I’m so excited to be typing these words: this is a sponsored post!

The folks over at Arrtx kindly sent me this set to review, but I promise I’ll still be objective and give you my honest thoughts. In fact, since this is a sponsored post, I’ve been stricter in my review process than ever before. Believe me when I say, I really put these markers to the test.

I also wanted to mention this. Though the alcohol markers were free, I won’t receive any compensation from product links included in this review. As always, all opinions are my own.

With that out of the way, let’s get to it!

Arrtx 90 Colours Alcohol Markers

• 88 vibrant colours, 1 black, and 1 colourless blender.
• Double-ended, with bullet tips on one end and brush tips on the other.
• High-quality ink offers seamless blending capabilities with quick drying times.
• Sturdy case with a handle for easy transport. The case bends open at the bottom into a stand, displaying the markers at a slight angle.
• Includes a swatch card in the package.
• Available on Amazon for CAD102.99 (at the time of writing this post).
• Store links:
  • Amazon US (with 15%off discount code:ARRTX904, Valid until 29 April 2026)
  • Amazon Canada
  • Amazon UK
  • Arrtx Store

My Review

Packaging and Markers

I like the cardboard container. Each marker slots into a space in a plastic grid at the bottom of the box, allowing you to turn the box on its side without everything tumbling out. I love the carry handle and the magnetic snap that closes the lid.

I initially didn’t realise the lid folded open into a stand, so I just placed it flat. Unfortunately, the paper tore at the seam the first time I folded the lid, but it’s a cosmetic tear, and the stand still works.

Each marker is clearly labelled on either cap, so you can easily locate shades. The colours arrived in random order, but I had a lot of fun sorting them by number.

Now, the swatch card is a thinner sheet of marker paper, so as I started swatching, I was certain the colours would bleed. I was pleasantly surprised when they didn’t. On thick marker paper, the application is even smoother, the drying time is excellent, and the layering capabilities are wonderful (but we’ll talk about that in detail later).

The marker feels sturdy in the hand, and I definitely prefer the slightly triangular shape to the oval shape of one of my other sets. I drew for hours without my hands tiring.

Most of all, I love the slight texture of the plastic. It doesn’t feel sweaty after extended use, and my little sensory-sensitive mind appreciates the soothing texture—which is a weird thing to mention in a review, but hey, I like what I like.

The brush tips are fantastic. No complaints. They do all the things they’re supposed to do, and they do them well. Excellent quality.

Some of the bullet tips feature sturdier nibs than others, creating finer lines. I don’t often use the bullet tips, so this doesn’t bother me in the slightest, but if you want these pens for calligraphy or other fine-line use, it might be a consideration.

My only complaint about the marker itself is that the cap doesn’t fit onto the opposite end, so I either have to hold it or put it down. This is a small problem, but if you’re working with multiple markers simultaneously, it can get annoying.

As with all alcohol markers, it’s recommended to store them flat in a cool, dark place, and to ensure you hear the click when you recap them. Alcohol evaporates in a hurry if the markers aren’t well cared for.

Colours

I absolutely LOVE the paler shades. None of my other alcohol marker sets includes more than five or so pastel colours, and having such an assortment to choose from makes me giddy.

Additionally, I’m excited about the grey shades. Grey, IMO, is one of the most versatile colours in the alcohol marker universe, creating rich shadows, muting colours when needed, and it works beautifully in background scenery. This set includes a huge selection of greys (21 in total), ranging from the usual warm and cool hues to others with green, purple, or blue undertones.

Finally, I was really impressed with the selection of earthy tones. From nature scenes to skin tones, this set offers an excellent variety.

But since I promised honesty—IMO, the set is too heavy on the reds and pinks. A quick count shows 19 shades in that colour family, including Vivid Reddish Purple (86), Azalea Purple (87), Purple Grey (88), and Pale Purple (89), which lean more toward pink than purple. Some of these shades are so close in value that it would’ve been fine to exclude one of them (like 86 and 87, for example).

And even though I ADORE all the greys, pastels, and skintones, I could be convinced to exchange a few because…

While creating my first artwork with these markers, I realised there are no in-between shades. For example, there’s a jump from Emerald Green (55) to Pale Green Light (167), with no softer, middle green in sight. There’s also only one shade of orange—Vermilion (14). I would’ve loved a few nice, fruity shades instead of just the bright, reddish option.

For this reason, I believe this set might be better suited to artists with at least some experience using alcohol markers. If you don’t know how to blend, the lack of mid-range shades means a steeper learning curve.

And, honestly, I feel like this set is geared towards seasoned artists. The ink and blending properties (which we’ll talk about in a moment) are excellent. The layering is *chef’s kiss* and the drying time is great. As I mentioned above, this Arrtx set offers a massive range of colours that I didn’t have before. For me, this is a perfect addition to my collection, and it will doubtlessly enhance my art-making process. Objectively, though, if this were my first set, I’d need to purchase add-on colours to fill it out. At a quick glance, the Arrtx ALP 80 Alcohol Marker set might be better geared toward beginners, as it features a lovely range of mid-level colours.

Blending and Layering

This is where these markers slay. I’d recommend this set to anyone just for the blending quality alone.

For this post, I drew a red mushroom. I blended one of the lightest orangey flesh tones into that very Vermilion to create highlights. The gradient is nearly seamless, to the extent that I’m blown away that it worked.

I’ve achieved fabulous blends with other markers, too, but never with colours so far from each other in terms of brightness and saturation, and never without at least an in-between shade or coloured pencils to help along the transition.

To show you what I mean, I created these swatches. The first bunch features one light shade and one dark or vibrant hue from the same family, blended only with each other and the colourless blender. The last few show two different bright colours blended, again only with each other and the blender.

I’m certain the blends would be even smoother if I went back and added another layer after the ink dried, but I didn’t touch these after the first pass. For a once-off quick blend, this is incredible.

Additionally, the layering is fantastic. Adding another colour while the first layer is still wet will create that smooth blend, but when I allowed the ink to dry and added another layer, it created an effect close to glazing. Layering allows subtly altering or deepening the colours, adds shadows, and much, much more. I LOVE how these pens layer. I could go on about it forever, but you have things to do, and I have photos.

This is the first artwork I made with my Arrtx alcohol markers. Do note, however, that the light flares and spots on the mushroom were added with a white acrylic marker and a gel pen, and I sharpened the underside of the mushroom with coloured pencils. The patch of green directly behind the mushroom contains a splash of Glass Green (G 36) from my Ohuhu Honolulu B set, but the rest is all Arrtx.

I’m seriously overjoyed with this set! The quality is comparable to other leading brands (and you know how loyal I am to certain brands, so I don’t say that lightly). Besides, I’m in love with the pastels. I cannot wait to create whimsical little artworks to my heart’s content.

Thanks again to Arrtx for sponsoring this post! I can totally see myself trying some of their other products soon.

Until next time.

Yolandie