Thank you for your report!
We have received your report and it is currently under investigation by a forum moderator.
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
This is a Studio member-only feature!
Join our Studio membership and save your favourite Painters Online content, from gallery artwork to step-by-step guides, to your own online mood boards. Create your go-to place for inspiration and learning. Plus, members can also enjoy a range of exciting features including monthly art videos and a digital magazine library.
If you are already a Studio member, simply login to your account.
Not a Studio member? Why not try our free 30-day trial - no commitment, no credit card required
Message
Posted
I have a related question re acrylic pens, or pens in general.
I need to sketch out an architectural picture (before overpainting in acrylics). Normally I would sketch with a pencil, then over sketch with a watered down dark acrylic paint (i.e with a brush), then let dry, and wash with a burnt sienna before starting the painting itself.
But in this instance I need to use a ruler as there is a lot of perspective angles which need to be precise.
I have occasionally used a sharpie pen in a light colour (yes, I know they can bleed through the subsequent painting, and indeed have experienced this with some sharpie colours)
I was thinking of using the posca pens, but would be hesitant to, as sometimes an unwelcome blob splurges out of the nib. I do have some uni pin fine line pens (‘water and fade proof pigment ink’ it says on the side). Do you think this would work? Or can any of you recommend anything else?
Edited
by Helen Martell
Posted
You do have to watch Sharpie pens and the like; I use them but they have a downside. I had a picture of the Forth Bridge which I didn't like so I painted over it in white and then did a new picture on top (never waste a canvas!). A few days later the outline of the Forth bridge which I'd done in pen appeared through the new picture, ruining it. I use them a lot more carefully now.
I haven't found anything else as cheap and easy to use though....unless you know better?
Posted
Helen - so much depends on what's in the ink: I don't use sharpies - are they oil, or solvent, based? If so, they're almost certain to ghost through added layers of paint, whether acrylic or oil. On the whole, I'm not in favour of "colouring in", i.e. establishing an accurate drawing and then filling it with paint - if I have to do a precise drawing, I rough it in with a charcoal pencil, and then take a lightly moistened brush to go over the lines: just a minimum of plain water will fix them adequately. This works with both acrylic and oil - and surely, only a guideline is needed? You don't have to map the whole thing out before adding colour? Having seen your work, it's obvious that whatever you do works - but you can get a lot of clear definition with charcoal pencils and the water technique: I haven't used carbon pencils in the same way, but that ought to work just as well.
Charcoal pencil - water on rigger - this has worked well for me for very many years; you don't need to fix it, or add acrylic medium over it to keep it from smudging, the water disperses the charcoal particles perfectly.
Posted
Peter - "I couldn't do without using pens" - now: I do know what you mean. But, I bet you could: I'm not going to suggest a huge range of alternatives, because if you want to use/like using pens, there's no earthly reason why you shouldn't. But - now, I don't want to make this an Alan Bickley and RJ mutual appreciation society, but i'm pretty sure both of us could get the results we want without using pens at all - and that wouldn't be genius (well: might be in Alan's case!) but just experience of different media and materials.
I'd just just suggest you try, and practise - certain things, like Chinese and Japanese painting, are quite beyond me: I could try and try, and never get there (so I don't try to any more): but gaining confidence with the brush CAN obviate the need for the pen; as I say - if you like pens, fill your boots .... but maybe steer away from it as an alternative to brushwork (for instance). Still - it's your choice, not mine! If you're getting where you want to be with pens, great. All I'm trying, in my halting way, to say is - in the privacy of your own bedroom or shed, try doing without pens at all, and see what you can do with just a brush and fluid colour.
Posted
I love drawing with pens… not necessarily to produce neat and accurate straight lines though, that’s the stuff of draftsmen - I rarely use pencil lines as a guide (perhaps on a complex architectural subject with perspective), because you can easily become a ‘slave’ to that initial drawing, almost to the point of tracing over them in fact… and you could so easily lose the character and spontaneity that I’m after.
I much prefer the scratchy and blobby steel nibbed pens, the fine mapping pens in particular. Blobs and other erroneous marks are par for the course, and only add to the originality of an individual work!
But… I’m even more at home using a rigger brush! I prefer a size 0 synthetic job, nothing expensive and they need to have a degree of ‘spring-back’ to them. I’ve got several different makes, ProArte being one of them.
I think it’s the spontaneity and variation of line that I can achieve with them, a loaded brush will go a long way. Pretty much all of my recent work has been done using the rigger, generally with Indian ink or quite often simply lamp black watercolour or gouache, well thinned down!
I can only recommend anyone interested in line and wash drawing, or line drawing by itself, to give the rigger a go - they do take a bit of practice of course, as with everything!
An example of how I draw using the rigger is shown below: I’ve obviously used a thicker brush for blocking in some areas.
Edited
by Alan Bickley