[funkylizard]

What is good paper to use with Prisma markers? I got some for christmas but they seem to be too absorbed by regular paper.....

Funkylizard

PS. Are there any tutorials out there on using these markers? I am finding them a bit difficult to handle.....

[Jucas]

Did you get greys? I love the greys, but all of them are great. I use them alot, do you have any specific questions? I will do my best to answer them.

[funkylizard]

I got cool greys, warm greys, and the french greys They had some sale or something at the store. Well, the paper question is the first on I'd like answered I'd like to see some of the work you have done using the markers....I want to get a sense of what is being done with the markers....

Funkylizard

[Lunatique]

There are some good books on marker techniques at your local book store. Use marker paper(they kinda look like tracing paper). Good marker paper lets you blend colors on the paper.

Just experiement. Try layering colors, blending them(with another color, or with a transparent marker--one that doesn't have ink, but just the binder). Fill in large areas with fat strokes in the same direction and lay them down one next to another quickly so that you don't get a dried stroke that looks darker with another fresh layer. I used to use them all the time for character design and illustration, but those days are over now I have Photoshop and Painter.

Here are some old marker illustrations. I use markers in combination with watercolor and other stuff(pastel, color pencil, acrylics, gouche..etc)











[ December 25, 2001: Message edited by: Lunatique ]

[Derek]

I use photocopier paper. Sometimes with a bit of a smooth or kind of glossy surface, but just copier paper, usually 11X17. Keeps the piece from getting too 'precious' to me, and I'm more likely to toss a bad drawing away, or not to think of it as more than it is.
You can buy actual marker papers, but they aren't really worth the money most times.
If I have my design nailed and want to do more of a painting or finished piece, anything other than flays or orthos or ideation, I'll do a series of drawings, then copy them onto the paper. Just go to a good shop that has a machine that can handle pencil work or such if you don't have a personal copier. Then I'll work over them. That way you have a good line to work with, and if you screw up, so what. Just grab another.
As for working with them, they take getting used to; if you have any experience with watercolor it may help, the mental approach is a bit the same. Also, you may want to consider learning to mask areas off, either with cut-out masks from the other drawings, or learning how to use edges of paper. This will help you tackle large areas faster, easier than trying to noodle your way around details.
Marker work should be quick, pretty bold, and all about the form, not so much the material or any great 'ideas'. If you can't get it across quickly without an explanation, you may have missed the point. Too many people render the daylights out of their drawings, please don't! Shadows, highlights, fine details can obscure the larger and more basic shapes and interactions that are much more important.
Have fun...!
and oh... the Prismacolors are a bit nasty... so remember to get up every so often, get some fresh air, and don't keep yourself working right over them too long.

[ December 25, 2001: Message edited by: Derek Smith ]

[funkylizard]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Lunatique: That is some really nice stuff! I hope I can achieve that sort of success once I get use tothe markers.

Funkylizard