Affordable Art Supplies: Crayola Super Tip 100 Pack

In 2015, as part of my Cheap Art Supplies mega series, I covered Crayola's ubiquitous Super Tips in the Walmart segment.  As adult coloring books and coloring for meditation have risen in popularity, these markers (along with various pencil colors) have also grown in prominence among adult artists.  In that review, I tested and field tested the 52 color set, but Crayola has since launched a 100 piece set.  At around $15, this is a tempting offer, but does the 100 piece set really offer more than the 52 piece set, or is it full of dreaded duplicate colors?  Let's find out!

Get Your Own:

On Amazon

But seriously, don't buy them on Amazon- head out to Walmart and find them in the wild.

Unlike other Supertip sets, the 100 pack bears a streaking resemblance to Crayola's classic crayon packaging.

The back of the box promises 100 colors, and shows color swatches, although we have learned that with inexpensive markers, you can never trust the swatches on the box, or the color of the cap.  Always find out firsthand!

The interior of the box features cardboard shelves that hold two rows of markers each.  Once a marker is removed, it's very easy to lose its place.  This is an issue as marker caps are not always indicative of marker color, and marker colors are not labelled, so swatching and color order may be important if color accuracy is a priority.

As I swatch, I try to keep the colors in order, so this reference sheet can remain relevant when selecting colors.

The metallic silver, the only metallic in this set, doesn't have much of a metallic or glittery sheen to it.  I've noticed that there are few waterbased metallic markers (outside of the Zig Wink of Luna brushes and the Zig Posterman Pens, which are pump action), which can carry the larger metallic particles well.

Swatching reveals that this set includes several distinct greens, a handful of good purples,and even a selection of warm and cool grays, unusual for Crayola.  While there doesn't seem to be as wide an array of skintones as the Multicultural set offers, there seems to be more skintones than available in the 52 piece Supertip set.

In my opinion, the 100 piece set is well worth the $15 pricetag, especially considering that Supertips can double as watercolor markers.

Super Tips In Action: 

Draw with Me: Easy Christmas Tree


Draw with Me: Holiday Holly


Draw with Me: Jingle Bells


Draw with Me: Ribbon and Bows


Draw With Me: Pretty Presents


Draw with Me: Ornaments


Draw with Me: Pine Boughs and Wreaths


Draw with Me: Holiday Wreaths


Draw With Me: Christmas Lights


Tips for SuperTips

• Allow previous layer to dry fully, as waterbased markers stay wet longer, and paper may pill and tear 
• Experiment with several types of paper to find the kind that works best for you- in the above videos, I worked on simple Strathmore Sketch paper
• Keep your illustrations fairly simple- waterbased markers, especially Super Tips, can't really handle multiple layers
• Work from light to dark- waterbased markers don't work the same way alcohol markers do
• Waterbased markers like Crayola Supertips can double as watercolor markers- swatch ahead of time to find out, as not all markers are made equally.  Watercolor effects can double a marker's usefulness.
• Waterbased markers are great if you're sensitive to fumes, and tend to be highly water reactive, which means they're more likely to wash out if treated immediately
• Waterbased markers can be a great way to introduce your precocious creative child to 'adult' art supplies.