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Chalkboards and Other Chalk Art Mediums

Selecting the right chalk art mediums for your project can be a difficult decision. Finding a quality product with the right surface is important. Because of the variety of chalk art mediums, it is important to determine if the substrate you are using is porous or nonporous.

Choose from nine sizes and five color combinations of the country craft framed chalkboards and chalk art mediums. Sizes offered are 8x10, 9x12, 11x14, 16x20, 18x24, 20x24, 22x28, 24x30, and 24x36. Colors include black, blue, green, red, and cherry. Contact us if you unable to find your desired style.

Porous Versus Nonporous

Porous surfaces allow the passing through of water, liquid, or vapor. Pigment from the markers could get absorbed when using porous chalkboards. These types of surfaces include chalkboard painted surfaces, wood, paper, and cardboard.

Nonporous surfaces will not absorb water and liquids. Nonporous surfaces like chalkboard labels, mirrors, glass, glazed ceramic, slate, metals, laminates, and some plastics, will result in liquid chalk being easier to remove.

Therefore, always test your liquid chalk markers on a small portion of your medium to see if they are right for your project.

Cohas Chalk Art Mediums for DIY Projects at Home, Weddings and Businesses

Strawberries drawn on Choas Eco BoardsThe Cohas Standard Chalkboards are quality boards with a texture resembling antique chalkboards. These Eco boards have a nonporous barrier, so that the liquid chalk markers will remove easily and thoroughly. They come framed or unframed and in many different sizes. Therefore, they are perfect for use in homes and businesses at parties, weddings and events!

Leave unframed and prop on an easel or choose your own frame to mount the board in.  In addition, we offer many other products that can be used for weddings, parties and home organization; all made right here in America!

Using Cohas Eco chalkboards, our artists were able to create farm market images of strawberries, apples, and pears with the waterproof 6mm markers.  Our artists also used the Zig Illumigraph markers, which are highly fluorescent and suitable for lighted signs.  These markers work with a black light and glow when light reflects or passes through them.

Creative Project Ideas and Unique Mediums

DIY Christmas Ornaments using Zig Posterman Waterproof Markers

Our artists at Cohas.com are always trying to use the Cohas Color Collection for fun projects.  The latest project involved drawing on clear plastic ornaments with the 1mm waterproof metallic gold and white markers. The flecks in the metallic paint sparkled in the lights of the tree and are nice and opaque.

Additionally, one of our artists used a metallic marker and painted on one side of a piece of acrylic glass.  The result is a colorful shiny background that can be easily cleaned with Windex.  Artists can also use spray paint to complete the same effect on the back, but that would create a more permanent background on your mediumPaint markers used on clear plastic to create a wedding favor.

Finally, Cohas offers chalk artists a wide variety of chalk mediums to create chalk artwork on. This includes our chalkboard label collection, magnet collection, slate and novelty collection, and much more.  For that reason, Cohas.com offers a large selection of wet erase menu board markers, and waterproof chalk markers.  These markers work great for chalk artist.  No doubt Cohas.com has what you are looking for.

Cohas Marker Collection

Cohas Slate Collection

Cohas Label Collection

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Creating Liquid Chalk Art Paintings with Zig Posterman Chalk Markers from Cohas

Ricardo Godoy loves creating liquid chalk art paintings. He uses Cohas chalk pens to create impressionist and still life images that he proudly frames and hangs on his walls.

Returning to Hobbies

The 56-year-old was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease twenty years ago. Godoy worked as an International Consultant, but was unable to continue working in 2014. Since then, he has returned to hobbies that he enjoyed over the years. He now spends his days painting.

Liquid Chalk Art Paintings

Upon picking up his old hobbies, Godoy discovered Zig Posterman chalk pens. He found that he loves working with them. “They are fabulous for the kind of paintings I do,” said Godoy. “I just want to show you some of them.”

Godoy completes the paintings on chalkboard surfaces and frames the boards. Then, he hangs and displays them around his home. Godoy’s paintings feature lifelike still art and impressionist styles.

Be sure to scroll through the images below to see Godoy’s liquid chalk art paintings!

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Cohas Erasable Menu Board Markers Make Chalk Art Easy

Ever sit in a restaurant, coffee shop or brewery and enjoy looking at the creative menu board chalk art on the walls?  Today, because there are so many offerings in menu board markers, colors, and sizes, chalkboard artists can create unique chalk marker signage that wows customers who enter through the door.

Cohas chalkart menu and chalkart slate made with menu board markers eraseable Zig wet-wipe paint markers and waterproof paint markers.

Since Posterman wet-wipe markers are a water-based opaque pigment and erasable on non-porous surfaces, these menu board markers work well on whiteboards and chalkboards.  As a result, clean off is easy, making them great for use in the classroom, the boardroom, and many other venues. Also, these markers are commonly used in stores and restaurants to easily update indoor daily special signs.  Just dampen a cloth with water and the marker is removed from the surface.  However, wet-wipe markers should not be used outdoors since they will come off in the rain. Additionally the markers do take 1-2 minutes to dry – not as fast as a dry erase marker.

For that reason, Cohas.com offers a large selection of wet erase menu board markers that work for today’s artist. No doubt Cohas.com has what you are looking for. Besides offering many different marker types, we also have all the products you’d need for your chalk art production; all made right here in America!  Furthermore, our New England  Vermont Slate, and  framed chalkboards and Eco boards are an excellent choices for weddings, special events, and menu boards. Visit our Facebook page for more ideas and offered products.

Erasable menu board markers in the Cohas Collection

Wet-Wipe Color Availability
2mm Colors
6mm Colors15mm Colors
White
Black
Red
Pink
Blue
Green
Yellow
Brown
Orange
Gold
Silver
Metallic Green
Metallic Pink
Metallic Brown
Metallic Violet
Metallic Blue
Jubilee Cherry
Forget Me Not
Moss Green
Burnt Sienna
Buttercup
Golden Yarrow
Burnt Umber
Honeysuckle
Marigold
Wild Heather
Slate Gray		White
Black
Red
Pink
Blue
Green
Yellow
Brown
Orange
Gold
Silver
Metallic Green
Metallic Pink
Metallic Brown
Metallic Violet
Metallic Blue
Jubilee Cherry
Forget Me Not
Moss Green
Burnt Sienna
Buttercup
Golden Yarrow
Burnt Umber
Honeysuckle
Marigold
Wild Heather
Slate Gray		White
Black
Red
Blue
Green
Yellow
Brown
Orange
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Brewpub Slate Signs with Microbrew Label Dog Chalk Art

Knowing that the heart of chalk artwork started in pubs throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland, we were looking for inspiration close to home. While on a visit to a local microbrewery for a growler refill, we picked up a “passport” to New Hampshire breweries.  Just that spring we discovered roofing slate here in New England. Brainstorming on how they could be used, brewpub slate signs kept floating to the top.

Brewpub Slate Signs

One of the first stops on our New Hampshire Brewery road trip was to Throwback Brewery. It was an early spring day and unusually warm – especially since this old converted farm is so close to the seacoast.  While all the excitement and energy was outside, inside we were slapped in the face with what we saw.  Old roofing slate, likely from an old post and beam barn, was being used for brewpub slate signs of all the beers on tap.

Neatly formatted on the wall, they hung from hooks and as a tap ran dry, they would be removed and replaced with the next craft beer.  What an outstanding concept!  So we thought, “How could this be made better?”  The idea fermented as we continued our tour of more than 20 breweries and brewpubs during the summer of 2016.

 

Brewpub Chalk Art Slate Sign closeup of a Microbrew Label Dog

In an act of kindness, our daughter and her wife bought us a tour to the only brewpub in Manchester, New Hampshire.  While we had our passport “stamped” at this venue, the visit was not memorable.  It could be that we were fatigued from other visits at that point, or just not paying attention.  But everything happens for a reason, and Stark Brewing Company was going to get a second chance.

Stark Brewing Company

Researching the brewpub brought a surprise about the label designs on the cans.  We knew the original name of the famous venue down by the Merrimack river in Manchester was Milly’s.  What we did not know is that it was named after the owner’s favorite German Shepherd.

Stark Brewing Company new Can Lineup featuring images of dogs

With still no idea where the project was going, the path was going to be full of surprises.  Looking to another local business, “The Lazy Dog Beer Shoppe” in our hometown of Londonderry, New Hampshire, the call went out.  Well actually, in today’s modern world, the tweet went out.  We needed the can with Milly’s picture on it to create a brewpub slate sign.  The goal was to create a chalk art replica of the new labels used by Stark Brewing.

Zipping over to the beer shop, they had some of the oatmeal stout in stock.  Honey, the owner’s dog, gave us no more than a lift of the head, sunning herself in the front window that day.  They had singles, but we opted for the full 6 pack since, well, since we had to do a full review.

Our Budding Chalk Artist

Milly's Brewpub Slate Signs in production at the Cohas studiosWhen selecting interns here at Cohas Chalkboard and Marker Systems, we look for a broad set of skills. Often this includes an interest in the arts.  Melina Kae has done a number of chalk art projects for us including our popular pineapple welcome sign.  We know she loves to draw dogs. Though this was an adult beverage image, she had to be the one assigned to it.

Melina is a senior at our local high school with plans to attend a school for the arts next fall.

Working for the afternoon, Melina brought the Stark Brewing Company label to life on the slate.  “The thing I find amazing about this replica of the Milly’s Oatmeal Stout can label is that it was all done with chalk markers. Other than of course the fact that I love dogs, but everyone here knows that,” said Kathy Wagner in the studio while Melina worked. Melina had fewer words for us when asked about the project, “This has to be the most fun thing I have ever had to do here!”

Back to the Brewpub

Brewmaster Peter Telge believes in giving back to the community. As something we can appreciate, it is one of our primary goals here at Cohas Chalkboard and Marker Systems.  Each year Stark Brewing Company holds “Sip for Strays”, with the proceeds going to saving puppies. This is something we thought about while sipping our flight of Stark brews after our tour.

First Bottle of Stark Brewing Company Vodka Our tour would have ended then but one of the brewmasters was “taking the day off” and in house.  He had to show us the new distillery operation making vodka using distilled grain from the brewpub.  Made right here in New Hampshire, this was smooth but powerful when splashed over ice and sipped.  Truth be told, the fragrance of the aromatic still with a steady “drip, drip” may have made most of the impact on our palate.

Stark Brewpub has been in operation since 1999. If you are in southern New Hampshire looking for a good brew and a bite to eat, seek them out.  They even have a function and catering operation where they can seat 10-100 in a private area of the brewpub.  Looking to try your hand at chalk art on slate?  Be sure to order some markers and slate here on Cohas today!

While those vodka labels did not have the impact of the dogs on the company’s beer cans, we expect soon they will come up with something to capture your imagination.  If not, we are sure a young budding artist like Melina would be happy to help out.

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Zig Posterman 30mm Waterproof Marker, Size Counts

After a decade of availability in the United States, the factory has discontinued the short Zig Posterman 30mm semi-permanent waterproof marker.  While they will continue to manufacture the black and white PMA-130S, all the other colors have gone the way of the Sinosauropteryx dinosaur.¹  This turkey size carnivore was a golden yellow and the hair iridescent like the metallic colors found in Zig Posterman markers.

The Zig Posterman 30mm Marker was Short too

Zig Posterman PMA30 short discontinued with Modified 50mm Zig Posterman to 30mm by Cohas Chalkboard Systems

Zig Posterman PMA30s (left) – Modified PMA30m by Cohas Chalkboard Systems (Right)

For some reason not disclosed, the original 30mm marker for the American market was constructed “short” in stature.  This is not unlike our 124 million year old dinosaur friend.  Customers were thrilled with the large 1-1/4 inch width paint marker.  Commercial users, including supermarkets, use them to create storefront signs.  One large home improvement center once said, “Doesn’t look like much ink,” referring the short barrel on the Biggie 30mm marker.

As we all know, in America bigger is better. This loss of a popular product got our team here at Cohas Chalkboard and Marker Systems thinking about a solution. What if we made a tool that could modify the Biggie 50 tip so it could be made any width?  Equipment fabrication and testing, along with a helpful long time customer, gave us the product.  Thanks to the Cohas development team, the Zig Posterman 30mm marker is now all grown up.

With more than two times the chalk ink as found in the PMA-130S, this modified PMA-150 Biggie goes the distance.  Testing has shown that the 50mm marker can draw a line a bit longer than a football field on some surfaces.  With a 1-1/4 inch chalk marker tip, compared to the 2 inch PMA-150, you can plan on an even longer life than the short barrel 30mm.

Artists can be a bit particular about the tools they use. In our story Chalkboard Signs Hand painted Support the Local Barber, our artist John Neil depends on the Zig Posterman 30mm marker to get just the right size letters.

What’s Next for Custom Chalk Marker Tips?

Closeup of a Zig Memory System Scroll TipLike any experiment, the mistakes and errors sometimes lead to different results. We found when engineering this new chalk marker tip we could fabricate it in any size.  Our technician was able to modify the Zig Posterman 50mm tip into any shape too! Modeling after the Zig Memory System Scroll and Brush marker, our lab did create a tip with a wide and thin section.

The 30mm modified marker is available immediately.  Select from 17 colors, all with same day shipment standard. What was first met with worry and concern, and left both our customers and staff at a loss, turned out just fine.  As a matter of fact, the solution created a better option with more value for artist and store owner alike.

The Zig Posterman scroll style modified marker is still in the lab for testing.  Subscribe to our newsletter for immediate notification of the launch!  If you have ideas for any Chalkboard, Marker, or Marketing tool or product, reach out to us.  You can do so by chat at the bottom of every page, or on our contact page 24 hours a day.

Dinosaur Chalk Art

¹Sinosauropteryx was the first fossil dinosaur to have its color scientifically established.  This according to the National Geographic reporting on a story published in the journal Nature in 2010.

Chalk art rendering of the Sinosauropteryx dinosaur used in Zig Posterman 30mm discontinued story

Our in house artist Kris took on the task of creating the Sinosauropteryx in full color chalk art. Our intent, to illustrate the extinction of the Zig Posterman 30mm “short” marker.  The work was done on a 8×10 Cohas Eco Board. She used a variety of Zig Posterman markers. The gold detail to highlight the unique iridescent “protofeathers” was created using  a 1/2mm waterproof gold marker.  To see the full impact of the reflective gold foil chalk marker, you have to view the artwork in the original form.

This is the first dinosaur Kris had ever done, let alone in the medium of chalk art.  It took about an hour and a dozen or so different color markers. Kris responded, “That wasn’t so hard, sort of like the cardinal I once made for my mother.” Why not give your hand a try at prehistoric artwork?

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Increase Your Sales 30% with Zig Posterman Window Markers!

Many of our Zig Posterman customers use Paint Markers to make a living. One of our favorite works in Colorado Springs near the United States Air Force Academy. Using Zig Posterman Window Markers to create her artwork this window artist paints the seasons on Main Street.  Creating custom artwork on store windows and on classic sign blackboards her art will bring a smile to your face!

Even before the snow falls you can enjoy snowmen inviting customers into your store for the holiday season.  The unique nature of acrylic paint markers is the ability to withstand the weather. Rain, snow and sleet will not remove your design. When you are ready for a change just use Windex or an Ammonia based cleaner to clean your window.

Zig Posterman window markers used on a window three snowmen with Seasons Greetings in a 3d font

Window Art by “The Window Artist” in Colorado Springs

Debbie the owner of “The Window Artist” does work on both the inside and outside of windows. While outside window painting is easier to do since you don’t have to work backwards, one disadvantage has been the durability of the image. Zig Posterman window markers solves this problem with a semi-permanent pigment paint.  Plus the markers make the job go quicker and cleaner according to many of our customers.

Why Zig Posterman Window Markers?

  1. Outdoor window painted advertising has a lower cost per thousand than any other type of advertising. Outdoor ads cost 80% less than television commercials, 60% less than newspaper ads, and 50% less than radio ads.
  2.  Window painted advertising does not interrupt consumers in any way. There’s no obnoxious sound, smell or other type of negative attention grabber. Billboards are noticed because of their messages, bright bold colors and creative graphics.
  3. Window painted advertising is the only type of media that has constant exposure. No other type of advertising allows your message to be displayed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  4. Window painting help customers find you easier, especially when tucked away or surrounded by other businesses.
  5. Window Painted Advertising increase your products awareness and knowledge, which also increases your sales and profits.

Note:The preceding reasons come from Debbie’s website, we would like to credit her and thank her for her “on the street insight” into the field of window art.

The owner and creative hands behind “THE WINDOW ARTIST”

Debbie, Owner of The Window Artist Debbie started painting windows over 20 years ago, while in Art School in Phoenix Arizona, mostly to create holiday windows for local businesses. When she and her family moved to Colorado Springs from Palm Springs, California, she saw a real void for window painting and decided to start my business here.

“I especially love it when I see the thrill on business owners faces when I’ve just finished painting a holiday scene or bright advertising on their windows!” Debbie said on her website, “Many have told me their business was up 20-30% after customers saw my painting on their windows and stopped in to visit. I’m so excited to be offering the chalk art boards for businesses I think it really makes a business look like classy and welcoming, Whole Foods Market, Trader Joes’s and Starbucks have been doing chalkboard art for years and there’s a good reason!”

Debbie is available for commissioned artwork for your store front or Chalk Art boards. Contact information can be found on The Window Artist website she also provides free estimates.

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Removing Chalk Window Art, Tips for Chalkmarker Artwork

A new window with John Neal a professional chalkboard artist in the United Kingdom starts with him removing chalk window art from a Christmas storefront window.

“It is important to get the window quite clean, otherwise the ink will not adhere.” said John right before he starts. Here in the Zig Posterman labs we like to do our last clean on any surface with denatured alcohol. Matching the window to the shop sign he starts with a Zig Posterman waterproof Violet, or purple marker. The larger markers come in 21 different colors.

Details on Removing Chalk Window Art

We often take support calls, chats and emails on “How long will it last? Do I have to do my work inside the window?” John responds, “Not my preference at all. The ink is good enough to stay on the outside. It is too tedious for yobos (UK slang for a cruel and brutal fellow, in the US we call them pranksters) to scrape off with a finger. In fact one of my clients has a cafe in the town center & the message on his window was left on for 14 months. it just faded a bit but the main writing was still there. having said that, if you spray with a kitchen cleaner or in particular washing soda (sodium carbonate) it virtually runs off in front of your eyes.”

Once the window is cleaned by John removing chalk window art he is ready to get to work.

After the outline he adds layers of blue dark at the bottom and light in the center with white on the top of the letters, providing a nice cool reflective look to the text. After filling in the letters you just “neaten them up” by going over the edges again with violet. Zig Posterman waterproof markers will not lift when you apply them over dry marks. This provides a lot of flexibility in your artwork.

A John Neal Sign making tip and trick!

Use a Zig Posterman wet-wipe to create your guidelines. When done they can be removed with water and not affect your waterproof artwork! In the video he uses dots to provide his guide. You may want to do thin lines if just starting out with window art.

The bottom text “Finish” get’s a similar design with white highlights solid in the center and dashed radiating out the the top and the bottom. To the eye this provides a letter that pop’s out from the glass. Finishing off the letters he uses a 6mm light blue. If you pause the tape at 7:03 you will notice the tip does not have a chisel tip but a flat tip with slightly rounded edges. What John likes to do is pull out his Zig Posterman 6mm tip and turn it around. This provides a more stable 5-6 mm line as compared to trying to hold the edge of the chisel flat.

Removing Chalk Window Art, when done sign painter using a homemade compass to make a sign in a window. Circle is half done, with nice blue text above

Another trick, a homemade compass with a marker taped to one tip and a nail on the other side. This along with a suction cup makes neat little circles on the window! Something you may find doing your window artwork, people will stand and watch both inside and out of the shop!

Watch in this video as John Neal mixes font types for interest in the window, but not to much that it is confusing. Be sure to check out his website for a full length downloadable video of how to create signs and artwork with Zig Posterman markers.

Markers used in this video were both 6mm and 15 mm

All in stock orders ship in 12 hours or less!

2 mm Zig Posterman Waterproof

6mm Zig Posterman Waterproof

15mm Zig Posterman Waterproof

Try our new “Paint Pots” use with any standard brush or foam brush, available in 12 unusual colors.

What is the secret of this marker, why does it remove with Kitchen Cleaner or Windex?  According to our in-house technical expert hasaukee this is simply due to the chemical structure of the pigment based solution.  This chalk ink that makes up the fluid in the marker is safe and water soluble.  If and only if the cleaner has a pH of 10 or higher does it take action on the graphic.

This unique option perfect in preserving or removing chalk window art is not available in many markers on the market today.  Mr. Cohasaukee’s Guide to Chalk Marker Types Used With Chalkboards is helpful in making your selection.  The information is applicable to window art demonstrated in this video too.

 

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Whole Foods New York City Gets Attention Sidewalk Paint Markers!

In New York City at Union Square the Whole Foods Market was looking for a whole pile of paint markers in our Zig Posterman online store.  Happy we could ship out promptly they stocked up with assorted colors and sizes in both 6mm and 15mm sidewalk paint markers.

It’s Labor Day how will you promote your business this weekend?

A great solution to slow sales, if you have something in store, and have foot traffic why not find a unique way to promote it!

Trent Ecklar, Whole Foods Store Graphic Artist when asked about his first use said, “We used 5 markers making this One Day Sale sidewalk chalk sign.”  One amazing thing to see in this photo is how people have to look at it.  Trent continued, “This display lasted through two days of rain! At the end of the sale this weekend we removed it with a power washer.”

Bright Yellow Beer ad showing 20% off on the sidewalk done with Zig Posterman Sidewalk Paint Markers

The sign showed no wear and could have lasted for months, though as you can also see in the photo shoppers in New York tended to avoid walking on the graphic.

Application Note for Sidewalk Paint Markers

Why not make your own sidewalk sign message board with our Zig Posterman sidewalk paint markers.  We recommend the following marker sizes, just pick your colors and you are good to go!

When working on a sidewalk you will find that the ink will not last as long as it may on a smooth surface.   This is due to the fact that concrete will absorb the fluid in the marker as you do your design.  Be sure to take this into account when you place your order.

Be sure to view our other DIY application notes here on Cohas Chalkboard Systems. One of the best ways it to Visit our Idea Gallery click an image that sparks an idea and read up to find out how the professionals did it themselves.

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