Linn Meyers
Linn Meyers is an American artist known for drawings and site-specific installations built from thousands of closely spaced, rippling lines. The Hirshhorn documents her use of a type of paint marker commonly used by graffiti artists.
Paint Type
Paint Markers
Paint markers dispense opaque pigmented color through a marker tip rather than a brush. Formulas include water-based and oil-based products, so surface compatibility, permanence, and finishing requirements depend on the exact marker.
Paint marker surface compatibility
Paint markers can work on many porous and nonporous materials, but a water-based marker and an oil-based marker may behave very differently on the same surface. Check the product directions before sealing or exposing the finished work to washing, weather, or abrasion.
| Surface | Compatibility | Preparation | Primer or ground | Finish | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper | Excellent with many water-based paint markers | Use clean, dry paper that is heavy enough for the amount of paint being applied. | Usually none. | Usually none; a compatible spray varnish can be used when extra protection is wanted. | — |
| Canvas | Excellent with compatible artist paint markers | Use properly primed, clean, dry canvas. | Use the canvas ground already required by the support. | Usually optional; use a compatible varnish when additional protection is needed. | — |
| Wood | Excellent with many paint-marker formulas | Use clean, dry wood and remove dust, grease, or loose finish before marking. | Usually none on suitable bare or prepared wood. | Use a compatible protective finish when handling or exposure requires it. | — |
| Stone | Excellent with many permanent paint markers | Remove dust, loose material, moisture, and surface contamination before marking. | Usually none on sound porous stone. | Use a compatible exterior or protective finish when exposure requires it. | — |
| Fabric | Good with a textile-compatible paint marker | Wash new fabric when appropriate, dry it fully, and place an absorbent backing beneath the work. | Usually none with a marker approved for textiles. | Heat-set or otherwise fix the design exactly as the marker manufacturer directs. | — |
| Metal | Good with a marker approved for metal | Clean, degrease, and dry thoroughly before marking. | Product-specific; smooth or exposed metal may need a compatible preparation system. | Use a compatible clear finish when the design needs additional abrasion or weather resistance. | — |
| Glass | Good for decoration with a glass-compatible marker | Clean, degrease, and dry the glass thoroughly before marking. | Usually none. | Some markers remain removable on glass; use only the manufacturer's approved fixation method when permanence is wanted. | — |
| Ceramic | Good when the marker approves ceramic or pottery | Clean and degrease thoroughly and test adhesion on glazed surfaces. | Usually none with a purpose-made marker. | Follow the product's curing or sealing directions and respect food-contact limitations. | — |
| Plastic | Formula-specific | Remove dust and grease and test the marker first because plastic families differ widely. | Usually none when the marker explicitly approves the plastic. | A compatible water-based or product-approved clear finish can improve durability. | — |
Sources: POSCA surface guidance, Sharpie Oil-Based Paint Markers, edding 750 Paint Marker, and MOLOTOW ONE4ALL Acrylic Markers.
Painters who used paint markers
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