3 Ways to Use Archer & Olive Acrylograph Pens

We're so excited to be stocking Archer & Olive in Australia again! This week we thought we'd give you a closer look at the Archer & Olive Acrylograph pen, how to use them and our tips and tricks for perfecting your paint pen technique!

Archer & Olive Journals and Acrylograph Pens have been a favourite of journal enthusiasts and artists for a long time. The 160GSM pages in Archer & Olive journals are a great fit for a range of mediums, including fountain pens, paint pens, brush pens, watercolour, gouache and more! 

Read on for 3 ways that we like to use Archer & Olive Acrylograph Pens in our journals and planners. There is so much that you can do with these versatile paint pens! 

What are Acrylograph Pens?

Acrylograph pens are opaque paint pens, designed by our favourite journal brand Archer & Olive. They can be used for drawing, hand lettering and colouring on a range of paper colours including white, black and craft paper. 

How to use Archer & Olive Acrylograph Pens? 

1. Shake: When you first open your Acrylograph pens, the nibs will be white with no ink. Shake to mix and distribute the ink.
2. Press: Next, press the nib down onto a piece of test paper and wait for the ink to fill up the pen nib and start flowing on the page. This can take a little time. Patience is key! Once the nib is fully in colour, the ink should start flowing on the page. 
3. Clean and Store. Wipe any excess ink off with a paper towel and store your pens horizontally. 
4. Activate your pens before each use for the best results. The first time you set up your pens will take the longest. 

3 Ways to Use Archer & Olive Acrylograph Pens: 

1. Drawing, writing, colouring: Use a light touch to avoid a scratchy finish. Writing directly on the top of the tip can cause paint splatter, so hold the pen on a slight angle. Write slowler than normal to give the ink flow time to catch up, to achieve a nice even covering of ink. Try not to overwork the paper when colouring large areas - a single layer of colour is enough. When colouring large areas, colour in small sections at a time for a smooth finish overall. 
2. Layering: Wait until the layer is completely dry before adding another layer on top. Due to the pens opaque colour you can use light colours over dark colours. You can also layer over other pens, paints and paper colours such as black or craft paper. 3. Blending: To create a gradient, use a water resistant surface to mix your paint such as a piece of plastic. Then, activate the darker colour that you wish to use by building up a little circle of ink on your plastic sheet. Dip the lighter colour that you wish your gradient to finish on in the darker colour. Now draw on your paper! The colour will start darker and will fade to the lighter colour once the darker ink runs out. Alternatively you can create gradients using two colours side by side and a dry brush for mixing in between while the colours are still wet.Check out our latest range of Archer & Olive Acrylograph Pens:

They can be used on white, black, craft and any coloured paper you desire! 
Cabinet of Curiosities Acrylograph Pens
Glitter Acrylograph Pens

We also have the most stunning new range of journals to choose from, with the most beautiful cover designs and thick 160GSM paper that's perfect for hand lettering, art journaling, bullet journaling and more. Pick your perfect journal here!
Let us know how you like to use Acrylograph pens in the comments! We'd love to know what you use yours for.