ScrawlrTips
POSCA Pencils
Featured In / May 2021 ScrawlrBox
We realise you may have never seen or used products like this before so we have put together a few hints, tips and techniques to test out and get the best from these supplies.
That’s right, Posca is a brand that we are all familiar with. And after several years of research coloured pencils have now been added to their collection. These pencil colours are made from a unique combination of wax and oil to achieve a strong but soft lead that can be used to produce a highly concentrated, smooth bright colour with a matt finish and are suitable for use on a range of surfaces.
Posca Coloured Pencils offer a richly pigmented colour palette, great for sketching, layering and smooth gradient effects. True to the Posca spirit they can be used on different surfaces such as paper, card, wood, metal, leather, glass, plastic, canvas and organic materials such as stone. Posca colouring pencils can also be used to compliment works in watercolour, acrylic or Posca marker to produce mixed media artworks.
Things To Try...
~ The liquid white pencil is fantastic to create those intense pops of highlights or to block out areas as negative space. It can be layered over your pencil work so try using it as a final touch to your artwork, after layering placing your colours.
~ If there are any lumps or imperfections in the application of the white liquid pencil, carefully smooth out with a small brush, whilst it is still wet (once dry you will not be able to rework it) – it is best used in smaller sections for easier control and to avoid any warping in your paper.
~ For best results, use product on top of wax-based coloured pencils. It doesn’t have to be but you may find you need more layers as the paper will soak up the liquid, so the pencil base will act as a barrier.
~ Once dry, you can layer coloured pencils over the top to really help that colour pop!
~ Liquid pencil can take up to an hour to dry completely so make sure it is dry to touch before you start layering anything on top to avoid smudging.
~ Make sure you do not leave the cap off of your liquid white pencil for too long, as the liquid can dry out if it is exposed to air for extended periods of time.
~ Applying more pressure to the application of your POSCA pencils will intensify the hue by adding more pigment but it will not darken the colour. The best way to change the shade of a colour is to apply light layer of a darker shade over the top. Be sure to test out different combinations and blends before applying them to your finished artwork.
~ POSCA pencils can be blended easily, so don’t be afraid to get a little messy and use your fingers to merge tones into a seamless gradient.
Notes From The Artist
Art By Safanah
Extending The Life of The Pencil:
When your pencils come to that last inch or two of life, trying to draw with them can be a pain. A great option is to buy some pencil extenders, but they aren’t universal, so they may not fit the pencil you’re using.
A quick hack is to take the tiny pencil and another long pencil of the same brand and tape the two unsharpened ends together. Wrap the tape around a few times and make sure it’s secure. Voila! A free pencil extender.
Lessen the need to sharpen:
Draw with your pencils at an angle. Hold them by the middle or ends, avoid grasping them near the tip. As you draw at this angle, keep rotating the pencil with every few strokes. What this does is it uses the core equally on all sides, almost as if you’re sharpening the core as you draw. With a lighter hand, at an angle, while continuously rotating, you’ll sharpen the pencils a lot less.