How do you store your art markers and brush pens?

September 23, 2021 7:13 AM

How do you store your markers for maximum convenience and space saving?

If you have lots of markers (Copics, Prismacolors, brush pens, cheap Ikea markers), how do you store them so you can

* find the colors you want
* keep the pens from drying out or clotting
* avoid taking up too much space

Do you keep the different brands and types of pens separated or combined?
Do you store them flat, vertical, or tilted?
Do you group colors, and if so, how?

Specifics (links to container products, sizes of old coffee cans, details on what you use) would be most appreciated.

Thanks!

posted by kristi to Media & Arts (5 answers total)

I keep my pens in an Ikea Raskog cart. I have a bunch of pencil holders in it where I group like pens by color (if I have a lot of them like my Copics) or by brand if I don't have a lot of them. I then group the containers by type. For me that means alcohol pens, water-based, and paint/pigment.

I like that I can move the cart around anywhere in my office and take out the individual holders too. I used to keep them in a rack on my desk, but I like them better mobile. Plus I can push the cart under my craft table that is counter height.

I stand all my pens vertically, but I would check on whatever the manufacturer suggests. The thing that has helped me keep my pens in good working condition is to use them regularly.

I use these cheaper cardboard based pencil holders I got from Target, but I'm sure you can repurpose plastic bottles/containers to do the same. Ikea has some for their pegboard system called SKÅDIS. I have too many pens for the pegboard system, but that's pretty cool too.
posted by jraz at 7:44 AM on September 23, 2021 [1 favorite]

The world's best site for pens has advice for storing pens. Markers and brush pens are both either horizontal or tip-down. Horizontal works for all kinds of pens except ballpoints.

I store most of my pens vertically in these totally unremarkable pencil cups. I store groups of 5-20 pens together by brand and type. Tip down, colors mixed; they all have ends that show the pen color.
posted by Nelson at 8:05 AM on September 23, 2021 [1 favorite]

I bought two boxes of chocolates that fit my markers perfectly (I have also used fancy ravioli boxes). They are about 11x7 inches. I store them by their brand assigned number, which basically means sorting them by color, in the six resulting cardboard trays (top, middle tray, and bottom of box). I store them horizontally in a drawer that used to house a computer keyboard. My markers are double pointed, so I didn't want to store them vertically, because that would dry out the top tip. Bonus: I got to eat a bunch of fancy chocolate.
posted by twelve cent archie at 9:39 AM on September 23, 2021 [2 favorites]

I store my double-ended Prisma markers horizontally, as this position is supposed to be better for them, in a 72-slot carrying case which I position vertically, on one end, so it has a small footprint on my desk, with something small as a shim under the front edge so that it is very slightly tilted back to ensure that the markers don't fall out. This is the one I have; it's out of stock, but the solution works so well I'd recommend looking for a similar one. It's super handy for traveling, as well, since all I need to do is close the lid, which otherwise I keep folded behind the case.

I arrange my colors in approximate spectral order, red on top, then orange, then yellow, etc., but with blacks, browns, and clear smudgers on the top.
posted by metonym at 10:38 AM on September 23, 2021

I use Tombow double-ended water-based markers and store them vertically, thin end down, in a silverware caddy I upcycled from a broken dishwasher
posted by Morpeth at 10:56 AM on September 23, 2021 [1 favorite]