The Best Paint Markers for Canvas in 2023

What if you can paint on canvas with the same ease as drawing and coloring using markers? Sounds fun, right? Well, you can do just that by using the best paint markers for canvas. These markers are nifty art tools that can change the way you paint and you can find the best set for you through this article.

Acrylic paint pens for canvas look just like a regular ink marker, but instead of ink, they contain acrylic paint. This means that they have brighter and richer colors compared to regular ink. In addition, acrylic paint is opaque. This means you will need fewer coats to make it stand out.

If you are interested to learn more about paint markers and want to find out which brands are worth your time and money, then continue reading.

Best Paint Marker for Canvas Reviews

1. Chalkola Acrylic Canvas Paint Pens

The thing I love the most about Chalkola products is that they always seem to use very bright pigments, and they also did the same with these markers. Every pen contains brightly-colored acrylic paints, bright enough to show even on black paper. These pens use real acrylic paint, not just ink.

Also, unlike regular acrylic paint, the ink in these markers dries up in just under a minute. This is a feature that I am particularly thankful for because I tend to smudge markers. With these pens, I don’t even have enough time to mess them up because they dry so quickly.

These markers are not just usable on canvas but can also write on almost all surfaces, both porous and non-porous. Many people use this to paint on stones and eggshells, and I have tried these markers on glass with great success. Whatever project you have, these markers will help you out.

This set comes with 20 different colored pens. Now, for professional artists, twenty colors may not be enough, but for hobbyists, it is plenty. There are a couple of shades of the base colors so shading will not be a problem. However, because these are acrylic paints, they are not easy to blend.

The problem that I have with these pens is that they do not have that much paint. You might run out of paint while you are working on a medium-sized canvas, so you should at least have two sets of the best markers to use on canvas at the ready.

2. Emooqi Acrylic Paint Pens

Just like most of the other acrylic paint markers, these pens from Emooqi can write on many different surfaces, both porous and non-porous. I have been using these on canvas, but I also tried using these on glazed plant pots, mason jars, and on my kitchen tile backsplash. These markers worked great on all of them.

It is also nice that these markers come in 24 different colors. You will be getting 21 regular colors and 3 metallic ones. The colors come in several shades, so getting a gradient going will not be a problem. All the colors are highly pigmented, almost completely opaque, and lay on thick.

All the markers have 3mm tips, which might seem too thick, but they are the perfect size for acrylic pens. Once properly primed, the paint will flow smoothly through the tip and onto the surface, resulting in even lines all the time. The thick line weights also make it easier to color in spaces using these markers.

Even though these markers use acrylic paint, you will find that they do not have any smelly fumes. These markers use water-based acrylics, which means that they are non-toxic, water-soluble, and do not emit noxious fumes. This makes them the ideal gift for creative kids.

I must warn you. If this is your first time using these markers, don’t use regular paper. The paint is a bit loose, so it will easily rip a hole through thin paper. I suggest you use heavier paper stock, or just use cardboard when you want to draw using these markers.

3. Chalky Crown Acrylic Paint Markers

One of the things about this set of markers that I liked the most is their quick drying time. The paint that these markers use is a water-based acrylic, and they only take a couple of seconds to dry and cure completely. This means you will not even have enough time to smudge the paint.

Another neat thing about this set of acrylic markers is that there is no surface they cannot write on. They work especially well on glass. I used these markers to decorate a couple of plain drinking glasses and mugs and the paint is still on their surfaces after a couple of months have passed.

I especially liked how these markers have dual writing tips. You just need to pull out the nib, and then flip it over to the chisel-point. I usually do this when I need to use markers for calligraphy work. The chisel-point tips are great for drawing straight edges and calligraphy.

These markers make great gifts for kids. Not only are the acrylic paints bright and vivid, but they are also safe for use by young children. The ink is water-based and non-toxic, and they are also easy to clean. My kid “accidentally” wrote on the wall, and I was able to get rid of the paint using regular warm soapy water.

If you are a serious artist, then you might find that the 12 colors of markers in this set are not nearly enough for your needs. You will only be getting 7 colors of the rainbow, white, black, and three metallic colors.

4. Desire Deluxe Acrylic Paint Pens

I have used quite a lot of acrylic paint markers on canvas throughout the years, but I have yet to find another set that can compare to the Desire Deluxe pens when it comes to writing on smooth surfaces. I have used these markers for glass painting and they adhered to the smooth surface without any problem at all.

Another thing I liked about these acrylic paint markers is their large 5mm nibs. The tips are big enough that they can cover a large area with paint using fewer strokes than you would when using other brands. However, even though the nib is wider than average, you can still use it for drawing details.

The first time I used these markers, I was amazed at why these large nibs are not leaking paint. As it turns out, these markers have a special valve that controls how much paint goes into the nibs. Without these controls, the ink would leak through the edges of the writing tip.

Just basing on how they perform, one would think that these pens are more expensive than they are. The truth is that these markers are very affordable, at only a fraction of the cost of the top brands. This should be a good starter kit for those who are on a tight budget.

The problem that I have with this set of markers is that the color choices are limited. Having just 12 colors to choose from will test your creativity and imagination. Although you can mix colors, it would have been better if it was already available for use.

5. Aen Art Fabric Markers Pens

I like the assortment of colors that come in this set. There are 30 different colors, which is usually more than enough for most of the projects I make. The colors all come in several shades, which makes blending colors much easier.

If you are like me and you like to design your t-shirts, then you will love these markers. You just need to draw on the fabrics, let the design dry for at least a day, and then iron the reverse side on high for at least 3 to 5 minutes. This will set the colors and prevent the ink from getting washed away.

These markers have bullet-point nibs that allow for drawing somewhat fine lines and details. However, you need to be careful when drawing on canvas as the ink tends to bleed and spread in the fabric. Don’t put too much pressure on the nib to prevent too much ink from flowing out.

Speaking of the inks, these markers use highly pigmented ones that pop when applied on fabrics. Now, these markers use actual fabric ink and not paints, so they will not show when used on dark fabrics. However, when allowed to dry and set properly, the inks will not fade.

The only thing that you need to be careful about is how quickly the pens dry out. You need to always remember to replace the caps every time or else the nib will rapidly start drying, which will render the entire pen useless.

6. AROIC Canvas Paint Pens

These are among my most favorite paint pens ever. The paints that each pen uses are oil-based and highly pigmented that you can see the colors pop once the paint meets paper. I also love how, even after weeks have passed, the colors remain as bright and vibrant as the day I put them on canvas.

Speaking of colors, this set comes with 48 colored pens, none of which repeats colors. I love how every color has several shades, which makes looking for colors for shading and highlighting a bit easier. You just need to find the darker or lighter shade of the color you are using, and you are good.

Aside from canvas materials, I have also used these pens to write on some unorthodox materials. I have tried using these pens on stones, mirrors, ceramic mugs, plastics, wood, and many other materials. I have yet to find a surface where these markers could not write on.

I have used other paint pens, and I usually complain about how hard they were to prime, but this is no longer a problem with these markers. There is a heavy mixing ball inside the pens that make it easier to shake. The felt tips are also tough and durable, so pressing on them to get the ink flowing will not damage them in the slightest.

What I did not like about this set of oil paint pens for canvas is that some have inaccurate color representations. This means the colors on the pens do not match the color of the inks. I also did not like that the pens have no color codes on them, which makes finding the right colors quite difficult.

7. INK LAB Acrylic Fabric Paint Pens

These products are among the most vibrant pens that I have used so far. The yellows are bright, but still visible on white paper and fabrics, although I do outline them with a darker shade to make them easier to see. All the other colors are accurate to their description, and the metallic colors are also quite beautiful.

These markers also come with fine-point felt tips. Although these tips make coloring spaces a bit more tedious, they do make it easy to draw thin lines. The felt tips are also not that stiff so I can vary the line weight just by adding more pressure or lessen pressure on the nib.

Another nice thing about these acrylic paint pens is that the paint flows smoothly if you properly loosen up the paint and prime the tip. Once primed, the paint will start to flow down to the nib uniformly. I could draw a long line and its thickness and the amount of paint will be uniform throughout. There’s no skipping and ghosting.

Speaking of priming the pens, it will only take a couple of seconds to do, mainly due to the size of the pens. You only need to shake the pen until you no longer hear the mixing bead rattling inside the pen, and then push the nib into the pen body. In just 3-5 seconds, you can already prime the pen, making it ready to use.

The problem I have with these markers is that they do not contain a lot of paint. In addition, in the set that I received, some pens already have less paint than the other colors. Even if the pens did come with full ink, one set is not enough for a large canvas painting, especially if you will be using lots of colors.

8. Beager Canvas Acrylic Paint Pens

Although you are getting 30 pens, you are getting 28 colors altogether (there are extra black and white pens), which is more than enough for most artists. I do not need that many colors when using acrylic paint pens because I am not a fan of smooth color transitions.

The thing that I liked the most about these pens is that they all come with reversible nibs. You just pull out the nib and set the tip that you would like to use. The bullet-point is for making thick lines, and the chisel-tip is for making sharp lines and fine details.

These pens use specially formulated water-based acrylic paints. This allows the pens to write on all sorts of surfaces, even on smooth, non-porous surfaces. I have tried these on glass, tiles, mirrors, and metal surfaces and the paint stuck on all of them.

Speaking of the paints, they dry so quickly that I do not even have time to accidentally smudge them, which always seems to happen when I am working with paint. Even when you use these markers on smooth materials, they take less than a minute to dry and bond on the surface.

I could not find anything to seriously complain about, but if I have to pick one minor issue, I would say that the white pens should have more pigment. As it is, the white paint is a bit on the thin side, I need to add another layer to make the white more visible.

9. PIZIART Acrylic Paint Pens

When it comes to acrylic paint pens, there is no running away from priming. The colors that come with this set are all so bright that you will be able to see all of them regardless of the background. Whether you use these pens on black or white paper, you can easily identify each color.

Speaking of the ink, another nice feature of these pens is the quick-drying Italian ink. The ink dries so fast that it does not allow itself to run or get smudged. This is beneficial if you will be using them to write on glass and other non-porous surfaces. Once the ink dries, it adheres to the surface.

Speaking of material surfaces, most acrylic paint pens can write on all sorts of them, and this is not an exception. Even if you don’t rough up the surface that you will be painting on, the wet paint can easily stick on it.

This set of paint markers come with 15 different colored markers – all of which are packed inside a convenient tube carrying case. For most artists, having just 15 colors can be quite limiting. However, if you are only looking into creating simple designs, those that don’t need a bunch of colors, then this set should be enough for your needs.

I have a minor problem with these markers, and that is that they tend to leak easily. Press down a bit too hard on the nib, and a huge blob of paint will come out of the base of the nib.

10. ARTISTRO Acrylic Canvas Paint Pens

This set of acrylic paint markers have extra-fine nylon nibs. These pens utilize 0.7mm size nibs, making them the ideal choice for creating detailed line drawings or crisp outlines. These are also great for drawing on canvas. The tips are so fine that there is no chance of bleeding.

Not all people use these pens for drawing and coloring. Some just use these pens for doodling and note-taking. These pens’ inks flow through smoothly, that is if you prime the pens properly. This results in thick and even lines every time.

These paint pens for canvas use Italian acrylic inks, which makes their colors look more vibrant compared to other paint pens. I have used lesser quality pens with colors that seem duller and washed out. For instance, the dark reds look brown and the yellows have a greenish tinge to them. Meanwhile, these markers have very accurate colors.

I like using these paint markers on canvas and other kinds of fabrics because the colors do not run. When I use these pens to draw on a canvas, the ink stays where I want it to. They do not bleed too much into the fibers. I sometimes use these to customize sneakers and their colors stay true even after months have passed.

These would have been perfect, but it does have a couple of small issues. One of which is that it takes a while to prime these pens. You have to give each pen a really good shake to loosen the inks. You may even need to give around 3 to 5 minutes of priming time for each pen.

What to Look For When Buying a Paint Markers For Canvas

If you are still undecided on which set of paint markers for canvas you should get, here are some of the more important details that you need to keep an eye out for while shopping.

Ink Quality

You would not want to spend your hard-earned money on markers whose inks are of poor quality. Good quality inks are those with bright and vibrant colors that do not change in value when applied on the canvas.

The acrylic ink should be thick enough that it will not easily seep into the fabric. Don’t settle for markers that have cheap and thin inks. They are just more trouble than they are worth.

Drying Time

The inks used by the markers should have a quick drying time. If the acrylic ink dries fast, then it won’t have enough time to bleed through the canvas and leave a huge blotch of ink on the surface.

Ideally, the ink should dry in under a minute, to prevent the paint from blotching and bleeding through the material.

Number of Colors

The more colors you have in your paint markers collection, the more options you have for coloring. For instance, a 40-piece marker set will have at least three shades of every primary color, so you can have lots of variation when it comes to shading and highlights.

You can blend acrylic inks if you need to, but it is a tedious process, which is why it is best to get a set of paint pens that already have all the colors that you might need.

Nib Size

Just like when you are painting using traditional brushes, you need to have several different sizes of nibs. Unfortunately, this means that you need to purchase more than one set of paint markers with different-sized tips. On the other hand, if you are only planning on owning just one set, then you should get markers with reversible nibs.

Ink Amount

Paint markers are notorious for not having nearly enough ink to last a month of use. This means that if you can find markers that have significantly more ink than the others, then you are already on the right track.

If you want markers that could last for more than a couple of projects, get the big fat markers. These usually contain more ink, and the bigger nibs provide good coverage.

Cost

This will be purely subjective, so saying that one set is more expensive is not a valid point. However, just like with any other product, you get what you pay for when it comes to paint pens. This means that you should not settle for the cheapest pens that you can find. Get the ones that you can afford.

You can sometimes get lucky with cheap pens, but that does not happen very often. If you do not want to waste your money, just get a good quality set of pens that you can fit into your budget.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Paint Markers Bleed on Canvas?

Some paint markers do, especially if they have thin inks. This is why it is best to test out markers on scrap pieces of canvas before using them on the real deal. Ideally, the paint markers you use should use ink paints that have a thick consistency so they sit on top of the canvas and are not absorbed in it.

What are Paint Markers Used for?

You can use paint markers for canvas in many different applications. You can use them to decorate objects, for drawings and illustrations, for making signages, and many more. Just like with any other artistic medium, you are only limited by your imagination when coming up with uses for paint markers.

Conclusion

The best paint markers for canvas can open up a lot of creative avenues for you. Not only can you try your hand at “somewhat” traditional painting, but you can also branch out to customizing clothes and shoes.

With the sheer number of bright colors and hues at your disposal, the possibilities of creating something beautiful are almost endless. Hopefully, you learned how to choose the right set of paint markers. If this is your first time using this medium, prepare yourself for a whole new world of fun.