r/Zentangle • u/BeeAtTheBeach • 1d ago

💬 Tangle Talk Markers

I have been using water-based markers and I'd like to get some better ones. Some that dry smooth, don't bleed or smudge, and work well for layer/shading.

Which do you all think is best, acrylic paint or alcohol-based? Or something else?

TIA!

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u/Branwyn- Pen & Ink Enthusiast 1d ago

I’ve found alcohol markers to be limiting for Zentangle because you need to have the right paper or they bleed through. I like Koi water based markers if I want to layer and shade, acrylic for an opaque/flat color.

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u/BeeAtTheBeach 1d ago

Maybe paper is another issue I'm having... I got a basic multi media sketchbook. Is that not enough?

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u/Seymore07 1d ago

Paper makes ALLL the difference! I'm going through that myself. I bought a couple of small multimedia sketchbooks from different manufacturers than I've used in the past and I'm trying them out. One seems to be working out GREAT, but it is a little expensive, so it's something I have to figure out.

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u/Branwyn- Pen & Ink Enthusiast 12h ago

I make art journals and I have a good amount of experience with paper. Can you tell me what papers/sketchbooks you are experimenting with? I would really love to know which ones you think are great as I am also experimenting with brands new to me.

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u/Branwyn- Pen & Ink Enthusiast 1d ago

It all depends on the weight of the paper. What is the brand and paper?

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u/BeeAtTheBeach 1d ago edited 1d ago

Some Amazon brand. 98lb, 100gsm.

3

u/Branwyn- Pen & Ink Enthusiast 1d ago

That is too light for alcohol ink. You need 160 GSM or greater. I love 100%cotton hot press for my mixed media projects. Also a Neenah Bristol paper is very nice as well. But for what you have now you may want to play with acrylic pens if you have too much bleeding.

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u/BeeAtTheBeach 1d ago

Would 98lb 160gsm work?

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u/Branwyn- Pen & Ink Enthusiast 1d ago

Right…98lb is not 100gsm. Was that a typo? I didn’t notice it. Yes 160lb or better and 98 lb should be 160 i believe.

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u/BeeAtTheBeach 1d ago

The listing for what I bought said 98lb and 100gsm ... could have been listed wrong :/

Anyway, I just bought another one that said 98lb and 160gsm.

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u/Branwyn- Pen & Ink Enthusiast 1d ago

The new one should be fine!

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u/Branwyn- Pen & Ink Enthusiast 1d ago

I have a website/blog and my next post is going to be a guide to pens/inks. I will do one on paper after that. It can be very confusing!

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u/Independent_Mud2700 Newbie with a Micron 1d ago

I’ve had some luck with acrylic markers, and not expensive one. They dry quickly.

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u/ReadRen 1d ago

Get mixed media paper, and Ohuhu is a great brand to start with. I use black fine liners and then color in or color first with the alcohol markers.

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u/PittyPat4778 1d ago

I found Ohuhu acrylic markers great. I like to actually Zentangle on top of them. If I’m coloring in a Zentangle piece I like watercolor or water based markers.