Sharpie art works on paper, shoes, rocks, leaves, mugs and more, because the ink is permanent and sticks to almost anything. Here are 24 Sharpie art ideas for kids and adults, with ages, materials and quick steps, plus four pro artists for inspiration and a guide to removing Sharpie stains.
Before You Start: Sharpie Safety
- Sharpies are labeled AP-certified non-toxic, but the ink is permanent and smells strong. Ventilate the room and cover tables and clothes.
- Kids 5 and up can use them with supervision. For toddlers, use washable markers instead.
- Sharpie says not to use its markers where the ink could touch food or a mouth, and they are not made for skin.
- Oven and rubbing alcohol steps are for adults only.
Easy Sharpie Ideas
1. Doily Stencil
Ages 4+. Materials: paper doily, white paper or cardstock, Sharpies. Hold the doily still on the paper and color over it. Laying down a doily and Sharpie-ing over it
2. Simple Drawing Game
Ages 4+. Materials: markers and paper. This easy drawing project works for kids and adults.
3. Drawn-On Shoes
Ages 8+, easy. Materials: plain white canvas sneakers such as Vans or Chucks, Sharpies, cardboard to put inside the shoe. Slide cardboard inside to stop ink soaking through, sketch in pencil, then ink over it. Color may fade with wear, so spot clean only.
4. Metallic Sharpie Leaves
Ages 4+. Materials: fallen leaves, metallic Sharpies, a bag for collecting. Press dry leaves under a book, then draw patterns on them. Gather leaves to draw on on a nature walk.
5. Sharpie Rock Drawing
Ages 4+. Materials: smooth rocks (rocks here), Sharpies, optional clear sealer. Wash and dry the rocks first. Use regular Sharpies only on light rocks or ones you have primed, as in this Sharpie rock drawing tutorial. On dark rocks, use Sharpie paint markers, or the metallic Sharpies. More: rock art ideas.
6. Sharpie Mugs
Ages 10+ with an adult. Materials: plain white ceramic mug, Sharpie oil-based paint markers, oven. Here are some pretty gold marker mugs. Follow these directions:
- Wash the mug well with soap and water and dry it.
- Decorate with Sharpie oil-based paint markers.
- Crafters then bake it in a 350-degree oven for about 30 minutes and let it cool completely in the oven, so the mitt does not smear the ink.
- Wash by hand only.
Safety note: Sharpie has not tested its markers as food-safe or oven-safe and says not to use them where the ink could touch food or the mouth. Treat the mug as decorative and keep the design off the rim and inside. Test on a spare mug first.
7. Sharpie Tin Cans
Ages 6+ with an adult. Materials: clean tin cans with smooth, taped or filed edges, Sharpies. Check the rim for sharp edges first. Kathy Barbro of Art Projects for Kids shows this awesome project using tin cans and Sharpies.
8. Sharpie Tie-Dye Tiles
Ages 8+ with an adult. Materials: plain white ceramic tiles, Sharpies, rubbing alcohol, a dropper. Color on the tile, drip a little alcohol to blend the colors Rubbing alcohol is flammable, so keep it away from flames. See these Sharpie tie-dye tiles.
9. Doodled Easter Eggs
Ages 6+. Materials: blown-out or hard-boiled eggs, Sharpies. From Alisa Burke: blown out, doodled Easter eggs. Do not eat eggs you have drawn on.
10. Sharpie Art on Photo Paper
Ages 3+ with supervision. Materials: glossy photo paper, Sharpie fine-tip markers. Draw on the glossy side, let it dry, then frame it. Find the details on Happy Hooligans.
11. Sharpie Silhouette Ornament
Ages 6+; an adult handles the oven. Materials: matte shrink film, black Sharpie, a profile photo, scissors, hole punch, ribbon, parchment, baking sheet. Trace the profile on shrink film, cut it out, punch a hole, bake per the package directions, press flat while warm, then add ribbon. Not only for Christmas: try this Sharpie silhouette project.
12. Dotted Glasses
Ages 10+ with an adult. Materials: plain glasses, Sharpies or paint markers, rubbing alcohol on a cloth for cleaning. Keep the design off the rim, as with the mugs. Similar to the mugs above, but this time on glasses.
Sharpie Art: The Next Level
These still use only markers. The challenge is practicing your technique or tackling a larger project.
13. Doodled Journal Cover
Ages 10+. Materials: plain journal or notebook with a smooth cover, Sharpies, pencil. Sketch in pencil, then ink over it. Check out this doodled cover by Mary Scarlett.
14. Sharpie Wall Design
Ages 12+ with permission. Materials: Sharpies, painter’s tape, a plain wall. Tape off the shape, then fill it in. Test a small corner first, since it is permanent. See this Sharpie wall design.
15. Doodled Bag
Ages 10+. Materials: plain canvas tote, Sharpies, cardboard inside the bag. Put cardboard inside, then draw. Ink fades with washing. Inspiration: art by Korn.elia on Instagram.
16. Chihuly-Inspired Cups
Adults only for the oven step; kids can do the coloring (ages 6+). Materials: clear plastic cups, fine-point Sharpies, foil-lined baking sheet. Color stripes on the cup, then an adult heats the cups in a 350-degree oven, where they slump in a minute or two. Make some Chihuly-inspired art with Sharpies and plastic cups. Heating plastic can release fumes and cup makers do not test for this, so ventilate well or skip this one.
17. Wax Paper Art
Ages 4+. Materials: a large sheet of wax paper, markers. Tape it down and draw. Who knew a big piece of wax paper could be transformed so beautifully with markers?
18. Foil Embossing
Ages 9 to 12. Materials: cardboard, white glue, yarn, heavy-duty foil, glue stick, felt square, colored Sharpies. Glue yarn designs onto cardboard and let it dry overnight, cover with foil, rub gently with felt to bring out the design, then color the foil with markers. Here is a fun-looking kid art project.
19. Colorful Labyrinths
Ages 6+. Materials: paper, pencil, Sharpies. Labyrinths are fun to draw, and you can make them colorful with a bunch of Sharpies.
20. Eye-Popping Sketchbook Drawings
Ages 8+. Materials: sketchbook, Sharpies in several colors. Fill a page with bold shapes, like Cara Wrrr.
21. Hand Lettering
Ages 10+. Materials: paper, Sharpies, optional tablet. Practice letters with different tips. Beautiful work by Alyssa Wigant.
22. Tangle Art
Ages 8+. Materials: paper, Sharpies. Draw patterns inside shapes. Try this out if you like to doodle.
23. Pointillism
Ages 6+. Materials: paper, Ultra Fine point Sharpies. Build your picture from dots. Pointillism is fun and relaxing, and Ultra Fine points are perfect for all the dots.
24. Skateboard Deck
Ages 12+. Materials: a plain skateboard deck, Sharpies or paint markers, clear sealer. Sketch, ink and seal it. See how Anthony Simm Skate does it.
Professional Artists Using Sharpies
Here is how far some artists have pushed permanent markers. These are inspiration rather than step-by-step projects.
George Ramos spent 2 weeks drawing on this Lamborghini.
This work by Charlotte Mann is unbelievable. She lists her medium as a black marker pen.
Cheeming Boey draws mostly comics now, but his hand-drawn cups are classic marker work. See the set on Cheeming Boey’s Flickr.
Timothy Goodman makes large Sharpie murals and has written this book that is a good source of inspiration.
How Do You Remove Sharpie?
Permanent marker does not always come out completely, so test in a hidden spot first.
From Skin
Wash with soap and warm water first. If the ink remains, try hand sanitizer, then rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball, or baby oil or baby wipes for kids, then wash again. Skip acetone nail polish remover on skin, since it can dry and irritate.
From Fabric
Act fast. Blot rubbing alcohol onto the stain from the back, over a clean towel, then wash as usual. Sharpie’s FAQs mention this product for fabric stains, and it gets great reviews. This stuff also removes lots of tough stains. Test on a hidden spot first.
From Other Surfaces
- Plastic: color over the Sharpie with a dry erase marker and wipe it away, or use rubbing alcohol if that does not work.
- Glass: rubbing alcohol works well.
- Wood: rub gently with baking soda toothpaste on a paper towel or cotton ball. Do not use alcohol or hairspray, which can ruin the finish.
Sharpie Art Questions
Is Sharpie good for drawing on clothes?
It works on cotton and canvas, but the ink can bleed and fade with washing. For clothes you wash often, use fabric markers and test on a scrap first.
What are the different Sharpie tips?
Common tips are ultra fine, fine, chisel and brush. Fine and ultra fine suit detail, chisel suits bold lines and lettering.
What are 20 ideas for drawing?
The 24 ideas above are a start. For more, see these drawing ideas for kids.
Feed Your Love of Sharpie Art
Here are the Sharpie marker and pen lines linked on this page. Product lines change, so check that an item is still sold before you order.
Classic Sharpies
Specialty
Art Markers
Pro
Extras
More of Our Awesome Sharpie Art Drawings Ideas and Projects
- Sharpie skateboard post
- Simple mandala project
- Double Cursive Tangle Drawing
- Mixed Media Drawing Project for Kids
- More Zentangle
- Thumbprint Self Portrait Drawing
Also, feast your eyes on all these amazing drawing ideas for kids.
Comments
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I can’t believe I’m about to type this but, I really like the doily stencil.
Yes! Doilies don’t have to be annoying, they can be used for good.
I really have to get a pack of the colorful ones! Some great ideas here! Love the collage! My kids like putting faces on balloons with Sharies.
Oh, my…. I just discovered that we need to re-stock our Sharpie supply. They’ve been well-used. What is it about balloons and Sharpies? Whenever we have balloons in the house they get decorated immediately.
I’m a sharpie fan too and am always excited to see new ideas for them!
Yeah, I have a special love for Sharpies, too!
OMG so cool! That car!! With just Sharpie?!!!
Just. Sharpie. Can you imagine doing that? I think realistically I’d have the patience to do 1/16th of the car and then I would just scribble wildly over the rest of it. Especially a Lamborghini.
I can see my daughter loving the doily stencil on her jeans or plain shirts. And totally want to try both the shirt dyeing and the tangle doodle. It’s very similar to doodles I used to do as a kid/teen, but I LOVE the idea of doing it on watercolor and washing paint over it. I might try wax paper to make a window hanging!
Shirt doily art is a great idea! I bet you could use a bleach pen with a doily on a dark shirt- that would look awesome.
My son is still too little to use sharpies…I am sure I would end up with one-of-a-kind sharpie decorated sofas.
But I love em’. My husband, being so wonderful, recently came home with a big, colorful, package of sharpies for me out of the blue. This is his equivalent to a bouquet of flowers and so much better. He knows me so well!
I am thinking I need to put them to use on that tie-die project!
I’m off to my local CNA to see if we have Sharpies here in South Africa! Logo looks familiar.
I hope you found some!
Gret ideas! I nearly bought my daughter a pair of Keds this weekend and contemplated letting her decorate them. I think I may have to go back and get them now!
Jeanette I love this list. I am pinning this project this and hope it sends you lots of traffic! Can I make a suggestion? Make a the initial graphic say, “Sharpie projects to do with kids”? Then you will really attract the moms. Love your blog. New Twitter follower. Enjoy all your comment love.
Thanks for that awesome suggestion! I hit the mark sometimes with pinnable images, but this is a great idea. (And thanks for the pin!)
Love them! I just got a new costco pack of sharpies for my birthday and I can’t wait to create. Happy SITS Day!
Ooooh new Sharpies are the BEST.
This is so beautiful it almost hurts. I am wrapped up and inspired but stuck with a house full of lesser quality markers!!! Somehow it doesn’t seem possible for fuzzy tipped, previously-dipped-in-applesauce, crayola markers to create artwork this lovely. Also, tweens would be much more into Sharpie than crayola. Craft supply store added to the to do list today!
I confess I had no idea Sharpies were so versatile! This post makes me want to do Sharpie art! Great ideas!
Great idea for sharpies! My 11 year old is always wanting me to get them for her but honestly she leaves the lids off and then they are no good! But these are great ideas and she’s always trying to do something arts these days!
Found you over at SITS Girls! Glad I found them and you!
Kim
{Sweetsie’s}
I find markers caps all over my house, always. It makes me crazy, but you have to just think about how creative they’re being, right?
Oh I love Sharpies! I have sets of markers all over the place. I especially love the top – never thought of that, and that car! I am pretty sure I would not decorate my car that way, but it is still very cool! Thanks for the inspiration and Happy SITS Day!
So clever! I see some Christmas gifts in the making! Thanks for a great post!
I too love sharpies. The sharpie paper towel owls are adorable. Thanks for the post especially the variety of ideas. Enjoy your SITS Day.
We love Sharpies around here, but I’ve never seen so many great ideas. Love the doily stencil.
My kids love love love LOVE the sharpies…almost as much as my husband does:) Dozens of ways to use them..and most of these are new to me! Love the shoes! My 5 year old loves to draw on herself, so that just seems like a natural progression:) have a great one!
My 3 year old is constantly covered in lovely paint and marker adornments- it’s just so compelling to draw on your skin.
Love these ideas. And I have lots of sharpies hanging around the house!
Happy SITS Day!
I am a mild sharpie-holic. I must own two dozen in various sizes and colours… Although my little lady is a bit too young to use them, I think Mama might have found some crafty ideas here 😉
Glad to be of help- you can really never have too many Sharpies. Ever.
Clever! Love these. Who knew a Sharpie could be used for good. 🙂
these are awesome! the eggs are a great alternative to traditional dyed easter eggs, and the shoes are super cool and unique. I am scared of letting kids have sharpies though…isn’t your house covered in un-fixable marks?? hehe 🙂
happy SITS day!
My house is definitely covered in marks and splotches. I remember when my sis and I were kids, my mom gave up and let us have the dining room to completely color all over the walls. When we were older she finally painted over it all and turned it back into a proper dining room. Great memories.
I have to remind my kids to use something under their “sharpie” projects or I wind up with sharpie soaked into my wood table.
I really like the shoes! I won’t dare show my daughter this pics, she’d be a bit too inspired and may get herself in trouble drawing a picture on the wall just for Mommy. Uh…no! Happy SITS day SITStah.
I love Sharpie’s. I’m not sure I would use them on my car though. Happy SITS Day!
What a great post!! I so love sharpies, I just have to wait until my daughter gets old enough to be able to use them.
Thanks for sharing! Hope you are having a wonderful SITS day!
Mary
Cool! I never even thought of doing art with Sharpies!
{Kathy} Sharpies are my friend. I have done everything from decorate Halloween costumes to fix furniture scratches. These ideas are fun, too!
What amazingly cool ideas!! I never would have thought you could do all of those things with a Sharpie!! I have to go out and buy more right now!!! Over from Sits, btw!
Awesome! Thanks so much for sharing!
I am planning to do mugs and coasters for Christmas!
We’re going to do some mugs for Grampa, too. He’ll love ’em.
I love Sharpies! I actually asked for Sharpies for Christmas one year – I like to write with the extra fine ones. 🙂 Happy SITS day.
It is amazing what you can do with only marker. I wish I could draw
Such great ideas!! I love the 80s Glam pack. I have to admit that I’m a little scare of letting my kids loose with the Sharpies. Maybe when they are a little older?
Yes, it is a scary prospect. I only let my 3 yo use Sharpies when he’s seated at a table and I’m staring him down the entire time.
I teach art and I too love sharpies! Recently,I purchased the oil base sharpie paint pens for my students. The students used them on old vinyl records.I melted their records ( in the oven) into bowls. The sharpie withstands the heat. The how to create a record bowl can is demonstrated on you tube. Young children could easily create their own artwork. Melting the records into bowls is easy but should be done by an adult.
Oh, wow! That sounds like such a great project. We’ll definitely have to try it, and it’ll be a good excuse to go comb through a thrift store for records. I can explain to my daughter just what records are. (Antiques!)