Marker artwork ideas

Things to draw with markers, by marker type

40 drawing ideas with markers

Ten easy, ten medium, ten that build skill and ten for paint markers on unusual surfaces.

Easy marker art ideas

1. A sheet of tiny stickers: stars, hearts, mushrooms, clouds.
2. Your name in bubble letters with a drop shadow.
3. A cute food character: a smiling taco, avocado or donut.
4. A cactus collection in little pots.
5. A rainbow with patterned bands.
6. A cat curled into a circle.
7. A grid of fruit slices.
8. A doodle border around a page.
9. A houseplant in a striped pot.
10. A row of potion bottles in different colors.

Medium marker artwork ideas

11. A landscape inside a circle: hills, sun, one tree.
12. A koi fish with layered scales.
13. A bowl of ramen with steam lines.
14. A butterfly with symmetrical wing patterns.
15. A mushroom village.
16. A hand-lettered quote with a floral swash.
17. A city skyline at sunset in three colors.
18. A cartoon portrait of your pet.
19. A pattern tile in four colors, repeated.
20. A treasure map of your neighborhood.

Ideas that build skill

21. A sphere and a cube, shaded light to dark, to practice blending.
22. A glossy cherry with highlights left white.
23. A color wheel in your marker set, swatched and labeled.
24. A value study: one object in five shades of one color.
25. A crumpled paper bag in grays.
26. A glass of water with reflections.
27. A comic strip in four panels.
28. A botanical study of one leaf, in detail.
29. A self portrait in three markers only.
30. A zentangle tile with ten different fill patterns.

Paint marker ideas beyond paper

31. Painted rocks: start with easy rock painting ideas.
32. A custom phone case design on a clear case insert.
33. Canvas sneakers with doodle art.
34. A tote bag with a bold lettered word.
35. A wooden coaster set with patterns.
36. Black cardstock greeting cards in white and neon.
37. A mini canvas pop art portrait.
38. Ornaments or glass baubles for display.
39. A plant pot with a face.
40. A skateboard deck design on a legal blank deck.

Techniques that make marker art look finished

• Light to dark: lay the lightest color first and build darker layers.
• Leave white: unpainted paper is the brightest highlight you have.
• Outline last: a black or white line around dry color sharpens everything.
• Limit the palette: three or four colors read better than twelve.
• Swatch first: caps rarely match the ink exactly; test on the paper you will use.
• Right paper: marker paper for alcohol markers, mixed media for water-based, cardstock or black paper for paint markers.

Permanent marker drawing tips

Permanent markers bleed through thin paper and cannot be erased, so sketch in light pencil first and erase the pencil once the ink is fully dry. Put a scrap sheet underneath. For color that covers dark paper, switch to a paint marker; classic permanent markers are translucent dye ink. More on choosing: drawing markers and art markers.

More marker ideas

Acrylic marker projects on canvas and dark paper are on acrylic marker art ideas; Posca-specific projects on Posca art ideas. For watercolor effects, see watercolor paint pens, and for soft colors, pastel paint markers.

Last reviewed 2026-10-12. Specs and availability change; check the listing before you buy.