Markal Paintstiks

General Instructions, experiment and discover more applications!

52 Professionals (non-iridescents), 14 Iridescents - for colour list see our Colour Ranges page
Artists oil paint in stick form (drying waxes are included in the blend)
Works on any porous surface - wood, plaster, paper, fabric, etc
Fabric can be natural or man-made
Fair to excellent lightfastness
No special preparation of surface necessary
Remove skin from stick, moist colour beneath
Skin reforms when stick not in use, stops colour drying out, remove new skin when using next time

Apply by any method, e.g:

direct from the stick (like using a crayon) for freehand expressive work
lift colour from the stick with brush and apply
work colour from stick onto palette/mixing surface, blend with other colours and then apply to surface
thin with white spirit on mixing surface for more flowing, thinner colour and apply to surface
use stencils/masks:
- apply reasonably heavily onto mask and using stencil or tooth brush or finger, brush colour from mask onto surface for subtle, graduation of colour
- with the Paintstik used as a crayon, using sweeping strokes across the edge of mask onto surface for heavier application of colour
use as a rubbing stick - place textured surface (eg wire grid, printing block, textured wallpaper etc) under fabric/paper (not too crisp) and rub stick across surface - just like brass rubbing.

Blenders: two blenders available

Professional - adds more binder to colour making it softer and more workable for blending colours together. NB This blender increases the drying time.
Iridescent - adds iridescence (pearl) to Professional colours, or enables subtle blending or thinning of Iridescent colours without losing the pearliness.

Setting

Dries quickly and naturally on any porous surface
When dry it is 100% smudgeproof
To make launderproof on fabric leave to dry and cure for at least 48 hours, then iron as hot as the fabric will allow on both sides. If an item cannot be ironed, leave on or near a radiator for prolonged time, or use hairdryer. It is now machine-washable. Light to moderate application of colour will not stiffen fabric.

Markal Paintstiks are in the Painting Media section of our catalogue, on page 4: take me to the catalogue download page...