What Are Posca Pens? A Complete Guide for Artists and Crafters

Author: The Art Shed Team  Date Posted:30 July 2025 

What Are Posca Pens?

 

Posca paint pens used on sketchbooks, canvas, surfboards and journals – versatile acrylic markers for all surfaces

 

If you’re searching for vibrant, versatile paint markers that thrive on rocks, wood, glass, canvas, plastic, fabric and more, you’ve landed in the right shed. These acrylic markers are the go-to choice for artists, students, muralists, and anyone who’s ever looked at a blank object and thought: yeah, I’m gonna draw on that.

Each pen is packed with highly pigmented, water-based paint that dries fast to a matte, waterproof film on porous surfaces and wipes off glass, metal, and plastic with an alcohol swab. They’re permanent where you want, erasable where you don’t, and come in every colour, size and finish you could dream of. From detailed journalling to giant murals, Posca’s ready to tag, sketch, letter, decorate, colour-in or create chaos wherever you point the nib.

We stock a wide range of Posca paint markers in Australia, dispatching them quickly from Melbourne and Brisbane, and packing orders with the speed and care of a caffeinated art enthusiast.

 

 

A Tagger’s Tool Turned Global Obsession

 

Born in Japan in 1983, Posca was originally designed as a non-toxic, high-pigment marker with paint-like coverage, and graffiti writers instantly clocked its potential. With no smell, no mess and insane opacity, it became the ultimate stealth tool: easy to control, hard to miss. By the ’90s, muralists, skaters, surfboard designers and street-art legends across Europe and Australia were slapping Posca onto walls, trains, wood, leather and concrete.

 

Tip from the Shed: Many OG street artists still sketch out their mural concepts with Posca before picking up a spray can, it’s like a battle plan in marker form.

Now? Poscas live in classrooms, tattoo studios, tote bags and toolbox drawers. Whether you're customising kicks, crafting café menus or drawing anime eyes in the margins of your science notes, this is the pen that does it all, loudly.

 

Creative Posca paint pen projects on sneakers, denim, skateboards and leather jackets – custom art inspiration

 

Why Posca Is So Damn Good

 

Posca markers aren’t just markers, they’re portable paint in a pen, built with real-world versatility. The ink is a water-based acrylic formula that’s rich, matte, lightfast, and layerable. It adheres permanently to porous materials and wipes off easily from non-porous ones. And because they’re xylene-free, low-odour, and EN 71-3 certified, they’re safe for classrooms, kitchens and kids’ craft corners.

 

Surfaces they love:

Timber, paper, canvas, clay, and rocks (just seal if it’s going outdoors)

Glass, ceramic, metal, and plastic (wipe-clean for temporary signage)

Fabric (heat-set to make it laundry-safe)

 

Value perks you’ll love:

Reversible or replaceable nibs on most sizes

A single PC-5M can draw up to 500m of line

Shelf life = years, as long as you cap 'em tight

Compatible across finishes (pastels + metallics + glitters = no problem)

 

 

 

"Full Posca PC-5M colour spectrum – acrylic paint markers in pastel, primary, earthy and fluorescent shades

 

 

The Full Posca Colour Range (With Ideas You’ll Actually Use)

 

 Classic Assorted

The essentials: Black, White, Blue, Green, Red, Yellow, Orange, Pink.

Start your mural concept art or blackbook sketching

Go bold with poster making and signage

Classic colour layering for kid-friendly art sessions

 

 Pastel Colour Set

Colours: Baby Pink, Coral, Mint Green, Lilac, Yellow, Sky Blue, Peach, White.

Dreamy bullet journal borders and headers

Whimsical nail art or clay charms

Customise your laptop case or plant pots for a soft aesthetic

 

Metallic Set

Colours: Gold, Silver, Pink, Blue, Red, Green, Violet, Copper.

Make shimmering mirror or window welcome signs

Elevate holiday cards, gift tags and table décor

Add glimmer to mixed-media collages and lettering

 

Glitter Set

Colours: Silver, Gold, Blue, Red, Green, Pink, Violet, Light Blue.

One-coat wonder for Christmas baubles and ornaments

Festival makeup mirror doodles that wipe clean

Glam-up school projects or cosplay props

 

 Earth Colours

Colours: Ochre, Khaki, Navy, Sepia, Grey, Earth Brown, Olive Green, Terracotta.

Paint outdoor garden signs or herb markers

Create earthy tones in nature journalling or plein air sketching

Add richness to ceramics or pottery touch-ups

 

Feeling the earthy vibes? Dive deeper into outdoor sketching, colour palettes, and creative wellness in our What is En Plein Air? Spring Art Trends blog. It’s basically your nature-core starter kit.

 

 

Cool Colour Set

Colours: Light Blue, Aqua Green, Apple Green, Lavender, Grey, Violet, Blue, Navy.

Layer dreamy gradients in underwater scenes or fantasy landscapes

Add crisp, calming touches to bullet journals, room décor or back-to-school labels

Paint cool-toned still lifes or floral outlines with major 2000s Y2K vibes

 

Warm Colour Set

Colours: Sunset Orange, Crimson, Vermilion, Coral Pink, Golden Yellow, Marigold, Brick Red, Earth Brown.

Bring fire to lettering, abstract art and bold murals

Use on rocks, wood or canvas for autumn scenes and glowing highlights

Add heat to mixed media collages, journal borders or graffiti-style name art

 

 Monotone Colour Set

Colours: Black, White, Light Grey, Grey, Silver, Sepia, Ivory, Gold.

Create high-contrast ink-style illustrations or graphic zine layouts

Customise ceramics, planners or streetwear with sleek, stylish accents

Mix shimmer and matte to make elevated DIY signage, cards or wall pieces

 

 

"Full range of Posca nib sizes from ultra-fine 0.7 mm to extra-wide 19 mm Mop’R – guide to Posca paint marker tips

 

 

 Posca Nib Sizes: What You Need & Why

Posca nib sizes aren’t about “fine or thick”, they’re tools for different styles.

 

PC-1MR (0.7 mm ultra-fine): Precision line work, outlines, comics, nail art, and detailed scrapbooking

 

PC-3M (0.9–1.3 mm fine bullet): Controlled detail, journalling, labelling, stone art, outlines on shoes.

 

PC-5M (1.8–2.5 mm medium bullet): The most versatile size—great for both fills and clean linework. Ideal for grip tape designs, canvas art, school projects, and signage.

 

PC-7M (4.5–5.5 mm bold bullet): Statement text on murals, chalkboard menus, garage sale signs, classroom displays.

 

PC-8K (8 mm chisel): Thick lines and fills, murals, banners, skate ramps.

 

PC-17K (15 mm extra-wide): Showstopping shopfront signs, photo backdrops, and stage props.

 

 

 Tips from the Shed

 

Store horizontally, not nib-down.

Don’t over-pump; flooded nibs are a pain.

Want even more control? Sketch in pencil underneath, then trace.

On slick surfaces, clean with alcohol before drawing and seal if needed.

 

 

Why Buy from Art Shed

 

Aussie family-owned & artist-run – we road-test every colour on real projects

Fast dispatch-  from Melbourne & Brisbane

Candy Club rewards on eligible purchases 

Real human help via phone, DM, live chat or in-store,  no bots, just creatives

30-day hassle-free returns on eligible items

 

 

Posca FAQs With Art Shed

 

How do you prime a Posca pen?

Shake vigorously, then pump the nib vertically on scrap until ink saturates.

 

Are Posca pens waterproof on rocks?

Yes—once dry, they’re water-resistant; seal with acrylic varnish for outdoor use.

 

What’s the difference between PC-1MR, PC-3M and PC-5M?

PC-1MR 0.7 mm ultra-fine; PC-3M 0.9–1.3 mm fine bullet; PC-5M 1.8–2.5 mm medium.

 

Do Posca pens bleed on fabric?

No—on pre-washed cotton, they sit on the fibre; heat-set for laundry-safe art.

 

Are Posca pens non-toxic?

Yes, they’re water-based, xylene-free and EN 71-3 certified child-safe.

 

Do Posca markers wash out of clothes?

If not heat-set, pigment can often be removed with warm water and detergent. Act fast for best results.

 

Are Posca markers permanent on clothes?

They become reasonably permanent when left to dry 24 hours, then heat-set for 5 minutes (medium iron, cloth barrier, no steam). Colours survive cold washes—avoid hot tumble-drying.

 

What not to do with Posca markers?

Don’t press the nib non-stop—floods the ink. Don’t store nib-down. Don’t add liquid to the barrel. Don’t leave the cap off—they dry fast.

 

How long do Posca pens last?

A PC-5M lays down around 300–500m of line. Cap them tightly and they’ll last for years. Swap or flip nibs when they fray.

 

Are Posca markers waterproof on glass? 

Yes—after curing, they resist smudges. But they’re removable with alcohol or cleaner, so seal with varnish for permanence.

 

 

Whether you're a precision-line wizard, a pastel-loving bullet journaler, a street artist with big mural dreams or just someone who likes to doodle on their coffee mugPosca paint pens were made for your kind of magic. With buttery-smooth flow, bold colour payoff, and a surface-hopping formula that sticks where you want and wipes where you don’t, it’s no wonder these markers are a global obsession. And lucky you, we’ve got the full range locked, loaded and ready to ship. So go on, click that set, shake it up, and start making your mark. From studio desks to skate parks, Art Shed’s got your back (and your next masterpiece) 

 

Posca Mop’R paint marker with bold colour swatches – shop Posca acrylic marker sets online at Art Shed 


Comments (1)

POSCAS RULE!

Any more posca ideas? I just did my ukulele and it looks great, but I want to do more! have any other ideas?


Hey Eden, we are so glad you are enjoying our blog, try making some acrylic paintings and then drawing over them with your Poscas! This project is on our Blog - https://www.artshedonline.com.au/blog/art-shed-blog/acrylic-painting/create-a-mixed-media-summer-vibes-artwork/

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