What Are ProMarkers and How Can We Use Them Creatively?

Honestly, most of us think of markers as drawing supplies with limited, narrow possibilities. Markers usually give us bright, intense lines, and we reach for them only when we plan to build a drawing from lines of the same width and color. We often avoid them because drawings like these can be boring. But Winsor & Newton Promarkers and similar markers are essential tools for designers, illustrators, and manga artists. They use them to create drawings and sketches that never look boring or amateurish. In fact, because of the subtle shade transitions, you might think they were made with a brush using watercolor techniques or a combination of other techniques. What are their secrets?

A Wide Range of Shades

These markers are alcohol-based and nontoxic. They come in a truly wide range of shades, with up to 148 available, and that is their first secret.

This wide range of paints, from pastel shades to vibrant, bright ones, lets you create realistic, richly detailed drawings. You can buy them in ready-made sets of 6 and 12 shades or create your own combination by buying them individually. Artists experienced with this type of marker recommend starting with a small number of markers in similar shades, then gradually adding to your collection.

Two Sides, Two Different Tips

Promarkers have two tips: a round tip with a fine point that can draw lines as thin as 1 mm, and a chisel tip on the other end that can create lines up to 7 mm wide. This makes the finest details possible, as well as quick, even coverage over larger areas.

Try to keep the cap on the side you are not using. If you leave a marker uncapped for a while, you can try recapping it and letting it recover. If it stays uncapped for a long time (several hours), you will probably need to replace it.

Blender

Among these 148 shades is a blender. It looks like the other markers in this series, but it is actually colorless. Its purpose is to soften the difference between two or more colors and blend them on the paper. Promarkers are transparent, so you can create new colors by layering one shade over another, or use the same marker to achieve pale and intense colors. It is important to know that you can blend them while they are still wet on the paper. Once the ink dries, blending is harder, so choose your paper carefully.

You can also apply the blender to the paper before using any other color. This adds moisture to the paper and gives you more time to blend. Of course, you can use Promarkers with other markers and pens. Just make sure they are water-based and that the drawing is completely dry before you start coloring with Promarkers, so it does not smear or bleed.

Choosing Paper

When working with markers of this type, it is important to choose a suitable surface, or more precisely, suitable paper. As with other markers, choosing the right paper is key to preventing it from buckling and the ink from bleeding through to the other side. Choose paper with a weight of at least 180 g/m². Around 250 g/m² is recommended. You can choose ideally smooth paper or paper with a pronounced texture, such as watercolor paper. Your choice of paper will greatly affect the final look of your drawing. For soft gradients and smooth blending, we recommend choosing smooth paper.

You can also use them on other surfaces: glass, plastic, fabric, or smooth wood. Just keep in mind that they will bleed on porous materials such as fabric, so add outlines to prevent or at least reduce bleeding.

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