Projects with Posca Markers

My most recent projects have used Posca markers as the coloring medium. Posca markers are water-based acrylic suitable for use on many different substrates, including natural and synthetic fibers. I've found them to be extremely user friendly, easily controllable, blendable, and fast drying. While they come in a variety of tips and widths, I've found the 3M bullet tip works well for both the details and broader areas of coverage in my projects.

The project above began with a simple photograph, a vase of silk flowers on the floor in front of my patio door.

I converted my photo to a black and white sketch using a photo editor.

I then scaled the image to the size I wanted, had it printed at my local copy shop, and selectively traced the focus elements onto my fabric in water soluble ink. I drew in a feather spine and border as a stopping point for my feathers. I began stitching in my vase, flowers and floor, added in feathers around the spine, and filled the center with crosshatching.

The coloring was done just like a coloring book page. It's easy to jump from one section to another, making decisions on blending and also making color revisions.

I decided a darker shade of blue on the outside edge of the feathers looked better than the lighter shade I initially used.

I addressed the outside border last. I liked the idea of a gold frame, and added tiny piano keys around the perimeter, coloring them gold, adding another layer to the outside border. A facing was the ideal finish for this piece.

Posca markers can also be used to colorize intricate stitch outs like this design by Telene Jeffrey of Lady Jane Quilting.

I had put this project aside for quite a while as I pondered what coloring medium I would use. Posca markers worked so well. I laid the project out on my dining room table and colored it bit by bit, sometimes spending 15 minutes, sometimes an hour or two, until it was finished. I made decisions on color palette, placement, blending, and finally added hundreds of crystals in blues, greens, pinks, and gold, along with a mini swag flange to finish off the binding. 

This quilt measures 38"H x 36"W, and it is important to remember that as these are paint-filled pens, they only hold enough paint to fit within. In a project of this size multiple markers of the same color were needed. Specifically, the gold and green which dominate the palette, and white, used heavily for blending and highlighting.

The resulting project is a springtime symphony of flowers, feathers and foliage set within ornamental framing elements.

Finally, the below illustration is reminiscent of the vintage Alice in Wonderland illustrations by Sir John Tenniel. This piece was created in a workshop with Cristina Arcenegui Bono, learning her technique for creating quilted textile art from vintage illustrations. My version included Posca markers, whimsical quilting, and water accented with hand stitching.

Posca, like Derwent, recommends heat setting. I always cover with a cloth front and back and heat set with a dry iron, no steam.

I hope you have an opportunity to experiment with Posca markers and I look forward to seeing what you create!

Liz