In short
- Slip a thick sheet under the page and test every marker on scrap first.
- Go from light to dark, one layer at a time, always in the same direction.
- Add gel pen details last, on dry ink: a white dot makes an eye shine.
- Level
- Beginner friendly
- Time
- About 45 minutes
Markers are bold. One stroke, and the color is right there, bright and full.
Gel pens bring the finishing touch: a white dot in an eye, a thread of gold on a ribbon, snow drifting over a rooftop. Together they can make a page glow, as long as you know how ink behaves.
Ink works differently from pencil. It soaks into the paper, dries fast and stays where you put it. These five habits help you get smooth, even color from the first stroke to the last dot.
1. Protect the next page
Marker ink can travel through paper, especially if your markers are alcohol-based. Before you start, slide a sheet of thick paper or cardstock under the page you’re coloring. It catches any ink that comes through and keeps the next design clean.
Some coloring books help you here. In Cozy Cat Life, every picture is printed on one side only, with a blank back, and the book itself suggests a thick sheet underneath.
Tip: not sure which markers you have? Check the label. Alcohol-based markers blend beautifully but go through paper more easily. Water-based ones mostly stay on top.
2. Test your colors first
The color of the cap isn’t always the color of the ink. Before you begin, make a swatch strip: a small square of each marker on a scrap of paper, side by side, in the same order as your set.
Use paper close to your book’s paper, because the same ink can look different on different surfaces. Do the same with your gel pens: many look one shade in the barrel and another on the page.
3. Build color in layers
Start with your lightest shade and color the whole shape. Let it dry. Then go over it with a darker shade where the shadows fall, like under a cat’s chin or at the base of a petal. A third, deeper shade used only at the very edges adds even more depth.
With water-based markers, go gently. Too many coats on one spot can rough up the paper, so two or three light layers work better than one heavy one.
4. Keep your strokes going one way
Streaks appear when one stroke dries before the next one meets it. Pick a direction and keep it across the whole shape. Work in small areas, and let each stroke overlap the last one while the ink is still wet.
For big spaces, like a sky or a wall, some people prefer small overlapping circles. Try both on your swatch paper and keep the one you like best.
5. Save the gel pens for the details
Gel pens look their best on top of color, so they come last. Wait until the marker underneath is completely dry. Then add the small things: a sparkle in each eye, stitches on a scarf, dots on a teacup, snowflakes over a winter street.
Gel ink stays wet for a few seconds after you lift the pen. Rest your hand on a clean scrap of paper as you work, and every line stays crisp.
-
Before
-
After a white gel pen
Snowy scenes are the perfect place to practice: a winter page from Cozy Winter gives you snowflakes, a cozy scarf and a frosty sky waiting for white dots.
Common mistakes (and easy fixes)
- Nothing under the page. Ink can reach the next design. Slip in a thick sheet before the first stroke.
- Trusting the cap. The ink is often lighter or darker. Swatch every marker first.
- Starting with the darkest shade. You can't go back to light. Begin pale and build up.
- Going over the same spot again and again. The paper pills and tears. Two or three light layers are enough.
- Gel pen on wet ink. The lines smudge and the pen clogs. Wait until the marker is completely dry.
Your turn
A sheet underneath, a swatch strip, light layers, one direction and a white pen at the end: that’s the whole routine. Try it on a single page, then set it next to the last one you colored.
Prefer pencils and crayons? See 7 crayon techniques for richer, bolder color, or learn which colors go well together in Color theory: how to make colors pop.
Questions about markers and gel pens
Do markers bleed through coloring books?
They can, especially alcohol-based markers. Slip a sheet of thick paper or cardstock under the page you're coloring. Books printed on one side only, like Cozy Cat Life, keep the next picture safe.
Alcohol-based or water-based markers?
Alcohol-based markers blend smoothly and dry fast, but go through paper more easily. Water-based ones stay on top of the paper and are great for kids. Try both on scrap paper and see what you prefer.
How do I avoid streaks with markers?
Work in small areas and overlap each stroke while the ink is still wet, always in the same direction. For big spaces, small overlapping circles work well too.
When should I use gel pens?
At the end, on dry color. Use them for highlights, patterns and tiny details: a white dot in an eye, dots on fabric, snowflakes in the sky.
More pages to color?
Get free printable pages
