Adult coloring books - markers or colored pencils?

[Sherry in OH]

Which would you recommend for someone new to adult coloring books?  

Stabilo marker pens (30 colors)

Sargent colored pencils (50 colors)

Crayola colored pencils for adult coloring books (50 colors)

Prismacolor colored pencils (36 colors)

[Spryte]

My mom likes the prismacolor pencils.  She started using adult coloring books a few years ago, and finally settled on those as her favorite.  Markers are not her favorite, it’s less satisfying to her, somehow.  Get a good sharpener, too.  

[Just Kate]

I second the Primsacolor pencils with a sharpener.  👍

[katilac]

It's strictly preference. We have four people in our house and use a mix of markers, colored pencils, and gel pens. You don't want super thin paper when using markers. 

 

 

[Amy Gen]

5 minutes ago, katilac said:

It's strictly preference. We have four people in our house and use a mix of markers, colored pencils, and gel pens. You don't want super thin paper when using markers.

Here we use a combination of Coptic markers, prismacolor pencils and gel pens. 

[Pawz4me]

I have a set of Prismacolors and have been hugely disappointed in them. They're too soft for my liking. I much prefer the cheapo pencils that came with a couple of coloring books.

[Emba]

It really just depends on the person, I think. You can do more shading and subtle effects with pencils, but they also take more pressure and fatigue the hand more, and sharpening Can be messy.  When I started doing adult coloring books I really preferred colored pencils (love prismacolor), but now I like using markers better. I don’t have any brand preference there; usually just use fine point crayola markers.

[Arcadia]

39 minutes ago, katilac said:

You don't want super thin paper when using markers. 

I prefer colored pencils over markers generally because of the thickness of the paper and the bleed through effect of most markers.

[PeterPan]

You can get a set of prismacolor pencils using the 40% coupon at Hobby Lobby and then use them for something else if you don't prefer them. My dd got me a set to go with coloring books and some of the pencils quietly slipped over to my Bible reading. Some of these new Bibles have really thick paper that is great with the colored pencils.

Edited November 25, 2020 by PeterPan

[prairiewindmomma]

Are you coloring kindergarten style (put color into shape) or artist style (blending, shading, etc)? I color kindergarten style for the most part, and  prefer Prismacolor. I can do some shading with that.

For those who are into markers, and do some more intense shading, I would go with the Stabilo markers, but I would expect significant bleedthru. Go for the ultra fine point ones.

[Sherry in OH]

Thanks. I think I will get a small set of Prismacolor and a sharpener to go with the coloring book I already bought.  

[Wheres Toto]

I like fine-tip Sharpies.  I have the 40 color set.  

[Guest]

Die-hard Prismacolor fan here!