What does it actually mean to make art accessible?

At Arrtx, that’s a question we keep coming back to. For us, accessibility has never been just about putting markers into people's hands. It’s about being right there when magic happens — in a buzzing festival hall, around a workshop table, or in the exact moment someone tries a paint marker for the first time and realizes, “I can actually make something beautiful.”

This summer, we were lucky to witness that magic again and again, on both sides of the ocean. Two events. Two communities. One shared belief: art is always better when made together.

Vibrant Energy at the SFU Summer Festival (Canada)

Every year, the Simon Fraser University Anime community brings its Summer Festival to life — an amazing celebration of art, fandom, and hands-on creativity. This year, we were honored to join the fun.

Together with the SFU team, we hosted a live art contest featuring our latest release: the Arrtx 66-Color Dual-Tip Acrylic Paint Markers. What followed was everything we could have hoped for. Artists, students, and first-time doodlers picked up the markers and let their imaginations run wild.

After the event, the SFU Anime team shared some stats that put huge smiles on our faces:

"We had about 2,185 attendees this year and 88 artists in the Artist Alley. Our attendees really enjoyed using the markers — some even said it was  highlight of the event!"— The SFU Anime Festival Team

A highlight of the event — not just because of the tools, but because of the memory of creating alongside friends. That means the world to us.

Passing Inspiration Across the Table in the Netherlands

Ragonda van den Berg — a talented artist and illustration student from the Netherlands — has been creating with Arrtx markers for years. Her love for art is contagious, and her philosophy aligns perfectly with ours: creativity is meant to be shared.

📸 Photo credit: @StudioRagonda

When Ragonda brought Arrtx markers to her workshop at KreaDoe (one of the Netherlands' most beloved maker fairs), she wasn't just demoing a product. She was doing what artists have done for centuries: passing tools, techniques, and inspiration across the table.

📸 Photo credit: @StudioRagonda

Watching someone discover acrylic paint markers for the first time never gets old. That effortless ink flow. The freedom to paint on almost anything — paper, wood, glass, stone, or fabric. That subtle spark of “Wait, I really made this!” Ragonda creates those moments wherever she goes, and we’re honored that our markers get to tag along.

The Heart of the Arrtx Community

Someone decided to create. A community made space for it. And marker became a universal language.

That’s why Arrtx exists, and it’s why we’re building our own global community — a welcoming home for anyone who loves to make things, whether you’ve been drawing for decades or just picked up your very first marker last weekend. We bring together people who believe that creativity is a form of freedom, and that everyone deserves tools that let their ideas flow without limits.

To everyone who created with us this summer — the SFU Anime team, Ragonda, every workshop participant, and all the artists in between — thank you. You remind us why we do what we do.

The markers are just the catalyst. The connections made, the courage to express yourself, and the joy of sharing — that’s the real masterpiece.

Come Create With Us!

Ready to start your next creative chapter? Join the Arrtx Fan Club today, and let’s make something colorful together.

 Arrtx Discord Community: [ https://discord.gg/Gc2XWqpeBT]