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Ink brush pen by Pentel

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All about the pentel brush pen for ink drawings

This is a product review of the re-fillable Fude Kanji Pentel brush pen.
I have used this brush pen for more than two years without any regret. Learn here what can be done with the Pentel brush pen, the advantages and the limits of use.

One of the main advantages first : The Pentel ink brush has never let me down, it never dried out or was blocked even though I did not use it for weeks and months! Everyone who likes to draw with ink is in search of the "ultimate" travel tool. Working in the traditional way with a brush or a feather and an ink vessel is not easy when you travel. Maybe that is one of the reasons why the Pentel brush pen is so popular among traveling sketchers.

I always have one with an extra ink cartridge with me, read here why. Those with general interest in sketching gear might want to visit also Sketching gear - what does the beginner need ?

Contents at a Glance

Handling of the Pentel ink brush
Advantages of the Pentel brush pen
Limitations of the Pentel brush pen
Conclusions
Brush pen reviews on the net - and examp...
Buy a Pentel brush pen on EBAY

The handling of the ink brush is very simple and the same as for a standard fountain pen with ink cartridges. There is a removable cap that protects the brush(nib). The back end can be taken off by turning it counter clock-wise. The inkcartridge then is pushed into the front piece against a thin tube which will open the cartridge for use.

In use the pen works like a small brush. It produces a very dark line, that can be varied in the same way as it is possible with a real brush. The ink does not drip or flow too fast from the brush tip. The ink dries well and after drying it will not bleed when you add watercolor or thinned ink washes as I have done in some of the examples here.

There is an informative article about the use of brush pens on EHOW.com

Advantages of the Pentel brush pen

With the Pentel brush pen one has the opportunity to do brush sketches in light fast ink everywhere without the necessity to carry an ink vessel and other necessary tools for traditional brush paintings with you.

The brush pen is great to use in combination with other media as watercolors for example. The dried ink does not bleed at all.

The closure of the pen is perfect. You can carry it in your pocket without fear that it might leak. The pen is very light (made of plastic).

The pen does not clog up. I use the same pen since 2 years and it never clogged up even though I did not use it for weeks and months!

All this makes the Pentel brush pen a perfect tool for the traveling artist.

To get a better idea what to expect from this pen, click on the image below to see high resolution scan of an example drawing.

Limitations of the Pentel brush pen

The brush of the pen is relatively small. Therefore the brush suits best for smaller drawings or smaller sketchbook work from my point of view.

The ink cartridges do not last for ever! Also for this reason I would recommend to work in smaller formats with the pen (5X8 for example). In comparison with traditional brushes, used with India ink, the brush pen is clearly more expensive. Therefore I consider the Pentel brush pen NOT a substitute for traditional brushes in general.

It is difficult to say how long an ink cartridge will last or how many drawings can be done. It depends very much how you use the pen and also which paper is used. Some papers tend to take a lot of ink others less. My guess would be about 15-20 pages in a moleskine water color sketchbook in size of 5"x8".

Conclusions

The Pentel brush pen is a very reliable drawing tool, suitable for smaller drawings and sketches. It makes a perfect addition to any sketchers travel bag. The pen itself comes at a very fair price, the ink is main cost factor.

Brush pen reviews on the net - and examples of works

Some other opinions about brush pens and their use

I have not found any negative report on the Pentel brush pen yet. Here are a few links which support the general positive experiences. Most users find this pen good value for money.

Joao Catarino -Urban Sketchers: Mobile monuments: Joa Catarino is one of my favorite sketchers on the urban sketchers blog. He uses the brush pen in a very professional way
Roz Wound Up: Pentel Brush Pens: The Pocket Brush and the Color Brush: Illustrator Roslyn M. Stendahl explains in this blog post with images her use of Pentel brush pens.
Grand Allusions - Ode to a Pentel Brush Pen: This is a great review on the online visual journal by Trev Stair, an art director/graphic designer/illustrator living on the Massachusetts North Shore,discussing brush pens from different view points.
Michael Cho's sketchbook: More Marvey Superheroes: Illustrator Mike Cho presents some drawings and opinions on brush pens
Sketch by Ken Broman illustrator: Ken Broman's Web site featuring his photography, graphic design and illustration
Ken Broman also uses a pentel brush pen for some of his work..
Fouad Dakhouch: Pentel, pincel con agua y boli bic: Here a some nice sketches by Urban sketcher Fouad Dakhouch in Madrid who uses a Pentel in combination with other media.

Buy a Pentel brush pen on EBAY

Thanks for feed back, your own experiences or recommendations on brush pens

Reply

nelchee Mar 3, 2012 @ 7:11 pm | delete

I find it incredible that people have been using this tool for years, and I have only heard of it a few months ago :) I got the same one and I'm very satisfied. Sure, it's a bit difficult to predict how lines will turn out so it's better for organic drawings where a bit of randomness is good.

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EditionH Sep 1, 2009 @ 12:46 am | in reply to YODELMAN | delete

Hello Terry, thank you very much for your visit and friendly comment. Sorry that I am so late to reply. The ultimate tip for materials is to try everything that appeals to you or seems suitable, because only then you can find out your very own favorites. I have a lens for sketching gear for beginners, but I think you do not fall in that category at all!

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YODELMAN Aug 24, 2009 @ 8:11 pm | delete

Hi Martin,
I've been looking for a great sketching pen or brush and the pentel seems like it might fit the bill. After making my living from commercial art for almost 30 years, I long to get back into my own art and feel again the pleasure of drawing "just because". Have you any other suggestions on tools for sketching from nature?

I've looked at all of your other lenses on drawing and they are top notch! Thanks for being so generous with your gift and knowledge. It inspires me to get back to what I love to do.