When I started my hand lettering journey I knew little to nothing about resources, tools or anything that could help me out getting started. The first pen I ever used was a highlighter and #2 pencil and even though I had no idea what I was doing I was beyond excited with the results. Looking back now I realize if I had the right resources I would have been able to pick the right tools for what I was trying to accomplish.
And that’s exactly why I made this brief guide on the tools I have found useful when practicing hand lettering. This is not a guide on the best tools to make amazing hand lettering or the tools you MUST own to achieve it, I’m only point out the things I like and dislike about some of the tools I’ve been using in my work.
So if you are either starting out and don’t know what to buy or have been in the business for a while here are a few tools I have found interesting:
Staedtler Lead Holder and Lead Pointer
This is my first option when it comes to sketching and refining initial ideas. When sharpened it gives you a really sharp point that allows you to be really precise specially when dealing with small details like flourishes.
Palomino Blackwing Pencil
If you don’t like mechanical pencils I highly suggest you go for this pencil. It’s extremely soft which makes it perfect for really rough and fast sketching. The only downside is that sheds a lot of graphite so if you are not careful you might end up with a really dirty page.
Tombow Dual Brush Pen
The ideal pen for brush lettering. The brush tip has the perfect consistency to write casual brush lettering. After a while the brush tip becomes dull and it might create rough finishes on the strokes.
Pentel Color Brush Pen
This was the first brush pen I ever owned. It takes some practice to get used to it. The soft brush tip makes it hard to make consistent strokes. The way the brush tip is made and the ability to squirt ink into it by pressing the pen allows to create both fine and rough strokes as well as the amount of ink you are using.
Pentel Arts Sign Pen
One of the most popular pens and as soon as I got it I could understand why. If you have no experience with brush pens I highly suggest you to start with this on. It’s extremely easy to manipulate and create consistent strokes that will help you develop muscle memory.
These are some of the tools I find useful when it comes to brush lettering. What about you? If you find these tips useful or you have questions or comments email me at info@vanderbiest.us