How do acrylic markers relate to sketching? Well, in theory, they don’t. In reality? Let me explain.
Sometimes, after finishing a sketch, I realize certain parts could’ve been done differently. I also tend to do very rough pencil sketches before going over them with a fineliner. I don’t know why, but I just don’t like how pencil looks and feels — fineliner feels more, I don’t know, “real”? Because of this, I sometimes redraw sections and need to erase the wrong lines. That’s where acrylic markers come in — as my erasers. If I’m sketching on loose sheets, I can simply redraw and discard the old one. But in a sketchbook, I prefer using a white marker to erase parts instead of tearing out pages. My go-to is the white Uni Posca PC-1M, with a bullet-shaped 0.7mm tip.
The fineliner ink needs to be completely dry for the white marker to cover it properly, and it shouldn’t bleed through. So, I need my white marker to do three things: cover black ink, dry fast, and allow drawing on top of it. Posca markers check all these boxes. So do Molotow acrylic markers, but there’s one key difference: Molotow white leans slightly yellow, while Posca has a cooler, blueish tint. Most of the white paper and sketchbooks I use match Posca’s tone better. Since I scan most of my drawings, the Posca white blends seamlessly into the scanned image. I also prefer Posca’s plastic nib over Molotow’s—it’s similar, but Molotow’s clogs faster, meaning you need to replace or clean it more often (with water or even acetone, if you’re into that).
The only real downside to Posca markers is their lack of sustainability. There’s very little paint in the smaller markers, and the cap is tightly sealed (probably even glued), making it impossible to refill. So when it runs out, you have to buy a whole new marker. Unless you wanna go through some hassle (I’ll explain this soon). Molotow One4All markers, on the other hand, are nearly full, all parts are replaceable, and — best of all — they offer refills in multiple sizes for every color. So, for anything beyond erasing my sketching mistakes, Molotow One4All is my go-to. (Now, can we finally talk about that sponsorship?)
So… the hassle: To my knowledge, Posca doesn’t provide refill inks. However, their larger acrylic markers actually contain much more paint than the smaller ones. So, you can buy any larger paint marker — or even a mop — and use that as a refill for the small marker. Not the cleanest or coolest solution, if you ask me, and it does require some determination… but it’s doable. I’ve done it a few times, but when I’m in the flow, I want to draw — not do maintenance work on my tools.
Price: Poscas are about 3,50-4 euros. In comparison, the Molotow One4All markers are about 4-4,50 euros.