Art Pens:
Add Fine Drawing Lines to Your Watercolors

I use various sizes of Art Pens to apply ink from a bottle to my paper. In this way the pen is used like a brush to lay down a very fine straight and accurate line. I’m not trying to be an illustrator; I don’t use the pen that much. The fine detail of the rigging on some sailing ships is a good place to use a pen for me. That’s about the only time I use a pen in my paintings. The inks I use are acrylic inks with a variety of nibs. Here are the details of the art pens and nibs I use and why.

I have a few Nib Holders and a set of nibs to make different lines. I use the A-5 nib for very thin lines and have A-4 nib, and A-2 nib as well as C-6 nib for even finer lines.

A standard dip nib refers to the type of pen point that is used to dip in ink and draw with. Nibs fit in a standard pen holder and are used to draw with ink and other water-based mediums.

Nibs are identified by style with the letters A, B & C; and by size with numbers 0-6. I like A nibs for square lines, and C nibs for fine, accent lines. B nibs give a round line. The higher the size number, the finer the line produced.

I use some watercolor inks as well as some Speedball Acrylic Inks. Some watercolor artists won’t use these and that’s fine, but I use what I feel with achieve the result I prefer.

My choice of paper, paints, brushes and other supplies are based on my experience and personal preference. You'll find Speedball Calligraphy Inks and Speedball Lettering Nibs on line at Dick Blick Art Materials.

If you have questions, please contact me. For information on other supplies, please see:


Watercolor Paints
Watercolor Paper
Watercolor Brushes
Drawing Tools

or return to Painting Art-How Lee Paints or Home.