Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts about this! 💖 It's certainly producing a lively discussion with various viewpoints - great food for thought for anyone who's still unsure of how they feel about it. I'm still an avid alcohol marker fan and won't stop using them anytime soon. 😊 p.s. If you want to learn all my favorite alcohol marker techniques, check out my Ultimate Guide to Using Alcohol Markers: www.art-is-fun.com/ultimate-guide-to-using-alcohol-markers 😃
My understanding is that using a laminate that is UV-resistant may help the artwork last longer when exposed to UV light (and may protect the artwork from water damage), but the alcohol marker dye will still fade over time, due to the innate chemical properties of the dye itself. Lamination isn't considered an archival preservation technique. I'd say it's up to you, if it's something you want to experiment with. 😊
😂😂😂 was thinking I didn't ever have that problem then realized I always keep my artwork in sketchbooks portfolios and drawers so I might if I actually had it out
It's sad to see that so many people are discouraged by this news but there is no need. the way I view art is it's alive once it's completed by the artist during the lifetime of the piece it will go through different life stages that's one reason why art restoration is a job. So the fact that these markers aren't permanent and will fade is just part of the medium's personality and something you and should someone want to buy your piece need to know but it's not the end of world it's just a part of the medium. Bonus for being lucky to live 25 years post the invention of a scanner and being able to scan your artwork with your phones if need be that the world will always know what the original colors were supposed to look like.
Art historians are going to LOVE YOU and this video someday for digitizing the comparison of the markers changes over time. Using it to try and estimate what existing pieces would have looked like originally.
Sarah Burns Studio does this kinds of test studies a lot with different brands of gouache (and watercolors maybe too?), she tests lightfastness among many other things, paper tests too. Its greatly informative
My mom is a working illustrator and she has Copic marker illustrations from 2001 that are SUPER vibrant and haven’t faded LOL She says you need to color on acid free paper and storie the art work in acid free binders/plastics. Also, keep them away from UV rays and moisture. They’re obviously going to look different in 80 years, but 20+ years later and they look immaculate👍
Yes, it sounds rather like your Mum is archiving her work, but if I bought a piece of marker work, I'd want it on display in a room which will inevitably contain... daylight!
@@Ron-Ayres I totally understand! 👍 But anytime you purchase original art (like paintings or marker illustrations) you NEED to take care of it by choosing a place to have it that won’t get direct sunlight. Even photos and posters will fade with direct sunlight 🥲 That have frames with glass that can help repel sunlight but you still need to take cats off the artwork✨
I still have my fashion illustrations from 20+ years ago and they are just as vibrant today. Didn't always use acid free. They are kept in a box. My copic pens are still going strong, but then again they're refillable. I think it's sun/daylight exposure that is the problem. It pretty much fades everything, curtains, garden furniture etc ..just normal I guess! 😊😊
@@Ron-Ayres Just scan it and get a high quality print. I get wanting to display the real thing but I always keep in the back of my mind that my house could burn down or something else could happen to my artwork so I want to have a digital backup anyway. Physical art just isn't eternal.
@@danielle-bi3tkif you use the ohuhu slim set with slim brush tip in a plastic box . They are cheaper than normal ohuhu. They have this problem. Buy another set. Any other set won’t yellow your paper.
Yeah, you shouldn't really care unless you want to sell your pieces. I would still scan your art if you can though, so you at least are able to view the piece with its intended colors.
Oh! When storing alcohol marker art, make sure you have a blank paper between each artwork!! My red and brown Shuttle Art alcohol markers bleed yellow onto the paper above and below them in storage!!
Yup! I knew before getting alcohol markers that they fade, so I'm diligent to scan scan scan right when I finish the art! I recommend displaying a print of the scan! Try to consider the scan as precious of a version of the artwork as the original is☺
To those who are sad about their art not lasting: please do your own lightfast testing! It's very easy and you get a clear idea which of your colours are the most problematic. For example, if you take the advice of using coloured pencils with solvents or watersoluble pencils, you need to figure out how much you can dilute the colours. Watersoluble pencils especially are notoriously prone to fading when used in washes!
Thanks for this info! Like, I know markers are prone to fading, to the point that lightfast-testing them is pretty pointless, but I never suspected watercolour pencils of doing that.
Alcohol markers are an illustration medium. They aren’t meant for finished artwork. They’re meant for work that is created for a specific purpose to be reproduced. Such as for book illustrations, prints/posters, advertising, etc…. They should not use markers for finished pieces to sell.
@@Waspinmymind Well, it doesn’t matter if the original piece of a print is made with oil paints or alcohol markers since it’s only a reproduction, the lightfastness will depend on the ink use for printing.
Its not pointless, and you can sell it, just give direct instructions on how to store the art piece. Art is fun and its more fun to experience with every meduim. Alcholo marker one of the best and fastest drawing tools. Give it a try 🩷@supme7558
I learned from a couple of other art TH-camrs when I found out about alcohol markers that they aren’t lightfast (it might have been from a brand comparison video). They’re mainly used for illustrations that will be reproduced (so could be useful for something you want to sell on Redbubble or a similar site, or an drawing you want to sell prints of but not the original. From what I’ve heard, they’re popular with manga illustrations. I also like just playing around with them in my sketchbooks or coloring in a coloring book. Many mediums have varying lightfastness, depending on brand, colors/color groups, etc.
yes, but non as bad as alcohol markers, by far. the only thing coming close would be, in general, "highlighter" colors in any medium (fluorescent pigments begin fading inmediately)
Weirdly, I have a swatch book that has barely faded, and I filled it well over five years ago. It could be the paper quality or chemical composition, or perhaps it’s the fact that I kepe them completely out of light.
Yeah if you just keep your alcohol marker art in archival sleeves on a binder, you could browse through it every day and still the deterioration will slow down over 90%.
I didn't know the difference between dye and pigment before - thanks! I believe the reason watercolour paintings don't sell for as much as oils is because historically, watercolour paints were very fugitive. We now have the technology to prevent them fading, but the perception of watercolour as a "temporary" medium lives on. The whole business of trying to make colours last in art is really interesting, thousands of years of experimentation.
Yeah watercolours definitely have that reputation... Which is sad because if you use quality paints that are rigorously tested e.g. Daniel Smith, you know the lightfastness of the colours, and a _lot_ are highly lightfast, rated for at least 100 years
I am mainly a coloured pencil artist but when I use markers I don't care the artwork will fade. Markers are fairly new to my work and I went in with the knowledge they can fade in days. I've been selling my art for nearly 30 years and I choose lightfast materials where possible. When I get new supplies I will immediately separate the non-lightfast colours. That way I can make informed choices and it's easier to inform a buyer about the colours used.
I use alcohol markers as a base for coloured pencils, so I can get rid of the white paper faster. I've found that I don't have the fading problem, because the markers are the base layer. Don't know how it will be in 20+ years tho😅
I found using alcohol markers to "underpaint" my pictures then use coloured pencils over them - makes the colours look amazing. Especially in my colouring books, I would like to see you do a video on that maybe also
First time viewer here. How do you only have 5200 subs?? The production value of your videos is so high! Very educational too. Last year I painted a stone with sunflowers for my garden using acrylic paints. I used green, yellow, orange, and black. When I was done, I sealed it with a spray-on varnish. So far all the colors look amazing still, except for the orange, which completely disappeared within a couple of months!
Thanks so much for your positive feedback on my videos! Glad you found it useful. 😃 Sorry to hear your orange color disappeared from your stone painting. It's a good reminder that acrylics fade at different rates too! I love fluorescent acrylics, but they are definitely not lightfast! 😁
Alcohol markers were made for prints mostly, I do art restoration as one of my art services and faded art is something people have a problem with. With this in mind I hate it when artists especially artists that know better use non-lightfast materials in a commission. One common complaint is the hundreds of dollars the customer spent for them to have a faded piece in sometimes LESS THAN A YEAR! Some pieces were so bad I had to completely redo the art from scratch. But people that use cheap non-lightfast supplies are scamming their customer hands down.
Excellent information. The lightfastness of coloured pencils is equally mixed. Faber Castell Polychromos are very good, but many Prismacolor colours are fugitive. There are brands like Derwent Lightfast and Caran D'Ache Luminance that are formulated for maximum lightfastness.
@@wintersprite For sure. Lightfastness is definitely something to be mindful of in art materials. Good quality brands like Golden and Windsor and Newton make a point of including that in their labelling
I didn't know about the Derwent lightfast pencil line, but I have been using their Inktense pencils and blocks because their pigments have been mixable with acrylic fabric medium and lightfast (for at least a few years).
Thank you, that you made this video. There are artist out their using markers for their expensive original comission work, and I like that someone address this issue in a video.
THANK-YOU SO MUCH for the information! I was quite confused as to why some of my swatches from 3 years ago look so different from the fresh colour that comes out from the markers. I honestly thought it was my fault for not doing a proper swatch then. Thanks for clearing that up for me. Anyway to answer your question, I do art for myself only so it doesn't bother me that marker art doesn't last long. However, it does also clear up something else for me - I've been wondering whether to replenish some of my marker colours but now I've decided not to. I'll just continue using the markers until there's no more ink left. Anyway my main art focus has always been watercolour painting.😀Great video!!
So glad this info was helpful to you! 😃 It can be quite a shock when you first notice how different your colors look a few years later. I try to redo my color charts every year, so that I can be sure I'm looking at an accurate color chart when I pick my colors! 😁 Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Coming from a watercolor background lightfastness and fugitive are terms I hear a lot! I had zero idea my Copics are not lightfast….BUMMER!! I’ll use them in my sketchbooks though and take it as a quirk of the medium. 🎨 Your scanner covered with stickers gave me a huge smile! 👍🏻😄
I appreciate how colorfastness is even specified by individual color in professional watercolor brands, as well as opacity, granulation and other key characteristics. I wish other mediums were as detailed in their descriptions!
@@AuroraDeLirio Yeah, this is one of the reasons I love watercolours too, so much information to choose paints - even the individual pigments used - which is helpful since I prefer to buy single pigment paints and mix them for the most variety & more predictable mixing outcomes 🥰
Found this out when I was making resin art. It's one of the reasons I never opened up my own shop. Alcohol ink fades. Podwers shift, resin yellows, flowers wither. It just didn't seem fair to customers. At least I had fun.
Yeah I realized this lightfastness problem right after I picked up a bunch of alcohol markers, that's why I prioritize the sensation of using the markers rather than how it looked later lol. That's also why I only bought markers with brush nibs, and after trying a bunch of diffrent brand, either cheap or expensive, now I understood that its not the ink that makes copic expensive, but rather cuz of the quality of their superbrush that made them sooo enjoyable to use :')
yeah, cause when it comes to ink, alcohol ink is actually cheap to make lol. they aren't sticking to any single pigment confections or astm ratings, they can use fluorescent mixtures liberally, multi pigment mixes, etc. it doesn't matter since they are not made to last at all.
I’ve used Copic Markers, Kuretake and some generic markers the past 8 years. Copic and the generic all have faded even when kept in the dark archived. None of my pieces done with Kuretake markers has faded. The ones I have on the wall in display (basic glass, without uv protection) have faded at about 5% and the archived pieces haven’t faded at all. Also as read from other commenters I use acid free high quality Bristol paper.
Wow! I’ve wanted so many art videos about markers and other mediums. But I’ve never heard of artist talk about the subject before especially this much in depth! I’m really thankful for your video and the work you put into it❤ thank you so much and I hope your challenge grows and grows for more artists to see! I hope your having a wonderful year thanks again ❤🎨✍️
I started using watercolor pencils about a year ago and I found I enjoyed them so much more than alcohol based markers. I feel I have more control over blending with them and they seem to stay pigmented nicely. I also have watercolor markers which blend even nicer, but you know what will fade. Still makes lovely work, though.
I'm glad you made this video, you're right I rarely ever hear other artists (and YTers) talking about this. I remember the first time I learned this I was soooooo incredibly saddened but relieved since I make it a habit of scanning my traditional artwork!
Such an interesting question: does it matter or not to you if your marker art fades over time? That would depend…. My marker art is typically intended for stage/costume design sketches which, aren’t necessarily needed after the production is completely built. However, productions that become part of a repertoire will require future rebuilds either in part or whole. To ensure the original sketches remain useful for this, one must include additional color references that support the integrity of the pallet. Textile swatches tend are typically protected from the light, but they can get separated from the sketch over the long term, therefore labeling the artwork with Pantone reference numbers is a good idea.
I feel like it depends for me but i mostly wouldn't mind, even just with your own examples, i still like how the art looks even with the faded colours. So i kinda feel like its just letting the art change on its own in a way.
I really like your perspective -- "just letting the art change on its own in a way". That's a nice way of looking at it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts! 😃
Really glad to have seen this! I've been considering getting a smaller set of alcohol markers, though I usually have been using watercolor and through my life, have not cared much for using markers in general. I think for now I'll save my money and put it back into future supplies when I need more of what I have been using the most.
I dont like alcohol , i cant stand the smell, but i subscribed whithin 30 seconds of your introduction, what a lovely personality. Your art is amazing.
It is a little sad to hear that my favorite medium will fade, but, hey, scanning them in is a great alternative that can get you closer to selling your art as graphics or for print-on-demand!
I got my first copics in 2010-2011 and alcohol markers not being lightfast was a huge topic back then but I see it’s not talked about that much anymore. I consider markers as a fun medium that I would use for sketching but not for anything I would sell unless it’s a print. Not sure how nuri durr sells his originals knowing that (love his work )
i think it's mostly because very few people sticked to them beyond quick thumbnails among proffessional artists (or just scanning inmediately and selling prints). for the most part, you see either the hobbists who like either coloring books or manga drawing sticking for this material in any more meaningful degree, so there really is no point on arguing lightfastness there, those are the type of people who, for the most part, won't care about a word regarding lightfastness so long as they find the medium pretty and covenient. and the works for them, for the most part, will remain in a drawer or a book, so it's even less relevant.
I just ran across this video, and you did an excellent job with explaining, providing options, and a very good pace! I look forward to seeing more of your videos!
I’m gonna get cheaper ones then since it apparently doesn’t matter😅 I still enjoy using the markers so I’m not gonna ditch them entirely. Just gonna start scanning my art to my laptop and avoiding the expensive stuff. Arrtx alcohol markers from now on! Thanks!
I’m so miffed to find this out after I saved for years for a set of Copics…not that I was ever going to sell the art I made but still. I guess I’ll just use them in sketchbooks and take pictures of the art. 👍🏻🎨 The scanning idea is great!
Lol me too. But I must admit, there's still no cheap brand that can match the elasticity and smoothness of Copic's super brush esp for blending :') Ohuhu is close 2nd tho
I clicked on this just out of sheer curiosity, and was shocked to see what a dramatic hue shift there was in just 2.5 years! I haven’t used copics much recently, but did often as a kid in high school, so I still have art that is 8 to 12 years old from that time period that was made with copics and looks just as pristine as the day I made it. I wonder if the copic formula was different way back then and gave it more lightfastness than it has today? Interesting.
Mine are 8+ years old, are on a wall in front of a window and are all super vibrant and the same as old footage i have with them in the background. A lot of them are laminated tho
The lamination probably reduces environmental exposure with the marker ink, UV may still affect them over a longer period but it's almost like you've put them in "suspended animation" with the laminating 😊
It really doesn’t matter what happens to the artwork. I’ll only care about my own art as long as I’m alive. That’s why I scan or photograph my art. The physical artwork isn’t too important anyway if I have a digital copy. I’m just gonna have a giant stack of artwork that just builds up around my room and not have any room for more art if I keep holding on to drawings and stuff. The drawings might also get damaged in a disaster if I don’t keep a copy them digitally
"I’ll only care about my own art as long as I’m alive", i mean....to be fair, unless you die tomorrow, your alcohol marker art WILL fade faster than any other medium in existance, it doesn't take decades, just 2 years or so. the only worse choice would be to make art with highlighters (fluorescent pigments fade inmediately)
@@magical571 ehh I’ve made highlighter art and again I did photograph it. Anyway I should have specified that my caring is relative thing. Honestly I’ll move on to new art since I’m always getting ideas. Trust me all of that is fixed by scanning and photographing.
This fact really bummed me out when I found out about it... But I realized I really won't be sharing my creations, so it's no big deal! 😅 But I have found that I love paint markers with brush nibs! 😍 My one main issue with them is the puddling that happens with Poscas!! 😮 That drives my crazy!! 🤦♀️
You are super talented and very good at video creation. I appreciate learning about this situation before I attempt to use any alcohol markers. As a painter and mixed media artist, I have always only used pigment markers. As a graphic designer/art director for print media, I used to use alcohol markers for graphic design color overlays that were not the final art. I think I will probably avoid using these kind of markers on my work as I want my vibrant colors to stay vibrant. Thank you!
I just like them because of the texture. You can’t really get the same flat smoothness with a tiny bit of paper texture without brush strokes with something like paint or digital :( (yes, I have used marker-style brushes for procreate but those force you to layer over and over to get the desired saturation and you can’t lift your hand or else it fucks up. I know real markers are kinda the same but it’s DIFFERENT idk…)
you are an amazing teacher! you present that information really really well! You speak clearly and give so many options about alternatives and solutions!
Such a good video. Very interesting and informative! I didn’t know this about alcohol markers so I’m really glad I found your channel. Keep up the great work! 😁👍
In art history class I had learned that any blue dyes (and even some pigments) are more fugitive than yellows, oranges, and browns. This is why blues, greens, violets and some darker reds/maroons are affected. This can be seen in historical pieces of clothing, tapestries, and rugs that degrade/fade.
I love paint markers. I have a large set of Karin decobrush pens and they are lovely. It’s like a very, very convenient way to paint, once you find a paper that works well with them.
The fade factor is why I begin using fixant spray as I noticed pencil rubbed off and spraying it made it last many years. I used it on different art media and plan to use it for alcohol markers. On top of this I story my art in portfolios and sketchbooks or plastic sheet covers to slip in individual art. The art I kept safe in my art book has last a long time. I had plastic sheets given to me by a friend who love to be neat and organized. She noticed I had art in a notebook and offered them to be before she moved. The art from my childhood and my young adulthood is still in great shape. This a suggestion for those who want their art to last a bit longer than one or two decades. I have gona back and filmed or photographed my art since I learned about light fading a couple of years ago. 🤗❤️👍🏽💯
Good video! Hopefully this brings some awareness to the lightfastness issue. Colored pencils are also usually fugitive unless a lightfast brand is bought, unfortunately. :( I feel a little bad I fell out of love with my 70+ Copics/refills and put them in storage a decade ago, but in the end I'm *much* happier with watercolor. It's a bit more of a learning curve, but with the right materials (like cotton paper) it comes out on top every time.
Oh wow! I had no idea they did this and I have a feeling a lot of artists don't, so thanks for making this! I'm sure they still have their purpose but for art someone's planning to gift or sell as an original (and not a print) it doesn't seem like a good choice. It does make me a little sad but like you said... all pigments fade eventually. Even my colored pencil art has smeared or faded over the last 10 or 15 years.
This is why I photo my drawings after they're made, and then not hang them up unless im ok with them fading. I just really dont care much for using paints (too messy) or crayola markers (too streaky and inconsistent). Crayons are stressful unless you're like a pro at them and pencil crayons take a LONG time to get nice colours, and they're fragile. So even if alcohol markers aren't the best, they're great for me. Though I usually use an oil/real ink outliner so it's crisp and wont easily bleed
Such a helpful educational video Thaneeya! Have you done a video comparing the Ohuhu grey tone set vs the Arteza Grey tone set? It's hard to find a comparison review here... would be helpful..
I use alcohol markers as a base on which I add dry pastels or sometimes colored pencils, works pretty well. I don't know how their fading over time will affect the overall drawing, but they're fun to play and experiment with
I haven’t used Copic and other markers in years because I mainly draw on ipad, but i miss using them. Digital art is just cleaner and i can erase and redraw infinitely, and i can adjust the colors until im happy with them.
Inktense are also a great alternative to makers. They are more vibrant than regular watercolor pencils, and dry permanent as long as all the pigment is dissolved.
Never knew about this nor ever heard of this so pretty useful, i'm glad now to have this information going forward (have been using alcohol markers for like 2 years) also that whole scanning your art you have done with markers was a good idea i should probably do that my self even though i have until now only taken pictures with my phone 😅
I made some art with twin markers (a cheap alcohol marker brand sold over here) And after laminating it, it lasted for years, even after hanging on my wall. I still have some pieces from over three years ago that look just like they did when I first made them. I did the first ones on printer paper, the ones I still have are on cheap watercolor paper. I dont know if Im just really lucky or something, but its worth a try
I have 7 years old drawing made with promarkers from 2016-18 and they are still very vibrant.I store them on individual plastic pockets, put together on a big one (Yes it's the only way i found to sort them) They are in a closet, so they are not exposed to light at all.
That's interesting and the explanation well structured. To be fair though, I haven't noticed any change in the pictures I have drew with alcohol Promarkers W&N even within 15 whole years. The colours are as vibrant as they used to be and none of them had this drastic change as we see in the video...maybe different pigment? Who knows...
My primary medium is pencil, I also do digital. Ive been using alcohol markers for about 4 years, being introduced with Jazzas Jazzy Art Box. Generally on Printer Paper. My oldest Alcohol marker artworks haven't faided to a notable degree authough I don't display it. Store it in the dark or covered with other pencil artworks & notes.
como arquitecto no me importa mucho si pierde color con los años puesto que los bocetos son para mostrar ideas en el momento, por otro lado me desiluciona un poco que se degrade tan rapido, de todas formas si vale la pena los colores son vibrantes y facil de usar ♥
i did a lightfastness test on a cheap marker set i bought. I wasnt expecting much, but the colors did fairly well after a couple weeks, except the violet lol, that one was completely gone after a few days!
If you have an inked out line with it. The outlines will keep most of the time...(depends on the ink you've used.) If anything after 3 years or so you can reclaim your paper for more marker work. Markers more for fun if anything :)
*me, a strictly digital artist that has no plans of picking up traditional art any time soon, much less has the money to even afford alcohol markers* : ah, yes this is definitely information that I needed to know at this very moment lol jokes aside, very insightful video!
So glad this was discussed! Kinda sad. I guess one could take high resolution scans of their work for permanent preservation, but it's obviously just not the same as the original.
I only use alcohol markers in doodles for my journals and I've noticed that they look pretty much the same as they used to years ago :) But art that I've made on paper and stored on my desk has notably gotten a little less vibrant.
I noticed with water markers actually. One of my oranges totally faded after just few days. Didn't happen tho when it wasn't exposed to a lot of light so i learnt to not keave my drawings right on the table but rather keep them in a note book or in a drawer
I am so glad I saw this Before I got some new art supplies. I was considering alcohol markers but I still think I'll give them a try! Btw You Are So Cute and Funny! I Love your style too!! Keep this up and you'll be huge in a few years!!
Aw thank you so much for your sweet comment! 🥰 I'm so happy my video was useful to you! I think alcohol markers are definitely worth a try ~ I have so much fun with mine! 😃🎨✨
I think unwanted art supplies can donated somewhere, not really sure where because it probably depends on how safe they are to use and who would be using them.
I see a couple of people saying that alcohol markers are mainly used for illustrations that can be reproduced, but as a Graphic Artist, I was first introduced to them being used as an illustration medium for print layouts and product/advert concepts to show to clients. That doesn't mean that they don't have loads of other purposes of course! But I imagine they're mentioned in the other context because of products like manga covers, posters, and special page spreads? Just curious.
So glad that I came across your vids! You gave the most useful tips and I really appreciated it. I used alcohol markers when I was studying fashion design. I just take a look back at my old work from 2003-2005, they are still pretty much stay the same colors! I keep them closed in folders and portfolio books. I don't make drawing for wall display so it's ok with me. By the way, I'm wondering if you have ever came across the color change in the marker pens or refills? I have! No idea why. 😭
Thanks so much for your comment! It's awesome to hear such wonderful feedback! 🥰 Great to hear that your alcohol marker art looks pretty much the same after all these years. Keeping them stored away really does help! 😊 Hmm, off the top of my head, I can't recall ever noticing the color change in the markers themselves or in the ink refills, though I'm sure it could be possible if the ink is exposed to prolonged light, heat or humidity. I keep my ink refills in a dark drawer. Time is also a factor. I've read that alcohol ink has a shelf-life of around 3-5 years, after which the ink may fade or chemically degrade. I've had markers and ink refills last much longer than that without fading, but I do keep in mind that all liquid art supplies (paints, inks, etc) have a limited shelf life, which motivates me to use them while they're still good! 🎨💕
personally i don’t really mind, life is fleeting and i’ll enjoy my art on the wall in a frame for as long as i want, then replace it if it starts looking bad
Artist here i have been using copics for nearly 20 years now. I have copic art from 2004 here and they are not faded one bit. You need to store the artwork correctly. Store in a acidfree plasticpocket or a sketchbook that is closed off from light. If you are extremely concerned scan or make a high quality fotograph of your art for storage purposes.
Technically ALL artworks will fade over time; it really just depends on the environment they are kept in and the materials used. This is why its important to use the right combination of materials for your artwork. For example, if you are going to display your marker art, make sure to use a frame that has archival properties (protection from certain light levels and types). Also sealing your artwork goes a long way to protecting it from breaking down. Using acid free paper also helps to prevent the markers components from breaking down. As an example, I have a copic marker artwork on display in my room that I did on acid free watercolor paper. It's almost 10 years old now and is kept, ironically, in a simple poster frame. The room this artwork is in is the BRIGHTEST room in the house due to the room's wall color (a dulled yellow) and placement (no trees to give it shade and where sunlight will hit). This artwork has NOT shifted from its original color; it's still as vibrant as the day I colored it (and yes I have a scan/photo of it before displaying it so I can compare the two).
Hello can you please answer my 3 questions regarding the alchohol markers? Please i will really help me. 1. Should i store them vertically or horizontally? 2. Can i use it on AC room? 3. How can i store it in extreme hot days like summers above 50degrees ? Please reply.. I really appreciate it. ❤
Hello! 😃 1. Either way is fine. People have their personal preferences, but from all the research I've done, either way is acceptable. I usually keep mine stored horizontally in marker trays for convenience. 2. Yes, you can use your alcohol markers in an air-conditioned room. 3. I don't have any firsthand experience with those high temperatures, but I suggest keeping the markers stored in a cooler location (if possible) and definitely keep them stored away from direct sunlight. Hope this helps! 😊
I haven't noticed this with my alcohol markers, like at all but I only use them on my colouring books that I likely wont save forever but still bit sad about this because I live alcohol markers, they are so easy and comfortable to paint with.
Awww this makes me sad. I recently got into using Ohuhu alcohol markers as they are so fun to color with but it does worry me that the colors will end up fading away. 😢
I think they’ll be okay if you’re using a sketchbook where light won’t hit it. You can always photograph your art or scan it when you’re done to preserve it.
That's why I've switched over from alcohol markers to watercolor and gouache. (Note on gouache: for lightfastness you want *artist* gouache, since some *designer* gouache--like alcohol markers--were initially meant for reproducible illustrations rather than originally displayed art, and so didnt prioritize lightfastness)
Could you make an in-depth video on scanning our drawing please? Either with the iPhone scanning or should I buy an actual scanner I want to simply colour my drawings on ProCreate perhaps🙏
Greatly appreciate this video! I wasn't aware of how fast fading occurs with dye-based markers. Frustrating really; I love the medium; you get such good, immediate results. Like painting with a pen. The rule then, I guess, is enjoy creating the work but commit to digital format as quickly as possible.
Glad it was helpful to you! "Like painting with a pen" is a great description of how it feels to make art with alcohol markers. That's why I'll keep using them! Thanks for your comment! 😃
@@thaneeya I recently watched a video about Jack Leynwood - A renowned "box art" illustrator (the box art that appears on plastic model kits - cars, boats, ships, planes, etc.) I found out he used water-soluble tempera for his illustrations. I wonder if long-term preservation had something to do with it? His work was mostly done before the advent of digital cameras and scanners - I assume he took high resolution photos of his work for submission. I wonder what different types of media are used nowadays by illustrators? (Jack Leynwood died in 1999). :)
Thank you so much for your videos. You are very good at explaining in human way! ;-) I've just started drawing, and I need to understand a bit, mixing the different colors, is it just something you try, or can you explain colors in some way? Hope you understand. Kind regards, Maja from Denmark
Thanks so much for your lovely comment! 😃💖 I'm happy that you like my videos! When you asked about mixing the different colors, are you referring to alcohol markers specifically? If so, I have a free 90-minute alcohol markers class here: www.art-is-fun.com/free-alcohol-markers-course 🎨
Just unlocked a core memory with this. Wee me being gutted that my refrigerator “art” didn’t look as vibrant as my colouring book “art”. Was on the refrige for YEARS: many of the colours turned almost pastel. Also remember the mothership placing dried out pens in a jar of vinegar to revive them. My colouring books had a weird pickle stenk about them 😅
Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts about this! 💖 It's certainly producing a lively discussion with various viewpoints - great food for thought for anyone who's still unsure of how they feel about it.
I'm still an avid alcohol marker fan and won't stop using them anytime soon. 😊
p.s. If you want to learn all my favorite alcohol marker techniques, check out my Ultimate Guide to Using Alcohol Markers: www.art-is-fun.com/ultimate-guide-to-using-alcohol-markers 😃
Does laminating help any tho?
My understanding is that using a laminate that is UV-resistant may help the artwork last longer when exposed to UV light (and may protect the artwork from water damage), but the alcohol marker dye will still fade over time, due to the innate chemical properties of the dye itself. Lamination isn't considered an archival preservation technique. I'd say it's up to you, if it's something you want to experiment with. 😊
😂😂😂 was thinking I didn't ever have that problem then realized I always keep my artwork in sketchbooks portfolios and drawers so I might if I actually had it out
put it on a scanner upside down turn it into a jpeg and crop it
It's sad to see that so many people are discouraged by this news but there is no need. the way I view art is it's alive once it's completed by the artist during the lifetime of the piece it will go through different life stages that's one reason why art restoration is a job. So the fact that these markers aren't permanent and will fade is just part of the medium's personality and something you and should someone want to buy your piece need to know but it's not the end of world it's just a part of the medium. Bonus for being lucky to live 25 years post the invention of a scanner and being able to scan your artwork with your phones if need be that the world will always know what the original colors were supposed to look like.
Art historians are going to LOVE YOU and this video someday for digitizing the comparison of the markers changes over time. Using it to try and estimate what existing pieces would have looked like originally.
Assuming those art historians will be able to find this video and play it and understand it 😂
Thats assuming anything digital will survive that long…
Sarah Burns Studio does this kinds of test studies a lot with different brands of gouache (and watercolors maybe too?), she tests lightfastness among many other things, paper tests too. Its greatly informative
I'm a library scientist and I'm literally gonna share this video with other librarians including archivists
🤦♀️
My mom is a working illustrator and she has Copic marker illustrations from 2001 that are SUPER vibrant and haven’t faded LOL She says you need to color on acid free paper and storie the art work in acid free binders/plastics. Also, keep them away from UV rays and moisture. They’re obviously going to look different in 80 years, but 20+ years later and they look immaculate👍
Yes, it sounds rather like your Mum is archiving her work, but if I bought a piece of marker work, I'd want it on display in a room which will inevitably contain... daylight!
@@Ron-Ayres I totally understand! 👍 But anytime you purchase original art (like paintings or marker illustrations) you NEED to take care of it by choosing a place to have it that won’t get direct sunlight. Even photos and posters will fade with direct sunlight 🥲 That have frames with glass that can help repel sunlight but you still need to take cats off the artwork✨
I still have my fashion illustrations from 20+ years ago and they are just as vibrant today. Didn't always use acid free. They are kept in a box. My copic pens are still going strong, but then again they're refillable. I think it's sun/daylight exposure that is the problem. It pretty much fades everything, curtains, garden furniture etc ..just normal I guess! 😊😊
@@Ron-Ayres Just scan it and get a high quality print. I get wanting to display the real thing but I always keep in the back of my mind that my house could burn down or something else could happen to my artwork so I want to have a digital backup anyway. Physical art just isn't eternal.
@@vanessad2141UV fades things
This is why I usually keep my alcohol marker drawings in my sketchbook, instead of hanging them up, since they won't fade as fast like that
I've been doing this as well, but I had no idea they'd fade otherwise. 😂
i do that too but my artwork yellows after a few weeks
@@danielle-bi3tk is your sketchbook acid free?
@@danielle-bi3tkif you use the ohuhu slim set with slim brush tip in a plastic box . They are cheaper than normal ohuhu. They have this problem. Buy another set. Any other set won’t yellow your paper.
I gotta be honest, I've done this too and there's no noticeable fade at all. My blues are still blue after years.
I don’t care that they fade because I love the process of coloring with them.
it's more a problem that commissionners will face
Yeah, you shouldn't really care unless you want to sell your pieces. I would still scan your art if you can though, so you at least are able to view the piece with its intended colors.
I think most artists enjoy art because they like the process, the art looking good is just the cherry on top.
They only fade if exposed to light for too long. If kept in a sketchbook or drawer they will last a long time 😊
@@Escherlifewell ikeep my sketchbook under my bed no wonder my alcohol markers wont fade from my art
Oh! When storing alcohol marker art, make sure you have a blank paper between each artwork!! My red and brown Shuttle Art alcohol markers bleed yellow onto the paper above and below them in storage!!
That has also happened to me and I was so upset about it. Now I take photos of my art.
i thought i was the only one experiencing this
Yup! I knew before getting alcohol markers that they fade, so I'm diligent to scan scan scan right when I finish the art! I recommend displaying a print of the scan! Try to consider the scan as precious of a version of the artwork as the original is☺
What is a good scanner that i should get? I’m new to the scanning artwork process and have no idea which one to get lol.
Yes whats a good scanner that most everyone can afford?
Oh! I wish I had replied sooner!! I use a Canon Pixma TS3522! They're as low as $40 at Walmart, but they're out of stock right now'~'
@@SquirtleHK ok thankyou
Agreed..I've scanned all my artwork so far just incase ..
To those who are sad about their art not lasting: please do your own lightfast testing! It's very easy and you get a clear idea which of your colours are the most problematic.
For example, if you take the advice of using coloured pencils with solvents or watersoluble pencils, you need to figure out how much you can dilute the colours. Watersoluble pencils especially are notoriously prone to fading when used in washes!
Thanks for this info! Like, I know markers are prone to fading, to the point that lightfast-testing them is pretty pointless, but I never suspected watercolour pencils of doing that.
Thanks! I did not know this about watercolor pencils.
Thanks. Promoting your response because too few know this.
Alcohol markers are an illustration medium. They aren’t meant for finished artwork. They’re meant for work that is created for a specific purpose to be reproduced. Such as for book illustrations, prints/posters, advertising, etc…. They should not use markers for finished pieces to sell.
That? Doesn’t? Like don’t the people who buy them as prints want the prints also to last forever?
@@Waspinmymind Well, it doesn’t matter if the original piece of a print is made with oil paints or alcohol markers since it’s only a reproduction, the lightfastness will depend on the ink use for printing.
So pointless
Its not pointless, and you can sell it, just give direct instructions on how to store the art piece. Art is fun and its more fun to experience with every meduim. Alcholo marker one of the best and fastest drawing tools. Give it a try 🩷@supme7558
Idc I will still use😨🤠🤓
I learned from a couple of other art TH-camrs when I found out about alcohol markers that they aren’t lightfast (it might have been from a brand comparison video). They’re mainly used for illustrations that will be reproduced (so could be useful for something you want to sell on Redbubble or a similar site, or an drawing you want to sell prints of but not the original. From what I’ve heard, they’re popular with manga illustrations.
I also like just playing around with them in my sketchbooks or coloring in a coloring book.
Many mediums have varying lightfastness, depending on brand, colors/color groups, etc.
yes, but non as bad as alcohol markers, by far. the only thing coming close would be, in general, "highlighter" colors in any medium (fluorescent pigments begin fading inmediately)
Weirdly, I have a swatch book that has barely faded, and I filled it well over five years ago. It could be the paper quality or chemical composition, or perhaps it’s the fact that I kepe them completely out of light.
It's because you kept them in the dark
Yeah if you just keep your alcohol marker art in archival sleeves on a binder, you could browse through it every day and still the deterioration will slow down over 90%.
I didn't know the difference between dye and pigment before - thanks!
I believe the reason watercolour paintings don't sell for as much as oils is because historically, watercolour paints were very fugitive. We now have the technology to prevent them fading, but the perception of watercolour as a "temporary" medium lives on. The whole business of trying to make colours last in art is really interesting, thousands of years of experimentation.
Same! I actually taught my Dad the difference after I watched this video😄
Yeah watercolours definitely have that reputation... Which is sad because if you use quality paints that are rigorously tested e.g. Daniel Smith, you know the lightfastness of the colours, and a _lot_ are highly lightfast, rated for at least 100 years
I am mainly a coloured pencil artist but when I use markers I don't care the artwork will fade. Markers are fairly new to my work and I went in with the knowledge they can fade in days. I've been selling my art for nearly 30 years and I choose lightfast materials where possible. When I get new supplies I will immediately separate the non-lightfast colours. That way I can make informed choices and it's easier to inform a buyer about the colours used.
I use alcohol markers as a base for coloured pencils, so I can get rid of the white paper faster. I've found that I don't have the fading problem, because the markers are the base layer. Don't know how it will be in 20+ years tho😅
I found using alcohol markers to "underpaint" my pictures then use coloured pencils over them - makes the colours look amazing.
Especially in my colouring books, I would like to see you do a video on that maybe also
This is how I like to do it too!
First time viewer here. How do you only have 5200 subs?? The production value of your videos is so high! Very educational too. Last year I painted a stone with sunflowers for my garden using acrylic paints. I used green, yellow, orange, and black. When I was done, I sealed it with a spray-on varnish. So far all the colors look amazing still, except for the orange, which completely disappeared within a couple of months!
Thanks so much for your positive feedback on my videos! Glad you found it useful. 😃 Sorry to hear your orange color disappeared from your stone painting. It's a good reminder that acrylics fade at different rates too! I love fluorescent acrylics, but they are definitely not lightfast! 😁
so agree, she deserves many more subs, I subbed within 5 minutes of watching her first video because it was just that good! 👍🏻
If your rocks are outside, you should use a UV varnish.
@@lostinwonderart I used a spray-on varnish that was rated for outside use, so I assumed it would protect from UV.
Looks like they have only been posting for about a year and they don’t have a lot of videos for that time too
Alcohol markers were made for prints mostly, I do art restoration as one of my art services and faded art is something people have a problem with. With this in mind I hate it when artists especially artists that know better use non-lightfast materials in a commission. One common complaint is the hundreds of dollars the customer spent for them to have a faded piece in sometimes LESS THAN A YEAR! Some pieces were so bad I had to completely redo the art from scratch. But people that use cheap non-lightfast supplies are scamming their customer hands down.
Excellent information. The lightfastness of coloured pencils is equally mixed. Faber Castell Polychromos are very good, but many Prismacolor colours are fugitive. There are brands like Derwent Lightfast and Caran D'Ache Luminance that are formulated for maximum lightfastness.
I think many mediums vary, especially with certain colors/groups. Paints can vary with how lightfast they are for the different colors.
@@wintersprite For sure. Lightfastness is definitely something to be mindful of in art materials. Good quality brands like Golden and Windsor and Newton make a point of including that in their labelling
Many of the Derwents are not lightfast
@@dshe8637 Absolutely. Derwent has a specific line, "Derwent Lightfast" which they claim are all in the 50-year lightfastness range.
I didn't know about the Derwent lightfast pencil line, but I have been using their Inktense pencils and blocks because their pigments have been mixable with acrylic fabric medium and lightfast (for at least a few years).
So, they're probably great for making art you want to scan and make prints of! Thank you for talking about this, had no idea
Thank you, that you made this video. There are artist out their using markers for their expensive original comission work, and I like that someone address this issue in a video.
The solution to that is for the recipient to scan the original and keep it in the dark, and display a print of the scan.
THANK-YOU SO MUCH for the information! I was quite confused as to why some of my swatches from 3 years ago look so different from the fresh colour that comes out from the markers. I honestly thought it was my fault for not doing a proper swatch then. Thanks for clearing that up for me. Anyway to answer your question, I do art for myself only so it doesn't bother me that marker art doesn't last long. However, it does also clear up something else for me - I've been wondering whether to replenish some of my marker colours but now I've decided not to. I'll just continue using the markers until there's no more ink left. Anyway my main art focus has always been watercolour painting.😀Great video!!
So glad this info was helpful to you! 😃 It can be quite a shock when you first notice how different your colors look a few years later. I try to redo my color charts every year, so that I can be sure I'm looking at an accurate color chart when I pick my colors! 😁 Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Coming from a watercolor background lightfastness and fugitive are terms I hear a lot! I had zero idea my Copics are not lightfast….BUMMER!! I’ll use them in my sketchbooks though and take it as a quirk of the medium. 🎨
Your scanner covered with stickers gave me a huge smile! 👍🏻😄
I appreciate how colorfastness is even specified by individual color in professional watercolor brands, as well as opacity, granulation and other key characteristics. I wish other mediums were as detailed in their descriptions!
@@AuroraDeLirio Yeah, this is one of the reasons I love watercolours too, so much information to choose paints - even the individual pigments used - which is helpful since I prefer to buy single pigment paints and mix them for the most variety & more predictable mixing outcomes 🥰
Found this out when I was making resin art. It's one of the reasons I never opened up my own shop. Alcohol ink fades. Podwers shift, resin yellows, flowers wither. It just didn't seem fair to customers. At least I had fun.
Yeah I realized this lightfastness problem right after I picked up a bunch of alcohol markers, that's why I prioritize the sensation of using the markers rather than how it looked later lol. That's also why I only bought markers with brush nibs, and after trying a bunch of diffrent brand, either cheap or expensive, now I understood that its not the ink that makes copic expensive, but rather cuz of the quality of their superbrush that made them sooo enjoyable to use :')
yeah, cause when it comes to ink, alcohol ink is actually cheap to make lol. they aren't sticking to any single pigment confections or astm ratings, they can use fluorescent mixtures liberally, multi pigment mixes, etc. it doesn't matter since they are not made to last at all.
Import costs are what really affect the price point for anyone outside of Japan. They're much cheaper there.
I’ve used Copic Markers, Kuretake and some generic markers the past 8 years. Copic and the generic all have faded even when kept in the dark archived. None of my pieces done with Kuretake markers has faded. The ones I have on the wall in display (basic glass, without uv protection) have faded at about 5% and the archived pieces haven’t faded at all. Also as read from other commenters I use acid free high quality Bristol paper.
Wow! I’ve wanted so many art videos about markers and other mediums. But I’ve never heard of artist talk about the subject before especially this much in depth! I’m really thankful for your video and the work you put into it❤ thank you so much and I hope your challenge grows and grows for more artists to see! I hope your having a wonderful year thanks again ❤🎨✍️
Thanks so much for your wonderful feedback on my video! It really means a lot to me! 🥰 Wishing you all the best on your creative journey! 😃🎨✨
I started using watercolor pencils about a year ago and I found I enjoyed them so much more than alcohol based markers. I feel I have more control over blending with them and they seem to stay pigmented nicely. I also have watercolor markers which blend even nicer, but you know what will fade. Still makes lovely work, though.
I'm glad you made this video, you're right I rarely ever hear other artists (and YTers) talking about this. I remember the first time I learned this I was soooooo incredibly saddened but relieved since I make it a habit of scanning my traditional artwork!
Such an interesting question: does it matter or not to you if your marker art fades over time?
That would depend….
My marker art is typically intended for stage/costume design sketches which, aren’t necessarily needed after the production is completely built. However, productions that become part of a repertoire will require future rebuilds either in part or whole. To ensure the original sketches remain useful for this, one must include additional color references that support the integrity of the pallet. Textile swatches tend are typically protected from the light, but they can get separated from the sketch over the long term, therefore labeling the artwork with Pantone reference numbers is a good idea.
I feel like it depends for me but i mostly wouldn't mind, even just with your own examples, i still like how the art looks even with the faded colours. So i kinda feel like its just letting the art change on its own in a way.
I really like your perspective -- "just letting the art change on its own in a way". That's a nice way of looking at it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts! 😃
Really glad to have seen this! I've been considering getting a smaller set of alcohol markers, though I usually have been using watercolor and through my life, have not cared much for using markers in general. I think for now I'll save my money and put it back into future supplies when I need more of what I have been using the most.
I dont like alcohol , i cant stand the smell, but i subscribed whithin 30 seconds of your introduction, what a lovely personality. Your art is amazing.
Aww thank you so much for your lovely comment!! 😃 That means a lot to me! 🥰
It is a little sad to hear that my favorite medium will fade, but, hey, scanning them in is a great alternative that can get you closer to selling your art as graphics or for print-on-demand!
I got my first copics in 2010-2011 and alcohol markers not being lightfast was a huge topic back then but I see it’s not talked about that much anymore. I consider markers as a fun medium that I would use for sketching but not for anything I would sell unless it’s a print. Not sure how nuri durr sells his originals knowing that (love his work )
i think it's mostly because very few people sticked to them beyond quick thumbnails among proffessional artists (or just scanning inmediately and selling prints). for the most part, you see either the hobbists who like either coloring books or manga drawing sticking for this material in any more meaningful degree, so there really is no point on arguing lightfastness there, those are the type of people who, for the most part, won't care about a word regarding lightfastness so long as they find the medium pretty and covenient. and the works for them, for the most part, will remain in a drawer or a book, so it's even less relevant.
@@magical571 honestly I’m not worried about light fast pass 30yrs
I just ran across this video, and you did an excellent job with explaining, providing options, and a very good pace! I look forward to seeing more of your videos!
Thanks so much for your comment! I'm so glad my video was helpful to you! 😃🎨✨
I’m gonna get cheaper ones then since it apparently doesn’t matter😅 I still enjoy using the markers so I’m not gonna ditch them entirely. Just gonna start scanning my art to my laptop and avoiding the expensive stuff. Arrtx alcohol markers from now on! Thanks!
I’m so miffed to find this out after I saved for years for a set of Copics…not that I was ever going to sell the art I made but still. I guess I’ll just use them in sketchbooks and take pictures of the art. 👍🏻🎨
The scanning idea is great!
I’ve been using off brand alcohol markers for awhile and they really are comparable for the most part. I find them at great prices at Ross and TJ Maxx
Some brands still blend and are less streaky than others. Also, some are refillable while others are not.
@@wintersprite true. I liked the artist loft ones when I tried those. They’re pretty cheap too!
Lol me too. But I must admit, there's still no cheap brand that can match the elasticity and smoothness of Copic's super brush esp for blending :') Ohuhu is close 2nd tho
What I find so curious is how fugitive the blue dyes are. I''m so used to seeing that in reds and yellows.
Didn't know that expensiv markers would fade too 🫢
I'm very thankful for this information!
Good Vid! ☺️💖
So glad it was helpful! Thank you for your comment! 😃
I clicked on this just out of sheer curiosity, and was shocked to see what a dramatic hue shift there was in just 2.5 years! I haven’t used copics much recently, but did often as a kid in high school, so I still have art that is 8 to 12 years old from that time period that was made with copics and looks just as pristine as the day I made it. I wonder if the copic formula was different way back then and gave it more lightfastness than it has today? Interesting.
Mine are 8+ years old, are on a wall in front of a window and are all super vibrant and the same as old footage i have with them in the background. A lot of them are laminated tho
The lamination probably reduces environmental exposure with the marker ink, UV may still affect them over a longer period but it's almost like you've put them in "suspended animation" with the laminating 😊
It really doesn’t matter what happens to the artwork. I’ll only care about my own art as long as I’m alive. That’s why I scan or photograph my art. The physical artwork isn’t too important anyway if I have a digital copy. I’m just gonna have a giant stack of artwork that just builds up around my room and not have any room for more art if I keep holding on to drawings and stuff. The drawings might also get damaged in a disaster if I don’t keep a copy them digitally
"I’ll only care about my own art as long as I’m alive", i mean....to be fair, unless you die tomorrow, your alcohol marker art WILL fade faster than any other medium in existance, it doesn't take decades, just 2 years or so. the only worse choice would be to make art with highlighters (fluorescent pigments fade inmediately)
@@magical571 ehh I’ve made highlighter art and again I did photograph it. Anyway I should have specified that my caring is relative thing. Honestly I’ll move on to new art since I’m always getting ideas. Trust me all of that is fixed by scanning and photographing.
This video is more for people that sell commissions. It ain't about you
@@wigglyfruit4708 I love your mindset. I think it's a good thing to not be too attached to your art, at least not by obsessing over a certain medium.
This fact really bummed me out when I found out about it... But I realized I really won't be sharing my creations, so it's no big deal! 😅 But I have found that I love paint markers with brush nibs! 😍 My one main issue with them is the puddling that happens with Poscas!! 😮 That drives my crazy!! 🤦♀️
You are super talented and very good at video creation. I appreciate learning about this situation before I attempt to use any alcohol markers. As a painter and mixed media artist, I have always only used pigment markers. As a graphic designer/art director for print media, I used to use alcohol markers for graphic design color overlays that were not the final art. I think I will probably avoid using these kind of markers on my work as I want my vibrant colors to stay vibrant. Thank you!
Thanks so much for your positive feedback on my videos ~ it means a lot to me! 🥰 Thank you also for sharing your thoughts about alcohol markers!
I just like them because of the texture. You can’t really get the same flat smoothness with a tiny bit of paper texture without brush strokes with something like paint or digital :( (yes, I have used marker-style brushes for procreate but those force you to layer over and over to get the desired saturation and you can’t lift your hand or else it fucks up. I know real markers are kinda the same but it’s DIFFERENT idk…)
you are an amazing teacher! you present that information really really well! You speak clearly and give so many options about alternatives and solutions!
Thank you so much! I really appreciate your positive feedback on my video and teaching style! 😃🎨🌟
Such a good video. Very interesting and informative! I didn’t know this about alcohol markers so I’m really glad I found your channel. Keep up the great work! 😁👍
Thank you for writing such a nice comment! I'm so glad my video was useful to you! Happy Art-Making! 😃🎨🌟
Just came upon your channel and I’m so glad. This content was extremely informative and I really appreciate it.
Thanks so much for your kind words! I'm happy that you enjoy my content! 😃🎨✨
In art history class I had learned that any blue dyes (and even some pigments) are more fugitive than yellows, oranges, and browns. This is why blues, greens, violets and some darker reds/maroons are affected.
This can be seen in historical pieces of clothing, tapestries, and rugs that degrade/fade.
I love paint markers. I have a large set of Karin decobrush pens and they are lovely. It’s like a very, very convenient way to paint, once you find a paper that works well with them.
The fade factor is why I begin using fixant spray as I noticed pencil rubbed off and spraying it made it last many years. I used it on different art media and plan to use it for alcohol markers. On top of this I story my art in portfolios and sketchbooks or plastic sheet covers to slip in individual art. The art I kept safe in my art book has last a long time. I had plastic sheets given to me by a friend who love to be neat and organized. She noticed I had art in a notebook and offered them to be before she moved. The art from my childhood and my young adulthood is still in great shape. This a suggestion for those who want their art to last a bit longer than one or two decades. I have gona back and filmed or photographed my art since I learned about light fading a couple of years ago. 🤗❤️👍🏽💯
Good video! Hopefully this brings some awareness to the lightfastness issue. Colored pencils are also usually fugitive unless a lightfast brand is bought, unfortunately. :(
I feel a little bad I fell out of love with my 70+ Copics/refills and put them in storage a decade ago, but in the end I'm *much* happier with watercolor. It's a bit more of a learning curve, but with the right materials (like cotton paper) it comes out on top every time.
Oh wow! I had no idea they did this and I have a feeling a lot of artists don't, so thanks for making this! I'm sure they still have their purpose but for art someone's planning to gift or sell as an original (and not a print) it doesn't seem like a good choice. It does make me a little sad but like you said... all pigments fade eventually. Even my colored pencil art has smeared or faded over the last 10 or 15 years.
This is why I photo my drawings after they're made, and then not hang them up unless im ok with them fading.
I just really dont care much for using paints (too messy) or crayola markers (too streaky and inconsistent). Crayons are stressful unless you're like a pro at them and pencil crayons take a LONG time to get nice colours, and they're fragile.
So even if alcohol markers aren't the best, they're great for me. Though I usually use an oil/real ink outliner so it's crisp and wont easily bleed
Such a helpful educational video Thaneeya! Have you done a video comparing the Ohuhu grey tone set vs the Arteza Grey tone set? It's hard to find a comparison review here... would be helpful..
Thank you so much! Glad my video was helpful to you! 😃 I haven't tried Arteza markers - sorry I can't help you with that!
I use alcohol markers as a base on which I add dry pastels or sometimes colored pencils, works pretty well. I don't know how their fading over time will affect the overall drawing, but they're fun to play and experiment with
I believe W&N sell or used to sell ”pigment markers” which are lightfast
You are so professional and your material helps me a lot!
Waiting for more😃
Thanks so much! I'm so happy my videos are helpful to you! 😃🎨
Another wonderful video, Thaneeya. I had no idea that alcohol markers fade, so this whole video was very helpful. Your knowledge is amazing. Xx🙂👍👏
Thanks so much for your comment, Lyn! Glad my video was helpful to you! 😃🎨
I haven’t used Copic and other markers in years because I mainly draw on ipad, but i miss using them. Digital art is just cleaner and i can erase and redraw infinitely, and i can adjust the colors until im happy with them.
Inktense are also a great alternative to makers. They are more vibrant than regular watercolor pencils, and dry permanent as long as all the pigment is dissolved.
This video is a joy to watch. Your art is so pretty and vibrant. 😊
Thank you so much!! 😃🎨💖
Never knew about this nor ever heard of this so pretty useful, i'm glad now to have this information going forward (have been using alcohol markers for like 2 years)
also that whole scanning your art you have done with markers was a good idea i should probably do that my self even though i have until now only taken pictures with my phone 😅
It is hard to be completely perpendicular to the artwork when taking a photo to avoid distortion unless you hang on a wall and use a tripod.
I made some art with twin markers (a cheap alcohol marker brand sold over here) And after laminating it, it lasted for years, even after hanging on my wall. I still have some pieces from over three years ago that look just like they did when I first made them. I did the first ones on printer paper, the ones I still have are on cheap watercolor paper. I dont know if Im just really lucky or something, but its worth a try
Really useful info here. I had no idea that alcohol makers fade so quickly!
Thanks for commenting! I'm so glad my video was helpful to you! 😃
I have 7 years old drawing made with promarkers from 2016-18 and they are still very vibrant.I store them on individual plastic pockets, put together on a big one (Yes it's the only way i found to sort them) They are in a closet, so they are not exposed to light at all.
That's interesting and the explanation well structured. To be fair though, I haven't noticed any change in the pictures I have drew with alcohol Promarkers W&N even within 15 whole years. The colours are as vibrant as they used to be and none of them had this drastic change as we see in the video...maybe different pigment? Who knows...
My primary medium is pencil, I also do digital. Ive been using alcohol markers for about 4 years, being introduced with Jazzas Jazzy Art Box. Generally on Printer Paper. My oldest Alcohol marker artworks haven't faided to a notable degree authough I don't display it. Store it in the dark or covered with other pencil artworks & notes.
como arquitecto no me importa mucho si pierde color con los años puesto que los bocetos son para mostrar ideas en el momento, por otro lado me desiluciona un poco que se degrade tan rapido, de todas formas si vale la pena los colores son vibrantes y facil de usar ♥
i did a lightfastness test on a cheap marker set i bought. I wasnt expecting much, but the colors did fairly well after a couple weeks, except the violet lol, that one was completely gone after a few days!
If you have an inked out line with it. The outlines will keep most of the time...(depends on the ink you've used.)
If anything after 3 years or so you can reclaim your paper for more marker work.
Markers more for fun if anything :)
That’s a healthy perspective! Thank you for sharing your thoughts! 😃🎨
I always scan my finished work and make prints because I know some colors will fade extremely quick. Purples and pinks fade like no ones business.
*me, a strictly digital artist that has no plans of picking up traditional art any time soon, much less has the money to even afford alcohol markers* : ah, yes this is definitely information that I needed to know at this very moment
lol jokes aside, very insightful video!
So glad this was discussed!
Kinda sad. I guess one could take high resolution scans of their work for permanent preservation, but it's obviously just not the same as the original.
I only use alcohol markers in doodles for my journals and I've noticed that they look pretty much the same as they used to years ago :)
But art that I've made on paper and stored on my desk has notably gotten a little less vibrant.
I noticed with water markers actually. One of my oranges totally faded after just few days. Didn't happen tho when it wasn't exposed to a lot of light so i learnt to not keave my drawings right on the table but rather keep them in a note book or in a drawer
I am so glad I saw this Before I got some new art supplies. I was considering alcohol markers but I still think I'll give them a try! Btw You Are So Cute and Funny! I Love your style too!! Keep this up and you'll be huge in a few years!!
Aw thank you so much for your sweet comment! 🥰 I'm so happy my video was useful to you! I think alcohol markers are definitely worth a try ~ I have so much fun with mine! 😃🎨✨
Thank you for this, much needed.
You're very welcome! I'm so glad it was helpful! 😊
I had no idea! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Glad the info was useful to you! Thanks for commenting! 😃
Stunningly talented! 💝
Thank you so much! 😊
I think unwanted art supplies can donated somewhere, not really sure where because it probably depends on how safe they are to use and who would be using them.
I see a couple of people saying that alcohol markers are mainly used for illustrations that can be reproduced, but as a Graphic Artist, I was first introduced to them being used as an illustration medium for print layouts and product/advert concepts to show to clients.
That doesn't mean that they don't have loads of other purposes of course! But I imagine they're mentioned in the other context because of products like manga covers, posters, and special page spreads? Just curious.
I’m surprised that you only got 5.5k subs. This video was so informative. Thank you for the quality content!
Thanks sp much for your comment! 💖 It's really great to hear that my video was useful to you! 😃
So glad that I came across your vids! You gave the most useful tips and I really appreciated it. I used alcohol markers when I was studying fashion design. I just take a look back at my old work from 2003-2005, they are still pretty much stay the same colors! I keep them closed in folders and portfolio books. I don't make drawing for wall display so it's ok with me. By the way, I'm wondering if you have ever came across the color change in the marker pens or refills? I have! No idea why. 😭
Thanks so much for your comment! It's awesome to hear such wonderful feedback! 🥰 Great to hear that your alcohol marker art looks pretty much the same after all these years. Keeping them stored away really does help! 😊 Hmm, off the top of my head, I can't recall ever noticing the color change in the markers themselves or in the ink refills, though I'm sure it could be possible if the ink is exposed to prolonged light, heat or humidity. I keep my ink refills in a dark drawer. Time is also a factor. I've read that alcohol ink has a shelf-life of around 3-5 years, after which the ink may fade or chemically degrade. I've had markers and ink refills last much longer than that without fading, but I do keep in mind that all liquid art supplies (paints, inks, etc) have a limited shelf life, which motivates me to use them while they're still good! 🎨💕
@@thaneeya Thank you so much!
Opera Pink is my favorite color in any medium, so I'm very familiar with the term "fugitive"!😭 Great information, thank you!!
I know what you mean ~ I LOVE Opera Pink!!! 😭 At least we can enjoy it while it lasts! Thank you for your comment! 💖
It fading means the process was really worth it, and it also means that youve been coloring for a while so its an achievement!
personally i don’t really mind, life is fleeting and i’ll enjoy my art on the wall in a frame for as long as i want, then replace it if it starts looking bad
Make a print of it maybe!
it only matters if you are a proffessional artist, to be fair.
@@magical571 yeah exactly, i personally don’t care about my own art for personal use failing
👏 👏 👏
Artist here i have been using copics for nearly 20 years now. I have copic art from 2004 here and they are not faded one bit. You need to store the artwork correctly. Store in a acidfree plasticpocket or a sketchbook that is closed off from light. If you are extremely concerned scan or make a high quality fotograph of your art for storage purposes.
Just found your channel! Love the vid! It was super informative and your art is amazing!! Just subbed!! 😊
Yay, thank you so much! 😃 That really means a lot to me! 🥰
I had no idea this was a thing! Such useful information!
Glad it was helpful! 😊
Technically ALL artworks will fade over time; it really just depends on the environment they are kept in and the materials used. This is why its important to use the right combination of materials for your artwork. For example, if you are going to display your marker art, make sure to use a frame that has archival properties (protection from certain light levels and types). Also sealing your artwork goes a long way to protecting it from breaking down. Using acid free paper also helps to prevent the markers components from breaking down.
As an example, I have a copic marker artwork on display in my room that I did on acid free watercolor paper. It's almost 10 years old now and is kept, ironically, in a simple poster frame. The room this artwork is in is the BRIGHTEST room in the house due to the room's wall color (a dulled yellow) and placement (no trees to give it shade and where sunlight will hit). This artwork has NOT shifted from its original color; it's still as vibrant as the day I colored it (and yes I have a scan/photo of it before displaying it so I can compare the two).
Hello can you please answer my 3 questions regarding the alchohol markers? Please i will really help me.
1. Should i store them vertically or horizontally?
2. Can i use it on AC room?
3. How can i store it in extreme hot days like summers above 50degrees ?
Please reply.. I really appreciate it. ❤
Hello! 😃
1. Either way is fine. People have their personal preferences, but from all the research I've done, either way is acceptable. I usually keep mine stored horizontally in marker trays for convenience.
2. Yes, you can use your alcohol markers in an air-conditioned room.
3. I don't have any firsthand experience with those high temperatures, but I suggest keeping the markers stored in a cooler location (if possible) and definitely keep them stored away from direct sunlight.
Hope this helps! 😊
@@thaneeya thank you so much it really mean alot. Actually I buy it because of your videos and i really like and enjoy your videos thanks again ❤
I'm glad I could help, and I'm happy that you enjoy my videos! 😊
I haven't noticed this with my alcohol markers, like at all but I only use them on my colouring books that I likely wont save forever but still bit sad about this because I live alcohol markers, they are so easy and comfortable to paint with.
Awww this makes me sad. I recently got into using Ohuhu alcohol markers as they are so fun to color with but it does worry me that the colors will end up fading away. 😢
I think they’ll be okay if you’re using a sketchbook where light won’t hit it. You can always photograph your art or scan it when you’re done to preserve it.
@@creativelychandra ooh. I do try to keep my notebooks away from strong light. And that's a very good idea. Thank you so much! ❤️
That's why I've switched over from alcohol markers to watercolor and gouache. (Note on gouache: for lightfastness you want *artist* gouache, since some *designer* gouache--like alcohol markers--were initially meant for reproducible illustrations rather than originally displayed art, and so didnt prioritize lightfastness)
Could you make an in-depth video on scanning our drawing please? Either with the iPhone scanning or should I buy an actual scanner
I want to simply colour my drawings on ProCreate perhaps🙏
I am new to alcohol markers, so this warning is so very helpful! Thanks
So glad my video was helpful to you! 😃
Greatly appreciate this video! I wasn't aware of how fast fading occurs with dye-based markers. Frustrating really; I love the medium; you get such good, immediate results. Like painting with a pen. The rule then, I guess, is enjoy creating the work but commit to digital format as quickly as possible.
Glad it was helpful to you! "Like painting with a pen" is a great description of how it feels to make art with alcohol markers. That's why I'll keep using them! Thanks for your comment! 😃
@@thaneeya I recently watched a video about Jack Leynwood - A renowned "box art" illustrator (the box art that appears on plastic model kits - cars, boats, ships, planes, etc.) I found out he used water-soluble tempera for his illustrations. I wonder if long-term preservation had something to do with it? His work was mostly done before the advent of digital cameras and scanners - I assume he took high resolution photos of his work for submission. I wonder what different types of media are used nowadays by illustrators? (Jack Leynwood died in 1999). :)
I use alcohol markers as the base colors for my mixed media pictures. I also photograph my art
Watercolors have this problem too, but they are made with pigment. It's ultraviolet exposure in the sun from a window.
Thank you so much for your videos. You are very good at explaining in human way! ;-)
I've just started drawing, and I need to understand a bit, mixing the different colors, is it just something you try, or can you explain colors in some way? Hope you understand. Kind regards, Maja from Denmark
Thanks so much for your lovely comment! 😃💖 I'm happy that you like my videos! When you asked about mixing the different colors, are you referring to alcohol markers specifically? If so, I have a free 90-minute alcohol markers class here: www.art-is-fun.com/free-alcohol-markers-course 🎨
Just unlocked a core memory with this. Wee me being gutted that my refrigerator “art” didn’t look as vibrant as my colouring book “art”. Was on the refrige for YEARS: many of the colours turned almost pastel. Also remember the mothership placing dried out pens in a jar of vinegar to revive them. My colouring books had a weird pickle stenk about them 😅