Powertex Bister is a beautiful range of pigments that can create stunning effects for your Powertex fabric sculpture and wall art. If you’re wondering what you need to get started with Bister this post is for you.

You can also download my free digital Quick Guide to Bister.

What is Bister?

Powertex Bister is a water based pigment. It’s available as ready mixed sprays and granules and comes in seven tints.

Powertex Bister sprays

What do I need?

It might be useful to know what sort of project you will be working on. This post looks at the different projects you might want to try. However, if you’re not sure and just want to give it a try, here’s a short supply list. Keep it simple to start.

  • Ready mixed Bister in Natural Brown and one colour of your choice
  • White vinegar in a small spray bottle
  • Small sponge

Start with Ready Mixed Bister which you can use straight away. White vinegar brightens the Bister colours a little and can be mixed into or sprayed onto your Bister. Use a damp sponge to wipe back the Bister from raised areas of your textures which will create highlights.

Other materials:

  • Powertex Fabric Hardener and natural fibres, fabrics, texture mediums to create your surface
  • Something to protect your surfaces
  • Gloves are optional

How do I use it?

These pigments are easy to use but these tips can help you get the best results.

  • Bister is best used on a very textured, Powertex surface.
  • You can apply it on wet or dry Powertex but spray generously for best results.
  • Remember Bister will create depth by laying dark areas of colour in the textures.

You can read more about how I use Bister in my art, in this post.

Blue Powertex with Black Bister

Blue Powertex with black Bister

What else do I need to know?

Bister is easy to use on any Powertex textures but as always I recommend that you play and experiment! There are so many ways to use Bister and so many effects you can get, too many to list here. Choose your favourite textures such as fabric on a bottle or Stone Art on polystyrene or Easy 3d Flex on a canvas, and use Bister to add depth to your surface.

Powertex and Bister Bottle

Powertex and Bister

Remember that Bister is not permanent. If you want to preserve the surface, use a UV resistant spray varnish.

Need to know more?

If you’d like to know more, I have a series of articles about using Bister or check out my free digital download of my Powertex Quick Guide to Bister.

My new digital Powertex Bister Masterclass tells you everything you need to know about Powertex Bister. Contents include what to buy, how and when to use it as well as essential supplies, techniques and project ideas. Available for instant download in my Etsy shop.

I’m a Powertex tutor in the UK and get all my supplies from Powertex UK.


1 Comment

A mixed media painting with Powertex - Kore Sage | Mixed Media Artist · 24th October 2021 at 1:36 pm

[…] Create an atmospheric landscape with Powertex Bister ink pigments. The pigments are available in ready-mixed sprays and granules in seven gorgeous muted colours. You can read more about Bister here. […]

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