It took me a while to realize that Loop Colors manufactures fineliners too. Their spray paint is definitely among the best, and I also like their acrylic markers. But fineliners I only got to test recently. So… The ink in these markers is intensely black and flows quite generously. It also doesn’t dry very quickly. …
Staedtler markers are really good, too — they’re kind of a mix between Pentel and Stylefile. Once dried, you can paint over them. However, they do require a bit more time to dry. The black is, once again, an intense black. This one features a 12-hour cap-off system, meaning that if you forget to put …
A classic fineliner from Japanese Shachihata — and actually quite a good one. What else would you expect from a large brand that’s been around forever? Artline is familiar to me since my early days as a graffiti writer, because they also make really good larger permanent markers. And bunch of other markers and pens …
This fineliner is pretty good one — very close to Pentel in most aspects. Water based ink, and it dries just as fast as Molotow. Intense black and smooth flow. This is the more “affordable” version of Copic’s lineup, but it’s still pricier than Molotow. The ones I bought were almost €6 each — which …
This is actually a really, really good marker. Tempted to say that it’s the best one I’ve used so far. At least it does everything it’s supposed to do. Water based pigment ink, dries fast, smooth flow, can be painted over, lasts long… You know the drill. So, if we’re talking about the quality, it …
These fineliners have a good flow, and are very generous in ink — so they’re not ideal for thin paper or slow drawers. Extremely intense black which dries fast. I love that the marker itself is slightly thicker than most, giving it a great grip. I hadn’t used this one before, but so far, I’m …
So, every now and then, I get asked if I use an iPad and Procreate for sketching. I don’t. I’m too old school for that. But I have nothing against them, and I know many artists in my genre use them — which is cool, as long as it serves their purpose. I’ve participated in …
How do acrylic markers relate to sketching? Well, in theory, they don’t. In reality? Let me explain. Sometimes, after finishing a sketch, I realize certain parts could’ve been done differently. I also tend to do very rough pencil sketches before going over them with a fineliner. I don’t know why, but I just don’t like …
Well, this article doesn’t quite fall under the “reviews” category. It was supposed to be one, but it turned out to be a general rant about mobile phones. So, a phone. Not essential for sketching, but handy. Sometimes I snap a photo of a sketch instead of scanning it — modern phones make this easy …
Really good markers — I’ve used them for years. In fact, only Molotow has been in my collection longer. Another proof that Germans know their shit when talking about beer… I mean art supplies. Even though these are manufactured in Japan. Montana Sketchliners tie for third place with Stylefile. Again, really hard to find anything …