Hello Copic readers! In our previous blog, we introduced writing with the new acrea marker by practicing our manuscript letterforms. Today, we’re going to continue practicing our letterforms with cursive using the acrea 6pc Vivid set. And with that, let’s get started by taking a look at the template below!

If you followed along with our previous blog, the above cursive template should look very familiar. However, in contrast with manuscript letters, cursive requires you to have a steady hand and to not pick up your pen nearly as often. Letters flow into words, and this requires patience and consistent pen pressure to the paper for each letter and word to look nice!

Before we dive into tracing each letter, let’s begin by swatching the set colors that we’ll be using, the acrea 6pc Vivid set, on a blank sheet of paper below.

What makes the acrea marker different compared to the other Copic alcohol markers is that it’s a water-based paint marker, meaning that you can use it on white, black, or any color of paper for that matter! Its rich, opaque ink allows for it to also be used on other types of surfaces too, like metal, wood, plastic, canvas, glass and more. 

While today’s template is intended to be printed on a white sheet of paper, you can also practice writing in cursive on black. If you’re a big fan of pale or pastel colors, black and other dark papers will be your new best friend when writing or doodling with acrea! 

Now that our colors have been swatched, let’s trace over each of the black and gray letters starting with Tomato Red and ending with Sky Blue. Take your time tracing over each letter, making sure to not press too hard to the paper. Your hand should glide across the page as you write. If you’re left-handed, be sure to allow for the ink to dry fully before moving on to the next letter. Acrea is not like alcohol markers where there will never be a possibility of smudging!

Also, as you trace over each letter, we recommend having a scrap sheet of paper nearby in case any colors need to be scribbled or swatched as you work. The acrea ink may not flow as effortlessly during this tracing exercise since it’s being used on top of printer ink. If you feel the nib may be clogged, use the scrap sheet to scribble until the nib feels clear/the ink flow is opaque and consistent. If you’re scribbling for a long time and there still seems to be an ink flow issue, we recommend using a damp cloth with water to gently wipe the nib clean. This should help clear up any clogging formed at the end of the nib. 

And with that, we wrap up today’s blog! To give this lesson a try yourself, download the above  template here from our line art gallery and print it out on a thick sheet of cardstock suitable for paint markers. We recommend either Neenah Bright White Premium Cardstock 65 lb. paper (which was used in this blog), or Neenah Exact Premium Cardstock 110 lb. paper. Then, after you’ve printed the template, grab your Copic acrea marker set, swatch your colors, and begin practicing your cursive! 

Until next time, don’t forget to follow us across our social media channels @copic_official_us, and sign up for exclusive discounts and prizes by joining the Copic Club! One last thing - use #copicwithus or tag us @copic_official_us for a chance to have your drawings or workspace featured on our Copic US social media channels.

Thank you so much for reading and enjoying Copic markers as much as we do! 😀