The best pens for line art are a must for any artist. Line art can be as simple as doodling on a piece of napkin to going big with calligraphy drawing on an A0-sized sheet. Choosing the wrong kind of pen can be the difference between a mess and a masterpiece.
Although line art is more commonly shown as monochromatic pieces, you can always play with color too. It all depends on your vision, the size of your project, and more. Below are some of the best line art pens that you can use for various projects, big or small:
1. Best Line Art Pens: Sakura
The Sakura brand has been making waves in the pen industry for decades, delivering innovating writing instruments (including water-based gel pens). The micron line from Sakura does not disappoint when it comes to delivering precise lines and points.
The micron set comes with 6 pens with varying points, from .20mm to .50mm. These pens are the go-to of both professionals and newbie artists. They are certified non-toxic so they are deemed safe for use even by kids.
One of the most important features of the Micron pen from Sakura is its archival quality. Aside from delivering consistent color, this pen also has ink that is resistant to fading and chemicals as it is pH neutral. It is quick-drying and waterproof so you can expect smear- and bleed-free line art.
2. Best Pens for Line Art Illustrations: Arteza
If you want to make full-blown illustrations with just lines, why not put a little bit of color into them? The Arteza Inkonic Pen Set is an excellent option for artists. You’ll be getting 72 different colors—all fine tip pens deliver vivid and consistent hues.
Most pens come in a traditional rounded shape but the Arteza Inkonic Pens have a more triangular shape for better grip. The ink dries quickly and delivers smudge-free results. You won’t find any blots or smears with these pens. To keep organized and tidy, the 72 pens come in a sturdy tin.
3. Mini Option: Stabilo
If you find yourself longing to work on line art when you are away from your studio, why not grab a miniset you can take with you? Stabilo’s Mini Set delivers the same quality as its regularly-sized counterpart but can save up a ton of space in your bag. The ink application will always be even, even when you require bold lines on larger spaces.
This mini pen set comes with 12 fineliners, all of which have a 0.4mm point. With a metal-enclosed tip, you can expect a longer lifespan for the Stabilo Mini Pens.
4. Parallel Calligraphy Pens: Pilot
Calligraphy pens are an excellent tool for line art. One of the best is the parallel pen from Pilot. This unique writing instrument allows you to create broad or fine lines with just the tilt of a pen. The nib corner of the parallel pen delivers lines as fine as 0.5mm to 1.0mm.
With this ingenious Pilot invention, you can also work on different techniques, such as blending or the addition of splatters on your work. You can also do color accents on your line art with the parallel pen.
This Pilot Calligraphy set comes with 4 parallel pens with nibs in 1.5mm to 6mm sizes. There are also 2 basic ink sets included with each of the parallel pens to help you get started.
5. Best Line Art Pens for Wrist Strain: Paper Mate
If you are an artist, then you are no stranger to pain in your hands. Wrist pain is one of the worst things that can happen as it prevents you from doing your line art. Although correct pen handling and taking breaks every so often is key to avoiding this, you may also want to look for a wrist-friendly pen.
The ergonomic Paper Mate pens are wrapped with comfort grips. To help reduce smearing on your work, these pens dry three times faster. This InkJoy set comes in 14 different colors, from basic Jet Black to Bright Yellow Twirl and cool Teal Zeal.
6. Metallic Pens: Pentel
If you want to add a bit of glitter to your line art, check out the Sparkle Pop set from Pentel Arts. One of the most unique things about the Sparkle Pop set is it changes colors depending on the paper you draw or write on. For example, the black pen takes on a red hue when you put it on black paper.
Adding a bit of sparkle to your line art can definitely. Another good feature of the Pentel Sparkle Pop pen is it can even be used on photo paper. Just imagine the possibilities of creating line art on photos!
7. Best Budget Line Art Pens: Sharpie
A good thing about line art is, it doesn’t really require a lot of tools to get you started. With just a pen, you can get started. Of course, it’s best to opt for a pen meant for line art, such as the affordable Sharpie Pen.
This quick-drying pen reduces the chances of smearing on your work. It also has a durable fine tip, so you can expect consistent and precise results. More importantly, the ink on the Sharpie Pen is resistant to water and fading. Having a felt tip, the chances of bleeding through (or even poking a hole) on paper is pretty low.
8. Line Art Hand Lettering Set:
If you want a good starter set for your line art, you may want to check out the Hand Lettering Advanced Set from Prismacolor. You’ll get everything to get a leg up, including illustration pens and dual-ended markers. There’s even a pamphlet that has tips and tricks for lettering (which is quite helpful because aren’t letters basically made up of lines anyway?).
You’ll be getting pens with points from .005 to .08 plus brush and fine markers. If you aren’t too confident with starting out with permanent lines, the set also comes with 2 graphite pencils (2H and 2B). Once you are ready to make things permanent, just erase the pencil marks with the included kneaded rubber eraser.
9. Best Line Art Pens for Watercolor: Staedtler
Working with watercolor with line art can be quite tricky. But only if you don’t have the right pen. Some artists prefer doing the line art first before filling in with watercolor while others want to color first before making an outline. Whichever technique or process you have, the pigment liner from Staedtler is a worthy companion.
Staedtler’s Pigment line are fineliners that have a 0.5mm tip. What’s makes them perfect for working with watercolor is they are waterproof. The high-quality pigment ink also promises to be lightfast. What’s more, the formulation of the ink and construction of the pens allow them to be deemed airplane-safe. No leakages will happen aboard a plane.
BONUS: Bleedproof Paper: Winsor & Newton
Now, this isn’t a pen but it will still help with your line art project. Winsor & Newton promises streak-free results with their superior paper. Your line art will have precise details and a clean effect. This archival paper is also bleed-proof, so you can go crazy with the pens and the inks without worrying too much about the next page.
Another good thing about the Winsor & Newton pad is its size. It’s the right size for on-the-go artists. At the same time, it has a 16:9 ratio so it’ll be easy to digitize your line art.
So, What Pens are Best for Line Art?
It can definitely be overwhelming to find the right pen for your work. Honestly, the best pen is the one that will work with you. The pen that you are most comfortable holding and controlling. The best pen will also depend on your vision or what you are looking to achieve with your line art as well as other mediums you use.
There are, of course, a few key features that a pen should have for line art. Make sure that it has archival quality ink, this is to ensure your work will have a long life expectancy. It also helps if the pen you have has waterproof ink and is smudge-resistant.
If you are looking to do mural-like projects or work on mixed media, why not try acrylic paint pens?