They really are pretty expensive. I wouldn't know what to tell you though

coupon :3
look for online coupons for places that sell them

There is a really nice art shop I go to, and they sell their smaller sets for either 50-70 $$$ (I can't remember exactly, whoops) but yeah, still a lot.

I would recommend just purchasing some gray scale markers first. There isn't a lot of them and you can use them to get the feel of how they work, and practice...before using color ones, so you don't mess stuff up x)

also be sure the brand you buy also sells refillers...which are also somewhat expensive, but very useful and come with a lot of fluid.

Color or grays I'd say go with Prismacolor markers. I'm not an expert but they practically do the same thing and they're much cheaper. They just aren't refillable.

I've gotten a feel for Prismas and I don't think they're as smooth as Copics, and don't have brush-shaped nibs.

True. I own a brush pen for inking (sadly its drying out.) and the control is pretty godlike. Though, I guess with my experience with Prismacolors the "bruch" end of the markersare pretty versatile.

Brush pens are sweeeeeeeeeet. Is yours a fude or a marker with a brush nib?

Fude. Japanese Pentel brush pen. Its a great purchase since I'd like to learn to ink and color traditionally and do comics. I'm not a big fan of computer stuff personally.

Where are you buying them from? There's some stores online that will have better prices than most any brick and mortar place. I just ask so you can maximize what resources you have - I don't have any suggestions for which ones to get, I'm sorry. I just have a collection I've built up a collection of various brands in a "I used this color/see a use for this color/oooh pretty" sort of way.

I'm not going to be able to buy some until the 15th because that's when my student discount at the local art store becomes valid. I think I'll buy from them, but I don't know if they carry Copics.

If they're more than $4.85 or so after discount dickblick has 'em for around that price, and so does http://www.carpediemstore.com/ :B

They're about six-fifty at Michaels but if I get one every couple of weeks with a coupon, the price is comparable.

i got mine when i wa in high school, i got one marker every 2 weeks at about 3.50 a marker. at that rate, the monetary hit wasn't so bad


I recommend mid/ light colours as opposed to darker ones since its far easier to darken with copics then lighten. As well, with lighter you can create a decent range pretty easily

make sure to pick stuff up like putty, and some cool greys and a few really neutral and earthy colours like that, cause they blend other stuff really awesomely

I'd avoid crazy dark/ unnatural colours like prussian blue ( regretted getting that at first, it was a shitty starter marker<<)

colourless blender is a waste of money, its very simple and often more useful to blend without

I'd focus more on the diff of 'warm/cool' over 'primary and secondary' when you're picking

go with colours/ palettes that speak to you, then fill the blanks as necessary and as you find colours you really find yourself needing

this is from personal experience, I hope it helps but mileage may vary

Perfect advice, just got a single warm gray because they're six fifty apiece but insofar I am hugely impressed with it.

glad you found something that works, they're so damn fun!