Arrtx Simptap Acrylic Markers are the brand‘s latest offering with some improvements from the typical acrylic markers. These are still activated by shaking them. However, unlike the traditional acrylic markers where you need to press on the nib to get the paint flowing, each Arrtx Simptap acrylic marker has a valve top where you press and pump the paint down to the brush tip.
This set comes in 24 colours and we will be looking at real swatches and using on different surfaces.
Arrtx Simptap acrylic markers swatches
To show the opacity of the markers, I swatched them on Strathmore black mixed media paper, with the exception of the black shade.
The colours are fairly true to the shades on the caps. As you can see, most shades are opaque, with a few lighter shades that are half opaque, such as J001, J005 and J103. The black shade, J799, isn’t completely opaque either. Several paints are more saturated than others and some are thinner as well.
The shade selection could be better, in my opinion. With just a mid-tone red and one yellow, you may be a bit limited to what you can paint.
The Packaging
The most surprising thing about this product is the packaging. I have always enjoyed Arrtx’s strong cardboard packaging, like the one used for the coloured pencils and alcohol markers. The Simptap acrylic markers, however, comes in a very soft paper box that barely survived shipping in a cardboard box. The paper is so soft that the markers will shift around if you take a few out to use.
If you purchase from Amazon, be prepared for a bit of a banged up box!
Highlights of Simptap Acrylic Markers
- Waterproof
- nylon brush nibs
- great coverage
- multiple surface use
- waterbased, quick dry, non-toxic ink
- 4ml capacity in each marker
The Shaky Shaky Action!
According to Arrtx’s official instructions, you need to shake each marker 20 times, and then press the valve 4-5 times to get the paint down to the nib. In addition, each marker has a window showing where the paint is so you know how close the ink is from the nib.
When the paint reaches the nib, you can see it through the clear window of each marker.
The product instruction also says that after the initial activation of the paint, you only have to press the valve to release more paint without having to shake the markers.
It’s a very good design, so you don’t have to wonder how much paint you have left, or whether you are close to getting the paint out. However, I have been using these markers for a few days and I noticed that I did need to press the valve and shake the markers to release the paint again.
Once the paint gets flowing, though, it comes out quite easily but not to the point of excess and spilling. The nylon brush tip is just like Arrtx alcohol marker brush tip, flexible and durable.
Painting on Lava Rocks
Since these markers claim they can go on many surfaces, I decided to paint on a couple of lava rocks I picked up in Hawaii on vacation. These are rough, so I primed one with gesso for comparisons.
I didn’t prime this rock and painted straight on it. True to its claim, Arrtx Simptap acrylic markers had no trouble going on this super rough surface. I don’t recommend using the markers on such a rough surface too many times, though, since it will damage the nibs. The nibs withstood this action, by the way.
For the gnome and My Melody, I primed the rocks with one coat of Liquitex clear gesso first. The surface was smoother but still rough. The paint went on without issues as well. However, it is obvious to me the white (J001) shade is not opaque. I needed two coats on My Melody and it was still not completely covering the rock.
Painting on Wood
Next, I tested the markers on a 5″x7″ piece of wood which I also primed with gesso beforehand. To achieve a smoother blend, at least 2 coats are required.
Painting on different papers
Mixed Media Paper (Vellum)
Now I started to use Arrtx Simptap markers on paper, starting with mixed media paper. They definitely go on easier on paper than on rough rocks or wood, though I find myself using at least 2 coats to blend out the streaks. Here is a look at the state of the colours after one coat of paint:
Marker Paper (by Strathmore)
Since the paint in the Simptap acrylic markers is rather thin, I decided to test it on marker paper meant for alcohol markers. This seems to work best with the markers, though if you layer too many times the paper will start to warp a bit.
Canvas Paper
Finally, I tested the markers on canvas paper, which usually works well with acrylic paints. However, because the paint is thin and dries so quickly, it is super streaky. It took multiple layers to achieve a smoother blend.
Here is the final painting. I wanted to do some shading on the yellow cloak but there is no darker yellow shade so I left it as is.
Due to the quick drying properties of the markers, it is not possible to mix any colours. If you want to layer, you can only go from light to dark, so you do need exact shades. The paint tends to dry darker than when they initially apply as well. I tried to create some lighter shades by adding white (J001) on top of a darker shade, but they end up looking very streaky. Layering white did not even out the streaks either. I think the white shade is the most disappointing, since it is not opaque enough to use as a highlight, which I usually rely on my Posca white pen to do.
Don’t Use With Alcohol Markers!
In case you want to try painting with alcohol markers and acrylic markers, please note that alcohol can smear or dissolve acrylic. I used my alcohol markers to do the skin for this Creamy Mami painting, but accidentally smeared the acrylic markers and made a mess. If you must use them together, use the alcohol markers first and do not try to retouch them once you have your acrylic markers down.
My mistake was after using the alcohol markers first and then the acrylic markers, I went back with my alcohol marker to fix a small part and ended up smearing the acrylic paint all over. 🙁
Overall Arrtx Simptap Acrylic Markers Review
Arrtx Simptap acrylic markers have an innovative design to better preserve the nibs. Once you activate the markers, they are juicy and easy to use. Moreover, the paint dries quickly and has no noticeable odor. The ink can go on multiple surfaces with or without gesso.
Since the paint dries so quickly, you may find it difficult to mix colours, though. I wish the markers come in a stronger cardboard box as well. The colour palette may also benefit from being a bit more balanced with more than one red and yellow. Furthermore, the white shade is not pigmented enough and won’t show up much on top of the darker shades.
What are these markers good for?
These are great for wood and rock painting or smaller art work where you do not need to fill in large areas with the markers. Since the colour selection is limited, these are better for simple illustrations or finishing touches.
Where to Purchase:
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/46MRPxd
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/45Z6owy
Amazon DE: https://amzn.to/47lcl85
AliExpress: https://bit.ly/46PBMi2
Disclaimer: While this product is sent to me by Arrtx for review, this blog post is not sponsored. My opinions are my own. The links to the product are for your convenience only; they are not affiliated and I do not make any commission off the sale of this product.
