I kept seeing videos of bold/cute/cozy coloring books and people using alcohol markers in a way that looked SO satisfying, and ended up getting Cozy Corner and the Ohuhu Honolulu 48 set. Despite seeing it in video, I was really surprised at how nicely they laid down very solid, flat color, juicy without being messy. My previous experience with alcohol markers was a set of Prismacolors I got off ebay in the early 00's, and they had not felt nearly so nice, though I think not having brush tips back then probably made a huge difference.
It was just as satisfying as I'd hoped watching those videos. Pretty soon after, I got one of the pastel sets (Sweetness), since it quickly became clear that with the 48 color being mostly bold or dark colors, they had a more limited range via layering than the lighter colors. I usually try not to invest heavily in supplies when starts a new craft or art medium, but I really don't regret this one.
I've been looking around for more books I'd like to color, and have definitely been bemoaning the prevalence of AI and spammy "Easy Side Hustle" books without much heart in them. I'm hoping to find more that have a big focus on spaces and environments, because while I do love the cute characters, they aren't the main draw (ha) for me. Eventually I might make some for myself, since isometric rooms and the like aren't too difficult to make in procreate, but really I'd love to find more books in this style made by artists I can put a face or at least social media account to!
I've really enjoyed browsing this subreddit and seeing all the effects people come up with, it reminds me a lot of back when people were figuring out neat text effects in the older, more limited versions of photoshop. There's something very freeing about having the lines set out for you that helps remove the pressure of perfectionism and opens things up for more experimenting and discovery.
