Over the past few years, Ohuhu has produced a number of alcohol-based marker sets aimed at developing artists. While the expensive Copic Sketch Markers are the industry favorite, Ohuhu markers bridge the gap for those artists who just want to enjoy creating art without coughing up serious money for a top of the line set of markets. But how good are these Ohuhu markers for the price?
The version of Ohuhu markers that I’m reviewing is not the new brush marker version of Ohuhu markers.
Carry your markers anywhere with the Ohuhu 100 Marker Set carry case
As I’ve never bought a set of alcohol markers before, I was quite impressed by the fact they came in a carry case. My only other experience with markers was buying a standard set of Sharpies, which ended up finding shelter in an old pencil case I had lying around. The fact that the Ohuhu markers come in their own carry case made me feel like a real artist with a set of important tools. Despite the fact I’m just a beginner.
Theportable black carrying case has a zipped opening on the top. Inside, the markers are sectioned into four compartments. I appreciated these compartments as when you open the case, you’re not met with the chaos of markers falling loosely in all directions.
If you’re a super organized artist, you may want to reorganize the markers in a way that makes sense to you. For instance, maybe one compartment can have all of your earthy colours, while another has skin tones. Or maybe you want your reds, oranges and yellows in one compartment; blues and purples in another; greens in another and one with blacks and whites. The choice is yours.
One thing that can be slightly annoying if you’re adamant on having your markers in a specific order, is that when you remove one marker from the case, the gap is instantly filled by surrounding markers. Some would argue that the case should have individual slots for each 100 marker. But I feel this is a big ask from the manufacturer, and it would no doubt add to the cost.
For a developing artist such as myself, I’m happy with the current state of this case. It even comes with a handy leaflet that details all of the colours included in the set. I still recommend coming up with your own index of colours on paper though, as this will give you the most accurate example on how each colour will look on your paper.
My Thoughts on the Ohuhu 100 markers color range and blending
These markers are double sided. One end has a chisel nib and the other side has a fine tip. Each side is capped, with the only downside being that you can’t snap the cap on the back end while you’re using the marker. A bummer if things roll off your desk like they do here. Having two nibs is one of the biggest selling points, as each nib is good for colouring specific things. The fine nibs do wonders for getting in between thin, tight lines. While the chisel nib is great for filling larger areas.
The selection of colours is great for beginners. But if you’re at a point in your artistic endeavors when you require extreme depth of colour, you may find some tones lacking. For instance, the range of possible skin tones leaves more to be desired (there’s a separate 24 colour set for skin tones). I also noticed that some tones are pretty similar, and when too many of them are similar, it makes you wish they’d included a completely different shade instead.
When I swashed the colours in my sketch book, I was impressed at how well each colour fit the shade on its cap. It was much more accurate than I expected. That makes it easier to locate the exact colour you need when glancing at your case full of markers.
One nitpick is that earlier versions of the Ohuhu markers included both the number and the name of the shade on the cap, which made locating the right colour even better when glancing at the caps. But now, the caps only have the number of the shade printed. Its a small thing that doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things, but in the past, having the name of the shade was a nice touch.
Included in the set is a colorless blender, useful for getting the most out of your blending. Alcohol markers are made for blending, and this set is perfect if you’re just trying to wrap your head around the concept. I suggest making a page in your sketchbook for testing out blends, so that when it comes time to work on a piece you’ll know exactly which colours blend well together.
Ohuhu’s Quality and Reputation
For the price you’re buying these markers at—I believe it’s around 80c per marker in America. In the UK it’s 55p per—these markers are insanely good quality. For someone at my level of artistry, I’d say it’s almost a steal considering that one Copic marker is 6-7 dollars.
Because of the insanely good price of Ohuhu markers, there’s no way they can match the quality of a Copic. But unless you’re a professional artist taking commissions, or an art student who needs to understand the difference, the distinction isn’t a problem. The choice here is simple, if you want top-of-the-line quality then be prepared to shell out up to $300 for 72 Copic makers (there are of course smaller sets too). But if you just want to create great looking art at an affordable price, in my opinion, Ohuhu markers are a clear choice.
But there’s one other thing that makes Ohuhu favourable to me. And that’s the fact that as a brand they truly care. They listen to feedback, they read reviews and they are willing to help customers in need.
When you buy such a large set of markers, the likelihood of a marker shipping dried out or exploded is there. It didn’t happen to me, luckily, but I’ve seen others who had this problem. Thankfully, Ohuhu includes a pamphlet in the carry case with a guarantee that they’ll replace any faulty marker you receive. And if the set isn’t to your liking, they’ll also refund you. They may not be the only brand with such guarantees, but there’s a strong sense of humility in the way that Ohuhu interacts with their customers, as well as those in the artist community.
And I want to make it clear that my own set of markers was purchased and was not issued for free in exchange for this review. So I have no reason to speak this highly of them. I am simply going by what I’ve observed of them over the years.
– From the Ohuhu Facebook page
Verdict
Ohuhu markers are no-brainers for artists who want some great quality markers without spending hundreds on them.
One day, when I feel my art warrants it, I will buy myself a set of Copic markers so I see what the difference is. But for now, Ohuhu markers look incredible on paper to me. And so far they’ve allowed me to develop my skills in a useful way.
Having a range of 100 markers to pick from presents the challenge of identifying which colours contrast well together and this makes creating a piece of art even more special. It allows you to learn what works. And being able to blend so easily opens up more possibilities. The markers are superb quality and they’re a delight to hold and apply on paper.
It’s also worth mentioning that there are a number of Ohuhu marker sets available. Including a skin tone set and the pastel colour set.
I’m not at a level where I’m comfortable sharing my own art with the world, but below I have linked a number of Ohuhu YouTube reviews from artists I admire so you can see the markers in use for yourself.
I will also post a review of the Ohuhu sketchbook I used, which has special marker paper. The link will be added here as soon as its published.
Feel free to drop any additional questions or concerns in the comments below.
Ohuhu artwork from professional artists
DrawingWiffWaffles
Oliver’s Antics
