16 Best Artists Pens In 2023 Plus Tips, Reviews, And Buying Guide
When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. For more information on how we conduct reviews, click here.
If you're looking for the best artists' pens, we've reviewed 16 of the top-rated brands that students and professional artists love. Quality construction, smooth writing, and choice of points are some of the features that artists consider when buying an artist pen. So whether you’re an art student or a seasoned professional, these pens will help you create beautiful artwork that will impress everyone.
Our Top Picks
  |
Best Overall: Sakura Pigma Micron Pen Set• Applies accurate points and lines |
Runner-up: Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pen Pack• Resistant to fading |
|
Best Professional Artist Pens: Staedtler Pigment Liner Pens• Multiple nibs in one set |
1. Sakura Pigma Micron Pen Set - Best Overall
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
What Customers Have to Say
Many artists love these pens because you can use them for mixed media art without worrying about smearing and bleeding. Artists recommend these pens for art students, professional illustrators, and journal artists.
Why We Think It's Great
Sakura Pigma Micron Pen Set is also waterproof and non-toxic, making them an excellent choice for artists of all ages. They are also fade-resistant and pH neutral, meaning your artwork will last longer without fading or discoloration. The pH neutral inks have consistent colors and don't bleed on paper.
For variety, these pens are available in different nib sizes - 0.20mm, 0.25mm, 0.30mm, 0.35mm, 0.45mm, and 0.50mm making them suitable for any drawing or writing project. These pens come in blister packs with a card backing.
Who Should Buy It
These markers are best for illustrators, doodlers, cartoonists, and designers. Though this set is available only in black, you can buy other sets in various colors.
2. Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pen Pack - Runner-up
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
What Customers Have to Say
Many artists believe that these are the best artist pens they have tried, while others claim that these pens are their favorite. Proving to be waterproof, these pens don’t smear even when used with watercolor paint and watercolor pencils.
Why We Think It's Great
Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pens are excellent pens made with acid-free inks and pigmented India ink. These pens use inks that are resistant to fading, smudging, and smearing, especially when the ink is dry.
The 8-pen pack comes in 0.1mm extra superfine, 0.3mm superfine, 0.5mm fine, 0.7mm medium, soft calligraphy, 1.5mm bullet, 1-3mm soft chisel, 0.5-5mm soft brush, 2.5 mm chisel, and 1-5mm brush. You can use these pens for any art project you want - whether for doodling, cartoons, mixed media art, and even calligraphy.
Best of all, the inks are odorless and permanent, so you don't have to worry about health and quality issues when using these pens. Pens are best stored horizontally.
Who Should Buy It
Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pens are best for illustrators, fashion designers, portrait and mixed media artists.
3. PANDAFLY Precision Micro-Line Pens
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
What Customers Have to Say
Several artists love these artist pens, and many are repeat buyers because of the high-quality inks. The ink is a beautiful deep black that doesn't feather or bleed through paper.
Why We Think It's Great
PANDAFLY Precision Micro-Line Pens are a superior writing instrument. They utilize non-toxic and odorless inks, so they're safe to use in any environment. The water-based inks are safe to use on photocopy machines as the inks won't dissolve the toner.
The consistent ink flow ensures that your work will be consistently legible, while the highly pigmented ink provides exceptional color vibrancy. You won't find issues regarding streaking, even if you use them with alcohol-based inks.
The pens come in 9 micro nib sizes: 00.2mm (005), 0.25mm (01), 0.3mm (02), 0.35mm (03), 0.4mm(04), 0.45mm (05), 0.5mm (06), 0.6mm (08), and 1.0mm (10), and a brush pen. The risk-free purchase policy guarantees your satisfaction with every order.
Who Should Buy It
This pen set is best for artists looking for precision pens in various nib sizes. Architects, designers, anime and cartoon illustrators, sketch artists, and drafting projects.
4. Arteza Real Brush Pens
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
What Customers Have to Say
Artists love the watercolor effect that they achieve with these pens. The colors are fantastic, making them perfect to use for adult coloring projects. The quality is excellent, and the durable carrying case with extra slots makes them ideal for artists on the go.
Why We Think It's Great
Arteza Real Brush Pens are perfect for artists of any level! These pens are made with non-toxic, water-based inks that offer a fine, flexible tip and versatile line width. The ink is highly blendable, and the durable carrying case ensures your pens will be safe and secure.
The set has 96 brush pens organized in a zippered canvas carrying case with extra slots for additional brush pens. You can also use these pens for calligraphy, drawing, coloring to create gradients, dry brushing, and making fine lines.
Who Should Buy It
Arteza is an excellent choice for dry-brush painting, sketching, coloring, calligraphy, and similar projects. They also make perfect gift ideas for any occasion.
5. Dyvicl Black Micro-Pen Fineliner Ink Pens
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
What Customers Have to Say
Some customers who have tried several brands said these pens are the best, based on quality, price, and usage.
Why We Think It's Great
Dyvicl Black Micro-Pen Fineliner Ink Pens feature non-toxic, water-resistant inks that apply smoothly on various paper surfaces. The ink doesn't bleed, even when used on thin paper.
The lightfast and excellent archival quality of the ink used in these pens keeps your art projects for years without any yellowing or discoloration. The set has 9 pens in different nib sizes - from the finest 0.05mm to the thickest 0.8mm and a brush pen.
Each pack has a 100% money-back guarantee, so you can get a refund or replacement when you're not satisfied with the product.
Who Should Buy It
These pens are best for bullet journal and scrapbook artists, architects, draftsmen, designers, illustrators, stippling artists, doodlers, and sketch artists. This set also makes an excellent gift item for any artist or art student.
6. Staedtler Pigment Liner Pens - Best Professional Artist Pens
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
What Customers Have to Say
Many buyers bought this set as a gift for their artist friends which produced some excellent results. Many artists also confirmed the non-drying inks while some found the superfine markers overkill. Overall, said features can also be beneficial when needed.
Why We Think It's Great
Staedtler Pigment Liner Pens have multiple nibs in one set, so you can achieve any line width you need. You can choose from the 0.05mm, 0.1mm, 0.3mm, 0.5mm, 0.7mm, 1.0mm, 1.2mm, and a chisel pen.
The patented DrySafe ink used in these markers won't dry even if you leave the pens uncapped for a few days. The lightfast pigment ink is acid-free and won't react negatively with highlighters. It is also indelible and resists water, plus the long metal tip is best for rulers and stencils.
The efficient storage box becomes a pen holder when the cap is open. You can access your pens easily while on the desk, then close the cap and put the box in your bag for easy-on-the-go organizing.
Who Should Buy It
These liner pens are best for draftsmen, illustrators, artists, and everyone else looking for a professional set of technical pens for their drawings and illustrations.
7. Asvine Black Forest Fountain Pen
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
What Customers Have to Say
Customers love this fountain pen because it does not clog and makes beautiful fine lines. Some users received this pen as a gift, and they love the beautiful metal casing. Many users also agree that this pen should get a 10/10 rating.
Why We Think It's Great
Asvine Black Forest Fountain Pen is a sleek and stylish pen perfect for anyone looking for a long-lasting artist pen. It has a well-distributed weight for less hand strain, and the exquisite metal case gives it a touch of luxury.
The smooth ink flow makes writing and drawing a joy, and the modern design will fit whatever your style preference. The ink does not bleed on paper and applies consistently.
The barrel is very durable. While it may sustain scratches from continuous use, it will stay in shape so you can use them for a long time. However, this fountain pen doesn't come with an ink cartridge for safety purposes or extra nibs. You have to buy each item separately.
Who Should Buy It
This fountain pen is best for artists who do a lot of writing, sketching, and drawing. Even mixed media and watercolor artists will love using fountain pens for their art projects.
8. Soucolor Gel Pens
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
What Customers Have to Say
Most customers agree that these are the best gel pens they have tried because of the variety of colors and ink types. The pens are also very consistent when writing or drawing, making them an absolute delight among artists.
Why We Think It's Great
Soucolor Gel Pens have rubber grips for easier handling and more comfortable writing and drawing. They come with high-quality inks that are perfect for any project. Depending on the ink type, you may get 0.8-1.0mm nibs for more control during coloring and drawing.
The set also provides an array of colors and types, so you get more value for your money with it. Each set has 60 pens (17 metallic pens, 10 glitter pens, 11 pastel pens, 12 neon pens, 6 rainbow pens, and 4 classic pens) along with 60 refills for all the colors and types.
Suocolor also provides a convenient carrying case that's slim enough to fit inside your bag, along with the free coloring book you get with each purchase. If you have empty gel pens from another brand, you can still use the refill since they're compatible with most brands.
Who Should Buy It
This pen set is best for every DIY crafter, card-maker, doodle artist, and enthusiast in scrapbooking and bullet journaling.
9. SAKURA Gelly Roll Opaque White Gel Pens
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
What Customers Have to Say
These pens are best for working on black paper. However, the majority of the artists used these pens to add highlights to their acrylic paintings and oil pastel drawings. Other artists even use these pens to repair some charcoal paintings.
Why We Think It's Great
SAKURA Gelly Roll Opaque White Gel Pens set is the perfect pen to choose if you want to draw on black paper. They also layer well when used over acrylic paintings and oil pastel drawings because they are opaque and cover beautifully.
In addition, this pen uses high-quality Japanese ink with consistent quality. It is also non-toxic and will not fade over time. The fast-drying inks also prevent the inks from smudging, especially if used on glossy paper.
The set has 6 pens in 3 different nib sizes in 0.5mm for fine lines, 0.08mm for medium lines, and 1mm thick. The ink applies smoothly, so you're confident with the quality markers.
Who Should Buy It
SAKURA Gelly Roll Opaque White Gel Pens set is best for artists looking to highlight their drawings and paintings. Many acrylic painters use these white gel pens to add highlights to their artwork, say for example, stars to a midnight sky painting.
10. TWOHANDS Set of 12 Micro Pens
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
What Customers Have to Say
These pens are great, and they look good on watercolor drawings. The ink is water-resistant and won't bleed even when wet. The low price point is a bonus for these pens.
Why We Think It's Great
TWOHANDS pens are perfect for anyone who needs a pen to keep up with their demanding lifestyle. The ink is resistant to fading and bleeding, so you can rely on them to give you accurate and precise lines.
The fast-drying ink also minimizes the incidence of smudging and smearing on your projects, as observed from pens with slow-drying inks.
Each set has 12 pens in varying nib sizes and styles. The smallest nibs for the technical pens are 0.2mm, and the largest is 3mm. The set also includes a brush pen for blending, filling in large areas, and creating faux calligraphy and embellishments on your drawings.
Who Should Buy It
These micro pens are best for illustrators, artists, draftsmen, and designers. Those who do architectural drawing, technical drawing, bullet journaling, and scrapbooking.
11. iBayam Journal Planner Pens
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
What Customers Have to Say
Many self-professed pen junkies love these fiber-tip pens because they don't bleed much on paper, significantly if you have adjusted well to their use. However, some users think they're too skinny for arthritic hands and for those who have limited mobility control. Overall, though, users are thrilled with these pens.
Why We Think It's Great
The iBayam Journal Planner Pens, with their metal-clad fiber tip for better reinforcement, apply smoothly on paper and other surfaces. However, as you can observe from other fiber tip pens, they tend to bleed. Bleeding usually happens when you leave the pen on the same spot for a few seconds.
Though these pens are skinny and colorful, they still feature a semblance of a professional look with the black barrel, making them perfect for highlighting or writing essential notes on your calendar while looking like a pro on the job.
Each set has 18 colors, packed in a plastic case with button closure. The case is only for packaging, though. You may need a pen organizer to display them on your desk.
Who Should Buy It
This set is an excellent gift idea for older kids and professional artists. They apply well for graphic arts designing, writing in journals and scrapbooks, coloring, and office work.
12. Pentel Arts Pointliner Drawing Pens
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
What Customers Have to Say
Many users agree that these pens are excellent for drawing, writing, and designing, especially if you want an exceptionally slim design pen. The pens write smoothly on almost any paper type.
Why We Think It's Great
The Pentel Arts Pointliner Drawing Pens are our top pick for the best artist's pens. They offer clean, precise lines with a smooth ink flow. The ink is not water-resistant, so it may react with watercolor washes. However, you can still use it for multi-media projects as long as you apply it when the paint is already dry.
The durable plastic nib is perfect for journals, scrapbooks, and other creative projects. The pigment used in ink is excellent. The 12-pen box is an excellent addition to your art supplies, especially if you're setting up your art studio. As an eco-conscious initiative, the company commits to protect the environment, thus adopting a climate-pledge-friendly design with lower carbon dioxide emissions.
Who Should Buy It
These drawing pens are best for designers, illustrators, and artists who need fine line pens in a lightweight design. You can use these pens to shade your drawings and add mixed media effects to your watercolor paintings.
13. Uni Pin Fineliner Drawing Pen
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
What Customers Have to Say
Customers love the smooth application of these pens and they come in different shades and pen tip sizes. The pens also apply well with watercolors - they don't bleed when painted over. The tips are also sturdy, making the pens last longer than most.
Why We Think It's Great
Uni Pin drawing pens are perfect for artists who want a reliable pen with high precision and control. These pens use high-quality inks resistant to water and tampering. The inks also dry almost instantly when applied to paper, so they don't smudge.
The fine liner pens come in a 6-piece blister pack with black, light gray, and dark gray inks. Each color has 2 pens in 0.1mm and 0.5mm nibs with a steel tip that gives them an extended lifespan.
Who Should Buy It
These pens are best for artists, illustrators, and designers. Mixed media artists, manga artists, comic book artists, stippling enthusiasts, and sketch artists will love these markers.
14. Rotring 600 Ballpoint Pen
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
What Customers Have to Say
These pens exude elegance. When users talked about their encounters with this pen, they described it as classy and impressive. It is very comfortable to use practically and ergonomically, making your hand less prone to fatigue.
Why We Think It's Great
The Rotring 600 ballpoint pen is perfect for artists and writers alike. It features high-quality ink that writes smoothly and is refillable. The non-slip metal barrel provides a comfortable grip, while the retractable nib makes sure you're safe, even if you put this pen inside your pocket.
The metallic silver barrel with the signature orange line and names assure you that you get an authentic Rotring pen.
Who Should Buy It
This ballpoint pen is best for everyone looking for excellent writing, sketching, and drawing pens so they can save on supplies. Art students, illustrators, and traveling artists will love this pen because they're safe to bring in your pocket and on the plain because of their retractable nib.
15. Copic Multiliner Inking Pen
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
What Customers Have to Say
According to several users, these are beautiful pens that make an excellent gift to their loved ones. Other artists swear by how these multiliner pens improved their art.
Why We Think It's Great
The Copic Multiliner Pen is an inking pen that provides high-quality pigment ink and archival quality. These pens will not react with photocopiers, watercolors, or other markers like the popular Copic marker ink. These pens also use only high-quality pigment ink that stays vibrant, making them a perfect option for any artist looking to create more detailed work on their projects.
The set has 9 pens in varying nib sizes, from the thinnest 0.03mm to the thickest 1mm. It also includes 2 brush pens (small and medium) for interchangeable use..
Who Should Buy It
Per the Copic standard of excellence, these multiliner pens are best for working with Copic regular markers. If you're a heavy Copic marker user, you'll also love these multiliner pens.
16. Rotring Isograph Technical Pens
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
What Customers Have to Say
Artists who have tried these pens say that they're perfect for their drawing and sketching needs. While the nibs use wear-resistant stainless steel, the barrel itself can be a bit flimsy, especially if you turn it too tightly.
Why We Think It's Great
The Rotring Isograph Technical Pen set is the best starter set for any student enrolled in design degrees. The ink applies smoothly and glides like silk on regular paper and tracing paper. The barrel can't withstand tough turning when you seal it after a refill, so it is best to know when to stop.
Artists may also use these pens for mixed media art since the ink is water-resistant, so it won't react negatively with watercolors.
The set comes with three pens in different nib sizes - 0.2mm, 0.3mm, and 0.5mm, a mechanical pencil, a refill ink, a refill lead for the pencil, and a rubber eraser that won't scratch the paper.
Who Should Buy It
This pen set is best for engineering, architecture, interior design, and fashion design students because of the precise lines and the quality inks. Other artists who may benefit from this set are illustrators of comic books, manga, anime, and other art forms.
Artists Pen Buying Guide
-
Ink type
Artists pens come in dye and pigment-based inks. Pigment-based inks are permanent and preferred by professional artists. However, they are more expensive than dye inks. Dye-based inks are recommended for beginners because of their ability to blend with water.
-
Ink flow
Ink flow should be smooth and consistent for the best results.
-
Point type
Points come in different shapes and sizes, so selecting one that will work best for your needs is important. A fine-pointed pen is great for detail work, while chisel and brush tip pens are best for filling in and adding flourish to your art projects and designs.
-
Barrel size and design
The pen barrel should allow you adequate control. For artists with diminished hand control, pens with larger barrels allow a better grip. A pen with a smaller barrel should be fine for younger users with excellent hand control.
However, we recommend a pen with adequate size and weight for less hand fatigue. Choose the type that fits your needs best.
-
Refillable
Pens are one of the most expensive investments, and refillable pens are an excellent choice. Refilling your pens is more efficient and environment-friendly than buying new pens every time.
Artists Pens FAQ
1. What are art pens called?
There are different types of pens that artists use for their projects.
Ballpoint pens use revolutionary oil-based inks with a steel tip that practically rolls on paper. Aside from being a budget-friendly choice, it also lasts long.
Rollerball pens use gel or water-based ink instead of oil-based inks. Rollerball pens make marks similar to fountain pens.
Gel pens use ink that allows you more control since it doesn't smear or smudge. You can use these pens for coloring or decorations on your projects since they come in various colors, allowing you more freedom.
Felt-tip pens are fine-tip markers using pressed felt fiber for tips. Many artists use these pens for coloring because of the bright colors and large selections.
Writers love fountain pens because they are easy on the hand but allow you more control over your writing tools. They're pricier than the other pens mentioned here. However, they're also the most versatile. Many artists currently use fountain pens for their work.
Brush pens are writing brushes similar to those you use for your paintings. It is one of the most sought-after pens among calligraphers and illustrators, especially when adding flourishes and curlicues. The soft natural or synthetic nylon bristles for adding bold strokes of ink.
Technical pens are the most precise with different tip sizes, making them perfect for detail line work. Illustrators, engineers, designers, and architects prefer these pens for their work.
Dip pens are reminiscent of quills in the olden days in that they don't have a built-in ink reservoir. These pens usually come in sets that include a handle, several nibs, and an inkwell. However, they are very limiting because you have to dip the nib every few minutes to get more ink. Practice is also necessary to perfect using these pens.
2. Why are Japanese pens so good?
The Japanese are best known for their preciseness in everything, even in the arts. While handwriting is not a big thing in Western culture, it is a form of art in Japan. Even in the contemporary setting, calligraphy is still a major part of Japanese education, and universities even offer teacher training programs for this art form.
To support this culture of art, the Japanese also developed pens and inks that don't bleed, are affordable, and are durable. These pens also come with a lower price point than most high-end brands of pens. Many artists use Japanese pens as the standard of excellence when choosing their pens.
3. What pen do you use for doodle art?
Doodle is an art form that does not focus on one subject. Instead, it organizes a series of images under one theme (though this is not always the case) then draws more images related to the theme. Other artists may doodle abstract images without a theme, much like an abstract painting.
Doodle artists use several kinds of pens. Some use regular ballpoint pens, technical pens, colored pens, or felt tip pens.
4. What type of pen is best for drawing?
For precise drawings, artists prefer technical pens because they come in various nib sizes, ranging from 0.2-0.5mmfor fine, 0.6-1.0mm for medium, and 1.1-3.0mm for thick lines. These pens use waterproof and fade-resistant inks that flow smoothly for easier application. However, these pens also have a stiff price tag, making them best only for professional work.
5. Can you use fountain pens for drawing?
You can use fountain pens for drawing because of their versatility in line width and usage. While it is popular for lettering, bullet journaling, and calligraphy, you can also use them for various applications.
Fountain pens are best for prolonged use because of their ergonomic design for less hand fatigue. You can also draw with a more relaxed grip to reduce your hand, arm, and shoulder strain.
You can also choose from various inks to use on your fountain pens, whether to use dye inks, pigment inks, or specialty inks like bulletproof inks and shimmer inks. Unlike other pens that stick to an ink type, you can change the ink used by cleaning the barrel well before refilling it.
Fountain pens also have interchangeable nibs, so you can choose to use liners, markers, and brush pens by simply changing the nib. This feature lets you save on the pen so you can invest in better nibs and inks instead.
Conclusion
For this review, our best pick for the artist pens is the Sakura Pigma Micron Pen Set. The pens use high-quality inks that don't bleed or smear on paper. The inks are also fade-resistant and pH neutral, so they won't react negatively to various substances. You can also use these pens to apply precise lines and points to your art projects.
Our runner-up vote goes to Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pen Pack. These pens are also resistant to fading and smudging. Most importantly, they are waterproof, making them safe to use in mixed media art, even under watercolors. The set also comes in various nibs, making them a versatile set that you can use on a wide range of projects.
For professional artists, we recommend the Staedtler Pigment Liner Pens. These pens have multiple nibs in one set, an excellent feature for artist pens. The inks won't react with highlighters, so you can use these pens for note-taking. However, the best feature of these pens is the patented DrySafe ink that won't dry easily.
If you need more pointers in drawing, don't hesitate to visit our article on the best online drawing classes.
