Marker choice: my favourite marker sets for interior/architecture sketching from Amazon

This article will help you realize and select what exact materials you will need to start sketching, which brands of markers would be the best choice for you, I will share what I use in my sketching routine, you will get direct links here to my absolute favourites. You can use this list as a guide while shopping on the Internet. Also, you will learn which marker brands can be potentially damaging to your health.

Please note, links I provided here are affiliate; if you buy, I make a commission (at no extra cost for you!). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

---

Here I will recommend a variety of brands to choose from, but If I were to pick my absolute favourite marker brands, it would be Copic and Touch. They both have a vast array not only of colors but also of marker tips. In Copic, for example, these include ‘Classic’ markers, ‘Extra Wide’ ones, the thin ‘Ciao’ markers, and remarkable ‘Sketch’ (the last two have brush points). Copics are more pricy; Touch markers are more affordable. Here I also share Stylefile and Chartpak brands, which are quality and quite affordable.

I don’t recommend you use Touchfive, Touchnew, and Vista Artista markers since their quality not as good as their price (yes, they are cheap), not to mention that they can be damaging for your health, especially for the lungs. My students and I tried these markers, and unfortunately, we didn’t enjoy drawing with them.

Professional markers usually have two nibs: a wide one (chisel, wedge-shaped) on the one side and a thin one on the other (fine liner tip), or it can be a brush nib with the thin one. 

Side note: I’m a big fan of brush nibs; they are my absolute favourites.

Some markers are refillable (like Copic, for instance); some are not (like Promarker or Stylefile, for example).

YOU CAN DOWNLOAD MY PDF "MATERIALS FOR INTERIOR SKETCHING".

ENTER YOUR NAME AND EMAIL HERE:

Gray marker sets:

Grays go first. I purchase grays more often than any other colour. Why? Grays are the most important in interior drawing since they create tone and value, background and shadows in your sketch. A set of grays might be your first purchase when you get serious about interior sketching.

1. COPIC 5 grays at least are essential, but «the more grays – the better». 

Take a look at this 5 Sketching Grays Copic Sketch Set of Markers (5 markers + multiliner). Refillable markers and replaceable nibs: 

https://amzn.to/2LxdDGm

2. COPIC 12 grays is my favourite set of grays; it’s great if you’re serious about interior sketching or consider to draw sketch commissions in future, then check this Copic Classic set:

https://amzn.to/2RQL5J5

3. TOUCH 6 grays. It is an excellent alternative to Copic, Touch markers are really good, plus they are cheaper than famous Copic:

https://amzn.to/2LuPhgi

4. TOUCH 12 grays. Here is a nice set of warm grays, ShinHan Touch Twin Brush Marker Set 12WG Warm Grey:

https://amzn.to/2RTVbc7

5. STYLEFILE 12 grays. Stylefiles are also perfect quality markers for interior sketching. Double-ended with fine and broad nibs, but they are not refillable as Copic, for example. Look at this Brush Marker-Neutral Grey Set:

https://amzn.to/2LwcIWE 

6. STYLEFILE 12 grays. The same set but with wedge and fineliner tip, if you prefer wedge nibs instead of brush ones:

https://amzn.to/2KYnC8a

7. CHARTPAK Gray Set. There are 22 greys+3 blacks. They are not refillable, one-nibbed, but excellent quality. Chartpak is markedly different from the markers mentioned above. These markers have one very wide tip, that is highly convenient for interior sketching. The only disadvantage is that these markers have a rather strong smell of solvent. This 25 colours set contains 22 grays (warm, cool and neutral), plus three blacks:

https://amzn.to/2ROYykF

8. LETRASET/ WINSOR & NEWTON I like 6 Neutral Tones Set from Letraset (as I mentioned, grays are the most usable markers in interior sketching). These markers are not refillable. Recently Letraset ProMarker brand was renamed to Winsor & Newton ProMarker, but the marker quality stays the same:

https://amzn.to/2XrPurQ

Coloured marker sets:

When purchasing colored markers, focus on earthy, wooden tones. Yes, you will need some basic bright colors like red, yellow, green, etc., but you will not need five reds or seven violets, which are usually included in marker sets for manga drawing, for example. Our aim is an interior design and architectural drawing.

Here are some sets where grey colors are already provided, so you can purchase any of them and have it all: grays and colored markers all in one. Or maybe you prefer to buy gray and color sets separately. Here is the list of my favorites:

1. CHARTPAK Architecture Set, (25 colours):

https://amzn.to/2XnvZ3U

2. TOUCH Twin Brush Marker Set B (48 colours). NB: Grays are included here!

https://amzn.to/2J5ivkd

3. TOUCH If you want more bright colours check Touch Twin markers (60 colours) with fine tip nib on one end and a medium-wide chisel nib on the other:

https://amzn.to/2XjcVyL

4. COPIC ciao Set B. It was my very first Copic marker set. I remember at the time how pricy it was for me but at the same time how happy I was when I got it! This set was an excellent investment for my business. Copic Ciao is more affordable in comparison with Copic Classic or Copic Sketch.

https://amzn.to/2XvF6KQ

5. COPIC INK REFILLS They are available in all 358 colours of Copic palette, but I need only my top-frequently-used Copic colours such as grays, for example, this one:

https://amzn.to/2Xx1KCs

6. STYLEFILE markers (24 colours, grays are included here). If you are looking for your first and relatively affordable set, I would have started with them:

https://amzn.to/2xxuwZ9

7. STYLEFILE markers (24 colours), these are double-ended but with brush tip:

https://amzn.to/2LGfBEw

Side note: you can purchase markers one at a time to get familiar with a new brand, for instance, with Letraset:

https://amzn.to/2JjDVKD

P.S. Please share this blog article with your friends, thank you in advance.

© Olga Sorokina

---

Read other articles on my blog:

Which brands and colours of markers are the best choice for interior sketching?

So many questions arise when you start sketching, my students most often ask me:

• What materials do I need for interior design drawing?

• Which brands of markers would be the best choice?

In this article, you will get the answers. Plus, I will share what I love to use in my everyday sketching routine, what my favourites are, and how lucky we are to have these types of markers!

“Telling yourself you have all the time in the world, all the money in the world, all the colours in the palette, anything you want — that just kills creativity.”

— Jack White

---

You can listen to this blog article in audio format as a podcast

(6 min)

---

You can tell a story on paper even with very limited colour palette.

It’s actually even good in interior sketching to start with 7-10 colours if you are a beginner. Why? Because you don’t get overwhelmed with such a variety of choices (“Analysis paralysis” as they call it ), and really focus on what’s most important in drawing:

• Perspective

• Composition

• Light

• Volumes

Colours only close this list, beautifully though, but they go last.

I remember back in the days when I did my very first interior sketch commissions (it was 2007) clients asked me to do linear sketches. Pen on paper. No colour. That’s right.

If you are reading this blog post, the chances are that you are a newbie in sketching and hand rendering, or maybe you are a pro and simply want to learn more about the marker technique. In case you are going to buy your first set of markers, and now you’re asking yourself a question: Where do I start with so many options and offers?

Well, here is my strategy: Less is More.

Which colours?

First and foremost, buy basic colours, as you will need them the most. For interior sketching, it is better not to use pure, bright colours, but rather tones that are a bit ‘dusty’, ’noble‘ tones. What does that mean? With interiors, it is better to choose colours that people would feel comfortable living in. A typical interior sketching palette would include beige, grey, blue, olive, and woody tones.

You can buy the markers individually or in sets. There are even sets of ready-to-go colour combinations for architects and designers, which consist of marker colours that work well with one another.

“Less is More. A typical interior sketching palette would include beige, grey, blue, olive, and woody tones. That is 7-10 markers in total to start.”

Your first marker selection might be as follows:

• Light gray (NG 2, Neutral Grey #2)

• Mid-gray (NG 4)

• Dark gray (NG 7)

• Light beige (or vanilla)

• Olive

• Dark brown (chocolate)

• Black

As you can see, there are seven colours in all, of which three are grey shades. Greys occupy a special place in interior sketching. Firstly, they are used to give background colour to the entire sketch. Grey markers differ not only in tone, but also in warmth and coldness: there are Neutral Greys, Cool Greys, and Warm Greys. To start with, you will need a Neutral Greys. Usually, they are marked by ‘N’ with a number: the higher the number, the darker the tone.

What brand of markers to buy?

One of the first questions people often ask in my online sketching classes is about which materials they should use. What brand of markers is the best? How do various brands of pens differ from one another? 

Up until now, I have tested five brands: Promarker, Copic, TOUCH, Stylefile markers, and Chartpak. All of them are good. These firms make professional quality markers that are perfect for drawing and are non-toxic.

If I were to pick a favourite, it would be Copic. They have a vast array not only of colours but also of marker tips. These include ‘Classic’ markers, ‘Extra Wide’ ones, the thin ‘Ciao’ markers, and remarkable ‘Sketch’ (the last two have brush points). Maybe it is Copic Сiao that has influenced my technique most of all.

Here is one of my favourite Copic sets on Amazon, this is an affiliate link, if you use it, I make a small commission at no extra cost to you, so thanks in advance if you use it or share with someone. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Check my other favourite marker sets from Amazon in this article on my blog.

For example, I did this drawing by using Copic Ciao markers. I’ve included this set in the list in “Best marker sets from Amazon for interior sketching” article on my blog.

Let’s talk more about Copic Сiao. Firstly, they have a thin body that is very convenient to hold in your hand; you will simply feel it instantly. However, the main difference is that on one side there is a wide/chisel tip (incidentally, a bit narrower than a Copic Sketch, Promarker or Stylefile). At the other end, there is a brush tip, also known as the ‘super brush’, which truly lives up to its name! It is the brush that lets you make photo-realistic effects and fantastic not only for sketching but also for landscape drawings, abstract painting, portraits, architectural sketches, and even for calligraphy. Copic markers can be refilled, that is their tremendous advantage over the majority of other brands. Although they are currently one of the most expensive markers available on the art market, in the long term, Copics are the most cost-efficient.

Promarker is also very good. They are quite similar to Stylefile, ZIG, and Copic Classic. But these are single-use markers, which are not refillable.

Chartpak is markedly different from the markers mentioned above. These markers have one very wide tip with bevels, that is highly convenient for interior sketching. The only disadvantage is that these markers have a rather strong smell of solvent.

Check more of my interior drawings in marker technique on this section on the website.

Behind the scenes of creating a new illustration for my book “The SKETCH. Interior Design Drawing“

A couple of more useful tips on markers

• Before buying a marker, test it in the art supplies shop and find the marker that suits you best. If you don’t have this opportunity, watch videos on marker brands on YouTube (f. ex mine is «schoolofsketching») – this will help you make a decision about which materials are most suitable for you.

• When you realize that sketching is ‘your thing’, be ready to invest in quality materials, training courses, and books. This way, you can develop your skills to become very good at sketching, and this will happen quite fast with regular practice. Sketching will be of great use in your work and will raise your professional skills level.

• It is recommended that you store markers horizontally – this will extend their service life.

• Storage and transportation: keep your markers away from the sun. If you are going on a trip, pack them into your hand-carried baggage because the low temperatures in the baggage compartment will have an adverse effect on the pigments inside the markers.

Learn more about markers from my book «The SKETCH», available on Amazon now.

P.S. Please share this blog-post with your friends. They would be glad you did. Thanks in advance, you're awesome!

© Olga Sorokina

---

WATCH MY VIDEO ON MARKERS ON YOUTUBE:

---

YOU CAN GET MY 5-PAGES PDF "FAVOURITE MATERIALS FOR INTERIOR SKETCHING",

I SPENT 10+ HOURS SELECTING & COMPARING THE BEST MATERIALS FOR MYSELF.

YOU CAN ENJOY IT NOW,

JUST ENTER YOUR NAME AND EMAIL HERE:

---

You can learn sketching from me with my top-rated online course on technical drawing and interior sketching.

"BASE": a Course Which Teaches All the Basic Techniques You Need to Implement Sketching in Your Interior Design Practice

(For Interior Designers & Architects)

---

Read other articles on my blog: