Have you ever pulled out your markers to do some coloring, only to discover something strange and gross growing on the tips? That’s exactly what happened to me, and honestly, my first reaction was pure panic — is this mold? Is it toxic? Before I hit publish on the video I made about it, I wanted to give the company, Art Alternatives, a fair chance to respond first. I’m so glad I waited, because they actually came through with some really helpful answers — and even made some exciting changes to their product!
Video Description
Several months ago I went to color with my #Coloring markers that I got from Hobby Lobby only to discover something gross growing on the tips of the markers! My first thought was “Is this toxic?” I wondered if it was mold or fungus!
So I created a video showing the growth, but decided to wait to publish it so I could first give the company (Art Alternatives) a chance to respond. It took a few months, but they replaced the markers with a reformulated product and explained what that growth was.
In the end, I learned it is a de-salinization process occurring in the markers and is NOT toxic. Phew! They have since reformulated their markers and upgraded their nibs. The new markers will be released under the name Art Alternatives Illustration Markers. You can see my first impressions in this video.
You can also see that SuperRaeDizzle experienced a similar problem with these markers in her “Trying Markers for the First Time” video here: https://youtu.be/T1WpVGLsE8E
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Transcript
Art Alternatives Alcohol Markers: That Strange Growth Explained
Okay, so I was just going through some of my old markers — ones I’ve had for a while but haven’t used too much — and I came across these Hashtag Coloring markers. Look at what I found. It’s so disgusting.
Now, before we get into the drama, here’s what you need to know upfront: I contacted the company, and they confirmed the markers are not toxic. That’s exactly why I didn’t publish this video right away. We waited to hear back from Art Alternatives, and they did respond. They even sent me replacement markers. So hang in there — at the end of this video, I’m going to show you the new markers and explain what that strange growth actually is. It’s non-toxic, but it’s definitely strange.
For now, let’s go back to my initial reaction and let past Jennifer have her dramatic moment.
Past Jennifer’s Dramatic Discovery
What is happening to my marker? Oh, that is so disgusting. Okay, let’s see if it’s the only one. Let me pour them out.
I bought these at Hobby Lobby a little over a year ago. They were $12 for the pack before my coupon, so you can do the math on what I actually paid per marker. Not super cheap — they should not be doing weird, disgusting things.
Okay, this green one looks fine. Let’s set it aside. This one’s okay too. Oh, but this one is doing it — look at the tip. There’s some kind of strange growth on it. What is going on? Can you see that? So disgusting.
This one’s okay, but I wouldn’t dare even use it. And look at this — it’s falling apart. It’s crusty and nasty, like something you’d find in a nature documentary with a warning sign posted nearby. I don’t even want to smell it. Does it even draw? It’s revolting.
Okay, I’m boxing these up with a warning label. Please comment below if you’ve seen this happen to your alcohol markers. I am so grossed out right now.
Back to the Present: What’s Actually Going On
Okay, we survived dramatic Jennifer. Now let’s do a little art science and talk about what’s really happening with those markers.
After all that drama, my husband Steve convinced me to give the company another try. I contacted Art Alternatives a couple of times, but it took a while to reach the right people. Once I finally did, they took good care of me and sent a brand new package of markers — which I haven’t opened yet.
However, the replacement package arrived without any explanation about the strange growth on the tips. I was disappointed by that, so I sent another email saying, “Thank you for the markers, but you still haven’t told me what that substance was. My followers want to know — is it toxic? Should they be worried?”
I still didn’t hear back right away. Then I was watching a video by Ray Dizzle (I’ll link to her video in the description) and noticed she had the same set, recently purchased, with the exact same issue. That was enough for me. I sent one more email to Art Alternatives asking them to please explain what was happening, because I was clearly not the only one experiencing this problem.
And finally — hooray — I got a reply! I reached the right person, a gentleman named Edgar. Thank you so much, Edgar, because your response means I can now give all of you accurate information.
The Verdict: It’s Not Mold — It’s Salt
The growth is not toxic, not mold, and not fungus. What you’re seeing is the result of a desalination process happening in the ink. Basically, it’s a buildup of salt rising to the surface of the marker tip.
Art Alternatives is aware of the problem, and they have fixed the formula. So here’s my advice:
- Do not buy the packages with the old Hashtag Coloring branding. Even if you find them on clearance, they’re not worth it in my opinion — this issue is likely to occur.
- Look for the new packaging under the updated name: Art Alternatives Alcohol-Based Ink Brush and Chisel Tip Markers.
According to Edgar’s email, here’s exactly what Art Alternatives said:
“The growth that you’ve noticed on the markers is not mold or fungus. It is, in fact, salt that is rising on the end of the marker. We have updated the formulation of our ink to stop that from happening. In order to create the fiber nib, we use a formulation of various resins to allow for a longer lifespan while maintaining flexibility. While our nibs will not be as durable as a rubber nib, we have made significant enhancements to give the fiber nib a much longer lifespan than the initial delivery of the Hashtag Coloring markers.”
So there you have it. The formula has been corrected, and the tips have been improved. Let’s open the new set and see what we’re working with.
Comparing the New Art Alternatives Markers
First thing I noticed: the new set comes with six markers instead of five. Steve looked up the retail price, and they’re listing at around $17.99 to $18.99 — though I couldn’t find them available for purchase online yet, and they didn’t appear to be on the Hobby Lobby website at the time of filming. If you’ve spotted them in a store, please let us know in the comments!
The new markers are no longer called Hashtag Coloring. They’re now branded as Art Alternatives Alcohol-Based Ink Brush and Chisel Tip Markers, and the packaging notes easy-flowing, vibrant ink with dual nibs for fill-in and precision work.
The body of the marker is identical to the old Hashtag Coloring line — same shape, same size, just different branding. The key differences are in the tips:
- The new Art Alternatives markers have a brush tip on one end and a chisel tip on the other.
- The old Hashtag Coloring markers had a brush tip and a fine point.
I grabbed a Copic marker to compare sizes. The chisel tips and brush tips are very similar in size to the Copics, which is a good reference point. The caps do stack, though they feel a little loose — I’m not sure they’d stay put reliably.
The brush tips on the new markers are quite rigid right out of the package. With fiber tips, that can sometimes improve with use, so we’ll see. The colors in my set appear to be a skin tone selection, which I’m excited to experiment with.
Comparing to Copic Ciao Markers
For reference, I also swatched out a set of Copic Ciao markers. A set of six Copic Ciaos in a portrait color range runs around $30. The Art Alternatives set is roughly $18, so there’s a noticeable price difference.
The color selections are similar but not identical between the two brands. As for the tips — the Copic Ciao brush tip is significantly more flexible than the new Art Alternatives brush tip. The Copic Sketch and Ciao markers share the same tip style, and that rubber nib has a lot of give and creates a very different stroke.
Now, to be fair, I pulled out one of the old Hashtag Coloring markers that didn’t have the desalination issue, and compared its tip to the new Art Alternatives brush tip. The old Hashtag Coloring tip was much more flexible — but look at what happens when you use it. The tip crushes almost immediately. It just falls apart. So I completely understand why Art Alternatives moved to a more rigid fiber tip — it’s about durability. Whether a stiffer tip works for your coloring style is a personal preference, but at least now the tips should hold up better over time.
Final Thoughts
So here’s the summary:
- The strange growth on Hashtag Coloring markers is a desalination of the ink — salt rising to the tip. It is not toxic, not mold, and not dangerous.
- Art Alternatives is aware of the problem and has corrected the formula in their new line.
- The new Art Alternatives Alcohol-Based Ink Brush and Chisel Tip Markers should not have this issue, and feature improved, more durable tips.
- Avoid the old Hashtag Coloring packaging. Even at a deep discount, I don’t think they’re worth purchasing.
- The new markers may be worth trying, especially if you can use a Hobby Lobby coupon — just keep an eye out for them in stores.
I’ve seen other YouTubers experiencing this same desalination issue with other marker brands, so now you know what it is and you don’t have to panic if you see it. Thank you so much to Art Alternatives — and especially to Edgar — for taking the time to educate us and provide accurate information.
I hope you found this helpful, and I hope you have a wonderful, colorful, blissful day. Bye, everyone!
