Do you often find yourself rummaging through huge piles of color markers trying to find that one color that you need? If so, then you should learn how to organize markers properly.
Stop throwing your markers into a drawer or a can and start organizing them properly so that you will know exactly where every color is. An organized workspace is also conducive to more productivity, and it will also ensure that your markers can last as long as possible.
If you are ready to start, here are some techniques that you can use to get started on your journey to becoming more organized.
Step-by-Step Guide
If you have a large collection of color markers, it is best that you divide them into groups depending on how you use them. Here are some of the most common ways that artists organize their markers:
Method 01 – Arrange the Markers by Letter/Color Family
Contents
What to Prepare:
- Plastic cups or containers of your choice – They should be enough for all your markers.
Instructions:
Step 1: Figure out how your markers are classified. Almost all color marker brands use an alpha-numeric system for categorizing the colors of their markers. For instance, Copic markers use letters to describe the colors of the markers, like “R” for “red” and “Y” for “yellow”.
It could also be a combination of letters for combinations of colors. Numbers are then attached depending on the intensity of the colors.
Step 2: Group the markers into their respective color families. Place the markers with the same first letters on their caps together. Do not pay any attention to the other letters and numbers yet.
For this step, just look at the first letters. This will make it easier for you to arrange them further.
Step 3: Arrange the markers according to the color wheel. Now that you have segregated the markers according to their color families, the next logical step is to arrange the pens according to their position in the color wheel.
Step 4: Place the markers into separate containers. After segregating the markers, place them into separate containers. You need to know how to store markers properly. Make sure that you store the markers with the color codes visible. This is important so you know which containers contain which markers.
Method 02 – Arrange the Markers by Theme
What to Prepare:
- A couple of plastic cups or any compartmentalized containers – These items seem to be the best way to store markers.
Instructions:
Step 1: Lay out your markers on the table. Spread out your markers on a wide surface. This will make it easier for you to see each individual color. Separate the markers roughly based on the shades of their colors.
Step 2: Group the markers according to whatever themes you want. For instance, you can separate the earth tones, leaf colors, or by color temperatures. Also, if you draw portraits often, you can have separate groups for different skin tones.
Step 3: Store the markers in different containers. Now that you have grouped the markers by theme, you can now put them into separate containers to make them easier to find whenever you need them. Make sure that the colors on the caps are visible so that you know what color groups are in which containers.
Method 03 – Arrange the Markers by Usage
What to Prepare:
- Your choice of containers; as many as you will need
Instructions:
Step 1: Prepare your containers. Unlike the earlier organization techniques, you will need at least a couple of drawing sessions. For now, just place 1 or 2 containers on your drawing table.
Step 2: Place your markers in the containers after using them. Take note of the markers that you use often and place them in the first jar. Move them down the line if you do not use them that often. After a couple of sessions, you will notice that you have already organized your markers according to how often you use them.
Step 3: Arrange the remaining markers. Now that you have separated the markers that you use the most often, you can now start organizing the rest of the colors. You can use the other methods mentioned earlier (by color family or themes).
Tips for Storing Your Markers Properly
Knowing how to organize your markers is not enough. You also need to know how to store markers so they would not dry out for a long time.
Store single-tipped markers nib down
You can use large mason jars or cans to store your single-tipped markers. Make sure that you place them in containers with the nib pointing down. This will allow the ink inside the markers to settle in the nib. Because the nibs are always saturated with ink, it will take a longer time before they dry.
Store double-tipped markers on their sides
You can still use mason jars and cans for double-tipped markers but you should place them on their sides. You can use hot glue so you can stack your containers on top of each other to save on space. However, the best way to store markers is to use the commercially-available storage solutions.
Storing the dual-tipped markers on their sides will make sure that both nibs are saturated with ink so that they are always primed and ready for whenever you need to use them.
Use retail marker storage solutions
Even though DIY marker storage solutions have a lot of rustic charm, if you want to keep your markers properly organized and easily accessible, you should use a commercial product. These products are specifically designed for this purpose, so they will work as intended.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to organize markers, you should start at it as soon as you can. You will notice that not only does organizing your markers improve your efficiency but it will also make you realize that drawing with markers seems to be more enjoyable than before.
Put what you just learned into action and find out how much more enjoyable using markers can be.