Top 10 Best Pens for Drawing & Sketching
The perfect pen is a great tool for art. From fine art drawing to sketching, using the right pen can make the difference between a successful piece and a mediocre one. There are so many different pens out there—which ones are the best? This article shows you the top ten drawing, sketching, and artistry pens.
Many different types of pens are on the market today, ranging from the classic fountain pen to the modern ballpoint pen. There are also numerous brands to choose from, including Prismacolor, Pilot, Staedtler, Uni Pin, and Rotring.
In this article, we will be looking at the top 10 best pens for drawing and sketching.
Table of Contents
Our Top 10 Best Pens for Drawing
There is no one “best” pen for drawing. The pen you choose should depend on the medium you are using. Different artists prefer different types of pens. If you're looking for something special, consider the “speciality” pens listed below:
Best Overall: Uni Pin Fineliner Drawing Pen
The Uni Pin Fineliner Drawing Pen is made from a very thin, flexible metal alloy and can be used for fine and broad line work. The 0.8mm nib is ideal for detail work such as lettering, while the 0.4mm is an excellent choice for drawing and sketching.
These pens are incredibly versatile and can be used for various tasks such as illustration, graphic design, and lettering. If you want something that will last long and withstand the rigours of regular use, then the Uni Pin Fineliner Drawing Pen is the pen for you.
I've been using a Uni Pin Fineliner Drawing Pen for almost three years, and it's still going strong. It's been used for drawing, lettering, and doodling in a notebook.
The only drawback is that the nibs are a little tricky to get off. So if you're looking for something easy to use, there might be a better pen. But if you're okay with the extra effort, then these Uni Pin Fineliner Drawing Pens will last you for a long time.
Best Value: Sakura Pigma Micron 01
As we mentioned, our top value pick comes from Sakura, a Japanese manufacturer known for its quality products.
Sakura offers pens of varying sizes, but they're the best for graphic artists and illustrators.
These pens have a nib size of 0.20 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.30 mm, 0.35 mm, 0.45 mm and 0.50 mm. That's a wide range of line widths, and they're great for graphic designers and illustrators.
Their pens are also perfect for freehand art and illustration. The tip is fine enough to draw clean lines, and they won't smear or feather when dry.
And the ink is archival quality, too – it won't smear or feather and won't fade or bleed through. The ink also doesn't come off quickly on paper and is waterproof.
This is the pen for you if you want a versatile and durable tool to create your art and illustrations.
Best Black Pen: Staedtler Pigment Liner
This is an excellent product for beginners looking to start with art.
I recommend this product to those who want to create beautiful art at home and professionals who want to add artistic flair to their jobs.
The Staedtler Pigment Liner is made from polypropylene, a material that is very resistant to water and oil. This means that you can use the pen without fear of damaging the surface it's applied to, and it also means that it won't smear if it gets wet.
Polypropylene is designed to be very durable, and its waterproof means it will last a long time. This makes it great for professionals who use it as a marker for long periods.
The metal tip is designed to give a smooth line and will write on any surface, including glass and plastic. This is great for artists creating art for exhibitions and paintings and students doing assignments.
This product is one of the best out there, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to start an art project.
Best for Colouring: Prismacolor
This is the only brand of markers that I trust – I've tried many other brands, and I always come back to Prismacolor.
I love how versatile these markers are – they have both a fine and chisel point so that you can choose the right tool depending on the task. They're super easy to use, and you can easily create lines with a fine point or use a chisel point for shading.
They're also waterproof, which is excellent for painting wet surfaces like wood or metal. They dry fast, and the ink doesn't bleed into the paper.
The ink is also vibrant, and you can get some beautiful colours.
They're great for shading, drawing, and painting and perfect for any medium – from pencil to watercolour.
Prismacolor offers a wide range of colours, and you can find them at major retailers like Amazon.
Best All-in-One: Tombow Dual Brush Pens
If you have kids or pets, this is the pen for you. It is the perfect size for little hands and works great for creating doodles, designs, and drawings.
I've used this pen for years, and it still holds well. It's made from durable plastic and comes with a 6-pack of black pens so you can use them on every project.
They don't bleed or smudge on paper, and the fine tip works well for detailed work.
My favourite part is the blender pen. It has a flexible nylon fibre tip that blends colours and creates subtle washes.
It's perfect for creating gradients and blending colours, and it's fun to try out different techniques.
If you're looking for a high-quality, affordable, and versatile pen, get the Tombow Dual Brush Pen.
Best for Professionals: Copic Sketch Markers
One of the best things about the Copic Sketch Markers is how easily they blend. It's a beautiful feature for artists who want to get every colour perfectly.
The first thing I noticed was the nibs. The nibs are much softer and more flexible than my previous set, so I found it easier to draw with them. I also like that the brush nibs have a replaceable nib, so they can be refilled when they dry out.
The colours are also quite vibrant. The range of colours is excellent, and I'm happy that the colours look clean.
You'll find that the Copic Sketch Markers are very easy to use. You don't need to shake them before use, and the nibs are not too sensitive. You can easily blend colours and control the intensity of the colours by pressing down hard on the nib.
While you may not use the Copic Sketch Markers for every project, they're excellent for drawing and sketching.
Best Ballpoint Pens: BIC Round Stic Xtra Life
The BIC Round Stic Xtra Life Ball Pen is an all-around superb ballpen, and I love it for its comfort and versatility.
It's so comfortable to write with, and the flexible barrel makes it comfortable to hold for long periods. It also has a pleasant, smooth writing experience. The translucent barrel keeps the ink from drying up, so you can quickly tell how much ink is left, and the frosted cap makes it easier to see.
The tungsten carbide ball spreads ink evenly, which helps to prevent smearing and feathering, and the rounded tip allows you to write precisely without leaving jagged edges.
I've used this ballpen for years now, and I still love it for its comfort and convenience.
It's also a great value, considering that it's available in two different colours and is affordable. It's a superb, versatile ballpen, and I love it for its comfort, versatility, and affordability.
Best Brush Pen: Pentel Arts Pocket Brush Pen
The Pentel Pocket Brush Pen is the perfect tool for those who want to experiment with drawing, painting, and sketching.
I have a few different pens, but I go for the Pentel Pocket Brush Pen because I like how it feels, it's easy to draw, and it's compact. It's great for artists and writers alike.
I bought a few pens in the past, and I used to have a Pentel Pocket Brush Pen. But then I found this one in a store, and it was in the sale, so I bought it.
I also got medium and black ones, and I use them all the time.
As you can see, the ink is black, so it works well for sketches and drawings. And the size is great – I can write with it, and it doesn't feel too big. It's perfect for writing, drawing, and sketching.
The ink is permanent, which means it won't smear. It's also fade-resistant, so it'll stay sharp for a while.
It's also leakproof so it won't leak on your clothes or anything else. It's perfect for drawing and sketching.
You also get a cap and a pocket clip, so it's small and compact enough to fit anywhere.
The Pentel Pocket Brush Pen is perfect for anyone who likes to experiment with art and drawing.
Best Technical Pen: The Rotring Radiograph
For the longest time, the only way to get a professional-looking line was to use a mechanical pencil or a ballpoint pen. But there's something about a mechanical pencil that doesn't sit right with me, and ballpoint pens require too much pressure.
Then I discovered the Rotring Radiograph pen.
It's a precision ink pen with an innovative refillable capillary cartridge system that makes it perfect for drawing.
I first tried it out at the office, and it was great for taking notes and making sketches. It's so light and compact that I could quickly bring it everywhere.
As a line artist, I often have to draw skinny lines, but the Radiograph pen can achieve this effortlessly.
Its precision nib makes it perfect for sketching designs, and its unique cartridge system lets you fill it up with different colours and line thicknesses.
It's beneficial for line art since you can change the line thickness and colour without adjusting the pen.
The Radiograph is also very easy to grip and is comfortable to hold for hours.
You can use it to draw in any medium, and it comes with a handy cleaning brush, so you don't have to worry about getting it dirty.
It's perfect for anyone who needs a lightweight and convenient line-drawing tool.
Best “luxury” Pen: MontBlanc Meisterstuck
Mont Blanc is one of the world's most prestigious brands, and this refill is no exception. Its floating star design makes it look classy, and the matte finish on the pen's body adds a sleek touch.
The refill has a stainless steel rollerball with a precision tip that writes well, primarily when used with a gel ink cartridge.
Mont Blanc has a history of producing top-notch pens, and the Meisterstuck is no different. The cap and barrel are made of stainless steel, making them durable and easy to clean.
While Mont Blanc pens are generally a bit more expensive than average pens, this refill is reasonably priced and available in different colours. So if you're looking for a high-quality pen worth the price, this is your best bet.
The nib will set it apart from other pens and has a beautiful balance between flex and firmness. It's smooth and responsive to writing but has enough grit to produce a good line.
Wrapping Up
The first thing I will say is that these are just my personal opinions based on my experience. So, please don't take them as gospel truth.
These are the best pens for drawing that I can think of right now, and I'm sure I've missed some great options. However, if you want to write your blog post and share your thoughts on these pens, please do!
I'll be happy to link to your blog post.
FAQs
Which is the best pen available for artists?
If you're looking for a pen that you can use with different mediums, try a Gel Pen. It's ideal for sketching, painting, drawing, and writing. If you're looking for a pen that you can use with paper, try a fountain pen. It works well for handwriting, colouring, and journaling. If you're looking for a pen you can use with different media, try a felt-tip pen.
Which pen is the best drawing pen?
The most popular drawing pens for artists are the Copic Multiliner and the Pentel Signo Ink Pens. Each has advantages and disadvantages over the other.
What are the types of ink available in pens?
There are four main types of ink, which differ in the type of colourant they contain. These are carbon black, oil, water and alcohol-based.
What's the difference between a ballpoint pen and a marker?
A ballpoint pen and a marker have the same function: to write on paper with ink. The difference is in their materials. Ballpoint pens are designed to allow for easier writing, while markers are designed to provide a more substantial point and be harder to erase.
What's the difference between a felt-tip pen and a rollerball pen?
Felt-tip pens use ink placed directly on the paper by the pen's tip. Rollerball pens work by spinning the pen's nib across the paper, causing the ink to transfer to the paper.
What's the difference between a ballpoint pen and a rollerball pen?
The difference between a ballpoint pen and a rollerball pen is that a ballpoint pen has ink that can flow through the pen when the ink cartridge is replaced. In contrast, a rollerball pen has no internal mechanism to replenish the ink supply.
Last update on 2024-09-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
