Favorite Lettering Supplies – For Beginners & Beyond

The journey of lettering has evolved for me, and I have new ambitions related to my handlettering adventure.  I thought this week I would share with you my very favorite lettering supplies. This list continuously evolves. I occasionally deduct or add another favorite in the mix based on mood. In general, I have several standard supplies that I love, but that’s not saying that I won’t change it in the future.

Lettering became a HUGE part of my life (and finding my way back into the realm of creativity) last April. My husband and I saw this fantastic canvas on display at a relative’s house for Christmas. My mother-in-law saw the same painting and commented how she would love something like that. Since then I was obsessed with learning how to letter so I could put my spin on what I saw and create a canvas for my husband’s mother.

Favorite Handlettering Pens/Markers

If you are starting out and have never picked up a brush pen, I can guarantee you will be frustrated. There were times when I was first beginning that I swept off my entire desktop and declared that I was not cut out to letter. I left everything on the floor for three days one time, staring disgustedly at the mess every time I saw it. Part of the problem is I tried to start with the large brushes and thought I could just take off and do it. In hindsight, I wish I would have known what to start with – so here are my suggestions for different levels of lettering artists. FYI: Contains affiliate links.

Beginner – For a True Greenie (and my favorite STILL)

Start with Tombow Fudenosuke HARD Tipped markers. If you order on Amazon you’ll probably get a set of both soft and hard tip markers.

How to tell them apart:

Hard tip – dark blue marker body (the cap is black). The marker says WS-BH 150 – the H is Hard.

Soft tip – all black marker (the body of the marker matches the cap). The marker says WS-BS 150 – the S is SOFT.

I learned that little tidbit from Marie Browning (@MarieBCreates) when I visited Tombow Headquarters one day for a meet and greet. Tombow USA is headquartered near Atlanta – I literally drive by it on my way to work. They had a fun opportunity to visit the headquarters and craft last October and I won a spot to go.

Once Your Feet Are Wet in Lettering

Let’s be real – there’s no ‘dipping your little toe’ in lettering – you’re up to your neck by now. Once you’ve gotten a feel for lettering and are anxious to try new markers, maybe get a bit of color in your life. Pentel Sign Brush Pens are an excellent way to go.

No idea why I waited so long to get these pens. I’d describe them as a cross between the Tombow Fudenosuke hard and soft-tipped markers. They are pretty dreamy and having a variety of colors is just more fun.

When You’re in so Deep and There’s No Coming Back

Tombow Dual Brush Markers are not for the lettering faint of heart. They will take some practice. But they blend and write so nice once you have the technique down. If you’re not sure what to start with – get the Bright pack & the Primary pack to start with. Lots of great blending options with these packs.

If you are really ambitious…there’s always the full 96 pack. I have the 96 pack, but I’m not allowed to open it yet. If you become a regular reader of the blog, you’ll find out why soon.

Watercolor Lettering

Water pens are amazing. They have a water-well inside the pen and you squeeze it for more or less water. I use them with watercolor paints AND with markers. Scribble some markers (Tombow or Crayola Supertips or any other kind you have) onto Ziploc bag or another smooth surface, and use the pigment with your water pens or paint brushes. (I’ve claimed a regular, smooth, kitchen plate!)

If you want to start with watercolor paints, I picked up the artist’s loft pan sets at Michael’s one day. The pearlescent watercolor set is gorgeous with that extra shimmer.

Favorite Paper – Brush Lettering

When using brush pens, keep in mind that these babies fray if used on anything but smooth paper. Frayed brush marker tips make for frustrated artists (by the way, did you know that the moment you touch a brush pen or other art supply – you become an artist?!). A splayed tip on a marker makes it nearly impossible to achieve that coveted ultra-thin up-stroke.

Taking good care of your brushes also means using some excellent paper with a smooth finish. The best paper is marker paper. SO smooth and silky. But my favorite paper in bulk is HP 32lb paper. The first ream is 250 sheets, which lasts me about a month and a half depending on my ambitions for the month or how many practice sheets I use. The second is 500 sheets – double the fun. What did I get? I ordered a half case. 1500 Sheets of paper shipped right to my door. It was on sale and will last me about 2 years at the rate I am going.

Favorite Paper – Watercolor Lettering

Watercolor lettering is like regular watercolor painting. So naturally, the best option is watercolor paper. Anything less than 140 lb paper will buckle.

I would NOT recommend using your brush pens on this paper – not unless you have a weird desire to buy the same marker over and over again because the tip is completely destroyed. 

I like the Canson watercolor paper on a regular basis. My watercolor lettering techniques don’t fully saturate the pages unlike painting a full-watercolor scene. In which case, there is nothing like using cotton paper. Many people who start their watercolor journey scoff at the idea of spending so much on paper. But trust me, when you get to the point and try it, you’ll understand.

I like different sizes of paper – big, small, some as big as your head (please tell me you know the reference and you sang along!)

Some of my favorite watercolor paper.

Hot Press vs. Cold Press

There is some discussion if Hot Press or Cold Press paper is better. To be honest, it is a personal preference. Hot-press paper is more smooth. Cold-press paper has more ‘tooth’ to it (there is more texture) and is rougher. My recommendation is to try them both in small samples and see what you like.

There are lots of supplies out there and many of them require time to develop the skills needed to get used to them. I hope I provided some inspiration for you and your lettering journey. Let me know what you think!

Question:

What are your favorite lettering supplies?