Hey guys,

Which pen are you drawing with ? (Tell me in the comments !)

If you are still wondering with which pen to start with, let me share with you the series of test from Brent George, one of my student at Sketch like the Pros did during the Module 1.

I hope our today article will help you better test and choose the pen that is right for you. First of all, we’ll put aside the pencil tool.

Why?

Because we are looking for drawing with a ink pen so you won’t be tempted to erase. It’s a good way to keep improving your quality of lines by progressing through iteration (In other words: Making mistakes ? Analyse, Redo.)

Let me give you the list of the main criteria you should consider for design sketching (especially if your are a beignner).

When you are in a shop testing some ball point pen, ask yourself :

  1. Can you draw with a very light pressure – like you would do with a pencil ?

    Light pen pressure are great to start any sketch with construction lines. Then when you got a good base, you can start giving more weight to your lines, so the previous one become almost “invisible”.
    drawing-with-a-ball-point-pen-pressure-light-to-thick-line-weight-the-design-sketchbook

  2. Does it blob and stain your paper often ?

    If the pen blob in the shop. Forget about this one. However if it blob during the sektching session, that’s normal. The nib of the pen get warmer from the friction of the ball on paper. So the ink get a bit thick and accumulate at the nib. So it blob. What I do, is having an extra piece of paper to clean the nib regularly. Or you can have an other pen to swtich with. (I recommend the first option, so you brain and imagination are not interrupted)
    ball-point-pen-blob-on-paper-drawing-the-design-sketchbook

  3. Is that really black or grey ?

    Some ball point pens are not that black. Remember to double check this detail. So your sketches will get better contrast.
    ball-point-pen-darg-grey-ink-not-black-the-design-sketchbook

  4. How is the flow of your lightest lines ?

    There is some pen that can’t handle light pressure of lines. They get interrupted. Test your pen applying a very low pen pressure, and make sur the flow of ink is constant.
    ball-point-pen-soft-line-straight-pen-pressure-the-design-sketchbook

  5. How is the feel of the nib on paper while you draw.

    Is it smooth ? Abrasive ? Dry ? Make sure that feel is sweet to you. I personnally like when there is a bit of abrasive feel on paper – till you can ear that “minitious cripsy sound”.
    ball-point-pen-ink-grainy-feel-on-paper-the-design-sketchbook

  6. Is your pen using Gel ink ? Try to avoid them.
    (Of course, feel free to test them though. There is always exception to the rule).

    They mostly have lesser pen pressure sensitivity. Like the above point I have just mentionned, if you try to draw lighter lines you may see some tiny interuption of lines. Note that some of them take longer to dry. If your palm get in contact with the wet ink, it may mess up your sketch ! Damn !!
    (Don’t get me wrong. Gel pen are great for sketching, but that is not what I recommend to start with.)
    gel-pen-disaster-blob-ing-on-paper-the-design-sketchbook


SPECIAL BRENT GEORGE PEN TEST FOR SKETCH LIKE THE PROS COURSE

bic-antlantis-gel-vs-bic-atlantis-exact-2-brent-george-sketch-like-the-pros-student-ball-point-pen-testing
BIC ATLANTIS GEL vs BIC ATLANTIS EXACT (Fine point)
bic-atlantis-vs-bic-oldschool-brent-george-sketch-like-the-pros-student-ball-point-pen-testing
BIC ATLANTIS (Medium Point) vs BIC Standard (Old school)
pilot-hi-techpoint-v7-grip-vs-pentel-vicuna-07-brent-george-sketch-like-the-pros-student-ball-point-pen-testing
PILOT HI-TECH POINT V7 GRIP vs PENTEL VICUNA 7mm 
uniball-signo-vs-uniball-jetstream-brent-george-sketch-like-the-pros-student-ball-point-pen-testing
UNI-BALL SIGNO vs UNI-BALL JET STREAM
z-grip-flight-vs-maped-freewriter-brent-george-sketch-like-the-pros-student-ball-point-pen-testing
Z-GRIP FLIGHT vs MAPED FREEWRITER
bic-atlantis-vs-bic-old-school-brent-george-brent-george-sketch-like-the-pros-student-ball-point-pen-testing
WINNERS: BIC ATLANTIS + BIC OLD SCHOOL !!

Let me share with you some extra TIPS.

Buy the ball point pen in bulk !

Try to look for your favourite one on Amazon, and get them in pack of 6 or 12 for example. One of my student of Sketch like the Pros, Daphne Muëller did finish 3 full pens from the course only. It’s always good to have extra pen at home.

Dont’t spend too much time at looking for the perfect one.

As soon as you get one you enjoy and feel good with, stick to it. Don’t spend your time keeping looking for better one especially when you start learning to sketch. Keep focus with what you have on hand which is already great. That is how you will keep refining your skills with that exact pen – instead of keeping switching and recalibrating yourself to new pens.

Bonus: Get a retractable pen.

I am the kind who always lose his cap. And I am pretty sure I am not the only one. Are you ? Hehe. Some more a pen with no cap is a pen that roll on table and drop on the floor. A pen is fragile, so take care of it !

Hope this article has been helpful to you, feel free to share and see you for the next article !
Cheers,
Chou-Tac

3 comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hello! I'm Chou-Tac, a Product Designer from France.

If the sketching methods I’ve acquired aid me in my life and in my industrial design career, I believe that they can also help you reach your dream goal as a student or professional designer.

Leave a comment in the blog or send me an email at choutac@thedesignsketchbook.com : )

Chou-Tac

Trending

Last comments

  • Z: “Pakistan/ 18 Wanna polish the skill Chat gpt suggested itJun 23, 18:58
  • J: “Can’t wait toJun 23, 01:30
  • L: “1. Somerset UK. 30 2. Improve skills 3. Searching on the webJun 22, 18:03
  • Bernardo applegate lopez: “1- Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, México 2- passion & expression. Share my ideas with the world 3- through a designers feed…Jun 22, 13:34
  • lucky 101 apk: “This tutorial is incredibly helpful! I always struggled with perspective drawing, but your step-by-step approach makes it so much clearer.…Jun 22, 09:43
  • Faisal Atta: “1). I come from London, UK 2). I want to improve to my sketching skills 3). YouTube search – perspective…Jun 20, 14:04
  • Faisal Atta: “1). I come from London, UK 2). I want to improve to my sketching skills 3). From YouTube – perspective…Jun 20, 12:57
  • Hana: “Hello, I’m 39 from Czech Republic. I studied design but burned out and I haven’t designed or drew anything in…Jun 19, 21:41
  • IDIOTS: “im from Myanmar / age 21 / im attending technology university / im also doing digital sculpting as a freelance…Jun 19, 21:39
  • IDIOTS: “im from Myanmar / age 21 / im attending technology university / im also doing digital sculpting as a freelance…Jun 19, 21:38
  • Tshego: “1 – South Africa, 18 2 – To get better at it and into the habbit of it for animation…Jun 19, 17:13
  • Priyesh: “1 – London, 43 2 – To improved teaching skills to KS4 Product Design students 3 – Searching for Sketching…Jun 19, 15:15
  • EMMANUEL AJIBOYE: “I’m 20 and from Nigeria I want to learn how to make really good sneakers and I saw the page…Jun 18, 03:17
  • Chou-Tac: “Congrats Simona for your graduation! :DJun 18, 01:01
  • Yassin: “1. Egypt and I’m 16 years old. 2. To make my family proud because they were never proud of my…Jun 18, 00:48
  • Timo: “im from romania , im 18 years old , i want to learn to sketch to become an industrial designer…Jun 17, 19:19
  • Coto Makasar: “1,hello! I’m from Indonesia and I’m 16 years old 2, I want to proof my mom that I can draw…Jun 17, 08:55
  • Coto Makasar: “1, I’m from Indonesia and I’m 16 years old 2, I want to proof my mom that I can draw…Jun 17, 08:50
  • Coto Makasar: “1, I’m from Indonesia and I’m 16 years old 2, I want to get better with art, because I really…Jun 17, 08:46
  • Dedric: “I’m from Florida I’m 50 years of ;WhenI was young I drew amazing work. I want to get my skills…Jun 16, 18:59
  • Derry: “22, Riva, Google Search, perspective drawin problems, i want to change my mindset about sketching.Jun 15, 23:46
  • RoZ: “1. I’m from France and i’m 22 years old 2. I need to improve my drawings 3. Google search 4.…Jun 15, 22:30
  • Andrés: “1. I´m from Colombia and I´m 49 years 2. I love to learn something new allways 3. Chat GPT brought…Jun 15, 06:36
  • Simona: “Hi, I’m Czech living in Italy, I’m 42. I graduated a few months ago in product design. I would like…Jun 14, 22:06
  • Simona: “Hi, I’m Czech living in Italy, I’m 42. I graduated a few months ago in product design. I would like…Jun 14, 22:05
close-link
Start Sketching Today Step-by-step!

GET YOUR DESIGNER STARTER KIT NOW!

The
close-link
The
YES! I NEED THE BOOK!
Send me The Book
close-image