Don't Waste Your Money on Artist's Loft Markers

I'm working on a bunch of cards for some online friends. I was using Copic BG11 on the background of the sample I created, but I started to run out of ink. My order for the refill was possibly a week or two from delivery and I needed something now.

While in Michael's this past Sunday, I had hoped to find that they carried the Copic marker line so I could buy a fresh BG11. But instead they had this look-alike alcohol-based (like Copics) line of markers called Artist's Loft. They had a color that would match closely enough to the one I needed, so I bought it and the next darker color since I wasn't sure which one would work best.

When I got them home I started playing around with them to see if they were good enough for my project. They seemed to work pretty well. They blended with the Copics just fine. Maybe not quite as well as the Copics themselves, but close. So I proceeded to use them to color in my backgrounds. I did 2 layers of color on 3 of them, but the rest I only put one layer on, intending to do a second.

Before finishing the first coat on the last image the marker ran dry! Artist's Loft does not have refills, so if I want to finish my project, I'll have to buy another marker. Keep in mind that I've only had this marker since Sunday, and it's Wednesday.

Long story short. These markers don't have much ink in them. Also, the nib was starting to wear out already! Dang!

My advice? Spend your hard-earned money on Copics and their refills. Don't waste your money on cheaper knock-offs. You won't really save money at all. Copics and their refills can both be bought inexpensively at Dick Blick Art Supplies.