How To Paint A Poster

Mix color on tray for paint — Shutterstock / rprisarn

Suitable for artists of all ages, poster paint is water-based distemper paint that is a breeze to work with. Available in many colors, it's one of the most eye-catching media you can use to create and color signs and banners. Poster paint is sold in a number of forms, including markers, which are perfect for lettering and create much thicker lines than a typical marker. As a bonus, most of these paints are easily washable so you can work with them freely without worrying about clothing stains.

1. Crafty Dab Poster Paint

For easy sign-making with reduced mess, try paint in marker form. These implements from Crafty Dab are comfortable to hold, and their pigments glide smoothly on paper thanks to a spring-valve applicator that also prevents them from clogging or drying out. Each marker holds 1.6 fluid ounces of nontoxic paint, and you get 10 bright colors in this set. You won't have to deal with the usual drips and spills that come with traditional paint—when you're done, simply replace the cap.

2. Crayola Washable Paint

For a more traditional painting experience, we recommend Crayola's product, which is great for individual or small-volume projects. These paints come in small, 2-fluid-ounce bottles—perfect for dipping brushes into, but not ideal for pouring or distributing—and this set's six colors mix well so you can quickly create more. Whether you're applying them with fingers, sponges, or brushes, these paints are easy to wash from skin and clothing, yet they aren't watery. Expect a rich consistency that yields satisfying coverage.

3. Colorations Washable Tempera Paints

This paint comes in either 8- or 16-fluid-ounce bottles, which makes Colorations' product a great choice in terms of volume. The bottles come with pouring holes so the paint is easy to dispense for group activities, and there's more than enough for you to use as-is and mix to create additional colors. The consistency is a bit more watery than that of Crayola's paints, but these paints still carry excellent color. They also wash out easily to facilitate the clean-up process.

4. Jack Richeson Poster Paint

Like Crafty Dab's markers, these are solid, self-contained tools that you can write with. But Jack Richeson's paint sticks perform more like oil pastels. With a lipstick-like consistency, they slickly glide on surfaces to leave bold and opaque color that dries quickly. They also twist up like lipstick, so their smooth inner cores stay protected and moist. Their tips are wide, not the best for detail, but great for producing marks visible from a distance. Easy to use, neat, and portable, these are perfect for creating punchy posters, group-made school banners, and spontaneous protest signs.

5. Sakura Poster Color Set

These paints from Sakura, which come in durable and elegant 1-ounce glass jars, perform similarly to gouache. They're creamy and opaque, and they can be reactivated once dry should you want to rework them. This product is perfect for artists who want to make impressive, lasting posters with bold hues and details. The color also transfers nicely when scanned, so you can mechanically and digitally reproduce your art.