Are Ohuhu Pen Markers And Sketchbooks Any Good For Artists?
In Review: Ohuhu Set Of 160 Markers And Art Sketchbooks
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The art supplies market is never short of art markers and sketchbooks, which can make choosing one a difficult task. With so many reputable brands to choose from, how does an artist make a decision? Luckily, we had the chance to put some particular pens and sketchbooks by Ohuhu to the test, to decide if they’re a good pick for artists and beginners alike.
- Drawing by Mia Harwood using Ohuhu Set of 160 Art Markers and Ohuhu Sketchbook
Ohuhu Brush Fineliner Art Markers, Water Based – Set Of 160
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Upon first impression, these water-based pen markers are very impressive. The sizeable set comes with 160 dual-tipped pens, with a whole spectrum of colours to keep you entertained for hours. Users have the choice of a 0.04mm tip for fine line work or writing, whilst the 1-2mm soft brush end is perfect for colouring, blending and more.
Each pen is numbered and has its own secure placement in the compact and portable case. The set comes with a few additional components as well. Inside is a printed swatch card displaying all 160 colours, plus extra blank sheets to fill with your own tests. There’s also a pack of replacement brushes and fine line nibs if you ever need them.
Ohuhu states that these pens offer a colouring experience free of ink bleeding and feathering. They’ve been designed to uphold vibrancy and quality whilst also being non-toxic; perfect for kids as well as professional artists.
The good features
✔ One major perk of this Ohuhu set is the vast amount of markers. There are simply loads of pens, meaning you’re definitely getting good value for your money. If you don’t necessarily need the whole set, there’s smaller pack options on their website to suit any artist and any project.
✔ Another selling point for these markers is their dual sided tip, giving you the choice of fineliner or a bigger stroke in one pen. Essentially, this doubles the amount of pens for the same price. This also means you won’t need to invest in two separate packs for writing and colouring; one set can do it all! These pens can be used for a multitude of projects, making them very versatile and adaptable for whatever creation you’re making.
✔ These Ohuhu pens are also packaged well. All the markers come in a compact and handy case, with elastic slots to hold them in place whilst on the move. So although there are a lot of pens, they can be packed away for on the go drawing and colouring.
✔ In terms of use, the pens have a comfortable grip so you can colour away for hours without getting an achy hand. Their packaging is simple and effective, each labelled with a unique number that correlates to the printed swatch sheet provided. This is super useful when you’re just getting started with the set, discovering your favourite shades and colours.
✔ If the nibs become worn or broken over time, Ohuhu luckily includes additional tip ends if you need to replace some. This ensures that you get the most out of your pens, limiting the need to replace the whole set if one or two break.
Things to consider:
– The sheer amount of pens in this particular pack is great, however upon closer examination and swatching; a lot of the colours appear the same. In some cases, there are only slight differences between shades with others appearing identical, so you may not actually need the whole 160 markers set after all.
This isn’t too much of a problem, as when a shade runs out you’ll probably have a close replacement automatically. It just means that there’s probably not 160 unique colours, but nevertheless – even the smallest difference in shade can be beneficial for building tone and depth in a drawing.
– When creating your own swatch card, it appears that some colours don’t match accurately to the lid shade or the printed colour chart, so it’s beneficial to test the colour out on paper before using it. Luckily Ohuhu includes a blank card for you to do so, but you can also see our own complete swatch test below.
- Swatch test done by Mia Harwood
– With such a large volume of pens, it’s definitely necessary to have them labelled for easy access, with this Ohuhu set does. However, it could make more sense to organise the markers by colour groups. The arrangement of colours and numbers in this set feels odd, with no pattern or system to it.
– Some of the pastel/lighter colours are quite opaque, and might need several layers to reach their full potential. This could become an issue if your paper isn’t of good quality, and could become saturated by ink. Similarly, the lighter shades do show brush marks and you’ll need to be careful to evenly apply the ink to your paper to avoid it looking patchy.
Summary of Ohuhu Pen Markers
These pens are a great choice if you want a marker set that can facilitate both fine detail and broader colouring due to their dual ended tips. They also offer fantastic value for money when you consider just how many pens come in the set.
Quality-wise, they’ll definitely do the job for beginner and student projects, however for professional work you may want to invest in something higher end. Don’t let that put you off though – these Ohuhu pens are great for sketching, colouring and everything in between.
Value for money: ★★★★★
Packaging: ★★★★☆
Capabilities and versatility: ★★★☆☆
Quality: ★★★☆☆
Ohuhu Marker Pads Art Sketchbooks for Markers, 2 Pack
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Every artist needs the perfect sketchbook to test out their new art markers in. Whether it’s to plan their next masterpiece or get their creation flowing through doodles – sketchbooks are an essential on an artists checklist.
This particular set from Ohuhu contains two different sized sketchbooks, a square 8.3” x 8.3” book and a slightly larger 8.3” x 11.7”. The paper itself has a GSM of 200 (grams per square metre), meaning it’s designed to be thick and heavyweight for a variety of dry mediums. If that’s not enough to protect your doodles on the next page, Ohuhu also includes a soft plastic sheet to place underneath your work, maximising ink bleeding prevention.
What’s more is that the acid-free paper ensures that your work stays as bright and vibrant as when you first created it. All 78 sheets in both sketchbooks are protected by a textured, black hardback cover that fastens with an elastic band. When you’re finished, users have the option of removing their creations with Ohuhu’s easy-tear feature. If needed, you can then store them in the handy pocket sleeve at the back of each sketchbook.
The good features:
✔ Both sketchbooks contain good quality, thick paper that makes a positive difference when making work. Even after you’ve removed the paper from the sketchbook itself, the sheets keep their shape unlike some other examples that warp or wrinkle.
✔ The outside of the sketchbooks have impressive quality too with their sturdy and protective hardback cover. They look and feel professional, without being too expensive. Although appearing plain at first glance, the surface of the cover is actually textured with a leather feel. This is a small but appreciated detail that adds luxury and overall quality to the book.
✔ The addition of the protective plastic sheet is a great move. It can be used underneath the page whilst you’re working with heavy mediums to prevent ink bleeding, or used afterwards to stop any colour transferring to the next page. It’s a simple addition that actually becomes very useful.
✔ Our favourite feature of these sketchbooks has to be the easy-tear sheets. Ohuhu gives artists the option of keeping all their work inside the book, or ripping along the dotted line to free it for endless possibilities. With this quick and useful feature, drawings can be framed, scanned or further developed outside of the sketchbook. All this is done without damaging the page you want to tear or the sketchbook itself.
Things to consider:
– We tested these sketchbooks with the Ohuhu 160 pen marker set and for the most part, they’re a perfect pair. However, layered colouring in the same place can sometimes rub the paper, leaving little bits everywhere. You might want to keep this in mind if you’re working with heavier materials.
– As the paper is thick and good quality, the actual easy-tear feature might need a slight rip in the line before you can smoothly pull it out.
– Although this Ohuhu sketchbook pack comes with two sizes, the smaller square option still seems fairly heavy and bulky if you were intending to take it out and about. It’s still a very practical sketchbook but perhaps not your first option for portability.
Summary of the Ohuhu Sketchbooks
Upon reflection, these sketchbooks are really good. For the already fairly affordable price, you’re receiving two top quality sketchbooks that will only elevate the work you intend to create.
If you’re not a fan of spiral bound books, but still want the option of removing pages – then this sketchbook pack is perfect. The easy-tear feature makes an ideal book for artists who want to develop their work further – whether that be digitally or physically. With these sketchbooks the possibilities are endless.
Value for money: ★★★★★
Packaging: ★★★★★
Capabilities and versatility: ★★★★☆
Quality: ★★★★☆
Reflection
When looking at these Ohuhu products overall, it’s easy to be impressed. They’re affordable and of good quality – the ideal combination most consumers look for. There’s attention to detail in both sets, making your overall experience of the products more enjoyable and efficient.
The best results are probably to be found when they’re used together; but the versatility of Ohuhu products means you can mix and match with the other materials you have at home. Like with most artistic tools however, you’re best trying them for yourself to see if they work for you and your individual practice.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF OHUHU MARKERS AND DO YOU HAVE YOUR OWN RECOMMENDATIONS? LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.
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