What Pens Do You Use?
I really need help...or a sponsorship.
Let me preface this entry by stating that while I am in no way sponsored by any of these companies or have been given any of these products to promote (...yet. amirite!? Amirite?! Hit me up, companies — For real, though) some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means by purchasing through the link provided, I will receive a small commission, at no extra charge to you. Now that the ~ legalities ~ are out of the way, let’s get into it.
Every now and then I'll get a question asking "What pen/brush is this?" or "What brush pen/tool do you use?" on a lettering piece posted on Instagram or Dribbble. While I don't mind answering these questions at all, I'm compiling a list for the latter, in hopes of giving the same in-depth answer without forgetting any details. So, here we go. Here are some of my favorite, most used brush pens and analog materials. I’ll continue to update this as I keep experimenting and growing as an artist. If you’re less analog and more digital, you can find a list of my preferred digital brushes/apps here.
Essentials
Whether you believe in guidelines or sketching... (Well you should because they exist...and because it'll save you a ton of time in hindsight) These are some of my favorite items to lay the foundation of my work.
PrismaColor Col-Erase Pencils
My wife, who is a very talented artist, introduced me to Prismacolor Col-Erase pencils. I love these because they're hard enough for clean edges but also allow you to erase a few times without ripping the paper. They also come in A TON of colors, allowing you to layer tweaks/changes or have colorful sketches.
RENDR No Show Thru Sketchbook
This is one of my favorite sketchbooks. Not only is it sleek with minimal branding, the pages are no show thru; which allows you to use all of the pages, front and back without worrying about your art bleeding through. It is a little pricey, but the quality is well worth it. NO UNUSED PAGES HERE, SUSAN.
See Through Ruler
I don't have a favorite ruler, they’re all good for different use cases. With this one being see through, it’s helpful to see your guidelines if you’re drawing them they’re smaller than your ruler.
Bending Ruler
I’m going to be honest with you, I rarely use this ruler. It’s cool if you want to create consistent arc or curved guides, but I find myself freehanding those a bit more lately. Maybe I should revisit it so my letters aren’t so W O N K Y.
Architectural Scale Ruler
Technically the above ruler is an architect ruler, too, but chill out. I have to name these in a way that they’re memorable. Out of all of my rulers, I find myself using this one the most. This shape allows me to be quick and is a lot easier to move/reposition than the standard ruler.
Brush Pens/Markers
Tombow Dual Brush Pen
This is one of the most popular brush pens in the lettering community. They’re easy to use and come in an array of colors. The only downside I’ve found with them is their lifespan — they dry out very easily. You can remedy this by using them on tracing paper. You’ll get a different texture compared to paper, but will save you ink if you’re practicing composition or strokes.
Examples using this brush pen:
Akashiya Brush Pen - Soft
Since buying this pen, it has been my number one go to. It reminds me a lot of the Tombow Dual Brush Pen, but the Akashiya’s nib has a lot more give, which allows for a bit more expressive lettering. It also has a longer lifespan than the Tombow, so that’s always a plus.
Examples using this brush pen:
Pilot Pocket Brush Pen - Soft
Since the nib on this one is smaller than most of the brush pens I’ve used, it took some practice to get those thick and thin variations. After adapting to it, it's become a go to for when I want thinner letters with varying textures. There's also a hard version nib, which has less flexibility. They both offer great texture with each stroke – especially if you letter fast like I do.
Examples using this brush pen:
Zebra Brush Pen - Fine
I bought this pen on my very first lettering haul a couple of years ago and I make sure I have these in my inventory at all times. Not only does it have great texture, it also has three different nibs to choose from. This way you can get the same texture and flow in varying sizes. I’d definitely recommend this if you want your lettering to have some great texture but don’t want to compromise your letters in the process.
Examples using this brush pen:
Krink K-70 Permanent Ink Marker
I. Love. This. Marker. From monoline to expressive to whatever, it writes on anything and is consistent. The only downside I can think of are the fumes... You can only use it for so long at your desk before your work starts to get abstract...and by abstract I mean foggy, and by foggy I mean... well, I think you get what I mean.
Examples using this brush pen:
Kuretake Fudebiyori Brush Pen
This is a great alternative to the Tombow Dual brush pen if you want a smaller nib/pen with the same consistency in your strokes. The nib is a bit more rounded, which is great if you want a less angled feeling that the dual Tombow gives you. They also have a great amount of colors to choose from.
Examples using this brush pen:
Alright. That’s all I have at the moment. Do you have a favorite marker I didn't list? Was this helpful? Let me know!
Originally posted 8.8.19
3.2.24 - Updated reviews, links and resources