Are Copic Markers Worth It?

Article at a glance:

• Copics won’t fix bad fundamentals: If you’re still learning the basics, Copics won’t magically make your art better. They’re tools, not skill boosters.
• Great tools, terrible beginner investment: Yes, they’re amazingm and also insanely expensive. For most people, that money is far better spent elsewhere.
• Loved by pros, unnecessary for most: There’s a reason professionals swear by Copics, but that doesn’t mean beginners actually need them.

Absolutely NOT if you’re a beginner and still learning, like me. Like any tool, Copic markers are there to help you; they won’t make your art better if your basics are still shaky. If you are a beginner, getting Copics won’t magically make you a pro out of nowhere; you STILL need to learn a lot. Even if you like Markers as your medium, Copics are still not worth it unless you absolutely want them. That said, there is a reason why so many pros and content creators swear by them.

I had a long discussion with my professional artist friend, who’s also my art teacher. She had a lot to say about this from her years of experience. So I decided to distill everything she told me into this article. So here are the things you should consider while deciding if Copics are worth it for you or not.

Variety, Color, and Blending

Copics are pretty much unmatched when it comes to color blending in markers because of their unique ink. Again, there is a good reason why so many professionals prefer these. Copics make color gradients look pristine. On top of that, they offer 350+ shades, covering basically everything you need, and the colors are accurate to the labels. So you don’t have to worry about pressing harder or lighter to get the coloring you want.

Refilling and Papers

Now here’s the first catch. You CAN refill Copic markers; they even offer replacement tips, so a single marker can potentially last years, which does somewhat offset the upfront cost. But here’s the thing, refills are also rather expensive. And on top of that, you need expensive paper like ivory sheets to use Copics properly. Otherwise, the color will just bleed through the paper, wasting your precious ink. So the refills and papers are an additional expense.

Eye-watering Prices

Now this right here is the biggest hurdle. Oftentimes, a singular Copic marker will cost on par with a basic set of markers. I believe it is roughly 10$ for a SINGULAR marker. Which is kind of insane, honestly. You can buy a whole decent quality marker set for 20 to 30$ OR get a good digital program like Clip Studio Paint for 50$, if you are into digital art. It is up to you if you can justify that insane asking price or not.

In Conclusion

Copics are NOT worth it for 90% of people. I know a lot of content creators swear by them, but trust me, if you are just starting, you don’t need them. If your basics are good and you practice, you can get good results from just regular marker sets. Buy Copics if and only if you are a professional earning enough from art to offset the HEAVY investment, or you are filthy rich and investing in something this expensive doesn’t hurt you. Many modern brands offer amazing quality markers for a fraction of the price.

Always remember that when it comes to things like art, the artist is more important than the tools. So please think before jumping to conclusions and don’t buy expensive things on impulse. With that said, I will take my leave here. See ya!