All my...
For creating shapes and continuous lines.
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Here is my favourite collection of pens and ink that I use regularly in my tutorials and day-to-day sketching.
I recommend using bottled ink with fountain pens as this is the best solution for the environment. It does mean that for Platinum and LAMY pens you will also need to buy an ink converter to fit your pen to allow you to refill it. There is more information on this at the bottom of this page.
I use this with a fine or extra fine nib. It is a wonderful pen, with a slightly flexible nib and consistent ink flow.
A great entry level pen, which I have a number of for day-to-day sketching. The flexibility is greater than the diamond 580, with a more variable line. I use a fine or extra fine.
A more expensive option, but it comes with a range of 14k gold nibs, which are extremely flexible. I wouldn't recommend it as a first pen, but I certainly get a lot of use out of it. I use UEF.
A very waterproof and quick drying ink, Sketch Ink is designed for fountain pens and it is one of my go to sketching inks.
Another quick drying waterproof ink that you can use in your fountain pens. Sometimes this is difficult to find as it is a Japanese imported product.
Increasingly I find myself enjoying POSCA paint markers - these add an extra dimension and texture to your art, are wonderful for doodling, and adding highlights. I prefer 0.7mm tip pens.
These are my favourite marker pens. They are waterfast, feature a chisel and a brush end (dual tip) and a large range in colours. They are also smaller than many other brands out there. If I had just one set, it would be the landscape set!
Fude pens
I very often use a lovely TomBow Fude pen in my tutorials - my favourite is the 'soft' nib.
Fineliner pens
I also frequently use Winsor Newton fineliner pens. I like this brand because they are thinner, have a longer nib and seem to be harder wearing as a result. I use 0.1mm, 0.3mm and 0.8mm sizes most frequently.
Buying sets of pens is usually the most cost effective option.
Brush pens
Brush pens combine the convenience of a pen with the expressive qualities of a brush. They offer varying line widths based on pressure, making them excellent for calligraphy, lettering and creating dynamic strokes in artwork.
Pentel is my go to brand, it is one of the only refillable brush pens I have found.
Use of cartridges, ink converters and barrel-filled pens:
Cartridges: Cartridges are pre-filled ink containers that are convenient and mess-free. Simply insert a cartridge into your pen and you're ready to write. They come in various colours and are disposable once empty.
I avoid these if possible, as they are expensive and not eco-friendly.
Ink converters: Ink converters are reusable accessories that allow you to draw ink from a bottle into your pen. They are ideal for using bottled inks and offer more ink colour choices. To fill your pen with an ink converter, submerge the nib in the ink and twist the converter to draw ink into the pen's reservoir.
I use these in my Platinum pens and LAMY pens.
Here is an example of a platinum converter.
And here is a LAMY converter too.
(Please note, you will need to make sure with the LAMY pen that the converter you buy fits your pen correctly - there are a few options).
Finally, these videos may help you look a little more into these subjects: