Studio Tips &
Buying Guides
Practical guides on art materials, studio workflow, and techniques — written for working artists and beginners alike, grounded in day-to-day conversations with artists in Kingston, Ontario.
Art Supplies Guides and Studio Tips
Art Marker Tips: Clean Lines & Better Blends for Every Artist
Learn essential art markers tips to achieve professional results with cleaner lines and smoother colour blends. Discover proper paper selection, blending techniques, and marker maintenance. Perfect for beginners and experienced artists looking to improve their marker work. Get practical advice on choosing the right markers for your style and budget.
Read moreArt Supplies Guides and Studio Tips
Acrylic Paint Markers vs Paint Pens: Your Complete Buying Guide
Confused about acrylic paint markers versus paint pens? You're not alone. While these terms are often used interchangeably, there are subtle differences that matter for your art projects. Paint markers typically feature broader tips and more paint flow, while paint pens offer finer control with smaller tips. Both use acrylic paint that dries permanent and opaque on most surfaces. The key is choosing the right tool for your specific project needs.
Read moreBest Art Markers for Beginners: Copic vs Tombow vs Staedtler Guide
Choosing your first set of art markers can feel overwhelming with so many brands and options available. This guide compares three popular marker brands - Copic, Tombow, and Staedtler - to help Canadian artists find the best markers for their needs and budget. We'll cover the key differences in price, performance, and features to help you make an informed decision for your artistic journey.
Read more
Tombow Dual Brush Pens: Complete Guide to Sets and Blending
Tombow Dual Brush Pens are versatile water-based markers perfect for lettering, illustration, and mixed media projects. Available in individual colours or curated sets, they feature a flexible brush tip and fine tip in one pen. The water-based ink blends beautifully for gradient effects and colour mixing. This guide covers choosing the right sets, blending techniques, and getting the most from your investment.
Read more
Build a Marker and Fineliner Core Kit (That Actually Works)
If you have ever bought “a marker” and it behaved nothing like you expected, this collection is the fix. Markers and Precision Pens brings your most common drawing jobs together in one place, linework, colour, journaling accents, and lettering, so you can build a set that matches your projects instead of collecting random pens. Art Noise is an independent, family-owned shop in downtown Kingston, Ontario, and this category is curated like a workbench: pick the tool for the job (or build a simple 3-tool stack), then expand when you know what you actually like. If you are local, you can also learn more about the shop here: About Art Noise.
Read more
How to Get Cleaner Lines and Better Blends with Art Markers and Fineliners
If you want cleaner linework and smoother marker colour, the “right” tool is usually a combo, not a single pen. This guide shows a simple, repeatable workflow using items from Art Noise’s art markers and fineliners collection, plus practical troubleshooting for the problems that waste the most time. You will also find shopping notes for paper choice, tip styles, and when a multi-surface marker is the better tool.
Read more
How to Choose Art Markers and Fineliners (Without Buying Twice)
This buyer’s guide helps you choose art markers and fineliners from Art Noise based on what you actually want to do: crisp linework, lettering, colouring, or on-the-go sketching. It maps out a few simple shopping paths, then shows Good, Better, Best picks you can build from. You will also get practical paper-pairing and troubleshooting tips you can use right away (general guidance).
Read more
