Ohuhu Kahuku Acrylic Paint Markers: My Honest Review
I recently had the opportunity to try the Ohuhu Acrylic Paint Markers (120 color set) and I have thoughts.
Many thoughts.
(This blog post is based on my YouTube video, which you can watch here if you prefer video content!)
First of all, let me just say this: 120 acrylic paint markers is no joke. This thing is HEAVY. Like, “wow, this is a commitment” heavy.
The company sent these to me in exchange for an honest review, and if you’ve been around here for any amount of time, you already know I only say yes to products that I can actually imagine using in my real art life. I get asked to review things all the time and usually the answer is no.
But acrylic paint markers for mixed media and art journaling? That’s already part of my world. So this felt like an easy yes.
And after spending time with them…
Spoiler alert: I actually do love them!
First, let’s talk about the price
At the time I’m writing this (June 2026), the 120 color set is around $59.99 on Amazon, shipping included.
Now listen. I know some of you are morally opposed to “the Big A,” and I fully get it. But we also live in the real world, and for many people that is where art supplies get purchased.
For 120 acrylic paint markers, honestly? That feels surprisingly reasonable to me.
That said…
Would I normally buy 120 colors?
No.
Absolutely not.
And here is why.
I am not a rainbow-every-color artist.
I tend to work with very particular color palettes. I know what I love. I know what I reach for. I know which colors are going to sit untouched in my studio for the next ten years.
So if I were shopping for myself, I would probably buy a smaller curated set or individual colors.
There are plenty of blues and bright colors in this collection that are lovely, but just not very “me.”
That’s the tradeoff here.
You get an incredible range of colors, but 120 markers also take up real estate in your studio.
That said, if you love variety, color play, or adult coloring style creativity? You are going to be VERY happy.
Okay, but how do they actually perform?
Here is the short version:
A+. Buy them.
Honestly, video over.
These markers are good. Like… surprisingly good. And here is what stood out to me immediately:
No paint flooding. No pressing the nib. No drama.
If you’ve used Posca paint pens before, you know the ritual.
Shake.
Press.
Prime the nib.
Press again.
Oops, now a blob of paint exploded onto your page.
With these? None of that.
The paint just… works.
I genuinely do not understand the technology, but the nib stays consistently wet with paint without needing to press and release the ink.
No skipping. No dry spots. No blobs. No sudden disasters.
Just smooth, juicy color. And if you’re an art journaler, that matters.
Testing them in my art journals
Because I can never just swatch something and move on, I pulled out my Sidekick journals and started testing these markers on all kinds of surfaces.
On top of acrylic paint? Incredible.
I tested them over deli paper covered in acrylic paint and honestly…
I almost laughed.
Because the opacity was THAT good.
You know when you find a supply that immediately solves a problem you didn’t even realize was annoying you?
That was this.
I could make marks right over acrylic paint and actually see them. Without having to whip out more acrylic paint, acrylic brushes, water, a palette… you get the point.
No struggling. No clean up of acrylic paint. Just beautiful opaque color.
Some of the very light colors may need a second layer, especially on dark surfaces, but overall? Impressive.
Lettering test: absolutely dreamy
One of my favorite ways to use paint markers is for hand lettering in my journals.
I added the quote: “We can’t deny the storm, but we can ride it.”
And wow. The flow. The coverage. The speed at which it dried.
Impeccable.
Especially for left-handed people like me who are always smudging everything.
These dried FAST.
And because I am me, I immediately started thinking about how relaxing lettering is as a practice.
When you stop trying to make your letters perfect and just let yourself slow down, it becomes really meditative.
If lettering feels intimidating to you, I want to gently remind you that imperfect lettering is beautiful lettering. You should definitely take my course Love Your {Imperfect} Letters if you haven’t already!
(You know I had to say it.)
The one thing I wish they sold…
Okay Ohuhu, if you happen to be reading this:
Please.
Please.
PLEASE sell replacement packs of the Kahuku white and black markers. I can see that you sell replacement markers for your other acrylic paint pen sets, but I don’t see replacement pens for the Kahuku markers… yet!
Because here’s the thing.
When you have 120 colors, the ones most of us are actually going to burn through are white and black.
And the white?
Shockingly opaque.
Like, really, really good.
Honestly one of the better white paint markers I’ve tried.
Surface tests: I got a little carried away
At a certain point I started wandering around my studio like:
“What else can I write on?”
So naturally…
Glass?
Yep.
Worked beautifully.
Fabric?
Shockingly good.
Actually, the texture of the fabric made the marks feel a little less perfect and a little more interesting to me.
Which brings me to something funny…
My only weird complaint: they’re almost TOO perfect
This is such a mixed media artist problem.
These markers are so smooth. So opaque. So clean. So perfectly functional… that I almost had to work harder to make things look imperfect.
And if you know me, you know I love grunge. I love wonkiness. I love marks that feel human.
So I started loosening my grip. Using my non dominant hand. Adding messier botanical doodles. Layering imperfect line work.
So if you are someone who likes a more grungy, expressive look, you may just need to approach them a little differently.
The perfection is there if you want it.
But the looseness takes some working on!
Are they water reactive?
Nope.
And I mean NOPE.
I tested whether I could move the paint around with water and an acrylic brush.
Once dry?
Not happening.
These things are incredibly water resistant.
Which honestly is probably a huge bonus for journalers and mixed media artists who work in layers.
Final thoughts: would I recommend them?
Very much yes.
Especially if you are:
an art journaler
a mixed media artist
someone who loves lettering
someone who enjoys relaxing coloring or mark making
someone who works in layers and wants opacity
Are they perfect?
Pretty close.
Would I personally buy 120 colors for myself?
Maybe not.
But would I happily use the heck out of the colors I love?
Absolutely.
I suspect these are going to live permanently on my art table.
And honestly? They might be replacing my Posca pens for a lot of things.
That’s saying something.
If you end up trying them, I would genuinely love to know what you think.
And if you figure out an especially fun or imperfect way to use them, definitely tell me because you know I love stealing creative ideas from my friends.
Happy making.
Wendy