Ohuhu Kahuku Acrylic Paint Markers Review – I Tried Them for Adult Colouring
I have always liked the idea of doing something creative to relax, but I am definitely not someone who can sit down with a blank piece of paper and casually draw something amazing. Give me a colouring book, though, and that’s a completely different story!
Adult colouring is one of those hobbies that seems to come and go in popularity, but I think it’s such a simple way of giving yourself something to concentrate on that isn’t your phone, work, housework or the 47 other things going around your head.
Recently, I have been trying the Ohuhu Kahuku Series Direct-Ink Acrylic Paint Markers, and although they can actually be used for all sorts of crafts, my first proper test of them has been much simpler – adult colouring.
I wasn’t entirely sure how acrylic paint markers would compare with the pens I’d normally associate with colouring books, but I’ve really enjoyed using them. They’ve also given me plenty of ideas for other things I’d like to try with them in the future.
So, if you’ve seen these and wondered whether they’re suitable for adult colouring as well as painting rocks, wood and other crafts, here’s what I thought.
Please note these were sent to me in return for sharing my thoughts but all opinions are my own.
What are Ohuhu Kahuku Acrylic Paint Markers?
The Ohuhu Kahuku Series Direct-Ink Acrylic Paint Markers are acrylic paint pens rather than ordinary colouring pens.
In very simple terms, you get the colour and coverage of acrylic paint but in a marker, so you don’t need brushes, palettes, pots of water or any of the other stuff that usually comes with painting.
That was part of the appeal for me. When I’m doing something because I want to relax, I don’t particularly want a hobby that takes me fifteen minutes to set up and another fifteen minutes to clear away afterwards. Sometimes I just want to sit down, get some pens out and colour.
The Kahuku markers use what Ohuhu describes as a direct-ink system, so the paint flows directly through the pen rather than being held in a traditional cotton core. There’s also a little transparent ink window, which lets you see the paint inside and gives you an idea of how much you’ve got left.
It is a clever design, but ultimately the important question for me was much simpler: are they actually nice to colour with?
Using the Ohuhu Kahuku markers for adult colouring
This is what I have primarily been using my set for so far, and I’ve really enjoyed it.
There’s something incredibly relaxing about colouring when you’re not trying to achieve anything with it. I’m not creating artwork to sell or trying to become the next famous artist. I’m literally choosing colours I like and filling in spaces.
Sometimes it’s nice to do something that doesn’t need to be productive!
The Kahuku markers have worked really well for this because the paint flows nicely from the tip and the colours are lovely and vibrant.
There’s a slightly different feel to using acrylic markers compared with ordinary felt-tip pens. The finished colour feels much more substantial and bold, particularly when you’re working on designs where you really want the individual colours to stand out.
It makes even a fairly simple colouring page look quite striking.
Colouring as a way to relax
I think we massively underestimate how useful hobbies like colouring can be when we need a bit of downtime. Most of us are constantly doing something. Even when we’re supposedly relaxing, we’re often scrolling through social media, replying to messages, checking emails or watching television while simultaneously looking at our phones.
Colouring gives your brain something completely different to concentrate on. You need to think about which colour you’re going to use next and focus enough to keep roughly within the lines, but there’s no huge mental challenge involved. If you make something purple that would normally be green, nobody cares. If two colours clash horribly, the world doesn’t end.
That’s precisely why I like it. I’ve been using these when I want something calm and creative to do, and there’s something very satisfying about watching a blank design gradually fill with colour.
You don’t need to be artistic either. I certainly wouldn’t describe myself as an artist. Adult colouring gives you the creative part without the pressure of having to actually draw the picture first.
Here are some of my favourite colouring books.
The colours are one of my favourite things about them
One of the things that makes adult colouring enjoyable for me is having plenty of colours to choose from.
If I only have a handful of colours, I inevitably end up using the same combinations repeatedly. With a bigger set, you can start playing around with different shades and choosing colours you perhaps wouldn’t normally put together.
The Ohuhu Kahuku range of acrylic paint markers has a really good variety of bright and softer colours, depending on the set you choose. The acrylic paint markers are also highly pigmented, so the colours look bold on the page rather than disappearing into the paper.
That has made colouring with them particularly satisfying because you get a lovely solid block of colour rather than repeatedly going over the same area trying to make it look less patchy.
What are the brush tips like for colouring?
The Kahuku acrylic paint markers have brush-style tips, which I found really useful for adult colouring because you can change the width of your stroke depending on how you hold the pen and how much pressure you apply.
For larger areas, you can use more of the side of the tip and cover the space relatively quickly. When you get to smaller sections, you can use the end of the tip more carefully.
Obviously, they’re not going to replace an ultra-fine pen if you’re working on one of those colouring books with absolutely microscopic details. If your favourite colouring pages have spaces approximately the size of an ant’s toenail, you might still want some fine liners alongside them!
For the sort of colouring I’ve been doing, though, I’ve found them comfortable and easy to control.
Do they bleed through colouring pages?
This is something I would definitely think about when using any paint or alcohol-based marker in a colouring book.
These are acrylic paint markers, so they’re very different from ordinary coloured pencils. How they behave will inevitably depend on the thickness and quality of the paper you’re using.
I would always put a spare piece of paper or card behind the page I’m colouring, particularly when trying them in a new colouring book for the first time.
It takes about three seconds to do and could save the picture on the next page!
I’d also test one of the markers somewhere inconspicuous if you’re using a colouring book you’re particularly precious about. Different papers absorb paint differently, so I don’t think anyone can guarantee how every colouring book will react.
They’re not just adult colouring pens
Although I’ve been using my Ohuhu Kahuku acrylic paint markers for adult colouring so far, that isn’t really what they are primarily designed for. They’re actually much more versatile than that. Because they’re acrylic paint markers, they can be used on a variety of surfaces including wood, stone, glass, canvas, card and other craft materials.
I haven’t properly explored all of those possibilities yet, but I absolutely intend to. In fact, using them for colouring has probably made me want to experiment with them more because I’ve got used to how the tips work and which colours I particularly like.
What else am I planning to try?
Rock painting is definitely on my list. I’ve seen so many gorgeous painted stones over the years, ranging from intricate mandala patterns to simple little ladybirds and bees, and paint markers seem considerably less fiddly than attempting those details with a tiny paintbrush.
I’d also like to try the acrylic paint markers on wood. You can buy inexpensive plain wooden decorations and shapes from craft shops, and I think these would be lovely for making personalised Christmas decorations, little signs or homemade gifts.
Glass is another interesting possibility. I’d love to experiment with decorating jars or perhaps creating little lanterns with recycled glass jars. Maybe even favours for our wedding next year.
That’s what I like about having these in my craft supplies. Even though I’m currently enjoying them for something as simple as adult colouring, I don’t feel as though I’ve bought a set of pens that can only ever do one thing.
Could you use acrylic paint markers on dark surfaces?
This is another advantage of them being acrylic paint markers rather than normal colouring pens. Ohuhu says the Kahuku markers have high-opacity paint designed to show on dark surfaces, including things such as dark wood, stone and black paper. That’s something I particularly want to play around with when I start trying them for other crafts.
Normal colouring pens can virtually disappear on dark card, whereas opaque acrylic paint opens up completely different possibilities. I’m already thinking black card with bright colours or metallic-looking designs could be lovely for homemade cards and decorations.
I suspect this is how craft supplies multiply. You buy some pens for relaxing with a colouring book and two weeks later you’re looking at pebbles and wondering whether they’d look better with flowers painted on them!
Are the Ohuhu Kahuku markers messy?
This is another reason I’ve enjoyed them for relaxing colouring. They’re really not particularly messy to use.
Obviously, there is actual acrylic paint inside them, so I’m not suggesting you hand them to a toddler next to your cream sofa and hope for the best. However, compared with traditional acrylic painting, there’s very little to deal with.
There’s no pot of water to knock over, no brushes to clean, no palette covered in drying paint and no tubes of acrylic paint with lids that mysteriously refuse to go back on properly.
When I’ve finished colouring, I put the lids back on and put the pens away. That’s my sort of craft!
I really like the visible ink window
I didn’t think I’d particularly care about this feature, but I actually do. There’s a transparent section on each of the acrylic paint markers that lets you see the paint inside.
If you’ve ever had a favourite colouring pen suddenly run out halfway through a picture, you’ll understand why this is useful. At least you can see when you’re starting to get low on a particular colour rather than discovering when half the flower you’ve coloured is one shade, and the other half has to be something completely different.
It’s not a feature I’d choose a pen for on its own, but now I’ve used markers that have it, I can definitely see the benefit.
Are these good for beginners?
I think so, especially if you use them the same way I have. You don’t need any artistic ability to enjoy adult colouring. The drawing has already been done for you, so you can simply get used to how the markers feel and experiment with colours.
That actually makes colouring books quite a good way to familiarise yourself with acrylic markers before moving on to other crafts.
You can learn how much pressure to use, how the paint flows, how the tip behaves, and how different colours look together without trying to paint something from scratch at the same time.
Then, if you decide you fancy decorating stones or wooden ornaments, you’ve already got a good feel for the pens.
Who would I recommend the Ohuhu Kahuku markers to?
I think these would be lovely for someone who enjoys adult colouring but would also like to branch out into other crafts.
If you literally only ever colour very intricate colouring books, you might prefer a set of traditional fine-tipped colouring pens or pencils because they’ll give you more precision in tiny spaces.
If, however, you enjoy bold colouring pages and also fancy experimenting with rocks, wood, canvas, glass or homemade decorations, these give you much more versatility.
I also think they’d make a lovely gift for somebody creative. You don’t have to know exactly what they’re going to make with them because there are so many possibilities. They can start with colouring, as I have, and see where they go from there.
My overall Ohuhu Kahuku Acrylic Paint Markers review
I’ve really enjoyed using the Ohuhu Kahuku Direct-Ink Acrylic Paint Markers, although perhaps not initially in the way you might expect.
Instead of immediately finding bits of wood, rocks and glass to decorate, I’ve mainly been sitting down with an adult colouring book and enjoying using them simply to switch off for a while. And actually, I think that has been a great way to start using them.
The colours are vibrant, the paint flows nicely and there’s something very satisfying about the solid acrylic colour you get on the page. I’ve found them easy and enjoyable to use without needing to get loads of craft supplies out or clear up a huge mess afterwards.
More importantly, colouring with them has reminded me how nice it is to do something purely because it’s relaxing. Not everything needs to achieve something. Sometimes spending half an hour deciding whether a flower should be pink or purple is exactly the level of decision-making I fancy!
I haven’t finished experimenting with these acrylic paint markers yet either. I’m definitely planning to try them on some of the other surfaces they’re designed for, particularly rocks and wood, and I’ll update this review when I’ve had a chance to see how they perform.
For now, though, the acrylic paint markers have earned themselves a place with my adult colouring supplies. And if I suddenly start decorating every pebble, plant pot and random piece of wood I can find, I’ll know exactly where it started.
