If you're new to Art Journal Every Day, there is a short introduction here. All of the previous posts can be found archived here. There is a flickr group for sharing right here. Remember, it's just ten minutes of nourishing your creative self every day! No need to finish anything or even like it. If you've done some art journaling this week and you've blogged about it, or put it on flickr, please leave a link in the linky list at the end of this post. Thanks!
One of the most frequent questions I get is about pens. Which ones do I use in my art journal? I used to have some favorites, but they've changed over time as my needs and style have changed. So, I thought I'd share a little bit about what I'm using right now.
Journaling Pen: Pilot Permaball from Scarlet Lime
I first came across this pen at the Roots & Wings retreat. Christy Tomlinson and her husband, Ben, were waxing poetic about its perfection. I was skeptical. They gave me one to try out and I promptly went home and ordered two dozen of them. It is waterproof, super black, and writes over paint and so many other surfaces easily. I can't imagine journaling without it at this point.
White Pen: Sharpie Poster Paint — in two sizes
I am a devotee of the Sharpie Poster Paint white markers. They're super opaque and write over anything! They're waterproof when dry, but have a long open time so you can smudge them around when you want to. I often use the larger of the two markers to create the highlights on a face in my journal. I draw a quick line and then smudge it with my fingers and it looks like paint. They're fab!
Markers: Permapaque Dual Point and Copic Sketch Markers
Virtually any heavy black outline you see in my art journal was done with a Permapaque. I love the dual tips — a bullet tip for detail and a chisel tip for filling stuff in. They come in lots of colors (I'll confess that I don't love the metallics). They're fairly opaque, have no odor, and dry quickly to a matte finish. I use them all the time.
The Copics are alcohol ink, so they write particularly well on non-porous surfaces like painted pages. They're waterproof once dry and transparent. I love using them to create shadowing. The brush tip is especially good for that purpose.
I shared this face from my journal a few weeks ago:
I used a Permapaque for the black outline, a white Sharpie for the highlights, and all the shadowing was done with a Copic marker.
This lettering sample that I shared yesterday…
…all the pen work was with the Scarlet Lime pen, the red and green are Permapaque, and the white is the Sharpie.
Do you have favorite pens to use in your art journal?
Here is this week's linky list:
Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks for this helpful post, now I must go buy that Scarlet Lime pen! Love the girl, beautiful! Happy Weekend!
Thanks for this helpful post, now I must go buy that Scarlet Lime pen! Love the girl, beautiful! Happy Weekend!
Thanks for this helpful post, now I must go buy that Scarlet Lime pen! Love the girl, beautiful! Happy Weekend!
Thanks for this helpful post, now I must go buy that Scarlet Lime pen! Love the girl, beautiful! Happy Weekend!
Thanks for this helpful post, now I must go buy that Scarlet Lime pen! Love the girl, beautiful! Happy Weekend!
I just want to take a moment to thank you for being so open and giving of your information. I have taken every one of your monthly workshops and feel I get my 15 dollars worth every time, but you give a lot of info for free and I just appreciate it and respect you for all you do. THANKS!
I just want to take a moment to thank you for being so open and giving of your information. I have taken every one of your monthly workshops and feel I get my 15 dollars worth every time, but you give a lot of info for free and I just appreciate it and respect you for all you do. THANKS!
I just want to take a moment to thank you for being so open and giving of your information. I have taken every one of your monthly workshops and feel I get my 15 dollars worth every time, but you give a lot of info for free and I just appreciate it and respect you for all you do. THANKS!
I just want to take a moment to thank you for being so open and giving of your information. I have taken every one of your monthly workshops and feel I get my 15 dollars worth every time, but you give a lot of info for free and I just appreciate it and respect you for all you do. THANKS!
I just want to take a moment to thank you for being so open and giving of your information. I have taken every one of your monthly workshops and feel I get my 15 dollars worth every time, but you give a lot of info for free and I just appreciate it and respect you for all you do. THANKS!
I have my favorites but of course I must get my hands on a Scarlet Lime now. You are good for my inspiration and bad for my wallet Julie;-)
I have my favorites but of course I must get my hands on a Scarlet Lime now. You are good for my inspiration and bad for my wallet Julie;-)
I have my favorites but of course I must get my hands on a Scarlet Lime now. You are good for my inspiration and bad for my wallet Julie;-)
I have my favorites but of course I must get my hands on a Scarlet Lime now. You are good for my inspiration and bad for my wallet Julie;-)
I have my favorites but of course I must get my hands on a Scarlet Lime now. You are good for my inspiration and bad for my wallet Julie;-)
I’ve tried the poster paint markers and just have horrible luck with them so I use acrylic paint and a paint brush. Do you find yourself overwhelmed with the variety of pens and markers out there? I do.
Peace,
Donna
I’ve tried the poster paint markers and just have horrible luck with them so I use acrylic paint and a paint brush. Do you find yourself overwhelmed with the variety of pens and markers out there? I do.
Peace,
Donna
I’ve tried the poster paint markers and just have horrible luck with them so I use acrylic paint and a paint brush. Do you find yourself overwhelmed with the variety of pens and markers out there? I do.
Peace,
Donna
I’ve tried the poster paint markers and just have horrible luck with them so I use acrylic paint and a paint brush. Do you find yourself overwhelmed with the variety of pens and markers out there? I do.
Peace,
Donna
I’ve tried the poster paint markers and just have horrible luck with them so I use acrylic paint and a paint brush. Do you find yourself overwhelmed with the variety of pens and markers out there? I do.
Peace,
Donna
I use Deco Color acrylic paint markers and Sharpie pens of all kinds. The pens you show look amazingly effective.
I use Deco Color acrylic paint markers and Sharpie pens of all kinds. The pens you show look amazingly effective.
I use Deco Color acrylic paint markers and Sharpie pens of all kinds. The pens you show look amazingly effective.
I use Deco Color acrylic paint markers and Sharpie pens of all kinds. The pens you show look amazingly effective.
I use Deco Color acrylic paint markers and Sharpie pens of all kinds. The pens you show look amazingly effective.
I absolutely agree that the Scarlet Lime pen is fabulous. I wish I had the budget to buy 2 dozen at a time! 🙂
I absolutely agree that the Scarlet Lime pen is fabulous. I wish I had the budget to buy 2 dozen at a time! 🙂
I absolutely agree that the Scarlet Lime pen is fabulous. I wish I had the budget to buy 2 dozen at a time! 🙂
I absolutely agree that the Scarlet Lime pen is fabulous. I wish I had the budget to buy 2 dozen at a time! 🙂
I absolutely agree that the Scarlet Lime pen is fabulous. I wish I had the budget to buy 2 dozen at a time! 🙂
Oh, great….there goes some $$$$LOL!
Thanks for the links to Blick. I ordered some of the Suk. Permapaque Markers!
Oh, great….there goes some $$$$LOL!
Thanks for the links to Blick. I ordered some of the Suk. Permapaque Markers!
Oh, great….there goes some $$$$LOL!
Thanks for the links to Blick. I ordered some of the Suk. Permapaque Markers!
Oh, great….there goes some $$$$LOL!
Thanks for the links to Blick. I ordered some of the Suk. Permapaque Markers!
Oh, great….there goes some $$$$LOL!
Thanks for the links to Blick. I ordered some of the Suk. Permapaque Markers!
I swear by the Scarlet Lime pen! Thanks for the great post!
I swear by the Scarlet Lime pen! Thanks for the great post!
I swear by the Scarlet Lime pen! Thanks for the great post!
I swear by the Scarlet Lime pen! Thanks for the great post!
I swear by the Scarlet Lime pen! Thanks for the great post!
Dear Julie: Thank you so much for this post! I had emailed you recently about pens for Project Life. I am definitely going to look for some of these!
Have a great weekend!
Dear Julie: Thank you so much for this post! I had emailed you recently about pens for Project Life. I am definitely going to look for some of these!
Have a great weekend!
Dear Julie: Thank you so much for this post! I had emailed you recently about pens for Project Life. I am definitely going to look for some of these!
Have a great weekend!
Dear Julie: Thank you so much for this post! I had emailed you recently about pens for Project Life. I am definitely going to look for some of these!
Have a great weekend!
Dear Julie: Thank you so much for this post! I had emailed you recently about pens for Project Life. I am definitely going to look for some of these!
Have a great weekend!
My favorite is the wide black Pitt marker. It’s the only thing I have used that writes on top of any medium and it lasts a LONG time. I used my first one for close to 2 years and it got used nearly every day.
My favorite is the wide black Pitt marker. It’s the only thing I have used that writes on top of any medium and it lasts a LONG time. I used my first one for close to 2 years and it got used nearly every day.
My favorite is the wide black Pitt marker. It’s the only thing I have used that writes on top of any medium and it lasts a LONG time. I used my first one for close to 2 years and it got used nearly every day.
My favorite is the wide black Pitt marker. It’s the only thing I have used that writes on top of any medium and it lasts a LONG time. I used my first one for close to 2 years and it got used nearly every day.
My favorite is the wide black Pitt marker. It’s the only thing I have used that writes on top of any medium and it lasts a LONG time. I used my first one for close to 2 years and it got used nearly every day.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Sakura Pigma Micron pens (particularly sizes 005 & 01.) I also love Ultra Fine Point Sharpies & Zig Calligraphy pens for my artful lettering.
LOVE all your ideas.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Sakura Pigma Micron pens (particularly sizes 005 & 01.) I also love Ultra Fine Point Sharpies & Zig Calligraphy pens for my artful lettering.
LOVE all your ideas.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Sakura Pigma Micron pens (particularly sizes 005 & 01.) I also love Ultra Fine Point Sharpies & Zig Calligraphy pens for my artful lettering.
LOVE all your ideas.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Sakura Pigma Micron pens (particularly sizes 005 & 01.) I also love Ultra Fine Point Sharpies & Zig Calligraphy pens for my artful lettering.
LOVE all your ideas.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Sakura Pigma Micron pens (particularly sizes 005 & 01.) I also love Ultra Fine Point Sharpies & Zig Calligraphy pens for my artful lettering.
LOVE all your ideas.
I’ve been on the hunt for a waterproof black pen for some time now and when you recommended the Scarlet Lime pens I realized that I had 2 of them that I had purchased a couple years back. I had used them on top of Mod Podge before and they smeared so I didn’t realize (or didn’t remember) that they were waterproof! Just dug them out and and am so happy with them!! THANKS for the recommendation –
I’ve been on the hunt for a waterproof black pen for some time now and when you recommended the Scarlet Lime pens I realized that I had 2 of them that I had purchased a couple years back. I had used them on top of Mod Podge before and they smeared so I didn’t realize (or didn’t remember) that they were waterproof! Just dug them out and and am so happy with them!! THANKS for the recommendation –
I’ve been on the hunt for a waterproof black pen for some time now and when you recommended the Scarlet Lime pens I realized that I had 2 of them that I had purchased a couple years back. I had used them on top of Mod Podge before and they smeared so I didn’t realize (or didn’t remember) that they were waterproof! Just dug them out and and am so happy with them!! THANKS for the recommendation –
I’ve been on the hunt for a waterproof black pen for some time now and when you recommended the Scarlet Lime pens I realized that I had 2 of them that I had purchased a couple years back. I had used them on top of Mod Podge before and they smeared so I didn’t realize (or didn’t remember) that they were waterproof! Just dug them out and and am so happy with them!! THANKS for the recommendation –
I’ve been on the hunt for a waterproof black pen for some time now and when you recommended the Scarlet Lime pens I realized that I had 2 of them that I had purchased a couple years back. I had used them on top of Mod Podge before and they smeared so I didn’t realize (or didn’t remember) that they were waterproof! Just dug them out and and am so happy with them!! THANKS for the recommendation –
I use a Black PITT pen and a SAKURA white pen, fantastic pens and write well over paint etc. I don’t get on too well with the Sharpie and I have found it can be transparent white instead of opaque. I am constantly trying new products and end up going back as they are reliable….Wouldn’t be without any pens here in the UK I use – haven’t seen the Lime pens at all. Having just got back from germany where finding anything is a needle in a haystack… :(((((( Even the artists i spoke are jealous of what we have in the UK and USA as we seems to availability and choice… the world isn’t a smaller place for some. love your website and what you do and would love to meet – good luck with your TV debut! Helena
I use a Black PITT pen and a SAKURA white pen, fantastic pens and write well over paint etc. I don’t get on too well with the Sharpie and I have found it can be transparent white instead of opaque. I am constantly trying new products and end up going back as they are reliable….Wouldn’t be without any pens here in the UK I use – haven’t seen the Lime pens at all. Having just got back from germany where finding anything is a needle in a haystack… :(((((( Even the artists i spoke are jealous of what we have in the UK and USA as we seems to availability and choice… the world isn’t a smaller place for some. love your website and what you do and would love to meet – good luck with your TV debut! Helena
I use a Black PITT pen and a SAKURA white pen, fantastic pens and write well over paint etc. I don’t get on too well with the Sharpie and I have found it can be transparent white instead of opaque. I am constantly trying new products and end up going back as they are reliable….Wouldn’t be without any pens here in the UK I use – haven’t seen the Lime pens at all. Having just got back from germany where finding anything is a needle in a haystack… :(((((( Even the artists i spoke are jealous of what we have in the UK and USA as we seems to availability and choice… the world isn’t a smaller place for some. love your website and what you do and would love to meet – good luck with your TV debut! Helena
I use a Black PITT pen and a SAKURA white pen, fantastic pens and write well over paint etc. I don’t get on too well with the Sharpie and I have found it can be transparent white instead of opaque. I am constantly trying new products and end up going back as they are reliable….Wouldn’t be without any pens here in the UK I use – haven’t seen the Lime pens at all. Having just got back from germany where finding anything is a needle in a haystack… :(((((( Even the artists i spoke are jealous of what we have in the UK and USA as we seems to availability and choice… the world isn’t a smaller place for some. love your website and what you do and would love to meet – good luck with your TV debut! Helena
I use a Black PITT pen and a SAKURA white pen, fantastic pens and write well over paint etc. I don’t get on too well with the Sharpie and I have found it can be transparent white instead of opaque. I am constantly trying new products and end up going back as they are reliable….Wouldn’t be without any pens here in the UK I use – haven’t seen the Lime pens at all. Having just got back from germany where finding anything is a needle in a haystack… :(((((( Even the artists i spoke are jealous of what we have in the UK and USA as we seems to availability and choice… the world isn’t a smaller place for some. love your website and what you do and would love to meet – good luck with your TV debut! Helena