Painters Online Logo

Login/register

Studio

Acrylic Pens

Welcome to the forum.

Here you can discuss all things art with like-minded artists, join regular painting challenges, ask questions, buy and sell art materials and much more.

Make sure you sign in or register to join the discussions.

Hang on Studio Wall
Showing page 1 of 3
Author
Message

Norrette Moore

  • Forum Expert
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 371
Posted
Hi there, does anyone have experience of these? We work in A4 or slightly larger in our class/workshop, which is short of space.  A fellow student agreed it was difficult to paint any detail in portraits or other close subjects.  Especially as none of us use quality paints. She'd heard that acrylic pens help here. So I'm looking to try these, but nothing too expensive as I might not like it,  Something for highlights, something for fine shadows. Having looked online, I don't think I want to invest in pro Liquitex at this stage.  I see a lot of "Posca" pens... are these the real McCoy? Any advice much appreciated.

Sylvia Evans

  • Prestige User
  • Reputation: 15293
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 4127
Posted
Norrette I use Pos a pens for highlights and fine detail I like the very much.   I have only used the white one,they come in two thicknesses .  Not pricey and worth having a play with...

Edited
by Sylvia Evans

With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

  • Prestige User
  • Reputation: 20429
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 7165
Posted
Seen them, never used them (not very helpful, that, I know!).  I believe, or seem to remember, that Sylvia Evans has used Posca pens.  The only similar pens that I've used have been things like Unipen or Pilot, which come in a limited range of colours.  I've certainly used acrylic INK, which can be very useful whether in pens or in bottles for dip-pens. Snap!  And some people would have you believe I never remember anything.

Edited
by Robert Jones, NAPA

big hat

Collette Hughes

  • Forum Expert
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 227
Posted
I have some Liquitex acrylic markers. They are the same paint as Liquitex professional soft body, which I like. That's  why I bought them. It is great quality paint, miles better than Liquitex basics. They are refillable. You can replace the nibs too. I can't compare with Posca as I don't have any but I've heard many good things about them, they are highly regarded. 
IMG_7097

Helen Martell

  • Respected User
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 485
Posted
I have some Posca pens in various colours. I mostly use them to sign my name on a painting, not much else. I find that they do go a bit thin and blobby after a while (don’t know how best to describe it!).

Norrette Moore

  • Forum Expert
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 371
Posted
Thank you everyone.  I think I will try a couple of Poscas at first, and if they suit, move on to Liquitex, although the ink sounds interesting too. As I have some inherited nibs (though no nib holder to go with them!)

Edited
by Norrette Moore

With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

  • Prestige User
  • Reputation: 20429
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 7165
Posted
Dip pen holders readily available from Cult Pens, and many other places - and the pens themselves, the nibs, still available too (which I find a bit remarkable in this day and age, and very welcome).

Norrette Moore

  • Forum Expert
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 371
Posted
Thanks Robert, having had a further rummage, I find a bottle of Sepia Acrylic ink.  Trying it now using an old fountain pen as dipper. Edit: Well that was a revelation!  You can dilute it, mix it, use it like watercolour - although it doesn't granulate, I think I might try it with watercolours, I can see that as it's waterproof, it may have its uses.  Great with a brush as well as a pen. Just ordered some from Jacksons. (Along with a nib holder)

Edited
by Norrette Moore

Sylvia Evans

  • Prestige User
  • Reputation: 15293
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 4127
Posted
Splat it...blow it with a straw... have fun..that's creativity Norrette finding out and trying out.  
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

  • Prestige User
  • Reputation: 20429
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 7165
Posted
I love Sepia ink - yes, it's hugely versatile, as Sylvia says (just remember to BLOW with the straw: don't suck....).  

Sylvia Evans

  • Prestige User
  • Reputation: 15293
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 4127
Posted
I have sucked on occasion....yuk
forum pic p.o

Peter Smith

  • Forum Expert
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 437
Posted
I tried them a while back Norette but the damn things clogged up, splattered  and generally were a pain in the neck. I still use pens but not acrylic ones..... The masts, portholes etc are done with an ordinary black permanent marker, the rigging and handrails are ball point pen and the white details are gel pen. I suppose that makes it a mixed media picture. The only down side is that the white gel pan is not waterproof but they are very useful and you can get them in metallic colours.  It really depends on what sort of picture you're doing; I couldn't do without using pens.
Showing page 1 of 3