Caliart Alcohol Based Markers, 81 Colors Art Drawing Markers Set Dual Tip Fine & Chisel Permanent Colored Sketch Pens, with Case for Artists Adults Coloring Book Illustration

I bought these markers on a lightning deal, because 80 markers for $25 was too good of a deal to pass up. I was planning on getting the Ohuhu brush markers since everyone has been raving about them, but ultimately I decided that as a beginner I wanted to make it easier on myself by having more color choice until I learned how everything blended together. I did not regret my decision. These markers lay down so smoothly, and they blend like a dream once you get the hang of it. The trick really is to work quickly to blend, as they blend very nicely when still wet. I use these markers in my Denik sketchbook, which has thicker paper with a smooth texture. I do get bleedthrough on ocassions, especially when layering a lot, but that is to be expected with any alcohol marker. Even Copics, which I also have a small handful of. They are bright and vibrant, and the 80 set is a great mix of tones. It is mostly mid tones, but I still am able to find a good majority of what I need. The skin tones are where my biggest complaints are, as I don't have anything super light or many in the tan and olive range. That is where my Copic collection comes in. Comparing these markers to Copics is like comparing a $1,000 Macbook to a $200 Chromebook, but I will make a few comparisons anyways since quality is important to consider. These do not have brush nibs, which does make blending slightly more difficult. Copics also have a higher quality ink in them meaning they naturally want to blend together. However, with the bullet nib I have been able to get smooth blending anyways with a little more work. These markers have about the same amount of smell to Copics, though it's a bit more noticeable when you lay down heavy amounts on paper. Once it dries, the scent is gone. Both these Caliart markers and Copics are very juicy and the ink lays down with not problems, however the Copics feel slightly wetter (if that makes sense) which as aforementioned makes for easier blending and in my opinion smoother, less streaky lay down. This can easily be accomplished with the Caliart markers too though, but it does take up more ink since you have to layer the colors a bit more to get that nice and smooth finish. Ink usage brings me to this next point. These markers are non-refillable, though I believe they match up with the ShinHan Touch line of inks if you're able to find them. You also cannot currently buy individual markers, meaning if you run out of one you have to buy an entire new set if you want that marker. That being said, I'm sure they assume you will upgrade before you run out of any ink in the markers. These are very much entry level, and are likely to be used by people like me who want to know if they like the medium or not, or by hobbyists who want cheap markers. This set has provided exactly that service to me, as I feel more comfortable now with markers and if I find myself using these a lot I'm sure I will find some way to upgrade to the bigger brands that have more options for individual replacements. As a beginner, these markers are lovely for the price. They have been great to work with and I understand 10x more about alcohol markers now without emptying my bank account. I highly recommend these to anyone looking for a new step further into the art world!

Bright colors and great quality await artists of all kinds! Markers are durable and easy to use.

My eight year old daughter loves them I would definitely buy them again

PERFECT FOR BEGINNERS! Pros - Vibrant Colors - Low cost - Gave me a love for a new hobby Cons - They bleed through even thick cardstock - The writing in the side of the marker (fine tip/chisel tip) rubs off onto you hands and could ruin work if not careful - My most used colors only lasted me about 4 months - Color on top doesn’t match the swatch All in all, the markers gave me a love for coloring but I will now be switching to a pricier brand in hopes of a higher quality product.

So happy with this purchase. I have become an absolute coloring fiend. I love the colors and the coverage area you get from the brush side. The fine tip side is great to get in those cracks and crevices you’re not brave enough to put the brush on. They’re so smooth and I’ve found no streaking when I’m coloring. I included some pictures I colored with them with ideas I got from Facebook reels. I hadn’t started trying blending yet when I took these pictures, but now that I am, it does that flawlessly too! My only regret is not buying a bigger pack! I have not yet bought Ohuhu because of the price point but if you’re like me and want nice markers for a more affordable price, Caliart is definitely the way to go!

I've been testing these alongside my Prismacolor set for a couple weeks and I have to say... I like the color range of these (and price) much more. These self level better, too. The blend is immaculate. They do bleed through heavy paper, so make sure you have a color absorber underneath your pages. But that just means they're saturated in color. They're super comfortable to hold and the caps are not hard to get off. Also, a carrying case with a strap? Crayola could never. The blending stick works super well to blend those stubborn lines if you let edges dry, (because the ink dries super quickly as these are alcohol based markers, so it does happen often). Also not a strong smell like Prismacolor markers, but I have noticed they're not as long-lasting unfortunately. Very close though. I illustrate and color for hours every day, so I go through markers pretty quickly. So I feel confident in saying that if you're looking for better quality markers for say, leisurely coloring, and you're sick of Crayola and CrazyArt, these are perfect for you. The only things that would make these markers top dog in my opinion would be to change the caps so they can connect to one another and color match the indicator colors better to the dried ink. I don't know how many times I lost the cap to the marker I was using, so I had to be very mindful where I placed it. Since the colors in the pens were not reflected very well on the caps, I made a color sheet to reference, but I still made a few mistakes here and there until I got in the groove. I also wish the tips were a bit more flexible. Certain ones get to the point of having softer tips the more you use them, but others haven't broken in as easily. Still, don't let these personal nitpicky cons deter you. I'm extremely picky and use these all day, every day so it's difficult for a seasoned artist not to notice these things. Even still, these are very small prices to pay for affordable, vibrant, and sleek markers. I plan to buy more when these run out. And that's saying something.

Bought these for my granddaughter and she absolutely loves them. Although she’s only 8, she’s quite the artist and wanted “grownup” markers. A big hit.