After the madcap adventure with papers in my previous post - it’s time to hit the pens!
Today’s post a second epic effort, and I learned a bunch, again, about my art supplies. It’s funny how we can own and use things - and never really put them through their paces against other supplies. It’s one thing to rotate between all of them and know which ones I like at the moment - and another to use them all in one sitting to get the “feel” of each one compared to the rest.
While testing I created “swatch cards” for each one - making my notes on them and trying out some shading with each one. I’ve collected all that into a Drawing Papers and Pens Reference Pack, along with the nib comparisons and things I created in this video. I know some of you love that kind of thing, and since I had them all done, I thought I’d see if it’ll help others too.
Settle in with a nice cuppa - it’s another long one. I worked hard to keep it *just* under 30 minutes! (If you prefer to watch on YouTube directly, click here):
Following are notes on the pens, along with links if you need to take any home. Supplies may be affiliate links - supporting my work with a percentage paid to me at no cost to you. Prices were pulled from the links in October 2025 for a single pen of each one.
Gel Pens
Pentel Hybrid Technica ($1.79) AMZ Nice to draw with, very thin nib. Can’t beat the price. Feels like a ballpoint in your hand but with gel ink.
Uniball Signo RT1 ($1.82) AMZ A little scratchy of a pen, but a small nib workhorse. I like to keep retractables in my bag so I’ve always got this one along for the ride. Also - waterproof.
Uniball 207 Plus ($1.47) AMZ Smooooooooth to draw with! Ink stays wet a bit long so don’t lean on your work. The start of a stroke drops a little more ink than the rest.
Pilot Hi-Tec-C ($1.79) AMZ Love this one - a workhorse for such an inexpensive price.
Uniball Signo Broad Silver ($2.00) AMZ Also comes in gold, white, and more…looks best on dark color! Silver is very shiny…think holidays!
Ballpoint ink (oil-based)
Bic Cristal ($1.74) AMZ is a regular ballpoint pen, as is the Bic Four Color Pen AMZ - Ballpoints can create a nice value range, try it if you haven’t ever before.
Alcohol-based ink
Sharpie Mixed Set ($0.92) AMZ Don’t ever say you can’t afford art supplies, right? Even if it does a little feathering, these pens work great, I’ve used them for tons of drawings.
Pigment inks
Sakura Pigment Micron (Sketch Faves) ($2.37) BLICK Microns come in a wiiiide range of nib sizes. For the new Ink Drawing Jumpstart class, this sketch set at Blick is an excellent range - only the PN (plastic nib) isn’t as useful as the others, but it still can draw. Highly recommend.
Pentel Pointliner ($1.75) AMZ Small range of pens, but they’re the most often used so it’s all good.
Pentel Pocket Brush ($7) AMZ A good pen for calligraphers, but might be too floppy for drawing, unless you’re really loose :)
Staedtler Pigment Liner ($1.59) AMZ Nice set of pens with a solid range of usable nibs.
Uniball Rollerball Vision ($1.93) AMZ This is the one with the ouch-y handle part. But if you like to hold your pen down close to the tip, these are smooooooth to draw with!
Faber Castell Pitt Pens ($2.50) AMZ As much as a lot of folks swear by these, I have lots of trouble with them feathering on lots of papers. I usually like FC, so these are a disappointment when I get them out, sadly.
Copic Multiliners are fabulous pens that are alcohol marker friendly. They have cheaper disposable pens ($2.07) AMZ as well as the SP ($4.05) AMZ that are refillable and can accept replaced nibs. (I’ve never done this with mine but if I do I’ll let ya know.)
Pens which need your own inks
For each of these, I primarily use Platinum Carbon black ink.
TWSBI Eco Fountain Pens ($39) AMZ Excellent workhorse of a fountain pen! I have the Medium, Fine, and Extra fine - the latter two are very similar to each other so you can’t go wrong.
Muji Aluminum Fountain Pen ($17) AMZ I’d forgotten about this pen because it was in my pen box awaiting a good cleaning. Now that it’s tidied up, I’m excited to break it out!
Rotring Isograph are technical pens - there’s a “junior” set that’s perfectly not-junior - the college set also has some extras in it but I don’t know that it’s worth the extra cost.
Dip pens need a handle, a nib, and a bottle of ink. My fave handle right now is the J Herbin Belle Epoque Dip Pen Set ($36.45) at Goldspot but if you want a good budget one try a Tachikawa Comic Pen Nib Holder ($10.50) AMZ/Jet Pens Then add some Nikko G nibs (about $1 each) from either AMZ or Jet Pens.
Koh-i-Noor Ruling Pen ($9.49) AMZ is a tool I’ve just not done well with! If you know a paper that’d be perfect with it, let me know?
Two online events
On Sunday October 19, you’re invited to Open Studio; it’s on Zoom, through Artventure, and I hold it each month. I’ll be doing some pen and ink work, answering questions if there are any, but mostly it’s a bunch of artists working on our projects, sharing, chatting, and building community. Because in this crazy world, we need that.
On Wednesday October 22, I’ll be holding a livestream here on Substack for paid subscribers. It’ll be monoprinting day, and a “group project.” More details to come, opportunities to weigh in on what I should have handy, then attendees can weigh in on what I should do. It ought to be fun! (If this one works, maybe we’ll have more group art on the monthly streams….)