Flip through the sketchbook of UK artist Korp and colour, character and untamed vitality leap out from every page. Inspired by street art and graphic illustration, he captures wild and vivid characters from his imagination and uses art markers to bring them to life in a bold, expressive style.

A self-taught artist, Korp now leads workshops in marker pen art, sharing his skills and experience to help others unlock new creativity using just a few markers. And we’ve worked with Korp to create and curate a Meet the Artist - Korp 27-piece Bundle, field with expressive and colourful Illustrator Markers and crisp ArtLiner pens. So you can dig into your creativity to bring something unique to life through art!

I first started using marker pens in my artwork when Kawaii artist, Miss Wah recommended I try paint markers. She has a huge YouTube channel dedicated to marker pen art that I really admire so I took note of her advice and haven't looked back. I’m a self-taught artist with very little formal training. When delivering art workshops I’m usually the most under qualified person in the room. Almost everything I’ve learned is from trial and error.

I like to watch other marker pen artists at work like Miss Wah, Hatch and Imrie to name a few and I’m also influenced by street artists and the nature of working on the street, especially in front of an audience like at a street art festival.

I like to sit between street art and illustration with my artwork and most of my drawings feature illustrated faces or character-based art more than still life or landscapes. I like to have a narrative to my artwork so it’s not purely decorative art. I touch on themes like mental health, relationships and enjoy using words or even lyrics in my art.

I like a limited palette, when using paint markers I usually go for black and white on cardboard. With alcohol markers I like to take light and dark shades of just 1 or 2 colours when creating artwork in order to keep it simple and easy to look at.

Marker pens, specifically paint markers closely followed by alcohol markers. I enjoy how convenient they are and that you can easily take a sketchbook and a couple of pens and enjoy endless creativity. I’m not a huge fan of using pencils though and try to go straight in with pens whenever I can because I believe it trains your brain to try to get lines and shapes right first time rather than relying on a rubber.

I love using stencils and spray paint to create photo real stencil art but finding the time for such a time consuming approach is difficult. When scaling up my artwork to mural size I like using spray paint in a freehand style.

Join the Korp Academy! Other than that, I think the brain enjoys recognising faces and repeating patterns so add a lot of that into your artwork. Keep it simple by removing anything that doesn't add value and don't be afraid of mistakes because fixing them often leads to the best ideas.

There is nothing I’d rather be. My job is colouring in. I’m living the dream.

• The 24 Illustrator Markers included in the Meet the Artist Korp 27pc Bundle feature bold brights and a range of neutral natural shades to create vivid characters and bring them to life with depth and dimension. 
• The alcohol dye-ink in each marker allows you to mix countless new hues and create tones, tints and shades.
• Produce a seamless gradation of shade by layering the same colour on top of itself - perfect for subtle changes in colour
• Illustrator’s dual tip design means you can switch seamlessly between broad brush strokes and detailed, super fine flicks.
• Six-piece ArtLiner set for pin sharp outline work.
• Each ArtLiner is filled with quick drying ink that is water-proof and marker-proof - so your work will be smudge and smear free! 

• Spectrum Noir ArtLiner - Noir Black 6pc. 

• Spectrum Noir Illustrator Markers: 

  • Cherry Red

  • Burgundy 

  • Coral 

  • Mango 

  • Aniseed

  • Khaki

  • Olive Green 

  • Moss Green

  • Willow 

  • Camo Green

  • Pistachio

  • Aqua Blue

  • Pale Mint 

  • Surf Blue

  • Navy Blue

  • Amethyst 

  • Sorbet

  • Pink Violet 

  • Tulip

  • Begonia

  • Frost Pink

  • Old Rose

  • Linen
  • Eggshell 

     

You’ll also receive two Spectrum Noir Pen Trays. These sleek storage devices have been designed to keep your markers visible and accessible as you work, and they will stack up to keep everything organised as your collection grows. 

Discover more Artists from our Spectrum Noir community and their inspirational artwork here.