Best Calligraphy Pens For Beginners (Blackletter, Brush Lettering & Copperplate)
If you are thinking of getting into calligraphy it can be a bit of a daunting task finding the right pen for the job. In this article I will share my favorite pens for Blackletter, Brush Lettering & Copperplate in the hope of making your search easier.
I want to make clear that any pen I mention in this article I actually own and use. I also encourage you to try as many supplies as your budget allows that way you can find pens that work best for you.
Blackletter
Over the last year I’ve fallen in love with Blackletter and finding the right pen to use for this incredible script was easier than I expected. The ‘Brause Broad Edge Nib’ was the first nib I ever purchased for Blackletter and it ended up being the one I use the most. Thanks in part to the incredibly talented Slo Lee, I saw him use this nib and I had to try it out for myself!
The nib is held on my ‘Speedball Straight Holder’. This plastic holder may not look luxurious compared to handmade wooden ones but it gets the job done.
I love this nib because it can produce very clean and even strokes and comes in a variety of sizes.
This nib also comes with a removable ink reservoir and can either be dipped in ink or filled with ink using a paint brush.
The removable ink reservoir makes cleaning the nib quick and easy. Keep in mind the reservoir is very fragile and can easily break if removed incorrectly!
Next is the pen I recommend the most for Blackletter and that is the ‘Pilot Parallel Pen’. This pen works straight out of the packaging, just insert the ink cartridge and you’re good to go. You can also dip the pen in ink if you don’t want to use the cartridges. If you decide to dip the pen in ink make sure the ink you use is thin because thick ink can clog up the feed and will result in poor ink flow!
The line strokes you get with this pen are very clean and very crisp. Using the edge of the pen can give you thin hairlines for any flourishes you may want to add.
You can also modify this pen to get a more unique line stroke. I will make a tutorial on modifying a Pilot parallel pen in a future article.
If you are interested in learning Blackletter I have an article on the Lettering Daily website where I teach the basics of Blackletter. The article also comes with FREE DOWNLOADABLE guide sheets.
Brush Lettering
I rarely do brush lettering but when I do decide to practice their are a few pens that are always within arm’s reach. The ‘Crayola Markers’ are ones I use most because of the wide variety of colors to choose from. Depending on how much pressure you apply you can easily get thin and thick line strokes.
These markers are so popular they have their own style called ‘Crayligraphy’! Be sure to check out the Crayligraphy Instagram Page for inspiration.
Another pen that is always fun to use is the ‘Pentel Brush Pen’. This pen has a smaller brush tip compared to the Crayola marker but can still create a decent contrast of stroke widths. I have used this pen many times and the firm yet flexible tip has kept it’s form with no signs of fraying. Many brush pens on the market can lose their flex and start to show fraying after a few uses but this Pentel brush pen can easily run laps around the competition.
Lastly in the brush lettering category are the ‘Ecoline Brush Pens’. These pens have a more flexible tip compared to the Crayola markers and Pentel brush pens. Light to medium pressure is required to go from thin to thick lines.
After long-term use pens may begin to fray but something interesting about these Ecoline brush pens is that they come with a back-up brush tip! if you unscrew the pen you can just flip the frayed side over to the new and fresh side.
Copperplate
If Blackletter is my favorite script Copperplate comes in a close second. In the beginning I practiced writing this script using a ‘Zebra G Nib’ on a ‘Speedball Oblique Holder’. Since then I have moved on to a ‘Brause Pumpkin Nib’ on my ‘Hourglass Oblique Holder’.
Don’t get me wrong I still like and recommend the Speedball oblique holder for beginners, but the hourglass oblique holder feels better. Aside from how great the hourglass oblique holder looks it is also crafted to be at a near perfect angle for writing. You can easily adjust the flange of this holder and can fit nibs of many sizes.
My go to nib at the moment is the Brause pumpkin nib. The flex of this nib is spot on in my opinion, it’s not too stiff while at the same time not too flexible. This nib doesn’t make the thinnest hairlines compared to other nibs but I’m not complaining.
If you are searching for pointed nibs websites like John Neal Bookseller and Paper & Ink Arts have nib sampler packs that come with a wide assortment. Just keep in mind some nibs are more flexible than others.
Practice Makes Perfect
Any of the pens I mentioned above will NOT magically make you better, practice is the best way to improve. In time you will be an incredible calligrapher!
Leave me a comment down below if you have any questions, Thank you so much for reading.