Activating & Priming Your POSCA Pen
When you receive your pens, you need to prime the nib with ink, or if they have not been used for a long time you may need to re-prime. It is important to shake the pens well to mix the paint, you will hear the ball inside the body of the pen rattle as you shake the pen.
Shake pens well – ensure the lid is on!
You then need to gently depress the nib on to a piece of paper. Do this a couple of times and wait until you see the paint slowly seep into the fibres of the nib. You may need to re-prime the pen while being used if the ink starts to become less free flowing.
Choose the Right Nib & Size Pen for Your Project
POSCA pens are available in a large range of bright bold colours with high lightfastness (except the fluorescent colours) and a variety of nibs, from the ultra-fine 0.7mm pin tip for fine detailing, brush tips, fibre bullet nibs, to the extra broad chisel tip for large areas of coverage.
It can help to have a selection of POSCA pen sizes, even if just in colours such as black and white to help you add detail to larger pieces of work or block in backgrounds on larger pieces.
Consider Your Surface
POSCA pens can be used on virtually every surface; paper, metal, glass, wood, leather, stone, concrete, ceramics, plastic, and textiles. But beware – they are only permanent on porous surfaces but will scrape of nonporous surfaces such as glass.
POSCA pens can be finished to add shine and protect work from the elements. You can use a Matt varnish to protect the painting and preserve the matt finish of the pens or a Gloss varnish to add a gloss finish.
Don’t Be Afraid to Play!
POSCA pens are so popular because they can be used in so many different ways. They are great for layering as they are opaque and easily layer over each other, just make sure they are dry first!
You can also reactivate POSCA pens even once they are dry. try adding water to small areas with a brush to help with blending and detail.
TOP TIP for a Long Life
POSCA pens can dry out quite quickly if you don’t replace the lid properly. There is a distinct ‘click’ when you replace the lid.
POSCA pens all have replaceable nibs which can be bought separately but as POSCA paint is water-soluble it’s also possible to rejuvenate an old dried out tip in water. Simply remove the tip and soak or rest the pen, tip down, in cold clean water.
POSCA pens are becoming even more popular thanks to their versatility and growing range of colours. Create your next masterpiece on paper, fabric, wood or glass or find more inspiration in theSAA Community Hub.