Blog

Matt Falconer - Redlands City, Queensland, Australia

How would you describe your artwork?
My style has developed from a neo-traditional tattoo and comic book background.

Why do you love Copic?
I Love Copics immense and vast collection of colours. I like fact that whatever colour you see on the lid, is an exact representation of what it's going to look like when you use it. Very few marker companies can achieve this. I also love the names they come up with for their colours.

What do you do if you are in a creative rut?
I tend to usually go skateboarding. I will also search out other artists content that I find are more skilled than me for inspiration, that then gives me the drive to excel past them. I am inspired by tattoo artists, I have a real appreciation for them being able to turn human skin into a work of art.

What is your favourite Colour Combo?
At the moment it's a combination of 'V05 Marigold' with 'BG49 Duck Blue' it makes for an amazing majestic type background.

When you aren’t Copic-ing, what do you do?
Playing video games, reading, cooking and I enjoy just cruising around on my skateboard from time to time.

If you were stuck on a desert island and only had 5 markers what colours would they be?
It would definitely have to be the colourful and vibrant ones like; YG07, B02, R27, Y38 and RV25.

Niki Bee- Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

When did you first start using Copic?
I Started using Copic's when I first discovered paper crafting, they are the go-to alcohol marker within the community and I feel in love at first blend.

How would you describe your artwork?
As a card maker, I aim to create clean and balanced cards with pops of colour all on a 10.5cm x 14cm panel.

What do you do if you are in a creative rut?
If I'm in a creative rut, I will clean my craftroom and organise, that way when inspiration does hit, I'll have a fresh room to create in. I also love connecting with creative people on Instagram and watching crafty YouTube Videos, just seeing others create brings joy to me.

Which artists are you inspired by?
There are so many people I'm inspired by, I adore Melania Deasy's way with colour and I'm completely obsessed with all things Celeste Wrona. I love the free and quirky style of Helen Dardik and when Jack Grayson's draws his life moments, you cannot help but smile.

When you aren’t Copic-ing, what do you do?
If I'm not Copic-ing I'm a Mum and a wife, who adores daily walks on the beach, weekends filled with hiking, 4Wd-ing, camping and sending happy mail to those I love.

If you were stuck on a desert island and only had 5 markers what colours would they be?
Which colours would I take on a deserted Island? I'm pretty sure this question has given me heart palpitations. BG02, RV14, Y18, G05 and BV02. I figure I'll mostly be doodling, might as well be colourful.

Cassy Lyttle – Bowral , New South Wales, Australia

What are you favourite Copic products?
My favourite Copic products are the Various Ink Refills and I used them in alcohol ink freestyle painting.

Where do you Copic?
I use Copic inks largely at home in my makeshift studio and because they are easy to pack and store, I can transport them on holidays with me!

What do you do if you are in a creative rut?
I am fortunate that I have never been in a creative rut but I know that a champagne and potato crisps would sort me out!!

Which artists are you inspired by?
I am greatly inspired by Chagall for his whimsical themes and his vibrant colours but I also love Brett Whitely and John Olsen for their scribbly free designs.

When you aren’t Copic-ing, what do you do?

When I’m not Copicing, I’m working as a Kindergarten teacher, relaxing with my husband or my children and grandchild.

If you were stuck on a desert island and only had 5 inks what colours would they be?
B99, B21, BG72, BV29 and E87. These colours don’t necessarily go together but one of them usually features in each of my works!

 Jaime Fleming – Queenstown, New Zealand

How would you describe your artwork?
I create stylised alpine landscapes that are inspired by my love of being in the mountains.
Using a variety of techniques and mediums I recreate the magic of the mountains by instilling the spirit of adventure into each piece.

Why do you love Copic?
I love the depth I can create with beautiful blends and bold colours, as well as the intricate details and smooth linework I can produce.

Which artists are you inspired by?
There are so many inspirational artists that I adore, but if I had to pick a few today I would say Vanessa Stark (@vanessastarkart), Lois Vero (@loisvero) & Nikki Frumkin (@drawntohighplaces)

When did you first start using Copic?
Just this year! I'd been lusting over Copic Markers for a while and finally took the plunge at in January - and I'm so glad I did!

When you arn’t Copic-ing, what do you do?
When I'm not at my day job at a local helicopter company sending people off on all kinds of adventures, you'll find me snowboarding, hanging out with my husband and our awesome dog or planning my next big adventure!

If you were stuck on a desert island and only had 5 markers what colours would they be?
I don't think I could survive without my Multiliners, but I would have to pick BG34, BV17, Y11, R85 and YR16 ...maybe sneak in a Colourless Blender too!

 Sam Moore - Christchurch, New Zealand

How would you describe your artwork?
A colourful mix of strange characters, weird environ¬ments and crazy creatures.

What are you favourite Copic products?
The Copic Gasenfude Brush Pen and the Classic Markers.

Why do you love Copic?
The feel of the marker on the paper, the way they blend and the huge range of vibrant colours.

Which artists are you inspired by?
Moebius (Jean Giraud) is my artistic hero. But there are amaz¬ing artist all over the world working in different disciplines like film, TV, comics etc that inspire me everyday.

When did you first start using Copic?
When I was studying graphic design.

If you were stuck on a desert island and only had 5 markers what colours would they be?
C4, C6, C8, R29 and B24.

 Cassandra James, Melbourne, Australia

How would you describe your artwork?
My artwork is a mix of my passions and inspirations, comic-y realism with hints of neo-traditional tattoo vibes mixed in. Let’s call it ‘If Sailor Moon Were to go to the West.’

What are you favourite Copic products?
I adore the Copic Sketch Markers, the brush tips are so beautiful to work with and you can achieve some wonderfully smooth blending and colour transitions with them. The Multiliners are great too, ink that doesn't bleed when you marker colour over the top is so important.

Why do you love Copic?
I grew up as a traditional painter and the way you can layer and blend the colours is very reminisent of the traditional painting techniques I learned growing up. So not only are Copic products very comfortable for me, they're also very versatile as artistic tools.

Which artists are you inspired by?
The easiest question would be 'which artist's don't inspire me?' As someone with a comic artist background I adore artists such as Nicola Scott, Adam Hughes, Becky Cloonan and Terry Dodson. But I also adore and draw inspirtation from classic artists such as Alphonse Mucha, Caravaggio and Gustave Courbet as well as the pin-up painters from the 1930s to 50s.

When you arn’t Copic-ing, what do you do?
I burlesque dance in my spare time as well as paint tabletop miniatures. I’m a massive nerd and love my comics, tabletop and video games. When not enjoying any of those other hobbies I love enjoying a nice glass of wine or whisky and relaxing.

If you were stuck on a desert island and only had 5 markers what colours would they be?
Probably a set of 5 cool greys because you can do some really beautiful monotonal blending using just Copic greys. I love me some C2, C4, C5, C6 and and C8.

Nathan Cole - from Iowa, USA, living in Melbourne, Australia

How would you describe your artwork?
I like bold colours, strong contours and clean lines. My artwork with Copic Markers is mainly in the style of comic book illustrations.

Why do you love Copic?
I like the versatility of Copic, how easily the colours can be blended, and the vibrancy of the finished art. I love the Copic Sketch Markers! They're so easy to use with so many colours!

Which artists are you inspired by?
Alan Davis, Alphonse Mucha, Hokusai, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Sophia Coppola

What is your favourite Copic colour?
Wow, tough one. Gonna go with YR15 - so bright and energetic!

When you aren’t Copic-ing, what do you do?
I make comic books, do yoga, swim, and cook Mexican food. At the moment I'm organising a new comic book festival for Melbourne called Indie Comic Con.

If you were stuck on a desert island and only had 5 markers what colours would they be?
G05, B18, R27, YR15, Y18 They make me happy when I look at them :)

 Amanda Toner - Napier, New Zealand

How would you describe your artwork?
Bright, bold and fun illustration!

Why do you love Copic?
Copic Markers must be the easiest and best quality marker pens I have had the pleasure of using. They are easy to blend and fit my style so well.

What do you do if you are in a creative rut?
Sketch. Never stop drawing, you will get through that rut if you keep sketching.

What is your favourite Colour Combo?
BV00, RV02, C-3, BV23 and R20! Love the pastel tones.

When you aren’t Copic-ing, what do you do?
Tattoo, Browse Instagram for inspiration and sleep - haha!

If you were stuck on a desert island and only had 5 markers what colours would they be?
My favourite colour combo- Bv00, RV02, C-3, BV23 and R20! I love the pastel tones.

Be sure to follow each of our ambassadors on Instagram and follow us for your chance to win Copic prizes!

The aim of the Copic Ambassador program is to feature talented Australian and NZ Copic users from various industries (ie. Fashion, design, illustration, papercraft etc.) We are excited to announce that we will have a new team for the second half of 2017, to give another group of passionate Copic artists the opportunity to share their work with the Australian and New Zealand Copic Community.

We are looking for artists who:

• Demonstrate a variety of creative talent and inspirational projects
• Artists who are already using and committed to The Copic Brand
• Use Copic and affiliated products in their everyday work (showing finished work but also product images eg. product in use)
• Regularly engage on social media platforms including Instagram, facebook and Youtube
• Use of short videos clips (showcasing our products in use to create art) is an advantage

If you love sharing your passion for Copic on social media, then we want to hear from you! To register your interest in becoming an ambassador, click here.

We’ve been blown away by our latest group of Australian Copic Ambassadors. Click on their photos to view their Instagram pages and stay tuned for a call out for our next group in the coming weeks!

Andy Hoven - Melbourne, Australia

When did you first start using Copic?
I started collecting Copic Markers in 2004, buying three at a time from my local artist supply store. My very first colours were YR04, E11 and C7. Since then, I’ve only fallen more in love with the brand, and have built up a solid collection.

Where do you Copic? 
Everywhere. At home, I use the Copic Sketch Markers to colour my illustrations, however, I always keep a small collection of Ciao Markers and Multiliners in my backpack so that I can sketch on the go. I never know when or where I’ll find inspiration, so it’s best to be prepared!

When you aren't Copic-ing, what do you do?
I work part-time for an Australian-owned fashion label, while taking freelance illustration jobs on the side. For my downtime, I love going out for brunch with friends, walking my dogs, reading graphic novels, and having movie nights.

Kat Young – Melbourne, Victoria

Why do you love Copic?
In my experience the products are always reliable, and they do exactly what I want and more, and they’re so much diversity to choose from. I also love that almost everything is refillable, that way I don’t have to stop in the middle of a creative moment and go out and buy a new pen when they run out, I just refill it and keep creating!

What are you favourite Copic products?
Of course I love my good ol’ Copic Sketch Markers, but recently I’ve developed an obsession with the Copic Multiliners (and the Multiliner SP’s) particularly the ‘wine’ colour *drools*

What is your favourite Copic Colour?
Oohhh, ‘Wine’ in the Multiliners for sure, but so hard to pick for the Markers, I have a few; RV95 (Baby Blossoms), E71 (Champagne), V25 (Pale Blackberry), and BV20 (Dull Lavender)  

Jack Grayson - Geelong, Victoria

Why do you love Copic?
I love Copic for so many reasons. The range of colours that they offer makes colouring easy, because if there’s something that you want to colour, it’s near guaranteed that there is a marker to do it with! Not only that, but the massive range makes them very collectable, and it’s always exciting to add some new colours to my collection every now and again. They’re refillable, so you don’t have to buy new ones every few weeks, and they look really nice displayed in their cases on my desk. They also colour in a really unique way with solid, vibrant colours that can blend together seamlessly and look amazing on the page.

What do you do if you are in a creative rut?
I draw! I find that there’s no better way to get out of a creative rut than by simply creating. Getting the juices flowing again can be as simple as sketching a couple of characters, so I just sit down and make stuff until I’m ready to dive in and get creative again.

What is your favourite Colour Combo?
My goodness there’s almost too many to choose from! I tend to work more with environments and shades, so I always love combining different tones of the same colour to create some depth. Reds like R35, R37, and R39 look fantastic when put together and a combination of YG91, YG93, YG95 and YG99 makes for a great Olive Green palate. In terms of a colour combo though, I love a combination of magenta and a golden yellow, RV19 and Y38 are perfect for this.

Erin Hunting - Melbourne, Victoria

When did you first start using Copic?
Way back in 2006 when I saw some folks playing with them online. I started off with some simple shading before I quickly found my confidence to go full colour. I still remember that exciting feeling of seeing my work in colour since my work was all pretty much black and white inks before then.

Why do you love Copic?
I have used many and varied markers and pens and I have found that Copic not only stock the very best colours within their marker range, they are also of the best and highest quality with both their markers and pens. I also like that Copic is constantly evolving and bringing out different and assorted art products too.

What do you if you are in a creative rut?
I will try loose sketching in my sketchbook and if that does not work I will most likely browse Instagram and Twitter for inspiration or my many art books that I have in my studio.

Dina Reymann - originally from Germany, now living in Hobart, Tasmania

How would you describe your artwork?
"My artwork style is a mix between comic and illustration. Some people call it cute! Which I think it is sometimes. I like to try different styles. Sometimes a mix between more realistic images and a tiny bit of comic style. Sometimes just cute and definitely not realistic."

What are you favourite Copic products?
Definitely Copic Sketch Markers! I love the brush tip and the design of the Sketch Marker.
They rest comfortably in the hand and they are available in ALL Copic colours. I also have a
few Copic Ciao Markers which I also really like too.

Where do you Copic?
Everywhere! On my bed, on the floor, when I am sitting on the couch, on my desk, on the
balcony, in the airplane, in a café, at the beach!

Andrew Cox – Perth, WA

What is your Favourite Copic product?
My favorite products are definitely Copic Classic and Sketch markers. I like having the option of 2 different size tips. X-press It blending card is a must to compliment the markers.

What is your favourite Copic Colour?
My Favorite Copic colour would have to be BG15 Aqua. It seems to be the color that goes with everything I draw. My favorite colour combo would have to be every bright colour I can get in to one drawing. Teal/aqua colours with a bright pink I find pretty cool for making a picture stand out.

What do you do when you are not Copic-ing?
When I'm not Copic-ing I like to get tattooed and meet tattooists, watch funny movies, play golf, kayak pretty much anything. If I'm in a creative rut, I usually like to watch something funny on Netflix, or some classic Simpsons. That always gets the ideas going!

We’ve blown away by all of the amazing Aussie artists who applied to join our team of Australian Copic Ambassadors. If you missed out on joining our team this time, don’t give up! Keep tagging and showing us what you are creating – we will have more call outs throughout 2017.

Without further ado- we are so excited to introduce you to our new team of Australian Copic Ambassadors.  Be sure to follow our amazing ambassadors on instagram, they’ve each got a Pack of Copic Markers and an X-Press It Blending Card Pad to give away! We look forward to sharing their creative projects with you and they all can’t wait to share their love of Copic! 

Our Team

Andrew Cox

Andy Hoven

Dina Reymann

Erin Hunting

Jack Grayson

Kat Young

 Stay tuned for a feature post on each artist over the coming weeks.

Copic is the worlds leading alcohol marker system. Used by professionals for graphic design, architecture, papercraft, fine art, brush lettering, journaling, illustration, manga & so much more. They are durable, refillable, and feature replaceable nibs, you only need to buy a Copic marker once.

• Oval shaped barrel
• Compatible with the Copic Airbrush System
• Available in all 358 colours
• Refillable – One bottle of Copic Various Ink will refill a Sketch Marker up to 12 times
• Available in sets
• Includes a Medium Broad nib and a Super Brush nib
• 3 nib options available
• Unique Super Brush nib delivers a wide range of marks and makes blending easy
• Commonly used for papercrafting, illustration, fashion design, interior design, manga, landscape architecture, mixed media, brush lettering and more!

• Square shaped barrel
• Compatible with the Copic Airbrush System
• Largest ink volume
• Available in 214 colours
• Refillable – One bottle of Copic Various Ink will refill a Classic Marker up to 9 times
• Available in sets
• Includes a Broad Chisel nib and a Fine Point nib
• 9 nib options available
• Enables bold strokes, quick coverage and the ability to work within detailed areas
• Most popular among product designers, graphic designers, industrial designers, comic Artists and architects

• Round shaped barrel
• Available in 180 colours
• Refillable – One bottle of Copic Various Ink will refill a Ciao Marker up to 15 times
• Includes a Medium Broad Chisel nib and a Super Brush nib
• 2 nib options available
• Child-safe caps featuring small air holes
• Available in sets
• Provides the same great quality and experience as Sketch, at a lower price point

With 358 colours in the Copic colour range it is important to understand how the colours work together. Each colour has a unique code representing its family saturation and brightness. 

The colour code is broken into 3 seperate points of information:

Colour letter – Represents the colour family (eg BG = Blue Green)
1st digit – Saturation (amount of grey)
2nd digit – Brightness (how pale or dark the colour is)

Copic Colour Wheel

The Original Copic colour wheel is a great tool to use to find blending combinations; you can download it here.

Basic Blending

A good rule of thumb for basic blending is to choose colours from the same family with the same first number and the second number 2-4 digits apart. Eg. B02 + B04.

When you are confident working with basic blending combinations you can  extend the variety of colour by adding lighter and darker colours from the same band making your spectrum of colour B00, B02, B04, B06.

Adding more Grey

When you are confident with your blending, you can start adding more grey to your work, moving in and across each band of the wheel, this will increase the amount of grey in your colour range. Eg B00 + B12. You can then extend your colour range even further B00+B12+B23....

A few months ago we were touched by this photo posted on the Love Your Sister Facebook page. Its a photo of Connie from Love Your Sister, who is fighting her third battle with cancer. She has lovingly created colouring pages for her kids.

 What is Love Your Sister all about?

Sister/brother duo Connie and Sam (well known for riding across Australia on a unicycle and raising $1.5 million in the process) are on a mission to raise $10 million dollars for cancer research. You can learn more about their mission here.

How can you help?

Enter our #copiclovesyoursister competition! For each unique entry submitted Copic Australia will donate $1 to Love Your Sister.*
Create your own uplifting image or colour this image that Connie has created. You could also win a Copic prize pack valued at over $250!

Facebook- Post a photo of your entry with at least one Copic product, directly on our facebook wall include the hash tag #copiclovesyoursister within the comment of your post.

Instagram - Upload a photo of your entry with at least one Copic product, to your own Instagram account. Tag @copicmarkerau and include the hashtag #copiclovesyoursister. Please note that we can only accept entries posted on public profiles.

What’s The Prize?

1x 6 Piece Copic Skin Tone Sketch Set

1x 6 Piece Copic Perfect Primaries Sketch Set

1x 6 Piece Copic Floral Favourites Sketch Set

1x 6 Piece Copic Pale Pastel Sketch Set

1x NEW X-Press It A4 Blending Card Illustration Pad

THE FINE PRINT:
Entries will be judged based on creativity. Entries must be submitted by 11:59pm (AEST) on 30/10/16. The prize winner will be announced on The Copic Marker Australia Facebook and Instagram pages by 3/11/16. Entrants must respond via direct message by 18/11/16, otherwise the prize may be reallocated at the discretion of Copic Australia. All entrants must be Australian or New Zealand residents. Entrants under the age of 18, must have consent from a parent or legal guardian. Entrants may submit 2 entries, as long as each submission is original and unique. Images entered into the competition may be used for promotional purposes. Images may be used on product packaging with written approval of the artist. In this case, high resolution images or original artwork may be requested. This competition is in no way sponsored or endorsed by Facebook or Instagram. 

We have been blown away by the amazing entries submitted in the Australian Copic Artist of The Year Competition.

Congratuations to the following Copic Artists:

THIRD PLACE - Levi Bell

SECOND PLACE - Brea Lanyon

FIRST PLACE - Lee Kimura

Congratulations to the very talented winners, please get in touch with us by direct message on Facebook or Instagram.

Keep an eye on out for a new competition next week, raising awareness for a very special cause.

The search is on for the Australian/NZ Copic Artist of the year!  

There's over $1000 worth of Copic Up for grabs!

HOW TO ENTER:

Create an original project using Copic as the primary medium. Take a photo of your finished work of art making sure that you include at least one Copic product in your photo and upload it using one of the two methods –

Facebook- Post a photo of your artwork directly on our facebook wall (www.facebook.com/copicmarkeraustralia) include the hash tags #copic358 #mycopic and #copicmarkerau within the comment of your post.

Instagram - Upload a photo of your work to your own Instagram account.Tag @copicmarkerau and include the hashtags #copic358 #mycopic #copicmarkerau. Please note that we can only accept entries posted on public profiles.

THE PRIZES:

First Prize - $700(AUD) Worth of Copic Products* of winners Choice

Second Prize - $250(AUD) Worth of Copic Products* of winners Choice

Third Prize - $100(AUD) Worth of Copic Products* of winners Choice

THE FINE PRINT:

Entries will be judged based on creativity. Entries must be submitted by 11:59pm (AEST) on 28/9/16. The prize winner will be announced on The Copic Marker Australia Facebook and Instagram pages by 6/10/16. Entrants must respond via direct message by 18/10/16, otherwise the prize may be reallocated at the discretion of Copic Australia. All entrants must be Australian or New Zealand residents. Entrants under the age of 18, must have consent from a parent or legal guardian. Entrants may submit multiple entries as long as each submission is original and unique. Images entered into the competition may be used for promotional purposes. Images may be used on product packaging with written approval of the artist. In this case, high resolution images or original artwork may be requested. This competition is in no way sponsored or endorsed by Facebook or Instagram. *value of product will be based on average retail product pricing.