Posts

, , , , , ,

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.

 

Share on Social Media
/0 Comments/by
, , , , , , ,

How to put Paint Marker Color Overlay

The amazing skill of John Wren Sign Board Artist creates chalk board art, with paint marker color overlay. The Zig Posterman Marker is great for complex designs like this since once dry you can write over the marks without damaging the work you have already done.

Ever write over a dry erase marker and find it destroys the mark? That won’t happen with these unique markers available in many sizes, colors and finishes!  The opaque matte finish Zig Posterman Calk Marker allows the artist to put color on color in any display.

How to Create Paint Marker Color Overlay

To start the artist letters in “Meals from around the world” using a 15 millimeter Zig Posterman Marker.  That’s 5/8 inch for us yanks’ he then adds a brown drop shadow. Finishing with 6mm chisel tip white highlights and brown with some neon drop shadow. This is a technique anyone could use, just watch the video and give it a try yourself.

Notice the guidelines in light chalk on this board.  Those can be removed when done, with an eraser, your Zig Posterman marks will not smudge or smear.

John then uses a Zig 15mm marker to create a green oval shape looking a lot like a football here in the United States. Watch carefully as this part is in fast motion, he creates the outside of the oval with the green. He then switches to the white 15mm marker to create a gradient and a 3d affect.

Editors Note:

I could not help but notice the frame that John Wren is using, the saw marks can be seen on this clearly recycled wood that come from a vertical saw. Likely from a time before neon and LED full motion signs.  In the United Kingdom and here in the United States these distinctive saw marks date the wood between 1700 and 1860.  How quaint that the sign artist is able to use old wood on an old school chalkart sign.

Then after the oval has dried in this video he uses a clear acrylic varnish to “fix” the paint so it will have no chance of running with the future layers he plans to ad.  Depending on your design you may not need this method for paint marker color overlay.  The reason for this is Zig Posterman semi-permanent markers can be drawn over when dry.  Test your design to determine the best option for your application.  If the marker does not dry fast enough you can use heat to cure it.

 

Detail Time After the Color Overlay

Following the shape of the oval a pop-out 3d affect is created, this is a plan ahead project, you don’t want to run out of room for your letters. Silver and black highlights or in the case of black more appropriately shadows are added by John to give even more of a perspective.  Layering the Zig Posterman marker on top of an existing mark is no problem.  In this video he could have completely recovered the white “World” text, but instead highlights the center.

Using the guidelines text is added to the blackboard. “Try a different dish every week” in this case the text is gone over twice for that nice bright white on the blackboard. Even if think you can not letter that well give it a try! The Zig 6mm chisel tip markers give a nice look to hand written text, almost a calligraphy marker look.

In the end making sure with a tape measure our artist adds “This Week and Next Week” with a nice simple parchment box framing what will soon be the specials on this restaurant board.

Here’s a tip on Paint Marker Color Overlay!

Now that you have your board done, you can add your specials to the menu board and change it every week!  Use the Zig Posterman Wet-Wipe markers so you can wipe the board clean with a damp cloth.  Your menu board design will not come off because you need Windex to make that happen.  Why not try the over 23 different colors of the Zig Posterman waterpoof Marker? Or test the Wet-Wipe marker for indoor applications with 27 colors and three tip sizes.

Another Zig tip, chalk board artist John Wren offers on demand downloadable DVD videos on how to create artwork like this be sure to visit his website and tell him, “Cohas Chalkobard Systems sent you!”

These Markers were used in this project.

White 6mm used for fine lines and text touch-up

 

White 15mm used to make the larger text and highlight larger text

 

Green 15mm, this marker made the football shaped object

Yellow 6mm used for highlights, 2 coats provided extra bright color

We did not include the black 6mm John used to put the website on the back of his hand.

Share on Social Media
/0 Comments/by