Art pen recommendations

[ifiwasabutterfly]

DS 11 likes drawing comics and cartoon characters. Just using felt tips at the moment. Would like to get him a nice set of pens, he is very good at taking care of things so don't mind spending a bit.

I've used a lot of pens and pencils in my time in my work and for fibre tips and fine liners I would recommend Staedtler Triplus (not Noris). They have a good range of colours, they are long lasting and they're not particularly expensive but they are really good quality, I would also recommend their Ergosoft watercolour pencils. I would make him up a parcel though with different types of paper, white, coloured, black and brown - cartridge paper, layout paper of different thicknesses and encourage him with equipment he hasn't used before, it will really spark his creativity. If you are going to buy coloured papers give him some Uni ball Signo UM 153 in white, gold and silver as well - they are fab. It's the creativity of having different mediums to use that helps you progress and experiment more. I hope this helps!

If you're willing to drop a larger chunk of money Copics are king of the comic world they're refillable, have a brush nib and blend wonderfully. Cultpens have them on offer. If you're looking for a cheaper alternative then the Ohuhu markers from Amazon are also alcohol markers either is going to give that comic effect to his colouring. I recommend you get the Copic blending paper with them as its designed to help you blend your markers and is more like card where as other marker papers tend to be incredibly thin.

For lining the Copic SP or Micron pens are best if you go with micron I personally prefer the plastic nibs as it can be quite easy to bend the thinner micron nibs if you're heavy handed.

Second the advice to go and look at the Cult Pens website. I use Sakura Pigma Micron pens for black outlines and then use alcohol-based markers or watercolour paint for colour. Good quality pens are expensive but the difference between them and cheaper pens is very noticeable. If you have an artist to buy for you'll never be short of present ideas!

@LadyDeadpool any advice on which copic pens to go for? Also looking at the micron black pens do I want the fineliners? Thank you

@Ifiwasabutterfly Yes the micron fine liners most people use 0.5 but a range is good for differing lines. For the copics you can get ciao or sketch they both have a brush and chisel nib and can both be refilled the only difference really is that the ciaos won't hold as much ink so they'll need refilling faster and more often than the sketch will.

Copic pens are cheaper to buy from Japan via eBay than cultpens but there's always the risk of being caught by customs charges. Also look at Tombow brush dual end pens (I got my 140 pen set for about £80 by shipping from Amazon US warehouse deals) they're water based instead of alcohol so blending is a little less smooth but you can get away with less colours. And they won't bleed through paper as much

@Wobblington I'm not sure I have enough time to buy from Japan now?

Another one saying copics. I’ve bought my daughter a load for Christmas. We also have promarkers but the copics look nicer and are refillable. Cult pens were a good price and delivered quickly

I bought DS some chameleon pens for his birthday in October. They're amazing- they blend really well.

Yes, the copic pens are amazing. Expensive but my DD loves using them.

Faber Castell Pitt pens are lovely and you can buy them as singles too. I've had my set for years and they haven't dried up or ran out, plus they come in a really nice box. These ones on amazon are an excellent price:

www.amazon.co.uk/Faber-Castell-Pitt-Artist-Gift-Colours/dp/B000PSZ304?tag=mumsnetforum-21

I've bought some singles from Cult Pens, as there are some more colours that aren't in the box.

I bought my daughter the 72 set of copic ciao pens for Christmas, so expensive but an investment as she loves drawing.