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 Shelby Abrahamsen (Foxsy)
Shelby Abrahamsen (Foxsy)
November 26, 2025 at 11:38 am

Best beginner-friendly lettering tools?

For those just starting their lettering journey, what tools would you recommend? I’m curious about your go-to pens, markers, or brushes that helped you when you were beginning. Let’s help newcomers get started! ✏️

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  • Shelby Abrahamsen (Foxsy)

    November 28, 2025 at 2:31 pm

    To answer my own question, I like to recommend Tombow Dual Brush Pens for newbies. These have fabulous features to help beginners to get used to the feel of a brush pen.

  • helendg

    December 2, 2025 at 1:44 pm

    My favorite brush pen is the Tombow Fudenosuke. I found it the easiest to learn with and use for small size letters. For larger letters I like the Kuretake Fudebiyori. I haven’t quite had the courage to try pointed pens yet due to the disastrous possibilities of mixing ink with presence of three active, nosy cats in the household! We have recently moved, though, and I do now have a room I can work in that has a door I can close, so I’ll have to try it soon (and maybe put headphones on to drown out the protests because there’s nothing a cat hates more than a closed door).

    • Shelby Abrahamsen (Foxsy)

      December 2, 2025 at 2:36 pm

      Hahaha cats want nothing more than to supervise what you’re doing and judge 🤣

      I’ve never tried that Kuratake pen! I’ll have to check it out, thanks for the recommendation!

  • wjgravity

    December 11, 2025 at 11:27 am

    For really fine lettering, I like the Figma Micron pens. I don’t do brush lettering or calligraphy, so for most of my lettering, I’m looking for the perfect sized tips.

    I really like Crayola fine tips (not the Super Tips!) and Papermate Flair pens for my lettering projects. Fairly inexpensive, lots of colors, and easy to find. The Crayola tips do break down faster, but I still like them for practice. I also have collected some Marvy Art Director 1400 (discontinued I think) and Pentel Color Pen Fine Point markers from my thrifting adventures that I love!

    • Shelby Abrahamsen (Foxsy)

      December 18, 2025 at 5:32 pm

      Good suggestions all around! Microns are top-tier drawing/fine line pens, I love them to bits. I’m also a fan of Papermate Flairs.

      If you want another idea for a monoline pen that absolutely rules, look for Posca pens. They’re opaque acrylic pens/markers that lay down color beautifully.

      • wjgravity

        December 18, 2025 at 5:56 pm

        Posca pens are on my list once the ones I have dry out. I have a habit of preferring ‘cheap’ art supplies over more expensive ones, so unless I can get the expensive ones used or discounted, I tend to start cheap and upgrade if needed. The paint pens are definitely one that I want to upgrade!

        • Shelby Abrahamsen (Foxsy)

          December 19, 2025 at 5:56 pm

          That’s a super sensible policy on art supplies. They can get pricy and add up, so taking this approach is smart. I have the great luck of being across the street from a used art/craft supply shop and I’m always up in there looking for good deals—and finding them! Nothing better than new art supplies while spending little money 🤤

  • Danette Toledo

    January 20, 2026 at 9:28 pm

    I use either pen point sharpies ,markers ,or pencils ,trying to figure out how to use the procreate

    Danette

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