PEN REVIEW! INKING PART 1
If you enjoy art challenges and trying out new art supplies, then this guide might be of use if you’re looking for paint markers and pens!
These are the pens and markers I've used personally and that are easier to find in Australia. It can be really tricky to source certain materials here, and ordering from overseas can be super expensive/scammy.
I actually have 7 years experience working in Art Supply retail shops, so I've tried quite a few things over the years and have a lot of technical knowledge to share with you all!
PENS
My favourite fineliners are Sakura Micron and Faber Castell Pitt Pens.
MICRON
The Micron goes down to a very, very small size, which is awesome for detail work. The ink is waterproof and light-fast so it won't fade with exposure to UV. The ink flows a little slower than other pens, which I like because I am a slow and steady kind of illustrator. You can find them in the majority of Art Supply stores like Eckersley's, Melbourne Art Supplies, Jackon’s Art Supplies (WA), and most others. They do not work well over paint, or paint markers, and the nib can wear down quickly on highly textured paper or if you have a heavy hand.
FABER CASTELL PITT PENS
The Faber Castell Pitt Pens are a workhorse. They have a nice black ink and are the only fineliners I've used that work well on top of gouache paint and acrylic paint markers. They are also waterproof, light-fast and have a good shelf life if you put the caps on immediately after use. You can get these from Art Supply stores and Officeworks! The 1.5 bullet tip fineliner is a really nice shape to draw!
STAEDTLER TRIPLUS FINELINERS
Staedtler Triplus Fineliners. These come in a large range of colours in a few different line weights. The colour range is super fun, but be warned; the ink is not lightfast, and it will fade. I've had sketches drawn with these on my wall for a couple of years, and even without direct light (the wall is on the opposite side of the room to the windows) my sketches have faded very noticeably. I would recommend digitally scanning or photographing anything you draw with these (same goes for Copic markers).
COPIC REFILLABLE MULTILINERS
Copic Refillable Multiliners. I like these, but they can get expensive quickly. You can replace the nibs and buy ink cartridges when they run out, but I have to say the nib quality isn't as good as other brands so you end up replacing them frequently. The brush tip on these is really beautiful, but also doesn't last long (it feathers out quickly). These can be harder to track down (I think you can get them from Deans Art/Eckersleys), and stores may run out of stock of nibs and cartridges when you need them.
ROTRING TIKKY GRAPHIC LINERS
Rotring Tikky Graphic Fineliners. These have a very fluid ink and are better for fast linework as they will pool and bleed if you are a slow inker. They do feel really nice to use on smooth paper, but they can take a little longer to dry and you may smudge your lines. These can be a little tricky to find in Australia, but it looks like you can purchase them from Jackson's Art Supplies and Officeworks.
PAINT MARKERS
My experience with paint markers is limited to use on papers. Here are the brands I have tried.
POSCA PAINT MARKER
Posca Acrylic Paint Markers. I think these are the most widespread and widely available acrylic paint markers in Australia. They dry fairly quickly with a matte finish. You can use these on plastic as well, but they may scratch off if the item gets a lot of use/wear. The smaller sizes come in some really nice colours, and I have collected most of them! Poscas are light-resistant, so they will fade a little when exposed to UV. You can make them more lightfast with a UV protective varnish. You can get Poscas from most art supply stores and Officeworks. Work best on smooth watercolour paper, primed canvas, or bristol board/heavy card stock.
MICADOR AQUA PAINTERS
Micador Aqua Painters. These actually surprised me. I like the fine nib on them and since it's plastic I found they keep their shape. The only problem is, it can scratch up the paper and it's hard to cover a large space with the thin line weight. They're only available in sets, so unfortunately there's not a huge colour range. I own the Spring collection and they've lasted quite well. It's what I used to colour my Inktober "Jar" series. You can get them from Art Supply stores and Spotlight!
IRONLAK PAINT MARKERS
Ironlak Acrylic Paint Markers. I find they have a shiny finish compared to Posca markers. Obviously the formula is different between brands and while the Poscas have a nice even, matte finish, some colours of the Ironlak were a bit streaky and transparent (so you might need to layer them to get a flat colour). I was a little upset to find that they do not store well, the pain dries out in the felt tip when left in storage for a while. I think the design of the cap is not as airtight as Poscas (which I’ve stored for a year with no drying out) They have a good colour range which differs slightly to the Posca colour chart, and an ok option if you really need to supplement your colour range. They are also light resistant, so will fade over time. You can find them at Officeworks.
I hope you found this helpful! Remember, that I am a slow inker, and what works for me, may not be the best fit for you. I know there are many other brands out there, but this is a list of the pens I have the most experience using. One day I’ll get to try them all out!
