Why Sharpies "ART" Our Best Friends!

Ask ANY artist you know to name their top ten favorite art utensils, and I almost guarantee that Sharpie is definitely in the top 5! Sharpies are undeniably the absolutely, best-est, most readily available, richest colored, variety-covered writing/ sketching/ drawing/ coloring/ outlining/ etc. utensil IN THE WORLD OF ART! Sharpies continue to be an artists' best friend.

Here's why Sharpies ART our best friends.

1. They have not only literally been around for over 150 years, but they have not wavered in their rich, permanent, signature marks and inks. They remain extremely reliable and trustworthy.
   
   
2. Nothing compares to the current variety of widths, tips, colors, and now visual textures, and they have managed to improve their already splendid product line! The current "tip" line includes Fine tip, Ultra Fine Point (my absolute favorite), Extra Fine Point, Brush tip, Chisel tip, and Retractable tip. When Sharpie launched the "pen-style permanent marker,"  I instantly discovered my new favorite PEN, too!
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3. They are the perfect markers to use for writing or drawing on a grand variety of textures, and their creative uses are continuously growing with the help of social media and sharing networks.

Here are a few reasons Sharpies are required in our homeschool:

1.  Sharpies are undeniably the most consistently reliable markers we have ever experienced  (yes, it's an experience once you get to know your Sharpie).

• The colors are ALWAYS rich and "juicy"
• They work wonders on various textured papers (linen, canvas, poster boards, etc)
• They are perfect for designing tee shirts and cloth items (aprons, oven mitts, etc)
• The ink within the pens themselves last a LONNNNG time (when properly stored)
• The ink on the chosen material lasts a LONNNNG time, thus your design is almost timeless!

2.  Since they last a really long time, we don't have to continuously buy and re-buy more markers. We generally only purchase more when there's a new color or product line available. We purchased a few boxes or two at the beginning of the school year, and they last beyond one school year.
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3.  Their ink is pretty much preservative. So, when we're doing any projects that we plan to preserve or display, or add to our annual homeschool memory book, we use Sharpies. Hands down.

Here are a few wonderful ways we've used Sharpies in our homeschool thus far:

1. Faux Stained Glass Window Drawings on Wax Paper
If you've not tried drawing on regular cookie sheet wax paper with a Sharpie yet, then you're in for a special treat! First we drew whatever image or shape we chose with black Sharpies directly on wax paper to create outlines (like a coloring book). Then we filled in the shapes using different color Sharpies to create a rich, bright, colorful picture. Then we adhered it onto a window for the sunlight to shine through. (We've created "sun catcher" mobiles to hang in a window using the same techniques)

2. Canvas Drawings
​We've done many fun canvas painting using actual paint, but prefaced with Sharpie-outlined shapes. Here's an "overlapping circles" project we painted a few years ago using circle stencils and markers to create circles. Then we used our paint of choice (acrylics) to practice our painting skills.

3. Painting Rocks
Are you familiar with the rock painting phenomenon that was going around last year or so? Well, we fell victim to this exciting phase, too. We would first paint various shapes, animals, bugs, flowers, or what have you on rocks that we collected or bought and then we'd leave them around town for fellow rock hunters to collect and relocate. It was like hunting for easter eggs year around. However, we not only painted cool images on rocks, but for the finer details, we discovered that Sharpies worked wonders, again! (Read more about painting rocks and other fun summer activities here, or how to start your own Paint Club here.)

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Here's a Sharpie "Tip"
Try outlining pencil drawings using Sharpies before coloring in. This is a staple technique that most artists probably already use, but just in case you hadn't thought about it, or have been using less perfect markers that may cause smearing and/or fading. Outline any drawing that you'd like to "color in the lines" of first using Sharpies, similar to creating a coloring book first.

One last Sharpie idea...
If you find yourself searching for the perfect gift for an artist, journalist, author, writer, teacher, student, or ANYONE who has to write ANYTHING from time to time, consider not only trying a Sharpie pen or marker set yourself - preferably the pen-style permanent marker - but also consider gifting a set to your friend. It's sure to make a lasting impression, and win a new Sharpie fanatic!
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We hope you've enjoyed our ArtEase! tips on why Sharpies are one of our bestest friends forever. We hope you were inspired to write or draw on! (Click ​here to see our most favorite Sharpies yet!)

What are your homeschool's most favorite writing or art utensil and why? Please share your comments and thoughts below in the comments section.

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"Creativity is art having fun."
Albert Einstein

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