Blick Studio Brush Markers Update

Blick Studio Brush Refills

For those of you not yet familiar with the wonderful Blick Studio Brush markers, a fantastic, affordable Copic dupe that are now refillable, allow me to catch you up to speed!

Original Blick Studio Brush marker test, when my collection was limited to just 10 test markers, mostly skintones.

Blick Studio Brush Markers are part of Blick's store brand, which includes a variety of art supplies.  Originally only available in bullet nib and chisel (Blick Studio Marker), Blick Studio Brush Markers came out in 2015, and quickly became my favorite non-Copic alcohol marker.  You can check out my Original Blick Studio Brush marker review - since then, my collection of Blick Studio Brush Markers has increased greatly.

Blick Studio Brush Markers are available in 95 colors, plus a colorless blender.  They feature removable brush and chisel nibs (although no replacements available yet) which are similar to the Copic Superbrush nibs- dense foam rubber capable of delivering and blending color smoothly, without abrading the nib or tearing up the paper surface.  These markers utilize color names, as well as a color family system to help you select the colors you need for blending.  These markers are now refillable.

Sets are available in 6, 12, 24, 48, and 96 colors, or you can purchase the entire line openstock, starting at $2.98.  Blick offers mix and match bulk discounts, and the price drops to $2.68 a marker as soon as you have six markers in your cart.

$2.98 each through DickBlick

Refills are available in 95 colors, and are $3.99 each through Dickblick.

Copic Sketch Markers are available in 360 colors, feature removable and replaceable chisel and brush nibs (as well as a system of compatible nibs to suit your needs), and are refillable.  For me, the selling point is the foam rubber Supernib, which is capable of delivering broad strokes or subtle lines, and allows me to do delicate blends, and these are the markers I compare all other alcohol markers to.

$5.24 each through DickBlick

Copic Ciao markers are the younger sibling to Copic Sketch Markers.  Smaller bodied, these markers are refillable, and have the same Superbrush nibs as Copic Sketch Markers.  These were released a few years after Copic Sketch Markers, and never got the attention they deserved as an affordable introduction to Copic markers.  Available in 144 colors, Ciaos are available openstock or in sets of 12, 24, 36, or 72.

$3.59 each through DickBlick

Copic Various Ink Refills work for all markers made by Copic, and are $5.23 through DickBlick

Blick Studio Brush markers feature a body very similar to Copic Sketch Markers, and are compatible not only with Copic markers, but with Copic marker systems and accessories.  Kabocha covers that in her wonderful guest post Will It Work?  Testing Blick Studio Brush markers in the Copic ABS .

I've integrated Blick Studio Brush markers seamlessly into my existing Copic marker collection.  They're about the same size, and perform as well, so there's no need to store them seperately.  At this point, most marker pieces I create are a mix of Copic, Prismacolor, and Blick Studio Brush markers.

All of the above alcohol marker pieces were created using a mix of Copic Sketch markers, Blick Studio Brush Markers, and Prismacolor markers.

More Alcohol Marker Resources:

Marker Guides and Recommendations

The lists and overviews below are my recommended alcohol markers.  I go over how the markers differ from one another, usecases for each brand, and even recommended colors to get you started!  I really recommend you read the Intermediate Marker Gift Guide (the second gift guide listed) as I also talk about great accessories and tools for marker artists, and you may find a new favorite!

List of Top 5 Alcohol Markers

Alcohol marker gift guide with color recommendations for those just starting their alcohol marker collection.

Follow up alcohol marker gift guide for intermediate alcohol marker uses, with loads of great accessory recommendations to really take your marker collection to the next level.

Alcohol Marker Tutorials:

Most of these tutorials use a combination of Blick, Prismacolor, and Copic markers, although a few use the alcohol ink refills (or Jacquard Pinata/Ranger Adirondack alcohol inks)


More than Just Copics: Expanding Your Alcohol Marker Collection
Covers ways to add to your existing marker collection, as well as organization

Using Brusho Watercolors with Alcohol Markers
Covers masking with frisket, mixed media with markers and watercolor, and a Brusho demonstration

How to Use Masking Frisket with Markers
Spray techniques, masking frisket

How to Mask Copic Wide Markers for Backgrounds
Copic Wide demonstration, masking, marker techniques

Spray Inks and Lace Blick and Copic Marker Tutorial
Covers masking with masking frisket, alcohol ink sprays, and Blick and Copic Markers

Giving Style to Your Characters with Colored Leads
Covers using colored leads with alcohol markers to create 'lineless' illustrations

Lineless Copic Marker Tutorial:
Using colored leads for sketching, rendering with alcohol marker

Creating Patterns Using Copic Markers and Washi Tape
Creative pattern making, creating surface designs

Sweet Unicorn Marker Timelapse
Covers overblending, colored leads, working with a limited palette, and inking with gel pens.

Dark Skintones with Alcohol Markers Tutorial
Covers rendering darker skintones using alcohol inks

Skintones and Skies in Alcohol Marker
Sky rendering techniques, as well as darker skintones

Beautiful Beads with Marker Timelapse
Darker skintones in alcohol marker, overblending, colored leads, limited palette, and inking with gel pens

Quick Colored Lead and Copic Tutorial
Covers monotone illustration

Going to Japan!  Osaka Kyoto Tokyo
Timelapse announces trip to Japan, demonstrates multi-tone alcohol marker technique

Drawing a Succulent with Colored Leads and Copics
Alcohol marker tutorial for rendering beautiful succulents using alcohol markers and colored leads.

Creating a Spring Succulent with Copic Markers Tutorial
Alcohol markers, inks, and watercolor tutorial

Kara in the Flowers Marker Tutorial
Masking, spray techniques, creating a gradient blend, foliage, painting flowers, alcohol markers

Alcohol Misters in the Copic Jungle
Alcohol misters, splatter techniques, alcohol markers

Cutest Gryphon Ever Copic Tutorial
Drawing and markering anthros, colored leads, mixed media

Light Up the Dark Marker Timelapse
Glow techniques, alcohol marker rendering

Liquid Gold!  Using Metallic Alcohol Inks in my Art
Metallic alcohol inks, marker rendering, spray techniques

Star Light, Star Bright Marker Timelapse
Marker techniques on cheaper paper, filling in background

80's Night Alcohol Marker Timelapse
Marker techniques on cheaper paper, using gel pens for inking

Disclaimer:  I am not an employee of DickBlick, nor was I compensated for this post.  I happen to REALLY enjoy Blick Studio Brush Markers, and think more artists should give them a try.  All markers mentioned in this post have been purchased out of pocket, for personal use or for review.