markers kind of out weigh the pros for me now. I wasn't even aware of art youtube, but when I first got into illustration/anime it really seemed like markers were The Way to get that comic look. I also used them to do realistic pieces, but I probably spent more money on markers that would get sucked dry than i would have on like paint. They bleed through paper, they smell funky, theyre expensive and take up a bunch of space, and it's exhausting to cover larger areas with them. I think it was beneficial at the time for me because I had more experience with colored pencil, and blending markers was kind of similar, and at the time there weren't any decent copic dupes like there are now. I think a lot of use ended up using them not the way they were intended. So to any young artists just now getting into the community, the only reason we all have copics was because they were super popular in 2013 and now we are stuck with them lol. I think there is kind of the same thing happening with watecolor like you touched on, but honestly they are much more versatile although maybe not as beginner friendly. On the other hand, there are gazillions more tutorials now on both than there were back then for us.
Haha, I also treat my marker pieces like I do my watercolor pieces in terms of technique. Many who havent seen some of my videos don't know I use markers sometimes because it tends to look pretty similar to my watercolors...for the exception of the colors being brighter overall which is a plus
I love copics but I was pretty horrified when I gave my friend a small picture and she put it on her dashboard. It was only a few months before it was so faded. I had no idea that they would do that until that happened. Then I realized I had done so many portraits for friends with them...and wondered if they would fade too. Now I kind of feel bad if they put it across from a window or something. I'm a little afraid of selling copic work now. I love them because of their texture and the way the pen feels when I use them. Just so much love there. But finding out how quickly they can fade was kind of a slap in the face. I have been getting more into watercolors and I am actually really excited for your lightfast test. I been burned and now I worry about other products.
personally i do agree they arent as beginner friendly as people make them sound, unless you use them just to block in color, but at that point you dont need copics you could very well just use a sharpie or a crayola marker. i have a couple alcohol markers, and i always find i either cant get a flat wash or i cant blend without it getting splotchy or tearing up my paper too much since i do like a slight tooth to my paper. i just find them to be too expensive and they require such a specific technique to be beginner friendly. there are some brands that make them much cheaper with bullet nibs, but that comes down to preference really because i find bullet nibs so much harder to work with. other than that, though, i find most of them to be roughly the same, most of the difference comes in the barrel and the nibs or in the color options, but the ink in pretty much all of them is similar if not basically the same. (though im no marker expert so i mighr be blasphemous right now) as for selling artwork, honestly i dont think selling copic originals is so bad so long the buyer is aware of how to take care of the artwork and its priced according to the lifespan of that piece. it likely wont last forever even with proper care, so obviously it shouldn't be sold as one that would. as long as the buyer knows what theyre buying and they're okay with that, i see no problems with it. anyone who doesnt like the issue of lightfastness simply won't buy it.
Loved your art. When I was like 15 to 18 I so badly wanted copics. Now with 23 I have tons of alcohol based markers and i don't use them at all. I guess it's a craze most artists have at some point
This video was so interesting and I really enjoyed it!! QUESTION: My main medium is watercolor.. and I just recently found out about this term 'light fast', I don't really understand it and I would definetly like to be informed on what it is and how to preserve and make sure that my pieces stay in good condition. I hope that you can maybe make a video on this topic? :) Thank you!!
I agree it's not talked about enough and for the artist that makes money on the side selling their original artwork might feel like they weren't shown the whole picture. Buts important to be aware of the lightfastness.
Even though copics arent lightfast, am I able to use them as underpaintings? I'm mainly a colored pencil artist, and I want to implement materials into my portraits that makes my process easier, since colored pencils are a slow medium. Would the markers still fade if I colored over them with colored pencils?
I have noticed that some of my marker drawings have faded over time. I wasn't sure if that was because I had cheaper markers, so it's good to know that that's a quality of alcohol based markers in general. I never really got into alcohol based markers though. I used them a lot in school when I needed to colour a lot of things quickly, but I always felt like I was terrible with them. Haha.
I love this piece and am so ready for fall! I agree about the copics, they are pushed as a brand. I have the Promarkers/Lectraset because when was younger I used the Prisma markers and didn't like them. I love my Promarkers but I also know about lightfastness. I also agree that to sell an original alcohol based product the seller needs to share about lightfastness.
What I like about copics are their skin tones, the skin doesn't look super streaky with them. However I prefer using watercolors for skin tones because they have more varying skin tones you can make.
Thank you for this video, Alice. It would've really helped me and has actually helped me today. I've spent too much money on Copics, thinking they're the best and I need to get them and only them, but after watching this video, I'm starting to think of some other markers that might just work as well if not better for my needs than Copics. Thankfully I haven't quite gotten totally off the rails yet, but what I did spend on Copics is money that could've been better spent added to my education fund (or something more important than overpriced markers :/ ).
The fact that one marker was 10 dollars and that the first alcohol marker I picked up was prisma color, I stayed away from them until one of my family members got me some skin tones which was really nice! I use them but I think I’m still going to stick to prisma colors. :)
Prints & Merch of this piece are available at my Red Bubble!
www.redbubble.com/people/hulloalice/works/33947217-autumn-stroll?asc=u
Hi can you draw me my pitcher. is right. ⬅
Markers is what really got me into making RUclips videos back in 2013. I wanted them so badly and loved them so much, and now I barely use them! I feel like it was a necessary stage for me BUT I wish I used watercolour or something instead. The smell of copics is so nostalgic for me though, I was so inspired back then, haha. IMO some cheap alcohol or water based markers are great for sketchbooks 👍 no sunlight fading! Water based ones don't even bleed through the pages so I'd definitely recommend those over alcohol ones. I don't think it's immoral to sell marker pieces as long as it's made clear that it will fade. I think you can get uv protected glass? Not sure about that though. Very interesting video, Alice!
yesss I had the exact same experience! And now I hardly ever use them. it was fun and nostalgic to go back honestly and that's what got me thinking about the way I used to feel like I NEEDED ALL THE COPICS! I agree with you!! And yes uv glass is a thing!!
I love my copics but I have started using watercolor and I am finding I am using it much more. It is way more portable and you can get juuuuuust the right color with only a few pans instead of having to settle for a copic that's similar because you don't have the right one.
If it bleeds through the paper it means that it’s gonna shade well.
I work in a museum and one of our primary jobs is trying to keep historic artwork vibrant and unchanging over time. I can tell you that many - if not most - artists throughout time do not think about the longevity of their work and how the materials they are using may or may not last over time. Not just thinking of the damage from UV but many other things as well. Even things that are ‘lightfast’ are extremely vulnerable to UV over time! I think it’s great that your starting this conversation and asking artists to start thinking about these things. if they choose to work in a certain medium or with materials they know will degrade in certain environments, that’s fine - as long as they are cognizant of that and intentionally making those choices! And the point you bring up about selling art work and disclosing those kinds of things is great too!
And to add on to Vickie's point, if anyone finds this stuff interesting, look up the issues that have been dealt with preserving the last supper. Da Vinci used an experimental fresco technique that has proven very tricky over time! He painted on dry wall instead of wet, which did not adhere in the same way. It started flaking within 20 years of completion! Other artists that have shown disregard for this include Pollock - his work often has his cigarette butts in it!
That reminds me of something, my Mom works with fibers and experimented with natural dyes. One of her homespun wall hangings completely bleached out because the dyes faded but another made from natural wool made from black, brown and white wool and blends never faded even decades later because no dyes were used. She also spun natural cotton in off white brown cotton and a blend which she used to make patterns and that will also never fade.
Very sorry for this late comment, I agree, but sometimes we’re making art just to make art, and not particularly for museums so that they can last for centuries. So I agree you can do this if your aware of it, and don’t mind. I don’t know I just had to say that.
I think the reason copics got as popular is because for a while it has the only marker is a brush nib refillable and had a huge color selection. It wasn't until recently these good and cheaper brands have came in.
This is the reason I do the occasional art with cheap supplies (ex: Sharpies, crayola, etc).
I don't want people to feel like they HAVE to use expensive supplies for "good" art.
Tbh, I am a huge Copic artist, but I didn't even know that the colors faded over time. I've always had my art displayed on my wall and never noticed anything, but it's only been about 5 years since some of those were colored.
Thank you for this video, Alice!
Creative Carrah hi! I’m one of your subs!
Sharpies are worse then Copics,they discolor even out of the light and the paper will yellow 🤷🏻♂️
@@chubbyjaydraws r/wooosh
@@arvindshukla8040 bet ya stayed up late for that comment
Personally, when I first heard that alcohol based markers aren't lightfast it really turned me off of them. It just doesn't really appeal to me (I also don't really care for the texture of a lot of marker pieces but the lightfastness was just the nail in the coffin).
I definitely agree that more people, especially those looking to purchase originals, should be notified of this since it doesn't really seem to be common knowledge yet but the idea of not selling something just because it will change as it ages? I don't really think that's much of an issue. Wood carvings, for example, can and will break down over time due to light, humidity, etc. but that doesn't make it immoral to sell. The buyer just needs to recognize that the art they are buying has a life expectancy.
I think it's also important to understand this as someone who might buy a commission (especially at an artist alley) since I see so many making commissions with markers at shows. There's nothing wrong with these but it's important to understand why a watercolor commission may be more expensive simply because of how long it will last. It's also important to have a pretty good scanner and to scan your marker pieces as quickly as possible after completing the piece so you can reproduce quality prints. Most mediums like this were not developed to be long lasting BUT were made as a way for sketching and for scanning. This is a really important aspect that not enough artists on YT chat about. I never even heard about alcohol markers until after completing my illustration degree and I think thier lack of lightfastness was a major reason for that.
THANK YOU for talking about marker lightfastness. When I was getting back into art, I jumped on the marker train because of all the videos I've seen about them and they seemed like a great way for me to get back into the art world easily. I am NOT a younger viewer, btw... I'm in my 30's, married, with kids, etc. Because I had been OUT of the art world for so long, I actually didn't know anything about lightfastness, or the importance of it. It wasn't until I started watching Lachri's videos that I realized what it was and how vital it was, especially if you're going to sell originals. That's also when I learned that alcohol markers aren't lightfast. This, of course is AFTER I had a bunch of markers (W&N Pro and Brushmarkers, which I love btw), and had sold at least one original. I really, really, really wish I had known about marker lightfastness before this point. Of course, the onus is on the viewer to research these things for themselves, totally... BUT, like you said, it would have been nice if more of these marker artists on RUclips made it clear that *alcohol markers ARE NOT lightfast* and that *your originals WILL fade over time*! Because of this, any time I use markers on my channel, I make sure to make that clear.
As for selling marker pieces. I still think you CAN sell them, but you need to make clear to the buyer that these pieces will fade over time and to protect the artwork behind UV glass to help it last longer. AND it should be priced far less than your pieces that are done with lightfast materials.
Again, thank you for this PSA!!
I definitely agree that there’s an insanely amount of hype around copics. I follow a few art channels, and I know some of my favorite art RUclipsrs practically swear by them. I don’t think this is necessarily a bad thing - people naturally have favorite supplies and like using them - but I do think that this gives viewers the idea that they MUST have copics, and copics SPECIFICALLY, in order to achieve the same effects. I know that’s kind of how I felt for a while, and I remember very clearly feeling like I had to order a $300 set of copics in order to have enough color selection. I didn’t at the time, because I didn’t have the money, and I’m glad that happened, because I’d never used alcohol-based markers before and I probably would have wasted all the ink on attempts to learn what I was doing. Instead, one of my best friends got me a set of Touch New (or Now?) markers, and I’be been able to learn and experiment with the medium without feeling guilty every time a marker runs dry. I do intend to get Copics eventually, because I do prefer brush pens to chisel tips, but I no longer feel like they’re the only plausible option.
As far as light-fastness goes, I essentially agree with your view. I don’t think it’s immoral to sell a work done with alcohol-based markers; if someone is a huge fan of an artwork and they want to purchase the original, I think that’s up to them and the artist isn’t scamming them by selling it. I do, however, believe that it is then artist’s responsibility to know the limitations of their medium, and to communicate that to the buyer so no one is blindsided a few years down the road. And I do think that should, in the interest of fairness, influence pricing to a certain extent.
In any case, I really enjoyed this video and the topics you discussed, and (as usual) I loved the final result! I thought the colors worked great together, and loved the whole feel of it. It made me even more excited for fall :D
I have always loved drawing and I used to use just regular colored pencils, but then when I started watching youtube (this was like 2010) i noticed everyone had those copic markers, and I really really thought that my art wasnt as good as others because I didnt have the markers.. weird to think about now haha. I got some promarkers tho, and touch later. Now I have copics. But yea I think they are kinda overrated at the point that people think that their art isnt good because they have the wrong marker, thats at least what i thought back then
This exactly! I felt the same way when I was younger!
Luna I am in that stage right now
all that is necessary to draw is a piece of paper and a pencil. Other mediums are there to expand your horizon and fulfill your preferences. Are markers necessary ? No. Should you use/buy them? Sure, if you want.👍🏻
This is a refreshingly insightful comment lol
So as an older, pre-RUclips artist, I was never exposed to any Copic hype through the internet. I created my own hype around them by reading the "making of" sections of artbooks. All my favorite manga artists used alcohol markers (CLAMP, Naoko Takeuchi) and Copic was pretty much the only game in town. There are so many options now, but there weren't back then! If you wanted that soft blended watercolor look but in the crisp control of a marker, it had to be Copic. They're still not cheap, but back then they weren't easy to come by either. They had to be ordered directly from a Copic supplier, and picking up a set was the best way to save money in the long run. There was no way to pick up a marker or two at Michael's whenever you stopped by. I feel like the original RUclipsrs doing Copic art were probably like me- inspired by their favorite manga artists and limited in their options. If you wanted to try alcohol markers, you pretty much had to go all in with Copics, and they probably built their technique around that investment.
I'm glad you did this video though. I feel like too many young artists think that they need the best supplies to create the best work, and not enough artist's emphasize that's not the case. They happen to have professional supplies because they are professional artists. It's practice they need more than anything, with whatever's available. Some of my best drawings are just ballpoint pen! And your information about a material's longevity is extremely important, and definitely something every artist needs to take into consideration.
I'm a custom framer, so I can say that you very much so can get UV protective glass. It's a standard in most custom frame shops. But as a customer, I will avoid something that isn't light fast because custom framing is expensive.
Rain depending on where you frame customers could order just the glass (at least at my job they can) while it still isn't cheap, It's cheaper than getting a whole frame
@@BlackFox999 Yes, you can definitely do that. I often recommend that customers shop around thrift and antique stores for a frame because I can easily change glass and mats at a lower cost.
This has probably been mentioned already but there are UV protectant sprays you can use (like a fixative) to protect the piece from sunlight and make them last longer. That and if you have a lot of original copic pieces (like Baylee lol) you can store them in portfolio books and binders where they’ll be protected.
True, but I think she was refering more to selling originals, which even Baylee doesn't do that much of and her prices are low enough to justify her selling her originals anyway.
I am a complete beginner, but I bought my first set of alcohol markers a few months ago (Windsor and newton, not copics) and I love the smooth look you can achieve with them. I agree that you should start with less expensive markers to see if you like them, I’m not a professional so my opinion doesn’t mean much, but I think you can get away with using any supplies, even crayola, as long as your skill level is there. Of course if you’re selling your pieces that’s a whole different story.
I think copics are pushed way too much for how expensive they are.
Haley Spence copics usually go for 3.50 each, it’s the shipping that inflated the price, but I do have to agree
I’ve never seen them under $7
@@SheWhoWalksSilently 10+ dollars but they regularly go on sale
The problem is import tax like with all Japanese stuff. A lot of the popular stationery and art supplies are quite cheap in Japan.
I think that it's great that you are talking about this subject, because you are right, no one really talks about it! I think it is disappointing to see how expensive Copics are, considering they aren't lightfast. I personally do not use alcohol markers because of the lightfast issue. I like to use Faber-Castell Pitt Pens and Windsor & Newton Pigment markers instead. I think almost the whole line of Pigment markers is lightfast, and the Pitt Pens have all their lighfast information on the side, and most are lightast. They are not as easy to blend as alcohol markers but it can definitely be done, and I feel more comfortable offering my originals for sale!
ohh my gosh yes. When I was still in highschool and started watching art youtubeI felt like they all had copics, and I always felt bad that I couldn't afford a 400 dollar set of art supplies to simulate what they were doing (which now looking back on it, is really silly). I still love copic videos but now theres a lot more variety with what supplies are used which I think leaves a much better impression for people
Thank you! "Overrated as to how beginner friendly they are" may be the most honest statement I've ever heard about alcohol markers. I think they're great but not exactly how to learn blending. Thanks for the reminder/warning about light-fastness too.
Just discovered your channel this morning & subscribed. Your work & your videos are great.
It's good to bring up the lightfastness point. A lot of justification for more expensive paints (for example) is that they are lightfast. I totally agree with you on the whole point that Copics (and honestly, markers in general) aren't beginner friendly. They're tons of fun, and I love them, so I don't necessarily think they're overrated but for sure, no one needs them.
When I was young I wanted copics because Tanemura Arina used copics lol and I thought one day when I become a professional I will reward myself with copics. I started out as an artist offline so I don’t have any idea how it feels to be young and impressionable and watch youtubers show their supplies. I started with cheap shitty art supplies learned how to make then work and then bought small professional sets and learned how to make those work. I personally feel that’s the only way to truly appreciate artist grade supplies when you’ve felt the difference. As for the lightfast ness 🤷♀️ markers in general are made to be quick and easy, not to last forever. they were designed for designers and manga artists who needed to work fast and get it printed. so I personally am not bothered by it. I scan my marker art and keep it in a drawer so it’s not a big deal. But I guess if younger artists just see older artists supplies and don’t know the info about markers it’s good to bring it up sometimes :) also this drawing looks great! Love how you did the leaves!
I agree. Alcohol markers were meant for artwork to be scanned and printed. Not to be hung on a wall.
I haven’t tried copic markers/markers in general , and they’re everywhere here in Japan! Maybe I should give it a go. Been wanting to try markers for awhile. なんか面白そう✨
Try out the Winsor and Newton brush markers, they're probably my favorite alcohol markers right now. Tombow is my favorite water-based. And they are very different mediums.
Haley Spence thank you so much for suggesting! I’ll def keep an eye out on those💗 I have 0 knowledge when it comes to markers💦 thank you again!
Aww I wish I was in Japan to buy Art supplies there cheaper and more high quality than here in the U.S
Im obsessed with copics bcz they’re like butter on paper
I love copics, but my lecturers at uni have always been against them
i’m obsessed with watercolor !!!
I don't think it's immoral to sell copic art or non lightfast art in general... Alcohol Markers aren't the only supply that isn't lightfast. Most colored pencils aren't light fast either. Prismacolors, the most accessible brand of professional colored pencils aren't lightfast (some of them are but most of them aren't). I think when selling work that isn't lightfast it is very important to adjust the price based on that fact. You cannot sell a non lightfast market piece for the same price as a watercolor piece made with light fast paints - even if you spend the same amount of time, its the same size, etc. - to do so would absolutely be immoral because the lifetime of the product is going to be inevitably shorter. I also think there are some extra optional things a seller could do to attempt to combat the lightfast issue to be able to price the art work higher. Things such as using a lightfast varnish spray or selling the piece in a frame with UV glass. Even if these things are done I don't think the art should be priced the same as a piece made with lightfast supplies, but the price could be set higher than selling the work without these precautions.
I think this is a very important topic for the art community to discuss! It's important to be aware of issues like lightfastness as either a seller or buyer of art so that you aren't accidentally ripping your customers off or so that you can be an informed buyer and not allow yourself to spend too much money on a piece that won't have as long of a life as you expect from a professional art work.
Thank you for discussing this topic!
Copics are such a status thing. In the art community if no one knows you and you say "I have 100 copics" suddenly youre important. Its so weird.
I never heard of copics until someone asked if one of my watercolors was made with them. I looked them up and started buying them. I currently have almost all the colors but only because of how I use color. If I colored like most people I see here I wouldn't have bothered buying so many but I layer many colors. I also use other brands when I draw with them which might be a good way for someone to keep prices lower. My interest in the markers has never been the name, it's been the range of colors and how well they blend. I think sometimes it's worth it for that.
I've been painting/drawing for 2 hours a day, constantly for the last 13 years, and haven't once used an alcohol based marker. I don't use any specific medium, but haven't ever had the need/urge to even touch them. I've never understood the fascination with these markers, and honestly don't think I ever will. Until they've been around for hundreds of years, I don't honestly believe they are worth the hype over traditional colour methods.
it really depends on the art and career path you're in, because copics are the standard in so many art fields you wouldn't even think of would find use for them. Like industrial, drawing concept images for new car designs, fashion drawing new clothing, shoes, etc ideas/concepts on the impossibly tall, thin "models" that are so iconic in the fashion world, animation and comics for doing thumbnail work quickly, even web and graphic design concept work. Traditional paints/mediums are good for traditional work, but markers have their place in the professional world too.
This piece is beautiful! I so want to draw after seeing your video :)
Sadly I only know of one type of markers that are lightfast and that is Winsor & Newton Pigment markers, which can act more like paint than alcohol markers (if you do a search here you'll find some videos). Faber-Castell Pitt pens are also lightfast but, again, aren't alcohol markers. I was disappointed when I found out Copics weren't lightfast, but then all my originals are filed away and I scan anything I want to keep within a few hours of its completion.
I agree with pretty much everything you've said, and I'm a major Copic fan. I love the design and use of them, the fact that I can buy refills and they'll potentially last for decades, the gorgeous colour spectrum.
But. If someone asks my recommendation for markers, I'll always point them to the cheap ones to start. Unlike some other people in the comments here, I find myself using my Copics a *lot* more than my previous marker pens. Because I know I can buy more ink rather than needing a whole new pen, I'm more comfortable using them and trying out things.
Why is nobody talking about how beautiful and amazing this piece is?! ❤
I hate when your finally early (ish) and you can't think of anything cool to say yet when your like 5 months late you have the funniest thing to say but it won't get noticed
Too true!
I've always thought that alcohol markers make for incredible prints. I definitely agree though that there should be a disclaimer about the lightfastness if someone is buying the original. I mean, obviously that is the case for watercolor and stuff too, but I think it's serving people don't think about as much with a marker illustration. Also, I love this illustration. The colors are so pretty and it makes me so excited for autumn. If it could just be October forever I'd be so happy.
I recently sold all my Copics because I was never using them😅
But now I kinda miss them a little bit.
regarding your question, I think its OK to sell Copic originals. But as you said, you as an artist/seller should be clear about the fact that they will fade over time. If the customer is ok with that than it shouldn't be a problem to sell those drawings.
I was also very concerned about Coptic longevity especially being a fine art artist and realizing many of these mediums are not light fast, you do have to be careful when picking out your pigments. I think Coppic markers bloomed because of RUclips, here your artwork is the actual videos, not always the finished artwork piece. Thanks again Alice a wonderful piece of artwork drawing and video! You’re a very talented lady thank you for continuing to inspire us.
I really love this video! I think you're absolutely right about how intimidating it can be for someone to be able to jump into alcohol markers because of the number you may need in order to blend, etc. I really hope that no younger artist feel like they HAVE to have a million Copics to be able to make any art, though I know that's not the case. I wish they were more accessible for people just starting out! I personally started out with Ohuhu markers, then went on to Master Markers, and have only recently began my copic collection. To all artist just getting started, just a word to say it's fine to not start out with copic markers! ♥♥♥ Don't stop making art because you think you need to have copic markers! Keep on creating. :)
Also love the way you did the folds of her coat! So impressive
I first used alcohol markers in a Rendering class in college and HATED them because I just couldn't understand how to blend them and why other designers loved to use them over paint. After a few years of watching tutorials on youtube I didn't dive into the Copic brand, but got winsor and newton promarkers to try and finally understood how to use them. I still prefer paint today, but I do use them occasionally on sketches in my sketchbook and rough designs, but not so much on original drawings because I agree that there are SO MANY more colors I can get out of paints.
im so glad this is available as prints and merch! I absolutely LOVE the colors and mood of it all. Amazing job and thanks for reminding us that we dont need all these things, we can make beautiful art with the materials we have. Hope you have an amazing week 💕
First, your art is gorgeous! This piece turned out great, especially in love with the leaves! I think comics are great for people who are better with traditional mediums and want to scan their work. I would be against selling the originals or commissions but I feel like the price usually matches the medium. I don't usually see a Copic commission going for hundreds of dollars. They usually match the price point of the medium.
I ADORE everything about this piece. Fall is my absolute favorite season. I don't get to experience it where I live so I'm desperately missing it. Images like these make my heart happy. I also truly appreciate your honesty on the topic and think people, especially on YT should be braver in opening honest discussions especially about popular mediums.
Personally, I've been slowly working my way back into Art and definitely have felt an underlining pressure to invest in Copic markers even though I'm a beginner. Like you said, they're ALL over the YT art community (Still) lol so videos like these that are honest and educational from an Artist's standpoint are very much appreciated!
i love your use of the gel pen in this piece! i also love how you blended your markers~great job! and i totally understand what you were saying about putting too many expectations on beginners, because back when i first started art, i got a bunch of copics that i didn’t need, thinking that’s what i had to do to be a “good” artist...you made great points in this video!!
I used to ONLY work with copics back when I started. Now I only use them here and there to add on top of either watercolours or pencil crayons. They are great when they are needed, but I no longer use them to create solely market art. I still love my copics 💕 they’ve lasted me years.
I agree with your statement about starting with cheap markers and then decuding if they are really something you want to invest in.
I started with a huge set if TouchNew markers for super cheap. And I liked them, but I had this idea that somehow copics were mindblowingly better. When I finally got to try a copic I was disappointed. Like, other than having a brush tip, I didn't feel like they were really any better than the markers I already had. It was a big bummer, but also made me a lot,more appreciative of the markers I had, so I've never gone out of my way to get new copic markers.
I also want to add, that I agree with you about the mixing new colors part. Alcohol markers blend really well, but it's difficult to get consistant smooth results when you are trying to blend colors into a new color instead of just blending from one to another. And having a lot of markers makes that a lot easier because you have a larger selection and don't have to try to make new colors. BUT. I also feel like I get really overwhelmed by the mass of color choices and I end up just gravitating towards my favorites or spending way WAY to much time on color swatches, trying to find just the color(s) I need. A better understanding of color theory would probably help, but I feel like it would still be a problem because of the sheer amount of markers I have to sort through.
Thank you for broaching this subject. I recently picked up a set of the Ohuhu markers to try because I really liked the look you can achieve with alcohol markers, but I didn’t want to invest in Copics until I knew whether I liked the medium or not. So far, I really enjoy them though I’m just learning and practicing, so I haven’t produced anything that I would give away or sell. I hadn’t thought much about lightfastness, so this was a very good video to learn more about the subject-not to mention how enjoyable it was to watch you create your beautiful piece.
I don’t think there is anything wrong with giving away or selling pieces made with alcohol markers (or any other medium for that matter) as long as you give the receiver information about how to care for the piece. I have artwork under UV glass hanging in my house, and it seems to do a good job of protecting the art over time.
I appreciate this so much! I definitely agree that Copics aren’t beginner friendly and when I saw constant videos of artists using them that’s all I wanted to get. I know that there are many people out there who have probably felt that way too. Thank u for this
Also this piece is getting me ready for fall to actually start showing up where I live and decorating for it. It’s making me want to draw a fall piece so I may go do that!
I had the same thing happen today that you said happened with that one dark marker, where the ink didn't go down right.
I usually use mixed media paper with my copics, and I've never had that problem, but I used bristol board today. I layer and blend a LOT, and it started happening whenever I went over an area too often. It was like the ink started forming tiny puddles and sitting on top of the page instead of sinking in -- very obviously over-saturation. It actually feels like it ruined the piece in a few places... but that's what editing on a PC is for. It's back to mixed media paper for me when I use markers.
What a great topic, light fastedness is not something I've given much thought to. I honestly never knew why some work faded, it's so interesting to hear it's about the dye!
I know that acrylic and oils are best, but what watercolor do you recommend that has the least fade?
I'd be super interested to see what material has the least damage from direct sunlight.
Lightfastness is the main difference between an artist-grade quality art medium and a student/craft-grade art medium. Artist-grade supplies are much more expensive than student-grade, for good reason. Using a non-lightfast/student-grade art medium is good if you're just starting out and just learning the medium, you're going to use it in journals (which won't see light often), or you're going to make prints of the work instead of selling the original piece.
If you want your artwork to stand the test of time, though, then lightfastness of the art medium is extremely important. Always research the brands you're planning on getting. If they are an artist-grade brand, then their website will list the lightfast ratings of each of their colours (that's right, even with a brand that is lightfast, some of their colours may not be). Yellow pigments and violet pigments are the most likely culprits to lack lightfastness.
My personal favorite brand for artist-grade watercolour is Daniel Smith. But there are lots and lots of other fantastic artist-grade watercolour brands. :-)
Hope that helps!
@@NiamhCreates Thanks so much for the tips! I will need to invest in some Daniel Smith watercolors!
it's not so much about the brand of watercolour (this includes _any_ professional grade paint) but about the pigment used for that paint. It's extremely valuable to know your pigments and which are more lightfast than others, because it makes buying lightfast paint much easier across all brands if you know the code for the particular lightfast pigment you are looking for.
I guess I can also add to the discussion by saying that I slowly upgraded to Copics by buying a large set of cheap markers, then replacing each cheap marker with the closest Copic marker one-by-one as the cheap markers dried out. This was especially nice, because you often can't get all the colors individually in cheap sets, so it saved me the conundrum of buying multiple large sets over to get one of my favorite colors back.
Laying down hundreds of dollars for a set of Copics is hard, buy buying one for $5 every week is the same as treating yourself to an expensive coffee... it's a doable treat.
I have a really hard time coming up with an answer to the lightfastness question. I actually get a little miffed when I see people selling really expensive marker art, because I know it won't last, and I know if I scan the art I bought and try to print a photo of it at, say, Wal Mart, that's just a huge can of worms. So I try to avoid buying marker art, and I feel bad for folks who buy it an assume they're gonna put it in a regular frame on the wall and it'll last.
But I've also tried to do fast commissions at cons, and the ease of bringing a marker makes it so much easier. Unfortunately, the only lightfast marker options I know of: Winsor & Newton pigment markers and watercolor markers, only work really well on specific paper. I can use the watercolor markers on regular paper for flat pops of color, but they don't blend at all and streak terribly when not being used on W&N's specific cold-pressed paper.
Heh if that upsets you, I follow a painter on instagram who sells original pieces for _thousands_ of dollars using neon paints and doesn't state *anywhere* in the listings that the paint used can fade. I've commented multiple times on his page about it, but he just ignores me and it's like lmao have fun when you get a bunch of angry customers coming back when their paintings have faded significantly because you don't know what lightfastness is ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@@godzandheros Yep. I'm sure lots and lots of artists do this knowingly. But it falls under the "what can you do?" category. We all just have to be the best at customer satisfaction ourselves and hope customers will gravitate to the artists who they know are watching out for them.
It was good of you to try to let him know, even if he ignored you.
Lightfastness is why we asked people to not use a flash in museums and monuments. There are a lot of media that are not light stable and it has to be taken into account in the display and viewing of art.
I adore this painting! And I agree with you - the fact that it isn't light fast means that selling originals doe in alcohol markers should be carefully thought about, and I think it should impact the price. I'd be more comfortable buying a print, because it'll last longer. But that's just me.
Speaking of, do you still have this painting? Fall is my favorite season, and you captured so much of the season in this picture! I'm putting together my own art room and building my own style, and so much of what I want to do is inspired by you. I'd love to frame it and put a print of this up on my wall! It would be a great reminder of what I'm striving towards and a tribute to a great artist ;) My favorite medium is also watercolor. I love it so much
Yeah I just love when my raincoat’s hood is half the size of the body and I live for one that can fit 2 other people in it but still have fitted sleeves
Same
I love your art and your videos! I'm not an artist, but watching these always makes me want to go make something anyways. ❤️ I appreciate your bringing a different viewpoint to alcohol markers - I have some different art supplies I like to work with and almost got into the Copic world (I bought a few Michael's brand ones), but I'm so glad I didn't go any further down the rabbit hole of Copics.
I think this is a very important discussion! I totally agree with your points. I love alcohol markers and use them a lot. I think you definitely don't need lots of copies straight away (it's partly why I have done a series on techniques for bullet nibs). I think that you can sell original marker art as long as you price it properly and are open about light fastness with the buyer. ALSO LOVE THIS PIECE 😍😍😍😍
This looks so good😍🌙 I never use markers because I don't know how😂 I feel like everthing I do with markers looks off and weird😂 I prefer paint (oilpaint & watercolor) 😊
Thank you for addressing this. I’ve heard of many young artists wanting copics, prismacolor, and other high end art brands just because they would think it would make them a better and acceptable artist. And I personally think that copic artists should sell their original pieces but put a bold disclaimer on the light fast as well.
I dont think its necessarily that they are pushed on "younger viewers" but maybe on viewers new to the world of youtube art, and that's just probably because there is so much hype about them. Almost every youtube artist have used copics at some point so anybody interested in art, typing that into the search, copics will come up pretty quick.
Needless to say, this video was very educational, I had never had those considerations when approaching copics or any alcohol based markers before. Thank you for doing the research!
I stopped selling any original art made from copic, as soon as I found out about lightfastness issues. I use copics for sketches, roughs and my notes. Creature, racial and character profiles that end up in my large reference binders. I also use copics for anatomy studies and other study and note taking. I also will use non lightfast materials for artwork intended to be scanned/photographed for prints but I keep rather than selling the original. If I bought an original non lightfast I’d keep it in a binder but unless the price was lower I’d wait and buy a Lightfast original work. Some people may be unaware so forgive them. We all learn as we learn and we don’t all know the information right from the start. Also they are cheap in Japan and over the long haul refills still make them not too crazy expensive. I keep my refill inks in a sealed treasure chest to preserve the colours even better. Nice video thanks!
I love my Copic markers and I wanted to upgrade to copics because I wanted a marker that I could blend and be refillable but like you said in the video when I first got copic markers I didn’t actually realize that realize that you needed specific blending groups to blend the markers together which is why I just used my prismacolor pencils for the longest time (I still use them now but it’s really hard to choose between markers and my colored pencils) until I had about 20 marker (I have 33 markers now). I think that copic markers are so expensive because they are somewhat overhyped and because the markers have to be shipped overseas a lot which makes them even more expensive
I completely agree with you. A few years ago I saw an artist who mainly used copics and I thought I had to get them. So I did get one pack but a really didn't use them much. One of my friends felt like this more than me though and ended up getting a lot of them and rarely using it. I really don't know what i'm doing with copics anyway so I normally stick with coloreed pencils and paint. I love the art work you made in this video by the way. I love the theme of fall
I started with alcohol markers- Prismacolor and Copics. Now I have watercolors (MGraham, DanSmith, VanGogh and a touch of Holbein) and colored Pencils (Prismacolor, Polychromos and I'm going to collect some Derwent pencils open stock since I only want certain colors from the Derwent line). I still feel like markers can be an important tool and perhaps a gateway into the art world though. I'm glad I started with the less expensive brand to see if I liked markers. I also believe that they're only a necessary tool if the artist wants them to be. But not every artist in the world absolutely has to have them. If a person is more comfortable with watercolors and/or colored pencils then that's fine too. I've seen incredible pieces made using all three mediums as well. I feel it's down to the individual artist and how they want to create what they want to create.
I 100% agree. I got my first 4 Copic markers 3 years ago as a gift and never used them out of fear of ruining them/wasting ink. A few months ago my local art store had a sale and i picked up 10 Winsor and Newton Brush Markers and struggled to make anything look good with so few colours. And literally today, my package just arrived because I ordered a 6 pack of Copic Ciao markers in an attempt to get better transition colours. I haven't made on piece of work I'm proud of, but cant stop thinking that its just because I need to buy more. So stupid.
I started my art with copics too and even tho were super expensive...I just loved the fluidity of the brush side and the colour range is soooo varied.
I did a curation elective last year, and the main museum we worked with for the subject had a piece by Patricia Puccinini. The piece a sculpture made out of silicone, human hair, leather, timber, and acrylic. They said that it was a really expensive piece and they knew when buying it that it had a limited lifespan, however they felt that it was significant enough that it was important to have in their collection.
I guess it depends on the artist, but I don't think a piece having a limited lifespan makes it a "bad" or less valuable piece. There have been so many artists who have made pieces that have a limited lifespan due to the materials in order to achieve the effect needed. But it is important that the buyer is aware of this, of course.
This is completely off-topic, but this piece reminds me of Coraline and I am loving it!! Though I have to agree with you, I feel like Copics are overatted due to their prices and to the 'lightfast' thing, but then again they are really good quality and have refills! I love that they have a brush tip, but I wil recommend and personally say that if you are going to spend money on alcohol-based markers to purchase brands such as Ohuhu and ArtnFly! They are much cheaper and are also really nice quality marker brands!
I agree with you; if you make it clear that it's light fast but the customer still wants to buy it, then why not? it's a completely informed purchase and it's ultimately their decision, right?
speaking as a "younger viewer" i TOTALLY think there is a copic hierarchy(all alchohol markers really but.. everyone wants copic). I would NEVER find watercolors in the more popular youtubers and if i did it was like "ooh i try watercolors for the first time!!" it took me a long while to even attempt watercolors (from a friend's suggestion) and i had to specifically seek out watercolor youtubers to look up to. All the more popular channels with copics made me subconsciously prefer the markers even though i LOVE watercolors so much more! Its definitely pushed too much, love my copics though.
omg! I honestly never knew that copics would fade over time. thanks so much for talking about this in your video. I was straight out clueless and it sucks. I am one of those copic suckers. I just love them to the moon. they’re so much fun for me to use especially combined with coloured pencils. But I never used them for professional work really, only personal joy and went to pencil or digital for professional work. Still a huge shame to hear my copic pics probably won’t last forever. Sounds a bit like a rip-off now thinking about how pricey they are
this piece is gorgeous!
i recently bought some alcohol ink markers and i really enjoy them, but i happened to stumble across the fact that they aren't lightfast right after I got them. I don't really plan on selling any of my art, but my friends and family would like some of my pieces and I decided to scan my art and make prints instead of giving them the originals because I didn't want their art to fade
this came up in a search for marker paper. fantastic information. i just bought my first set of markers (not copics), and i want to use paper that's not going to damage the tips and waste the ink. i make cards, scrapbooks, and do mixed media. and i agree, i feel copics are pushed. every person i watch has switched to copics, almost exclusively. there are a few who find, test, and recommend others, and i appreciate that. i'm never going to be a professional artist, and i have no idea how much i'll use alcohol markers. i do like having a variety to chose from, so i try to find a happy medium. also, a personal quirk, i tend to rebel against something that everyone seems to insist upon. does that make sense? i'm not a trend follower. now, if i get really into using markers, i will likely purchase individual copic colors as i run out, simply because, in the long run, they are worth the investment because of being refillable. thank you so much for this and i LOVE, LOVE, LOVE fall and this piece is wonderful. about buying art - if you're going to buy something, i think it's sort of on the buyer to know a little about the medium they're looking at. watercolors, markers....not so lightfast unless you take certain measures. i have a lithograph that's amazing, but i know to keep it out of light, have it framed a certain way, etc. sorry so long.....great video!!!
i have a lot of “knock off” copic brands (like Studio 71 and Ohuhu) and i LOVE them! i also love watercolor and gouache as well tho.
i honestly think copics are wayyy overpriced. i really want some, it’s just the amount of money they cost is absurd :|
i started getting serious about art back in April, and i started with markers. it took me a whole month (making art EVERY DAY with these markers) i finally got better at it. soon i got watercolors and whatnot. after these six months of loving art markers i think i am going to invest in copics.
would i recommend art markers as a beginner? sure, whatever floats your boat. but i strongly agree with you that you should buy cheaper markers from amazon or something just to see if you like them.
much love
Good job 👍🏼 It had always been my perception that professional art markers (alcohol markers) are meant for art that would be reproduced such as comic book artist make and mock up work as well as concept art and of course paper crafters. It surprises me to see young artist here on RUclips sell and commission original marker artwork knowing that they are far from archival. I wouldn’t sell my artwork done with markers. They are fun and I enjoy them, actually love them but I think they are a luxury. Starting artist would certainly benefit more from using watercolors over markers i think.
This is the first time watching your channel. I've never heard of alcohol markers. Right now, I'm just trying to learn how to color and figure out how to shade and why so many colors are used for shading, and how in the world do you know which colors to use to shade in the first place. 😁
How freaking amazing is this piece!
I love me some alcohol markers. I own literally one Copic marker (a black Wide one that I got on clearance from Michaels). But the rest are either Spectrum Noir or Winsor & Newton ones. I love some colors, even though they're challenging to me (mildly blue-yellow colorblind)
I reaaaaally like this piece !! You're right, markers can create lovely textures :)
All the colours you used are great (I especially love the sky and the bush in the foreground) and I love the details you put in the hair and the shoes ^^
I very rarely use markers but sometimes it could be fun, like to do one of your challenges for example. It was really tempting me :)
But you're right, I think that for any Art supply, you shouldn't go with the super good quality first. Already because you probably wouldn't see the difference or wouldn't know how to fully use "fancy expensive brands" and also because, who, maybe you wouldn't like the technique ! :) I had to buy markers for school and two different brands (one for each of my two schools...) which were Promarkers and Touch markers... I think I prefer the later one because it has a broader tip :)
(Sorry, I don't really know why I rambled so much :D)
You're so right! And I love the drawing you've made here!
I don't own any Copics, but I do have a few Alcohol markers in my collection. I love the way they look at a final piece and they're incredibly fun to work with. As far as selling, I think it is okay to sell them as long as you let the buyer know the issue with color fading. If the buyer is interested in something more durable, maybe a Giclee print can be an option. BTW, love love how this piece turned out!!!! I want her outfit ^_^
I was super into markers when I was younger but never actually got try Copics until high school since our art class happened to have them. I liked them a lot but I was fine with the Promarkers I had too so I never ended up getting my own Copics. Also all that lightfastness stuff was interesting because I've never even thought about that kind of stuff :O
That is such a pretty drawing. I love ur speed paints!!
Really enjoy your work. I am just starting out learning to draw and sketch. Great point about copics, I have some cheap alcohol markers and they are just fine for me. Will have to see how things go as my art changes.
As a mostly marker based artist.... And sometimes watercolor, i will say i have copics but tend to gravitate to my other cheaper markers first... Or my chameleons. I tend to mix brands bc different marker brands tend to work differently at times and that can be used to your advantage when wanting certain things in a piece. Ive also noticed blacks and very dark colors fade very fast... I do sell originals, but honestly my prices arnt super high to begin with bc i create to create, not to sell.
You bring up good points. I love how marker art looks but the learning curve is kind of steep. At least, I struggled when I tried them. None of the pictures I did ever turned out the way I wanted them and I've watched ton of tutorials on how to use them lol Needless to say, I never got into them but I love the results other people get.
This picture is soo heckin beautiful...
i agree, honestly the cons of alcohol markers kind of out weigh the pros for me now. I wasn't even aware of art youtube, but when I first got into illustration/anime it really seemed like markers were The Way to get that comic look. I also used them to do realistic pieces, but I probably spent more money on markers that would get sucked dry than i would have on like paint. They bleed through paper, they smell funky, theyre expensive and take up a bunch of space, and it's exhausting to cover larger areas with them. I think it was beneficial at the time for me because I had more experience with colored pencil, and blending markers was kind of similar, and at the time there weren't any decent copic dupes like there are now. I think a lot of use ended up using them not the way they were intended. So to any young artists just now getting into the community, the only reason we all have copics was because they were super popular in 2013 and now we are stuck with them lol. I think there is kind of the same thing happening with watecolor like you touched on, but honestly they are much more versatile although maybe not as beginner friendly. On the other hand, there are gazillions more tutorials now on both than there were back then for us.
Haha, I also treat my marker pieces like I do my watercolor pieces in terms of technique. Many who havent seen some of my videos don't know I use markers sometimes because it tends to look pretty similar to my watercolors...for the exception of the colors being brighter overall which is a plus
I love copics but I was pretty horrified when I gave my friend a small picture and she put it on her dashboard. It was only a few months before it was so faded. I had no idea that they would do that until that happened. Then I realized I had done so many portraits for friends with them...and wondered if they would fade too. Now I kind of feel bad if they put it across from a window or something. I'm a little afraid of selling copic work now. I love them because of their texture and the way the pen feels when I use them. Just so much love there. But finding out how quickly they can fade was kind of a slap in the face. I have been getting more into watercolors and I am actually really excited for your lightfast test. I been burned and now I worry about other products.
"like..." agreed on your points about markers...and thinking of trying some myself.. found some spectrum noir ones for cheap and gonna give that a go
personally i do agree they arent as beginner friendly as people make them sound, unless you use them just to block in color, but at that point you dont need copics you could very well just use a sharpie or a crayola marker. i have a couple alcohol markers, and i always find i either cant get a flat wash or i cant blend without it getting splotchy or tearing up my paper too much since i do like a slight tooth to my paper. i just find them to be too expensive and they require such a specific technique to be beginner friendly. there are some brands that make them much cheaper with bullet nibs, but that comes down to preference really because i find bullet nibs so much harder to work with. other than that, though, i find most of them to be roughly the same, most of the difference comes in the barrel and the nibs or in the color options, but the ink in pretty much all of them is similar if not basically the same. (though im no marker expert so i mighr be blasphemous right now)
as for selling artwork, honestly i dont think selling copic originals is so bad so long the buyer is aware of how to take care of the artwork and its priced according to the lifespan of that piece. it likely wont last forever even with proper care, so obviously it shouldn't be sold as one that would. as long as the buyer knows what theyre buying and they're okay with that, i see no problems with it. anyone who doesnt like the issue of lightfastness simply won't buy it.
Loved your art. When I was like 15 to 18 I so badly wanted copics. Now with 23 I have tons of alcohol based markers and i don't use them at all. I guess it's a craze most artists have at some point
This video was so interesting and I really enjoyed it!! QUESTION: My main medium is watercolor.. and I just recently found out about this term 'light fast', I don't really understand it and I would definetly like to be informed on what it is and how to preserve and make sure that my pieces stay in good condition. I hope that you can maybe make a video on this topic? :) Thank you!!
I agree it's not talked about enough and for the artist that makes money on the side selling their original artwork might feel like they weren't shown the whole picture. Buts important to be aware of the lightfastness.
Even though copics arent lightfast, am I able to use them as underpaintings? I'm mainly a colored pencil artist, and I want to implement materials into my portraits that makes my process easier, since colored pencils are a slow medium. Would the markers still fade if I colored over them with colored pencils?
I have noticed that some of my marker drawings have faded over time. I wasn't sure if that was because I had cheaper markers, so it's good to know that that's a quality of alcohol based markers in general. I never really got into alcohol based markers though. I used them a lot in school when I needed to colour a lot of things quickly, but I always felt like I was terrible with them. Haha.
I love this piece and am so ready for fall! I agree about the copics, they are pushed as a brand. I have the Promarkers/Lectraset because when was younger I used the Prisma markers and didn't like them. I love my Promarkers but I also know about lightfastness.
I also agree that to sell an original alcohol based product the seller needs to share about lightfastness.
What I like about copics are their skin tones, the skin doesn't look super streaky with them. However I prefer using watercolors for skin tones because they have more varying skin tones you can make.
it’s so interesting to listen to you talk, love these kinds of videos. ❤️
Thank you for this video, Alice. It would've really helped me and has actually helped me today. I've spent too much money on Copics, thinking they're the best and I need to get them and only them, but after watching this video, I'm starting to think of some other markers that might just work as well if not better for my needs than Copics. Thankfully I haven't quite gotten totally off the rails yet, but what I did spend on Copics is money that could've been better spent added to my education fund (or something more important than overpriced markers :/ ).
The fact that one marker was 10 dollars and that the first alcohol marker I picked up was prisma color, I stayed away from them until one of my family members got me some skin tones which was really nice! I use them but I think I’m still going to stick to prisma colors. :)