Welcome to the Living Room; it's time for the Great Pen Review!

 

So here we are in a brand new journal. Journal numero dos for me. There are 40 pages in this book, so I'll end up with 80 new paintings when finished. No tearing out allowed! I am using this book for the Living Room.

With a new journal, we'll need some great pens, right? One of the most commonly emailed questions I receive is "what type of pen do you journal with?" Primarily, I use Sharpie Poster Paint pens. This pen won't work for every journaling "mood". I also like micron pens, an occasional PITT pen and maybe a quill for good measure. Let's put these pens to the test on three different paper surfaces so you can see for yourself!

You can click on any/all of my blog photos to enlarge them. Recognizing that everyone journals on different surfaces, I painted three different paper types with acrylic paint. Each of these papers has a different texture.

I tested the following pens on each surface, using my "normal" writing speed and pressure; After all, what good is using a pen that you have to write very slow with or go over the text a second time to get good ink coverage?

Sakura Jelly Roll

Uni-ball Signo

Marvy Decocolor

Sharpie Poster Paint

Sakura Micron 0.35mm

PITT Artist Pen size 'S'

So- let's see how the pens reacted on each surface. The canvas paper is shown below. Canvas paper is available in pads at your local craft store and some of it (such as the sample below) is actual canvas:

The Micron and PITT pens almost handled this surface, but the true winner here is the Sharpie pen. While the Decocolor paint pen's ink flowed nicely, the ink is not opaque enough for my taste. (The pen was well shaken and primed before the test.) Next up? The acrylic paper:

Less tooth than the canvas paper, the acrylic paper's texture allows it to nicely hold on to acrylic paint. Even though the texture looks similar, the acrylic paper is much more smoother than the canvas paper. You can see in the test above that the PITT and Micron pens write better on this surface and the Sharpie pens are the most opaque. The Uni-Ball Signo pen comes to life in this test, but the ink skips and I feel that if I wrote very slow and deliberately, the pen may work better. The Jelly Roll pen did not take this surface well. Our last sample, the gesso'd cardstock:

I don't normally use gesso under my paint, but since it is a popular surface to write on I used it in this test. Important to note: the gesso is completely covered with acrylic paint. I have found that like a crayon, the gesso will disturb the pen tips and a lot of the times, the ink flow from the pen will not return to normal. Keep your pens away from crayon, oil pastel and gesso! In this sample, Decocolor continues to be too washed out, Signo's ink is skipping and the Jelly Roll is "hit and miss". Sharpie, PITT and Micron work great.

When I started my last journal I bought several PITT pens. For my taste, I prefer the 'S' tip. Unfortunately, I have found that unless the surface is completely flat and smooth, the tips wear away pretty easily. They are not durable enough to write on a distressed, uneven surface at all. Recently, I resurrected the Micron pens from my "pen graveyard" and have been pleased with their performance on uneven surfaces. Keeping them away from gesso, I find that these work nicely. All in all though, my favorite is the Sharpie pen by far.

Another option not pictured in the test is writing with a quill pen. I use the quill pen on certain projects were an uneven ink flow is warranted. Higgins Black Magic ink (art supply store) and FW Acrylic Artist Ink both work nicely with the pen. Sometimes I doodle with the quill tip and sometimes I write with it.

I appreciate your feedback as always...and please continue to keep the comments and questions coming! I appreciate the open dialogue and new friends that come via blogging very much! Until next time, cheers!

Note: Did you check out The Altered Page yet? Run don't walk...there are some pretty amazing artists being showcased this week!! I've picked up many a new blog feed!

Comments

[Andrea]

Beautiful new beginning!

Thank you for taking the time to educate others with your tutorials. This takes alot of time and is appreciated immensely.

There needs to be more pens out there that can do the job the Sharpie does. We need to invent "The Pen"

[Kathy McCreedy]

Hey Julie! Awesome tutorial on pens and paper... really basic stuff, but really, really important, right?!? I really appreciate the time it took to put this together... very helpful and very nicely done, girlfriend! Hope all is well with you and yours, xoxo, K.

[Carmen]

Love the new journal! Thank you for the pen review! I've been using a regular Sharpie in black ink, but I'm desperate for a white ink that works well and it looks like the Sharpie takes the cake!

[Laney]

Hi! I just recently found your blog. I appreciate the tutorials you have done and am finding myself drawn to art journaling! I have been into sewing, artquilting and collage for awhile now. Your blog is among the most inspirational I have found. Your new journal looks promising...

[Kate I]

Julie, thanks so much for this really great tutorial...this is SO helpful! I'm going to run out today and get some Sharpie posterpaints! I've used regular Sharpie's with intermitent success but the posterpaint, Pitt and Micron are on my shopping list!

[stephanie]

First..thank you!!! for this wonderful test. I am struggling with pens and am going to search for the Sharpies. I do typically gesso a page first, didn't realize this may be the source of my problems.....

AND, you piece on Seth's as well as all the others is very inspiring!

x...x

[kelly]

The Sakura Jelly Rolls are crap to write on paint with!

I do LOVE the Sakura Gelly Roll GLAZE and Souffle pens though! Those will write on dried paint, canvas, glass and more! Glaze is gloss. Souffle is Matte. I love the glaze white and black the most...but watch their "clear" pen (used for a resist) vs. their real white pen (which writes clear, dries white).

Sharpie poster paint (waterbased) pens rock! And they don't stink either!

Elmer's paint pens are also very good when the nibs don't fall out.

I also *heart* Latte Pens that Jet Pens sell.

Only if I want texture do I gesso a page...but it is fun for that texture or "resist" look. ;)

[Dymphie]

Love your start in the new journal Julie!

Thanks so much for the pen review, very helpful (allthough I didn't spot sharpies on this side of the pond yet). Lately I've bought some Copic multiliners in several widths. Until now I'm very happy with my new pens, they write nicely on acrylic paint. I noticed the ink needs some drying time (i give it a quick blast with my heattool), after that it's smudge and waterproof.

[Kim H]

I love the start of your new journal! Gorgeous page!

Your "great pen review" is awesome! I have to say that I Love the sharpie post paint pens- but sometimes I want a finer line and they are just not fine enough. I do have to say I do love Staedtler lumocolor permanent pens- they have done well for me! But they do not have a white :(

[lee]

Thanks for the tutorial on the pens and paper. Very helpful, I am always in search of something good to write on acrylics....I enjoy your website alot read it every day.

[eb]

loving all of your posts lately - great stuff!

xox - eb.

[Laura]

Thanks for the pen tutorial. I don't think I ever gave my pens that much thought and I probably should because I am often stuck with a pen that is not working on my surface. So simple yet not obvious!

[Jo Wholohan]

Love your new journal Julie!!! Your are powering along so well :)) I really need to get more into a habit with doing journalling more oftern!!

Thanks so much for the pen tutorial, opening my eyes up to some more pens to covet heeeee hee

xx Jo

[Heather Grow]

What a great fresh start. I love your comparison too. I already own sharpie poster pens because of your enabling.

[emilia]

bravo!! you are awesome! now I know I have to pick more in addtion to my Uni-bo Signo!

[Teresa]

What a handy review! Thank you.
I know you've done it before, but I find you so interesting, I'm doing it again - you've been tagged!
http://thetamarisk.blogspot.com/2008/03/doh-ive-been-tagged.html

[Lisa Renea]

Thank you so much for all the super info!

[forcryeye]

Now I am going to have to locate some sharpie poster paint pens...I am always looking for a luscious white pen. I may have to try to paint some pages as well...it is time to get messy!

[Tami Bayer]

So happy I have those sharpie pens, they are amazing. Now I need the courage to doodle and finish my page! You have been so very busy creating amazing art. Love what I see. Congrats on finishing the color binge. Can't wait to see what arrives in the living room.

[Diane Clancy]

Hi Julie,

I love this first page of your journal!! Really cool!!

~ Diane Clancy
www.DianeClancy.com/blog
www.YourArtMarketing.com

[Neda]

I may have said this before but I will say it again: Julie, YOU'VE GOT TO SERIOUSLY consider writing a book about all this. You bring zest and creativity to the subject, and more so, you make it understandable to klutz like me. I MEAN IT!!! I'm going shopping now!

[Francesca]

Julie you are such a mine of information and inspiration! Thanks for this - we don't really have access to Sharpies here, but I'm certainly going to try and find some now! :)

[Mel M. M. M.]

Amazing pen review. I use the uniball Signo gel pen and it breaks my heart when it gives up. LOVE the looks of that sharpie. Thanks for sharing! :0) mel
P.S. If you're ever interested in embossing your freehand writing or drawing, you can easily do it with: a glue-pen, embossing powder, & a heat gun.

[Manuela]

Julie, I like your blog so much! Thanks for the tutorials. I tried the technique for my journal and use a white Pen-touch of Sakura and like also the PITT pens.

[Thanh]

Thank you for this tutorial. One day I will make it to the art store to try pens...

[Seth]

What a great review. It looks like Sharpies win first place. Your blog has definitely become my go-to place for learning about all things mixed media.

[Annette]

Yeah, I agree -- you could write a book! This is another amazingly interesting & useful post, and I'm going to put a special link on my blog so as not to lose it!!!

[Sheri]

Hi, I'm new to journaling and CAN'T find a WHITE Sharpie!!!! Where can I get them? Help please!!
Thanks, Sheri

[Hermine]

Gorgeous artwork, and thank you for testing, the sharpie looks really great on every surface.

[Sally]

Which tip on the Sharpie Poster Paint Pens do you think you use the most and what colors do you think you use the most?

[Julie Prichard]

White, black and extra fine. :)
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

[Stacy]

This is awesome! I've been wondering why everyone loves the Sharpie poster paint so much and this just about sums it up! Thank you!

[Julie Prichard]

You’re welcome!

[Rose]

Thanks for the review, I've always been afraid to write on my work for fear the pens won't work, or they'll smear, etc.

[Julie Prichard]

You¹re welcome..thank you!

[Billie]

Hi Julie

Thanks for this tutorial,I'm just starting with journalling so this has helped me out. Will pens die if I write over white acrylic paint, is it just the plaster in the Gesso that kills them?

I don't think you can get Sharpies in the UK :( Will try my Zig Writers instead.

Thanks

Billie :)

[Julie Prichard]

I don¹t know what it is exactly...but something really does a number on
them.