Spectra AD Brush Marker Review | Overdue Art Supply Reviews #2

Spectra AD brush and chisel nibbed alcohol markers from Chartpak are a great budget friendly alternative to Copic Sketch and Ciao markers. Shall we review them? Let's go!

00:00 Intro
01:00 Updates
02:33 Review Stars

Welcome to episode 2 of my Overdue Art Supply Reviews series! Spectra AD markers were my very first alcohol brush markers, even before my first Copics, and if Ohuhu hadn't come out with their brush line I would have all of the Spectra AD colours by now. Even though I have plenty of Copics and other brands now, the Spectra AD markers are still firmly in my go-to collection and tend to get used in at least half of all my marker illustrations.

Under the Spectra AD brand, these markers are available in 95 colours plus the colourless blender and you can also find 30ml refills for all 95 colours and replacement nibs. They are distributed by Chartpak here in North America, which is the same company that distributes all Koh-I-Noor brand supplies in this region. Spectra AD markers come in the black barrels with the tapered Tri-Nib chisel in North America and in white barrels with a standard chisel nib in Europe.

Blick Studio brush markers, the in-house brand of alcohol illustration markers sold by Dick Blick, appear to be a private label of the European version of Spectra AD markers. They are visually identical and offer the same 95 colours & refills plus a few more! Unless someone who owns both can definitively prove me wrong, I maintain that these are the same marker and you could mix and match markers and refills between the two labels without issue.

Numbers for reference:
The manufacturer's suggested list price for...
Copic Sketch markers are $7.99 USD
Spectra AD markers are $6.75 USD
Blick Studio markers are $5.76 USD

These are comparable markers in size, ink quality, and nib quality to a Copic Sketch marker and since there are ink refills and replacement nibs available, they are comparable in longevity and long-term economic savings as well. The only drawbacks are a less-lightfast formula (though no alcohol inks are lightfast, not even Copics) and less colour availability than the monstrous Copic line, particularly in the palest and most pastel-toned shades.

Amazon links for those who want to check these out: (affiliate links)
12 Basic Colours: https://amzn.to/3BsX46r
24 Basic Colours: https://amzn.to/3uUSpZG
48 Colours: https://amzn.to/3HY7iyb
96 Colours (95 + Colorless): https://amzn.to/3uXlILm
12 Cool Greys: https://amzn.to/3JzViTK
12 Warm Greys: https://amzn.to/34FAtru
6 Greens: https://amzn.to/3BptsXs
6 Blues: https://amzn.to/3gNVRND
6 Reds: https://amzn.to/3BpjyoW
6 Yellows: https://amzn.to/3JzIjBG
6 Skin Tones: https://amzn.to/3rUyBUv

And for my Canadian friends, my favourite place to source these markers open stock is at Curry's: https://www.currys.com/catalogpc.htm?...

NOTE: My intended audience is 14+

Join the Art Addicts Alliance Discord Server! All artists are welcome   / discord  

** Follow Me! **
Blog & Portfolio: https://www.westveilpublishing.com/

Art Socials
Instagram: @jennagetscreativeyt https://bit.ly/3ge7Gej
Twitter: @jennacreates https://bit.ly/2M3jQsR

Book Socials
Twitter @westveilarchive https://bit.ly/2Zu6Nsi
Instagram @thewestveilarchives https://bit.ly/2ASYegl
Goodreads @JennaRideout https://bit.ly/2Xl7Jwj

** Support Me! **
Red Bubble Shop: https://rdbl.co/3bjHX1x
Zazzle Shop: http://bit.ly/2Oyhkwl

Jackson's Art Supply (Affiliate Link) http://bit.ly/2UFaPMr
Get £3 off your first subscription with ScrawlrBox http://rwrd.io/2x6pqp5
Get $5 USD off at the ArtSnacks shop! https://bit.ly/3Bqt8qw
Art Supplies Amazon Affiliate Links Master List https://bit.ly/2DfCiNP