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So I'm really curious to know what about the copic markers are so special. They are so expensive and it seems on here a lot of people are trying to match them to the SU colors, so why not just use the SU markers?
I read the tutorial sent out this week and it still doesnt sell me on something so dang expensive.
So what gives fellow stampers, what made you "have" to get them?
Thanks, I appreciate any and all answers to my burning question.;)
Apparently these markers blend beautifully. No marker lines either. Plus color can be removed with some special marker. Check out Jeanne S's gallery. She uses them to color in images and they look fantastic! Nice crisp bold colors that I can't get with my Prismacolor pencils. I'd love to give them a try.. but no way do I want to spend that much on markers! Nope!
Oh sure! I actually use Prismacolor pencils and Turpenoid (a brand of odorless mineral spirits) with stumps. These blend beautifully. There's a great tutorial on SweetMissDaisy's website (there's also one for watercoloring): Sweet & Sassy Notes (click here)
I've actually used the Copics, & I want them!! I'm not sure I'd be sold, either, if I hadn't had the pleasure of using them & learning all about them at my LSS. Check out Colorin' Kate's gallery....
She's the teacher of all things Copic at my LSS, & she's become a good friend of mine. I've wanted the Copics since I first tried them early last year.......then got busy with other things......but now with everyone talking about them, I want them again. I took her Copic coloring class a few months ago & they are a dream!! Kathy creates all the samples for Whipper Snapper......head over to their website to see more of her creations!!
I've actually used the Copics, & I want them!! I'm not sure I'd be sold, either, if I hadn't had the pleasure of using them & learning all about them at my LSS. Check out Colorin' Kate's gallery....
She's the teacher of all things Copic at my LSS, & she's become a good friend of mine. I've wanted the Copics since I first tried them early last year.......then got busy with other things......but now with everyone talking about them, I want them again. I took her Copic coloring class a few months ago & they are a dream!! Kathy creates all the samples for Whipper Snapper......head over to their website to see more of her creations!!
I sent an email to a company that was advertised on the same page as the tutorial requesting a coupon worth 50% off all Copic sets or 40% off individual markers. My husband is buying me the set of 24 for my birthday.
I love coloring with my Prismacolor pencils, but I'm always interested in new media!
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Wow.. that sounds like a great deal!! But still.. it seems so pricey for markers! What happened to the good ole days of Crayola.. hehe.. Maybe I'll try to go to Hobby Lobby (yes, Michelle, you're right! ;) ) and just get a few to play with.
Last week, I bought 2 at Hobby Lobby to try and they were $5.89 each! I got 2 shades of blue greens and tried to blend them, but I could not get them to work for me??? I need help...I am not sure that I want to spend that much on markers either when I have the complete set of SU ones plus a few Tombows that I had before I became a demo...
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Last week, I bought 2 at Hobby Lobby to try and they were $5.89 each! I got 2 shades of blue greens and tried to blend them, but I could not get them to work for me??? I need help...I am not sure that I want to spend that much on markers either when I have the complete set of SU ones plus a few Tombows that I had before I became a demo...
Did you see the new tutorial in resources for coloring with markers?? I think she did a good job showing how to do it. But I think you need a bit of an artistic eye.. I still don't know how to properly shade & highlight images.
Did you see the new tutorial in resources for coloring with markers?? I think she did a good job showing how to do it. But I think you need a bit of an artistic eye.. I still don't know how to properly shade & highlight images.
I did see the tutorial, but I really need to study it very carefully. I think you need some art bg for sure...
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It does take practice ~~ I have ZERO artistic ability, eye...anything, lol!! I think I desire them because I got to see *in person* how they work. Her tutorial is great, but nothing beats hands on instruction!! And I've admired Kathy's work since the day I set foot into my LSS ~~ if I can ever color as well as she can, my life is complete!!!
(Okay, well, I'm probably exaggerating just a *ltitle* bit, lol)
I did see the tutorial, but I really need to study it very carefully. I think you need some art bg for sure...
I will preface this with the comment that I am by no means an artist. I took the Copic plunge after seeing a lot of the neat cards done here on SCS. What I have found, especially for the blending, is that the right paper is critical - the CS that works so well for gamsol/wax pencil technique doesn't do the trick with Copics. I found that watercolor paper works quite well.
I have never used Copics, but I did read that since they are alcohol based markers they can be used on metal (think garden stakes) or ceramics. They are supposed to be supremely blendable. I read that Ellen Hutson is having them in her store tomorrow and for 13 hours they will be 13% off on Friday the 13th. I don't know what her original price is, though. Ellen had a tutorial on using them to color metal a while back - you could look at her Simple Dreams blog to learn more about the Copics. I think it was about a month ago, maybe more.
I feel so bad that everyone is complaining about the price since it's so much higher in Canada! I own quite a number of the markers and I have to say I love them not only because they are so blendable but also because of the color range.
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If you email Carpe Diem, they will send you a coupon (or rather an email about how the coupon works). And the coupon is only for the SKETCH, not the origonal.
I am on the fence myself, I don't know what is better, sketch or origonal!
Well, when I do break down I will probably get the Ciaos because they are more affordable. They won't work with the airbrush system, but who are we kidding? I will never use that contraption!! LOL!! The Ciaos come in 144 colors, while the Sketch come in 300-some. The Ciaos are round, the Sketch are squarish. They have the same tips, & both are refillable. The Original have a chisel end, & a fine end.
I have 2 Sketch that I bought at HL & I love them. Yes, I could only afford 2, lol. And I bought them about 8 months ago, before this Copic craze took over. I do also have the blender pen which works well with the Prismas.
I'm just waiting to win the lottery before I buy more........
Oh, & I use a coated paper called MatteKote, highly recommended by Kathy the Copic Queen. However, she said the MatteKote we have here in WI seems to be different than MatteKote in other states. Erin K has recommended Bristol Smooth paper, which I think can be found at Michaels. I haven't tried it yet so if you have questions you might want to PM Erin or check her blog!!
And thanks for the compliment, Barb ~ you're so sweet!
Forgot to add - SU Markers are water based and can be used on stamps - Copic are alcohol based so they blend really nice without streaks the water markers can leave, and work with pencils but you cant use them on stamps. I want some toooo
I have some of the Copic sketch markers. All I can add to the conversation is that they are quite addicting. I no longer want to color with anything else.
Sorry to be a post pig but I just found this posted in the comments section of Colorin Kates Alcohol Markers Tutorial and thought it answers your question best here is her post:
Hope this is where I answer your questions. To those wondering about the difference between SU markers (which are waterbased ) and alcohol/solvent based markers (of which Copic is one brand) - there are several differences. Due to their alcohol base - these markers will not pill the paper when trying to shade (which means you can blend and layer colors on regular paper and achieve more professional results without streaks).They are waterproof (which means no smudging or smearing). They can be used on surfaces that waterbased markers do not stick to (like plastic, glass, metal and fabric - see Trudee's tutorial on coloring your ribbon). Alcohol based markers are much more lightfast than waterbased markers. Because they are a tool designed for professional graphic artists, they are refillable and have replacement tips(making them more economical in the long run). And, you can combine alcohol markers with other mediums, such as colored pencils, pastels and chalks. I personally have never been able to achieve the same vibrancy and blendability with waterbased markers.
Kathy Sanders/colorin' kate | 07.11.07 - 2:33 pm | #
I have 2 Sketch that I bought at HL & I love them. Yes, I could only afford 2, lol. And I bought them about 8 months ago, before this Copic craze took over. I do also have the blender pen which works well with the Prismas.
...
So which colors did you buy? I might just hop down to HL today...
Well, I never noticed a smell ~~ so I just took one out & inhaled, lol!! They smell like a regular marker ~~ they aren't packaged at HL so I say open one up & breathe deeply!! No one will laugh, I swear!
Let's see.....I have E04 "Lipstick Natural" ~~ I think I bought this one because it's kind of a mauve ~~ nothing like I had in the SU markers. I also have BG10 ~~ a VERY light blue that was recommended by Linda @ AMuse (check out her blog for her "must have" colors!!) ~~ great for sky!! I've also heard that E00 (correct me if I'm wrong, ladies) is a perfect skin tone ~~ so I'd get that one if they have it!!
If I were to get a few more, I would get some that I can layer. The last number in their code is the lightness ~~ for layering you should make sure the last numbers is different by 2 or more. But make sure the first number is the same (ie B81 & B83 would be perfect to layer together). Clear as mud??
I would buy two of the same color shade...a lighter version of the color and a medium version of the color.
For instance, say I wanted 2 green markers...I'd by something like G000 (pale green) and G14 (Apple Green). The last number on the right indicates how light or dark the color is...so, for my selections Pale Green, being a 0, is really light, Apple Green, being a 4, is of medium intensity. Having these two markers of the same color will allow me to blend and achieve shades that would be around 1,2,and 3....so, what you have, with just having two markers is really like having 5 markers.
Alright.. I just picked up 4.. They were out of the blending marker tho.. I've colored one image.. but I'm still not sold. (But I do love this new set of clear doggie stamps I found there!)