9 Best Brush Pens For Lettering
Bullet Journal lettering opens up a world of creativity and is a fantastic way to add a spark to your spreads. If you’re anything like me, you probably have a stack of brush pens, but nothing compares to finding that perfect brush pen for your lettering adventures.
The right tools can transform your brush lettering and make your Bullet Journal pages and other possible projects creative and effortless.
In this post, we’ll explore the best brush pens for lettering, diving into the unique features, pros, and cons of each. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting, these recommendations will help you enjoy brush lettering more and add more flare to your Bullet Journal pages.
Navigating the world of Bullet Journal supplies can be quite daunting, but it’s especially hard when we talk about brush pens, after all there is such a huge amount of pen types and brands out there!
Especially if you’re not sure what you’re looking for and what kind of pens you want to get, it’s easy to go crazy and buy tons of pens that are not good or don’;t fit your needs, and maybe eventually stop with your dream of mastering brush lettering altogether.
But don’t worry, because I’m here to help! In this post, we’ll talk about some characteristics of brush pens for you to consider, and then I’ll give you my recommendations for the best pens to get.
And don’t forget to scroll until the end, where I’ll give you my two best tips to ensure your pens don’t get damaged and serve you well for a long time.
Brush Pen Characteristics
Before we dive into the pens themselves, elt’s talk about some of the characteristics brush pens have. It can help you understand the differences between the pens and find the perfect pen for you.
Just as individuals have unique tastes, each person has specific preferences for their ideal brush pen.
So here are a few characteristics for you to consider:
- Nib Size
The initial and possibly most apparent factor is the nib size. You’ll find them available in large, medium, and small sizes.
One thing to note is that most lettering worksheets are designed for either small or large nibs. If you happen to have a medium-sized nib, I recommend opting for the worksheet meant for large nibs.
- Nib Elasticity
Nib firmness varies, ranging from soft to mid-firm to firm. In my experience, starting with brush pens that have firm or mid-firm nibs is beneficial as they offer a narrower range of line thickness, making them easier to manage.
- Ink Flow
Your brush pen’s ink flow can vary, ranging from quite dry to very heavy. In my experience, using a drier pen makes it simpler to begin with brush calligraphy. Additionally, if you’re working with a Bullet Journal that has thinner pages, it’s best to steer clear of pens with heavy ink flow to prevent ghosting.
Choosing your starting point is a personal decision. Personally, I favor small brush pens with medium nib flexibility, though your preference might be different.
A good approach could be to try both a small-tip brush pen and a large one to see which suits you best as you progress.
And here in this post I’ve gathered a list of brush pens with all different types of characteristics, so let’s dive in!
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Best Brush Pens For Lettering
I don't want to inundate you with a long list, so I'll simply highlight 9 of my favorite pens.
Remember, there is no need to feel pressured to purchase them all! That's not the goal.
I aim to provide a variety of options so you can select what best suits your needs and what's available to you. Alright, let's jump in!
These pens are among the top choices available, and it's easy to see why.
They boast exceptional quality, offer a wide array of colors, and are incredibly versatile. You can blend them and even use them like watercolors.
Additionally, they feature a dual-tip design – one end with a brush nib and the other with a marker, making them perfect for more than just brush lettering. With a large nib that has medium flexibility and a moderate ink flow, these pens are an excellent option if you're looking to experiment with a larger brush tip.
These pens might be a tad pricey, but they are undeniably stunning. The Faber Castell Pitt Artist brush pens feature a medium-sized, soft nib that offers a wet ink flow.
While the flexible tip may take some time to get used to, the effort is truly worth it. Available in a range of beautiful colors, these pens are ideal for crafting smaller lettering projects, such as headers for your weekly spreads.
The Pentel Fude Touch shares several characteristics with the classic Sign Pen, including a straightforward plastic design, a reliable snap-on cap, and vibrant ink colors.
These pens have small brush tip on a hard side, but still provide a silky writing experience, making it ideal for extended writing periods.
Available in twenty-four colors, the pen's body always matches the ink color inside.
These pens offer exceptional quality and come in a wide range of colors, plus they are impressively durable. I've been using mine since 2018, and the nib has hardly shown any wear.
With a medium-sized nib that offers moderate firmness and a balanced ink flow, these pens are very user-friendly. They fit comfortably in your hand and make it easy to control the thickness of your strokes.
These p[ens are an absolute dream to come, they have bright ink and very unique colors.
These are large tip brush pens with a very flexible brush that takes a bit of time to get used to. They also have a heavy ink flow, so be careful with what type of paper you're using it since it can ghost even on 160 GSM paper if you deposit too much ink.
These were among the first brush pens I purchased, and they remain a favorite of mine. Their quality is top-notch, and each pen offers two shades of the same color, providing plenty of creative possibilities.
Featuring a large nib similar to the Tombow Dual Brush, they have a mid-firm elasticity and a wet ink flow. Although they are available in only 24 colors, they are an excellent choice if you're looking to experiment with a large-tip brush pen.
If you're looking for a good brush pen for asian calligraphy, this is the one to get.
The Pentel Pocket Brush Pen features a soft, flexible tip crafted from individual nylon fibers, which makes it springy and able to retain its shape after each stroke. Its rich, black ink has a slightly transparent quality, and is both fade-resistant and waterproof, making it an excellent companion for watercolor art.
These brush pens are my go-to and, in my view, the best choice for beginners. Featuring a small nib, they are available in both soft and hard versions.
The ink flow is moderate but can occasionally be on the dry side. They are flexible and more durable compared to the large-nib Tombow brush pens.
Initially offered only in black and grey, Tombow has recently expanded the range to include several additional colors.
The Royal Talens Ecoline features a liquid watercolor ink that is both transparent and simple to blend. This brush pen produces a wet, vibrant line, making it ideal for use with premium paper.
Its soft and flexible tip is versatile, perfect for both intricate details and larger fills. The vibrant colors and semi-transparent hues are excellent for crafting whimsical, curly fonts as well as artistic illustrations.
Brush Pen Tips
Brush pens are not like the others, so there are a few tips for you to note if you dfon’t want them to die a painful death. My firwt breush pens frayed in a matter of weeks becasue I didn’t consider any of these things.
But you won’t have such a problem, and here are the two important things for you to think about.
Use Good Paper
Whether you’re printing your bruish lettering worksheets or using a piece of paper to create a bruish lkettering piece, you have to have a good paper.
If you opt-out for cheap rough paper, like I did, you’ll end up fraying your pen nib, plus there is a high chance that it will bleed through.
So here are a few recommendations for the paper to use:
- Marker paper
- HP Premium 32
- Rhodia notepad
- Tracing paper
- Archer and Olive notepad (which has been my favorite lately, and I can give you 10% off your purchase with code MASHA10)
Correctly Store Your Brush Pens
The second thing is to ensure that you store your brush pens correctly, and I’ve got both recomemndation on how to store them adn supplies that can help you do that.
If you store them vertically, there is a chance the nib might dry out or get oversaturated, depending on which side is down.
It’s essential that you store your pens horizontally; that way, the ink will be distributed evenly, and your pens will serve you more.
Of course, there are exceptions, like Karin Brushmarker Pro Brush Pens, but these specifically state that you should store them vertically.
So here is the golden rule – unless it’s explicitly stated – store your pens horizontally.
If you’re looking for good storage, I recommend this one. I use it to store all my pens and absolutely love it.
And that’s it, feel free to get your new favorite brush pens and everything elsey ou need to mamke sure they serve you a long time.
Free Brush Lettering Resources
Brush lettering is a very fun hobby, and you can do so much with just a few pens. Mastering brush lettering is also all about practice, so I created a few resources to help you with that.
Simply sign up in the form below, and you’ll get exclusive practice worksheets and more information on mastering lettering delivered straight to your inbox.
More Brush Lettering Resources
Are you looking for some more ideas, recommendations and worksheets to master brush lettering? I’ve got you covered.
Check out these posts next:
- Free Printable Bounce Lettering Worksheets
- Beginner’s Guide To Brush Lettering
- Free Online Calligraphy Courses
>>> Which brush pens are your favorite? Share with us in the commetns!
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And remember: Keep Bullet Journaling, and Don’t Be A Blob!
