Coloring Book Markers & Pencils: A Complete Guide
As the artist sisters behind The Object Atlas, we’ve always a shared love for creativity, and been especially passionate about drawing. We draw all of our Coloring Books and Downloadable Coloring Pages by hand, and love creating the illustrations for each and every one. But our drawing doesn’t end there! We also love to bring these designs to life with color. After experimenting with countless tools over the years, we’re excited to share our tried-and-true favorites with you.
Coloring books offer a creative outlet for all ages, from beginners to advanced artists. Whether you’re filling in intricate patterns, like those in our William Morris Coloring Book, or coloring bold and easy designs like those in our Garden Harvest Coloring Book, the right coloring tools make a world of difference. In this blog post, we’ll dive into some of the best markers and colored pencils available, as well as some fun accessories that will elevate your finished coloring page designs.
Alcohol Markers
A Favorite Among Colorists
When it comes to markers, alcohol-based options are a top choice for many colorists, and for good reason. Named for the alcohol-based solvent in their ink, these markers are beloved for their smooth, even application and vibrant colors. The alcohol in the ink allows the color to dry quickly and blend seamlessly, making it easy to layer colors and create professional-looking results. These markers are perfect for filling in large areas without streaks and can produce rich, saturated colors that make your pages pop.
Our Favorite Coloring Book Markers
Our favorite alcohol markers for coloring books are from the brand Ohuhu, which makes sets in a few different sizes, all of which come in a handy zippered bag that allows you to store them upright. We especially love the Ohuhu Honolulu B variety, which features a dual tip with a soft brush nib on one end and a fine point felt tip on the other, making them perfect for covering large areas and drawing fine details.
Plus, these sets come with a blender marker – a clear marker designed to blend and soften edges between colors and create gradients. By applying the blender marker over the edges of two colors, you can seamlessly transition from one hue to another, giving your artwork a polished and professional look. Additionally, it can be used to create lighter shades by diluting the intensity of the marker ink on the page. Ohuhu marker sets come in a variety of sizes:
Ohuhu 48-Color Alcohol Marker Set – Compact, yet packed with all the essential colors.
Ohuhu 72-Color Alcohol Marker Set – A versatile set with a wide color range.
Ohuhu 48 Pastel Alcohol Marker Set – Perfect pastels for soft, delicate tones and blending.
Ohuhu 216-Color Alcohol Marker Set – The ultimate set for expansive color options, which includes all the colors from the sets above.
While Ohuhu markers are our top picks because they offer the brush and fine tip combination, there are other excellent alcohol marker brands worth considering:
Caliart 121-Color Alcohol Marker Set – with brush and chisel tips
Shuttle Art 50-Color Pastel Alcohol Marker Set – with brush and fine tips
For those looking to splurge on the ultimate coloring experience, Copic Markers are the gold standard in alcohol markers. Known for their exceptional quality, refillable ink, and replaceable nibs, Copics are a long-term investment that many artists swear by. If you’re ready to treat yourself, consider the Copic 72-Color Marker Set, which offers a vast range of vibrant hues.
Protect Your Coloring Pages
While alcohol markers like those from Ohuhu, Caliart, and Copic are fantastic for achieving bold and beautiful colors, it’s important to be aware that they can bleed through most coloring book pages. This is a common issue with nearly all types of markers and coloring book paper, but it’s easily managed with a simple precaution.
To protect the pages underneath the one you’re working on, always place a protective sheet behind your current page. This could be a piece of thick paper or, even better, a plastic sheet designed for this purpose. Some high-quality marker sets, including those from Ohuhu, even come with a plastic protector, which is an excellent bonus.
By using a protective sheet, you can prevent unwanted ink transfer and keep the rest of your coloring book in pristine condition.
Colored Pencils
The Best Colored Pencils for Coloring Books
Markers aren’t the only tool in a colorist’s arsenal—colored pencils are equally important for achieving a variety of effects. Here are some of the top recommendations for colored pencils available on Amazon:
Tombow Irojiten Colored Pencils: These pencils are known for their smooth application, high pigment concentration, and ability to blend well, making them a favorite for detailed work and shading.
Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils: These soft-core pencils deliver rich, creamy color, perfect for blending and layering. They’re also well-regarded for their lightfastness, meaning your artwork will remain vibrant over time.
Faber-Castell Polychromos Colored Pencils: These oil-based pencils are known for their durability, sharpness, and smooth application. They’re less prone to breakage and offer excellent color consistency, making them a go-to choice for professional artists and hobbyists alike.
More Coloring Book Tools
To take your coloring to the next level, consider adding a few more tools to your collection:
White Gel Pens: Whether you’re adding a glint to a character’s eye or creating shiny highlights on a surface, a fine, opaque white pens provides that finishing touch that makes your work pop. Sakura White Gelly Roll Pens offer various nib sizes that are perfect for adding highlights and accents to your coloring pages.
Blending Pencils or Solvents: If you’re using colored pencils, blending pencils or a solvent like odorless mineral spirits can help you achieve smooth gradients and soft blends between colors. We love these Finesse Colored Pencil Blender Pens by Speedball.
Fine-Liner Pens: For adding intricate details or outlining, fine-liner pens can be invaluable. They allow you to add precision to your coloring, especially in smaller areas. Our go-to black outliner pens are Sakura Pigma Micron Fineliner Pens – a beloved choice among all types of artists. If it’s colored outlines you’re after, we recommend the Shuttle Art Micro-Tip Pens.
Colored Pencil Eraser: These are a great addition to your toolkit, especially if you like to sketch before committing to color. They let you lay down color that you can adjust or erase as needed. The Tombow Mono Sand Eraser is a great choice, and it erases many inks, too!
Eraser Pencil: These are what they sound like! Shaped just like a pencil, Eraser Pencils have erasers instead of graphite or color, making them excellent for precision erasing. They’re even sharpenable!
Extra Alcohol Blender Markers: If you like using blender markers then you know that they can be the fastest marker in the set to wear down. That’s why we like having some extras on hand, like this Set of 6 Colorless Blender Markers from Ohuhu.
Marker Organizer: If you’re like us and you love a neat and tidy desk, consider splurging on an alcohol marker organizer, like this one from Ohuhu. These let you see a rainbow of markers all together, rather than zipped up in a bag.
Invest in Quality Tools for the Best Results!
Whether you’re using vibrant alcohol markers like those from Ohuhu, Caliart, or Copic, or the rich, blendable colors of Tombow, Prismacolor, or Faber-Castell pencils, having the right tools makes all the difference in your coloring experience. Additionally, don’t forget to protect your work with a plastic sheet and consider enhancing your pages with additional tools like white gel pens and fine-liners.
With the right supplies, you can turn any coloring book page into a beautiful work of art. Happy coloring!