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The Ink Drawing Supplies That Make the Biggest Difference
15
items My favorite things for drawing with nib and ink, the nibs, holders, black ink, paper, and tools that make those crisp little lines so satisfying.
Platinum Carbon Black Ink
My favorite black ink for dip-pen drawing. It dries to a really rich, solid black and, once dry, it’s waterproof — which is especially useful if you like adding watercolor or other wet media over your linework.
I use it wh...
Platinum Carbon Ink Bottle 60ml - Black
Zebra G Nib
My go-to nib for ink drawing. I love how much control it gives me while still being flexible enough to create really beautiful changes in line weight depending on the pressure.
You can get surprisingly delicate, fine lines with it, but ...
Zebra Comic Pen Nib-G Model
Canson XL Bristol Smooth
Such a good affordable paper for dip-pen drawing. The surface is smooth enough that a sharp nib like the Zebra G doesn’t constantly catch on the paper, and it handles detailed ink lines really nicely.
I like it for practice...
Bristol paper pad - smooth - 100lb - 9x12in (25s)
Strathmore 300 Series Bristol Smooth
Another really good affordable paper for dip-pen drawing. The smooth surface works especially well with pointed nibs like the Zebra G, so you can get clean lines without the nib catching on the paper too much.
I...
Strathmore 300 Series Smooth Bristol Paper Pad
Tachikawa T-40 Nib Holder
My favorite holder to pair with a Zebra G nib. The nib fits securely, the rubber grip makes it comfortable to draw with for longer periods, and I love that it comes with a cap so I can leave the nib attached when I’m not us...
Tachikawa T40 Holder - Paper and Ink Arts
Speedball Pen Cleaner
One of those little things that makes dip-pen drawing so much easier. Pigment and waterproof inks can dry onto the nib pretty quickly, and once that happens it can start affecting the ink flow.
I keep this around for cleaning ...
Speedball Pen Cleaner
I really like the idea of this one because the ink flows automatically, so you don’t have to keep squeezing the barrel like some brush pens. It makes lettering feel smoother and less fussy.
Kuretake CAMBIO Tambien 6 Colors Set B, Brush
A double-sided brush pen with both hard and soft tips. I love tools like this because you can switch between more controlled lettering and looser expressive strokes without changing pens.
Kuretake FUDE PEN NIHON-DATE KABURA No.55
This one has a fine synthetic brush tip and is really nice for both lettering and drawing. I’d recommend it if you like calligraphy but also want something you can use for sketching and ink work.
Kuretake TAKUJO No.8 Fountain Brush Pen Black
More casual than traditional calligraphy, but so fun for handwriting, journaling, and little lettering details. The flexible semi-hard tip gives your writing personality without requiring tons of technique.
Kuretake ZIG Letter Pen COCOIRO Black Ink
These are really fun on darker paper because the metallic ink actually shows up nicely. Great for cards, envelopes, gift tags, or when you want calligraphy to feel a little more special.
Kuretake ZIG FUDEBIYORI Metallic Brush Pens 6
A good low-stress way to practice broad-edge lettering. They’re dual tipped and use pigment ink, so you can play with different stroke widths without dealing with loose nibs and bottled ink.
Kuretake Zig Calligraphy Dual Tip Markers 12 Set
Not traditional calligraphy, but such a fun add-on for hand lettering because it gives you glitter without making everything look chunky. Perfect for little accents and highlights.
Kuretake ZIG Wink of Stella Brush II Clear Glitter
This is more of a creative lettering tool. You can mask off parts of a word or design, paint over it, then reveal the clean lettering underneath. Really fun for watercolor calligraphy or layered pieces.
Kuretake ZIG MASKING WRITER 3-Set Fine Pen
If you’re bored of plain black ink, these are much more fun. Kuretake’s Ink-Café line includes decorative colored inks inspired by Art Nouveau tones, which can make handwritten pieces feel much more artistic.
Kuretake ECF160-539 Ink Cafe Concrete Gray