Lettering - pen and marker edition
I might be a pen and marker hoarder so this topic is close to my heart. Let's get started and break this down.
At the end of this post, I will add links to Amazon which is where I purchase most of my supplies. I have paid for all of these products myself and all opinions are my own.
Pens - Black
Sakura Pigma Micron Pens - These are my go-to pens for so many things: outlining, fine details, lettering and drawing.
My favorite thing about them is how many sizes they come in - 005 (.20mm) for the tiniest details like hashmarks for shading up to 08 (.50mm) for some nice even lettering. They have archival ink and are waterproof which comes in handy when I decide to add watercolor since the lines stay crisp and bright. I am a notorious early eraser and lucky for me these dry really quickly and don't smudge.
Pens - Colors
Sakura Gelly Roll Pens - souffle, glitter and more.
With so many different style options you can find something for every need. I do use these sometimes for lettering using a faux calligraphy method. Mostly I use these for details or to address envelopes because of the variety. These are a little more pricey but the quality definitely makes up for it. They are very consistent which I find can be a problem with cheaper options. I especially love the white gel pen for highlights in some of my colorful lettering because it stays opaque and gives the effect I want.
Paper Mate Ink Joy Gel Pens - best in my journaling catagory.
Like I said, I don’t use a lot of gel pens but these have a couple of things that got me. They do not bleed through journal or planner pages. The bright colors are for any mood I am in. There’s no smudging…yup the commercial got me but seriously, I never have to worry about smearing the ink all over and ruining my neatly written plan for the day.
Markers - Small brush tip
Tombow Fudenosuke - hard tip or soft tip - I use these EVERY DAY!
These are used in 90% of my lettering. The flexible tip on the soft tip is springy and great with thick and thin lines. It writes smoothly with great flow and ease. The hard tip gives me a little more control and allows for smaller lettering.
Both are great for beginners and are easy to use and practice with. I made my lettering practice worksheets to be used with these pens. (You can click this link to check out my worksheets.)
They also have nice bright ink that dries quickly and stands up to some water.
Tombow Fudenosuke twin tip - My grab-and-go.
If I can only grab one pen, this is it. One tip is similar to the soft tip and black and the other is grey. This allows for some shadow on lettering or added details with just one pen.
Pentel Touch - when you need a small brush pen and some color.
Ok, lets get real - these are amazing. They are similar to the Tombow Fudenosuke soft tip but they have bright beautiful colors. A set comes with 12 colors including black and grey. My favorite thing to do with these is dip the pen in a different color ink and as you write the color changes back. You can make really cool gradient lettering using these.
Kuretake - Fudegokochi - extra fine point for that detail.
I am new to these but I like how much smaller I can make my lettering without losing detail. It is a great option for envelopes and letters where you’re writing more than a short quote or need to add more information. I ordered a couple of these one with a soft tip and one with a hard tip and they write similar to the Tombow Fudenosuke but just a little smaller.
Markers - Medium/Large brush tip
Tombow Dual Brush Pen - Fun starts here!
A staple in my colorful lettering are these beauties. They come in 96 dreamy colors and are so versatile. They have a large felt tip that is flexible for lettering with thick and thin strokes. You do have to be careful with the tips as they can fray over time but for my purposes they last a good while. One awesome thing about these markers is they are water soluble so you can blend these with the blender pen included in some packages or my favorite, a water brush (a paint brush with a self wetting tip when you fill with water). You can use the water brush to blend colors together or just make it look like watercolors.
Artline Stix - I thought they were for kids but they are sooo much more.
The design of these have building block like circles that allow them to stick together or attach the cap to the marker while you write. These come in 16 bright and bold colors. With a large felt tip, they are still flexible enough for lettering and sturdy enough to bounce back. They are also water soluble you can make the watercolor like effect using a blending marker or your trusty water brush. They are very similar to Tombow’s Dual Brush Pen but I do find these to be a little brighter and the ink to flow easier. I would like these just as much as Tombow if they came in as many colors.
Sharpie - stained and brush - so many options.
Sharpies have so many uses but for my time I use the Stained and Brush options.
The Stained are actually fabric markers. I have never used them on fabric but they are smooth and really saturated on paper (sometimes bleeding through thin paper). The tip is more brush like then a felt tip and makes great thick and thin lines while bouncing back to normal.
The brush pen is more of a medium tip brush pen and is great to use for lettering. For some reason I usually forget about it but I do really like this pen. It comes in great colors and once you get the hang of the tip (every pen or marker is different), it makes a steady line. It’s a great in-between size when you need more details but still want a big impact.
Sharpies are also not water soluble. You cannot blend these but if you are looking for something that won’t smudge and dries fairly quickly, these are excellent options.
Crayola - because who doesn’t love school supplies?
Ok, lets get real, these are inexpensive and available everywhere which makes them awesome but I also have some arty reasons too. There are so many colors, they are water soluble (fun watercolor projects), they have a firm tip that makes broad strokes and a point for fine lines. The felt tip is different then brush markers and you have to use them a little differently but you can use them for some calligraphy; check out Crayligraphy.com to see the magic.
Jane Davenport - Mermaid Markers are really versatile.
A little on the expensive side (I had a coupon) but I use them in some fun ways. These are like pre-filled water brushes, filled with bright and amazing watercolors. You can use these as watercolors since the tip is a brush and you can just paint away. They make some fun lettering also; I use them when I want a looser feel as they are a bigger tip and hard to wield sometimes. Remember earlier I mentioned dipping my Pentel Touch pens in ink? I just drip a couple drops of one of these on a plate and dip the pen right in and it mixes beautifully. I will create a technique blog for that soon as it is so much fun, I want you all to try it.
Most of these range in price with Crayola being the bargain but I really don’t spend a ton on my pens and markers. I like trying new things and find it impossible to pay $8 for a single marker plus I love a good sale or coupon. If I found one that was the only one I would ever use again and made all my work better, sure, I would spend the money and not look back. I strongly suggest you start with what you have and test different styles to find what works for you.
I am planning a few blogs explaining some of the techniques I use in my lettering. Please send me any questions and stay tuned for new “Lettering - Supplies Edition”.
Here is my Amazon Storefront link: www.amazon.com/shop/detailsandscribbles
Just to be as open as possible, I did sign up for an associates account on Amazon so I could point you to the products. I do get a small amount if you order from these but you do not pay more. Also, I have purchased some of these at Target, Walmart and Michaels so always be on the look out for a good deal or a coupon!