Brush Lettering Supplies for Beginners
Whether you’ve been wanting to learn Brush Lettering for a long time, or you’ve just found yourself with a lot more free time than you know what to do with, I’m here to help! Years of lettering with the wrong pens, on the wrong paper have taught me a thing or two about what to use. I’ve compiled a list of all of my personal favorite lettering supplies (complete with links!) all in one place for your convenience. Please note that some of these links are Affiliate Links that will allow me to earn a little bit of a profit, so I can continue sharing information for free! All opinions are my own and these really are all of the supplies I use all of the time for my personal projects AND client projects.
Though I teach Brush Lettering workshops as often as I can, I understand that coordinating schedules will always be complicated and sometimes no matter how hard you try it is simply impossible to be able to make the commitment to go out and take a 2-3 hour session. For those who prefer to self-study and practice at home, this is where to begin.
Brush Pens & Pencils
All of these have been chosen for their ability to be easy to use. Most instructors recommend starting with the Tombow Dual Brush Pen. Though I do enjoy using that pen from time to time, I personally find that the size of the nib, and the delayed drying time make it so much harder for a beginner to maneuver (specially as a Lefty). These brush pens all have shorter nibs, making them easier to use, and are small enough to take with you everywhere! They also come in a variety of colors if you want to let your creativity shine!
Among this list of brush pens is the Blackwing Pearl Pencil. Though it is on the pricier end, after deciding to make the investment and get one, I understand the cost. These pencils are AMAZING! The graphite seems to be a little bit softer than your average #2 pencil from elementary school, and is so great for lettering practice.
Paper
When it comes to Calligraphy and Lettering, most people just think of pens and ink. However your paper is just as important, if not MORE important. You want your paper to be as smooth as possible to allow your pens to glide. Not only does this reduce the learning curve by making your letter forms look great from the beginning, but it also protects the life of your pens and prevents them from fraying too quickly.
The tracing paper is for tracing over any practice sheets you may have, or any practice designs you want to attempt to recreate. It is important to trace AND practice in order to build that muscle memory.
Any kind of Smooth Paper
Workbooks & Worksheets
These are resources that I have created for you to be able to practice with. You can either download the digital worksheets to practice with at home or you can order the EXACT lettering kit I provide my in-person Brush Lettering students.
I hope these resources are helpful for your lettering practice! If you have any additional questions feel free to leave a comment below or send me an email (hello@darlingdaydream.com ) so that I can answer them for you!
Happy Lettering!