Colored pencil and water color pencil

[William Tanner]

My wife draws with both colored pencils and water color pencils. I would like to see her embellish some of my lathe work. Does anyone have experience putting finish over colored pencils? I thought about first going with shellac and then WOP. Also, how about a finish to go over acrylic paint? Thanks

[Dennis Ford]

I have sprayed lacquer over "Prisma-Color" brand colored pencils. It appeared to work fine, do not have long term experience yet.

[Steve Vaughan]

I've sprayed lacquer over acrylics quite a lot...no issues and looks good. Not sure that your markers would write/draw/stick over WOP. On a raw wood shallow bowl with a wide rim, I sealed it with shellac, then sanded to about 400 grit, then had a young artist paint the rim in acrylic paints, then topcoated with the lacquer. I think the shellac gave a good surface without the risk of the paint bleeding into the grain.

[Chip Sutherland]

I have used prisma colors on elm then covered with WOP with success. The one thing to think about is if the colors will change. I tested a full range of prisma colors with the top WOP finish on some scrap elm....then picked the colors I wanted with complete confidence that I would get the color I intended then committed to the finished piece.

[Dan Forman]

Not all colors will be permanent - some will fade in light. You should be able to find permanency ratings on the website of the manufacturer. I think artist grade acrylic paint would be much better all the way around.

Dan

[Thom Sturgill]

Colored Pencils are a wax-like core and that could cause a problem. The water color pencils are probably fine, but as suggested I would seal the wood first, or at least test on some scraps to see if it bleeds too much. I have used both artists acrylic paints and water color paints on turnings with lacquer finishes and lacquer wood sealer under the paint. The water color was on bare wood.

[charlie knighton]

William, you might want to try Zig pens, for caliligraphy, a variety of colors, photo safe/acid free/archival quality/lightfast/waterproof/fade-proof/non-bleeding/smear-proof(once dry).....i started using them after/recommended in a rotation by Bart Castleberry for signature and it just broaden, i also use acrylic paints, and burning/pyro or combination of all three

[Bernie Weishapl]

I use a lot of prisma oil colored pencils. I use lacquer over them. One thing is the first 2 or 3 coats must be sprayed lightly. I got a little heavy on the first couple I did with poly and lacquer. They will run. So go light.

[Dave Mueller]

Bill,
I use Koh-I-Noor Polycolor oil pencils from Dick Blick to color. I finish coat with General Finishes Woodturners Finish (WTF) applied with a foam brush. It is water based and will bead up on the first coat where the pencil coloring is, however, if you wait about a minute the water evaporates and only oil based finish is left. That can be re-brushed over the pencil coloring, but will look pretty ugly. Let it dry and apply two more coats, sand with 800 grit until uniformly frosty and then buff to a desired finish. WTF has minimal darkening effect on the wood and doesn't change the colors. The platter below has three coats of WTF.
Dave
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[Ray Bell]

Wow, love that platter Dave. Is it just pencil, or combination pyro and pencil?

[Dave Mueller]

Ray, thanks for the comment. It was burned first and then colored. It is also supposed to be displayed with the tree trunk pointing to 10 o'clock instead of 12 o'clock - the club photographer took the picture before I could correct the orientation. Can't win 'em all...

[Steve bellinger]

William i've used my granddathers colored pencils with lacquar over them and it seemed to do just fine. This is just a piece of poplar that i did for my mom.261130261129

[Clint Merrill]

Hi William ; try General Finishes Enduro, a water base urethane over your acrylics. I make a lot of Xmas ornaments painted with acrylics and top coated with the Enduro for gloss and handling protection, does a great job and easily applied with a soft brush. Think you will like the results. Clint Merrill