Writing on suede, any hints?

[Estefa]

I've been asked to do some lettering / pointed pen calligraphy on suede. Does anyone have a tip what kind of ink works best, has someone tried writing with a nib? I will start by testing acrylic paint thinned with water, using a round pointed brush – I'll keep you updated, but will also be very happy about any experiences or input!

[schin]

I bet the One Shot paints can stick on suede, but you'll have to use a brush...

[sybillevz]

I heard that a french website sells these paints.


...here's the link : http://www.stds.fr/peintures-pour-pinstriping-et-lettrage,fr,3,64.cfm

They also sell Schminke aerocolor professional paints with a marker (you can get a brush tip for that apparently). These are acrylic paints for airbrush, I don't know if it would work.

Finally I would think of fabric paints... you can buy pointed markers to write on fabric, so I'm guessing this would work on suede ?

[Estefa]

Thanks a lot, @schin and @sybillevz !! I have been testing now some markers and acrylic paint (from Golden). The client told me that the calligrapher who did the last event used an acrylic artist's paint, so I thought that would work. I tested also some paint for fabric, but did not like the consistency nor the lack of opacity (I have to write white on a colored suede). So until now what works best is an outline with marker and then adding shades with brush and acrylic paint … I'll keep you updated!!

I should add that I don't have a sample to work on, so what I use at the moment for testing is some sort of suede-like finished paper I luckily found in my art supplies store !