Which Brush Pen to Choose? Recommendations for Artists and Creatives

The brush pen, also known as a brush marker, has established itself as a go-to tool for artists, illustrators, and crafting enthusiasts. Whether for brush lettering, calligraphy, manga drawing, or bringing your journaling notebook to life, finding the right tool can transform your creative experience. With a vast array of options available, it can sometimes be difficult to know where to start.

This guide is here to help you navigate the choices by breaking down the key criteria and presenting our selection of the best brush pen sets available today, whether you're a beginner or a seasoned artist.

How to Choose the Right Brush Pen?

Before making your choice, there are three key criteria to consider to find the pen that will perfectly suit your projects.

1. Ink Type: Water-Soluble or Permanent?

The choice of ink is crucial for the final look of your creations.

• Water-Based Ink (Water-Soluble): Ideal for gradients, colour blending, and transparent wash effects. A water-soluble pen allows you to rework colours with a wet brush, even after the ink has been applied to the paper. It's the preferred choice for illustration, urban sketching, and artistic lettering.
• Pigment-Based Ink (Permanent): Once dry, this ink is resistant to water, light, and time. It's perfect for outlines, archival-quality artwork, or projects that will be coloured with watercolour later without the lines bleeding. The Sakura Pigma is THE benchmark in this category.

2. Tip Flexibility: Soft or Firm?

The feel and control of the pen largely depend on its tip.

• A soft brush tip offers great expressiveness. It responds to the slightest variation in pressure, allowing you to create the distinct thick and thin strokes characteristic of brush lettering. However, it requires a bit more practice to master perfectly.
• A firmer tip offers better control, which can be reassuring for beginners or for precision work. It produces less extreme but more consistent line variations.

3. Colour Palette and Intended Use

A brush pen set should, above all, match your style. Primary colour sets are excellent for learning to mix colours, while themed palettes (vintage, pastel, skin tones) are perfect for specific projects like scrapbooking or character illustration. Consider the colour harmony and their compatibility with the paper you'll be using.

Our Recommended Brush Pens

Here is our selection, featuring models that each cater to specific creative needs.

WRITECH Arts Sign Brush Pens, Vintage Colours (Set of 12)

What sets it apart: This set stands out with its palette of 12 richly saturated vintage colours. It offers a compelling alternative to bright primary colours, perfect for giving a nostalgic and elegant tone to your creations.

Advantages:

• Soft and Responsive Tip: The flexible felt tip allows for precise pressure control, making it easy to create strokes of varying thickness.
• Water-Soluble Ink: The water-based ink can be diluted and blended to achieve a wide range of shades and gradients.
• Easy to Handle: Its comfortable grip makes it an excellent choice for beginners starting with calligraphy pen techniques and lettering.

Who is it for?: Journaling and scrapbooking enthusiasts, beginners in brush lettering, and artists looking for an original colour palette for their sketches and illustrations.

SAKURA Pigma Brush Pen Set (Set of 9)

What sets it apart: The reputation of SAKURA's Pigma ink needs no introduction. This set is a reliable choice for creating lasting artwork, thanks to its archival-quality pigmented ink.

Advantages:

• Archival-Quality Ink: Pigma ink is water-resistant, fade-resistant, and chemically stable (pH neutral), ensuring the longevity of your artwork.
• Expressive and Durable Tip: The flexible synthetic tip responds well to pressure for varying line width, while also being designed for durability.
• Versatility: Perfect for illustration drawing, manga, calligraphy, and any artistic work requiring expressive and permanent lines.

Who is it for?: Illustrators, manga artists, calligraphers, and artists who require a permanent and reliable ink for their professional or personal creations.

Ecoline Brush Pen Primary Set (Set of 10)

What sets it apart: The Ecoline brush pen brings the purity and intensity of Ecoline liquid watercolours into a convenient pen format. Its transparent and vibrant colours are its signature feature.

Advantages:

• Vibrant Dye-Based Colours: The formula, based on dyes and gum arabic, delivers transparent and brilliant colours that stand out, especially on white or light-coloured paper.
• Excellent Blendability: The colours mix easily with each other or with water to create smooth transitions and classic watercolour effects.
• Reactivatable Tip: It is recommended to store these pens horizontally. If a tip dries out, it can be revived by lightly moistening it with water.

Who is it for?: Watercolourists, illustrators, and hand-lettering fans who want the fluidity and brilliance of watercolour ink with the convenience of a brush pen.

Looking for Other Options?

Does your project require a different tool, or do you simply want to explore other avenues? If the models in our selection don't check all your boxes, know that there is a myriad of other options available, with various tips, inks, and palettes.

Discover our complete collection of design and sketch pens

Frequently Asked Questions About Brush Pens

What paper should I use with a brush pen?

The choice of paper is crucial. For brush lettering and line drawing, opt for very smooth paper (like Bristol board or special marker paper) to avoid damaging the tips of your pens. For a water-soluble pen like the Ecoline, watercolour paper (cold or hot press, with a weight of at least 200 g/m?) is essential to ensure the paper can handle water without buckling.

How do I start with brush lettering?

The secret lies in pressure control: apply light pressure on upstrokes (thin lines) and heavier pressure on downstrokes (thick lines). Practise these basic movements before forming letters. A brush pen with a tip that is neither too soft nor too firm is ideal for starting out.

Can you refill a brush pen?

Most brush pens are disposable. However, some brands offer refillable models, which are often geared towards professionals. The Ecoline Brush Pen, for example, is not designed to be refilled, but the brand offers the same inks in bottles for use with a traditional brush. Always remember to check this information on the product page before you buy.

By the Joybuy editorial team