<p>It is very hard to blend colors with markers and you can't use normal paper for it because on rough paper marker spreads so you need a proper sketch paper.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-14T17:52:34.737Z
Sorry, everything here is incorrect.
Allison C
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-13T12:22:09.680Z
2019-10-13T12:22:09.680Z
Amna
<p>It is possible to blend using markers, though like any new medium it can take some practice as well as depend on the type of marker you're using.</p>

<p><strong>Water-based markers</strong></p>

<p>Blending water-based markers requires little to no additional special equipment, just some water and a way to apply it. As you mention experience with watercolors, this may feel fairly intuitive to you. You'll use either a standard brush or a <a href="https://www.jetpens.com/Pentel-Vistage-Water-Brush-Medium/pd/1774" rel="nofollow noreferrer">water brush</a> (a hollow brush pen that can be filled with water) to apply water to your paper and fade or blend your colors. Additionally, you can use a non-porous surface to build up some ink from the marker and use it very similarly to paint by picking the ink back up off that surface with your brush/water brush.</p>

<p>The blog <a href="https://thefrugalcrafter.wordpress.com/tag/blending-watercolor-markers/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">The Frugal Crafter</a> has an entry showing a wide variety of samples of both test blending and artwork done using inexpensive water-based markers and brushes to blend.</p>

<p>Brands include Tombow, Marvy LePlume, Crayola, Mr. Sketch, etc.</p>

<p><strong>Alcohol-based markers</strong></p>

<p>With alcohol based markers, the key to blending is to work while the ink is still wet; this can mean working quickly from one color to another on the page, touching the tips of two markers together, or applying one marker to a nonporous surface and picking the color up with another. Additionally, many brands feature a "colorless blender" pen that contains only the solvent and can be used to help fade a color into the paper's color.</p>

<p>User <a href="https://www.deviantart.com/khallandra/journal/PE-Tips-for-Blending-with-Markers-527590028" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Khallandra on DeviantArt</a> offers a nice rundown of various blending techniques with a large number of sample images.</p>

<p>Brands include Copic, Prismacolor, etc.</p>

<p><strong>Solvent-based markers</strong></p>

<p>Solvent-based (xylene, etc) markers may behave fairly similarly to alcohol-based markers, and even may include the option of a colorless blender for them. Their blending is not as smooth as that of alcohol-based markers, however this may vary to some degree by brand. I'll note that while I personally have used them in the past, it was briefly and some time ago due to the heavy fumes released by the solvents, which can cause eye and lung irritation.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.thecuriouslycreative.com/topics/the-complete-beginners-guide-to-art-markers/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">The Curiously Creative</a> blog has a guide to general marker types, which has the best general, neutral information I could find on solvent-based markers.</p>

<p>Brands include Sharpie, Chartpak, etc.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-14T17:38:51.510Z
2019-10-14T17:38:51.510Z
Allison C
<p>I have experience with drawing with color pencils, water colors and pastel. Now I want to try it with markers. As I am a newbie to markers, I have a lack of knowledge about those. I wonder if it is hard to blend colors when using markers?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-14T15:45:33.567Z
Do you mean water-based or solvent-based markers?
Chris H
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-14T15:52:05.197Z
Actually I'm new to markers. So I don't have much idea about what marker type I should use.
NSR
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-08T20:56:15.137Z
Its been a while, but a little tip: lots of markers (like Copic, Ohuhu,) have a blender marker that you can buy. Its a marker with only the marker ink base (no pigment so no color, its clear) that can also be used to blend colors together.
DripKracken
<drawing><markers><blending>
Blend colors with markers
NSR
# Blend colors with markers

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-10-12)

I have experience with drawing with color pencils, water colors and pastel. Now I want to try it with markers. As I am a newbie to markers, I have a lack of knowledge about those. I wonder if it is hard to blend colors when using markers?

**Tags:** drawing, markers, blending

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Do you mean water-based or solvent-based markers?  
> **username_0**: Actually I'm new to markers. So I don't have much idea about what marker type I should use.  
> **username_2**: Its been a while, but a little tip: lots of markers (like Copic, Ohuhu,) have a blender marker that you can buy. Its a marker with only the marker ink base (no pigment so no color, its clear) that can also be used to blend colors together.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2019-10-14. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

It is possible to blend using markers, though like any new medium it can take some practice as well as depend on the type of marker you're using.

**Water-based markers**

Blending water-based markers requires little to no additional special equipment, just some water and a way to apply it. As you mention experience with watercolors, this may feel fairly intuitive to you. You'll use either a standard brush or a [water brush](https://www.jetpens.com/Pentel-Vistage-Water-Brush-Medium/pd/1774) (a hollow brush pen that can be filled with water) to apply water to your paper and fade or blend your colors. Additionally, you can use a non-porous surface to build up some ink from the marker and use it very similarly to paint by picking the ink back up off that surface with your brush/water brush.

The blog [The Frugal Crafter](https://thefrugalcrafter.wordpress.com/tag/blending-watercolor-markers/) has an entry showing a wide variety of samples of both test blending and artwork done using inexpensive water-based markers and brushes to blend.

Brands include Tombow, Marvy LePlume, Crayola, Mr. Sketch, etc.

**Alcohol-based markers**

With alcohol based markers, the key to blending is to work while the ink is still wet; this can mean working quickly from one color to another on the page, touching the tips of two markers together, or applying one marker to a nonporous surface and picking the color up with another. Additionally, many brands feature a "colorless blender" pen that contains only the solvent and can be used to help fade a color into the paper's color.

User [Khallandra on DeviantArt](https://www.deviantart.com/khallandra/journal/PE-Tips-for-Blending-with-Markers-527590028) offers a nice rundown of various blending techniques with a large number of sample images.

Brands include Copic, Prismacolor, etc.

**Solvent-based markers**

Solvent-based (xylene, etc) markers may behave fairly similarly to alcohol-based markers, and even may include the option of a colorless blender for them. Their blending is not as smooth as that of alcohol-based markers, however this may vary to some degree by brand. I'll note that while I personally have used them in the past, it was briefly and some time ago due to the heavy fumes released by the solvents, which can cause eye and lung irritation.

[The Curiously Creative](https://www.thecuriouslycreative.com/topics/the-complete-beginners-guide-to-art-markers/) blog has a guide to general marker types, which has the best general, neutral information I could find on solvent-based markers.

Brands include Sharpie, Chartpak, etc.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2019-10-13. Score: 1

It is very hard to blend colors with markers and you can't use normal paper for it because on rough paper marker spreads so you need a proper sketch paper.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: Sorry, everything here is incorrect.  

---

