Short answer
Shake the marker with the cap on until the mixing ball rattles, then press the tip on scrap paper several times until paint flows (pump markers) or simply start drawing (direct-ink and cotton nib markers). Work light to dark, big shapes first, let each layer dry before the next, add outlines and highlights last, and spray-seal anything handled or outdoors. Store markers capped and horizontal.
Know your marker type first
Acrylic marker types and how to start them
| Type | How it starts | Common brands | Feel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pump action (valve) | Shake, then press the tip on scrap until paint flows | Posca, Molotow, Pilot Pintor | Most opaque; can flood if over-pumped |
| Direct ink | Ready to use; ink feeds the tip continuously | Enmy, Ohuhu Nahuku, many budget brush sets | Smooth, good for lettering |
| Cotton nib | Ready to use; cotton core soaks up paint | Betem and similar sets | Mess-free, less opaque |
Check the packaging or listing for which one you have. Priming a direct-ink marker like a pump marker is how most floods happen.
How to use paint markers for the first time
- Shake with the cap on
Shake firmly until you hear the mixing ball, then for a few seconds more. Posca stresses doing this with the cap tightly closed.
- Prime on scrap
For pump markers, press the tip down on scrap paper several times until it is saturated with paint, as Posca’s FAQ describes. Stop as soon as color appears.
- Test strokes
Draw a few lines and a filled square on the scrap. If the paint pools, blot the tip; if it skips, press once more.
- Start drawing
Hold the marker at a comfortable angle with light, even pressure. Pressing hard does not add paint and can crush the tip.
- Re-prime as needed
When the line fades, shake again and press once on scrap, not on your artwork.
Posca’s steps come from its FAQ. If a marker will not start at all, see paint pen not working.
Acrylic marker tutorial: layering and blending
Acrylic markers act like paint: opaque, and able to cover what is underneath once dry. That gives you a working order:
- Big to small: fill large shapes with a medium or broad tip first, then details with a fine tip.
- Light over dark is allowed: unlike dye markers, a white or yellow acrylic marker covers black. Posca says you can cover a drawing as many times as you want once the first coat is dry.
- Dry between layers: drawing over wet paint lifts it and muddies the tip. Wait until each layer is dry to the touch.
- Blend while wet: for soft transitions, put two colors side by side and work the boundary while both are wet, or dab the lighter color over the darker one. Clean the tip on scrap afterward.
- Outlines and highlights last: a black or white line around dry color makes everything look finished.
Some markers lift dry paint underneath if you scrub; in the same comparison, Molotow lifted dried paint when layered over other media, so use a light touch on top of earlier layers.
How to use acrylic pens on different surfaces
How to use acrylic markers on each surface
| Surface | Prep | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Paper and card | Use cardstock or mixed media paper so it does not buckle | Any; fine for detail |
| Black paper | No prep needed | Medium for fills, white extra fine for highlights |
| Rocks | Wash, dry, base coat with acrylic paint | Medium plus extra fine |
| Wood | Sand smooth, wipe off dust | Medium; seal handled pieces |
| Canvas | Primed canvas or dry acrylic paint | Broad for backgrounds, medium and fine on top |
| Fabric | Wash without softener, put card inside | Medium; heat set if the maker advises |
| Glass and glazed ceramic | Clean with rubbing alcohol | Decor only unless the pen is bake-on |
Posca describes its paint as permanent on porous surfaces and erasable on smooth surfaces such as glass, where a moist rag corrects mistakes. Surface-specific guides: how to do rock painting, how to use paint pens on fabric and paint markers for canvas.
How to paint with markers: three beginner exercises
- Swatch card: draw a filled square of every color on black and on white card. You learn coverage, drying time and which colors need two coats.
- Light over dark: fill a circle in navy, let it dry, then add a yellow moon and white stars. This is the move dye markers cannot do.
- Layered flower: a pink flower shape, a darker pink center once dry, white highlights on each petal and a black outline. Four layers, each dry before the next.
For project ideas, see acrylic marker art ideas.
Drying, sealing and cleanup
Thin lines dry quickly; thick fills and dots take longer, sometimes hours. Before sealing, let the piece dry fully. Posca suggests a water-based spray varnish to protect creations, and recommends washing decorated fabric inside out at a low temperature. Spray the first coat so a brush does not drag the marker paint; the full method is in how to seal acrylic marker art. Wet acrylic marker wipes off most surfaces with a damp cloth; for dried mistakes, see how to remove paint marker.
Storage habits that save markers
- Cap every marker tightly the moment you stop using it.
- Store pump markers horizontally, and dual tip markers flat so both ends stay wet.
- Keep markers away from heat; Posca warns that high temperatures can make paint too fluid.
- Flip reversible tips when one end is worn or stained.
Choosing your first set? Compare acrylic marker sets and best acrylic markers.
Supplies for learning acrylic markers
A pump set, fine tips, a direct-ink brush set, a white and a sealer, each listing checked by hand.
-
Posca PC-5M paint markers, 8 count
A pump marker set to learn on: one medium tip that fills and draws.
- 1.8 to 2.5 mm
- 8 colors
-
Posca PC-1M paint markers, 8 pack
Extra fine tips for outlines and highlights over dry color.
- 0.7 mm
- 8 colors
-
Ohuhu Nahuku acrylic brush markers, 24 colors
Direct-ink brush markers: no pumping, good for lettering practice.
- 24 colors
- Brush tip
-
ARTISTRO white acrylic paint markers, 0.7 mm, set of 2
A fine white for the light-over-dark exercises; one of the most opaque whites in the review.
- 0.7 mm
- White
-
Krylon Crystal Clear acrylic coating spray
A clear spray for the first sealing coats over marker work.
- Aerosol
- Clear
Each pick links to an Amazon listing we checked by hand. Prices, colors and pack sizes change on Amazon, so check the listing before you buy. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Questions people ask
Are acrylic markers supposed to be water-based?
Yes. Acrylic paint markers use water-based acrylic or pigment paint, which is why they are low odor and clean up with water while wet. Posca, for example, describes its markers as water-based with stable pigments. Markers that use solvent or oil-based paint, such as Sharpie oil-based or Uni Paint, are a different category with stronger grip on slick surfaces and stronger fumes.
What can we do with acrylic markers?
Draw and letter on paper and black card, paint rocks and wood, decorate canvas, terracotta pots, shoes and tote bags, customize phone cases and notebooks, make signs and posters, and add details over acrylic paintings. On glass and glazed ceramic they work for decoration, but can wash or scratch off unless cured or sealed.
Do you use acrylic paint straight from the tube?
For brush painting, you can: acrylic paint is usable straight from the tube or bottle, and many painters add a little water or medium to make it flow. For paint markers, the paint is already thinned and loaded, so you never add anything to the marker itself. If you refill an empty marker, use a refill ink or paint the maker sells for that marker.
Will Sharpie stay on acrylic paint?
Yes. A regular Sharpie writes well on dry acrylic paint, and Sharpie oil-based paint markers grip it too. Regular Sharpie dye ink can fade in sunlight over time, and brushing a water-based varnish straight over it can smear it, so spray the first sealing coat. Acrylic paint markers are another option for detail on acrylic paintings, since they are opaque.
Why are my Posca pens watery?
Usually from over-pumping: pressing the tip too many times floods it, and the paint comes out runny until the excess is blotted on scrap paper. Posca also says that storing markers at high temperatures can make the paint too fluid, and that its valve and piston system is designed to prevent run-outs. Shake well, pump gently, and keep markers out of hot cars and sunny windowsills.
Sources
Last reviewed 2026-10-12. Specs and availability change; check the listing before you buy.