Best Medium Sized Brush Pens for Calligraphy Lettering

Looking for the perfect medium-sized brush pen?

In this post I’m sharing my top 3 FAVORITE medium-size brush markers for lettering and calligraphy.

If you’re a beginner, I recommend starting with a small brush pen (these ones), but beyond that, medium-sized brush pens are the next great size!

And if you would rather learn calligraphy with a bigger pen size, any of these three pens would be a great option.

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1. Sharpie Brush Tip Pens

Sharpie Brush Tip pens are AMAZING for brush lettering and calligraphy.

(Just make sure you’re getting the Brush Tip pens and not the big, permanent Brush Markers that Sharpie also makes.)

Why do I love them so much?

• They have amazing bounce-back (the tip bounces back to shape even after pressing hard on it)
• The brush tips feel firm and crisp, and your calligraphy LOOKS crisp and clean, too
• They dry pretty quickly because the ink is smear and water-resistant
• They make transitions SO easy! (transitions from thick to thin when you adjust pressure)
• They make your brush lettering look awesome – they just do!

Every time I get my Sharpie Brush pens out, I remember all over again why I like them so much.

They just feel so easy to use, and it makes doing calligraphy feel easier and more fun, too!

They’re available in 12 colors and some of the shades are unique, although they aren’t the most vibrant.

But that’s ok with me… I still absolutely love these pens, and highly recommend them to anyone who does brush lettering!

2. Stabilo Pen 68 Brush Pens

Stabilo Pen 68 Brush pens are another one of my all-time favorite medium brush pens.

They’re so easy and fun to use for calligraphy, and they come in a whole bunch of beautiful colors.

They’re also probably the softest of the pens on this list, but still pretty firm for good control!

Here’s why I love Stabilo brush pens:

• They have great bounce-back (tip bounces back to shape easily)
• They’re juicy and satisfying to use
• They come in a lot of gorgeous, vibrant colors
• You can use them for blending because the ink is water-based
• They help make calligraphy transitions easy and smooth

I have to warn you, though: Stabilo pen ink is super juicy and smudges easily!

To help remedy this, try keeping a piece of paper under your hand as you write.

BUT, because the ink is so juicy and saturated, it makes these markers perfect for color blending and watercolor effects!

If you’re wondering how to do that, check out this post: 5 Easy Blending Techniques with Brush Pens

(Left-handed calligraphers will probably find the juicy Stabilo pens to be frustrating, so in that case I’d stick with the other pens on this list!)

Related reads:

Your Secret Weapon for Mastering Brush Calligraphy

80 Positive Short Quotes to Write in Calligraphy

3. Edding 1340 Brush Pens

Edding 1340 Brush Pens are another awesome medium-sized pen choice for lettering artists.

They’re similar to the Sharpie brush pens in size and firmness – they give you a nice, medium-small writing size.

Edding brush pens give you nice, crisp lines and are easy to control.

Here are reasons to love them:

• They aren’t too pricey (I found some for really cheap at an art store!)
• The brush tips have excellent bounce-back
• The ink isn’t too wet so they aren’t a high smudge-risk
• They feel firm and easy to control, and give you crisp, neat lines
• They make calligraphy transitions pretty easy
• They’re available in a variety of colors

Edding brush pens are also available in a metallic pen set and a glitter pen set (I haven’t tried these yet).

They are a fun one to try if you ever get a chance!

Do you have a favorite medium-sized brush pen that should be added to this list? Let me know in the comments below!

Check out these posts next:

How to Add Shadows to Your Lettering (9 ways!)

How to Get Rid of Messy Transitions in Calligraphy