Cool girls and guys craft. Fact. Sorry, we don’t make the rules.
One of the defining trends of the last ten years has been an obsession with all things DIY. From transforming spare rooms into veritable libraries by adding custom moulding to Ikea bookcases to craft nights with friends involving everything from sculpting air-dry clay to painting glassware – the joyful creations to be made are endless.
One of the most popular, easy-to-use and versatile craft tools that every avid artist and crafter needs in their arsenal is a decent set of paint pens. Beloved for their ability to produce highly saturated, flowing colour on almost any surface, they’re safe to use and easy to blend and layer.
What are paint pens and how do they work?
Filled with either water-based acrylic paint or oil-based paint, paint pens make creating vibrant, long-lasting and quick-drying artworks a breeze by removing the need for paint brushes, water pots and messy palettes.
While the concentration and base of the paint may differ from brand to brand, the result is largely the same: users are granted a near-magical ability to draw on a myriad of surfaces ranging from glass and ceramics to paper, stone and fabric.
An inner tube filled with paint leads to a felt or synthetic fibre nib, which itself is often available in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit your artistic needs.
Brush-tipped paint pens are great for more intricate works of art that closely resemble the traditional medium, while thick, flat-tipped paint pens are brilliant for more graphic designs and large-scale colour-blocking. Some paint pens are refillable, while others are disposable.
What’s the difference between water-based and oil-based paint pens?
Oil-based paint pens are more durable than water-based ones, as they are resistant to water, fading and abrasion. This is why they are typically used for craft projects involving rock, ceramics, metal and plastic. They tend to dry faster than water-based paint pens.
Water-based pens remain incredibly versatile, blendable, and can be used on any surface but will only be waterproof with the help of a sealant.
For porous surfaces like paper, fabric, ceramics and stone, varnish is optional – but on non-porous surfaces such as glass, metal and PVC, a spray on varnish/sealant will be needed to seal and protect the ink. They also don’t carry a strong smell, unlike oil-based paint pens, which makes them safer to use indoors.
What are paint pens typically used for?
Wonderfully versatile, paint pens can be used for all kinds of crafting activities and projects. Some artists use them for drawing, sketching and illustration, while others use larger paint pens and squeeze bottles for street art. At home, paint pens with smaller nibs can be used to DIY designs on glasses, mugs, T-shirts, key rings and more.
What’s the difference between a paint pen and a Sharpie/regular marker?
Paint pens are filled with paint, whereas classic Sharpies and other markers are filled with ink. This ink can be alcohol-based or water-based. However, Sharpie also has a range of high-quality paint pens.
We’ve rounded up a selection of the best paint pens on the market below.
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Uni POSCA Paint Pen Waterbased Marker
By far the most beloved paint pens on the market, POSCA has been ruling the niche with an iron fist for the better part of 40 years. First launched by iconic Japanese stationery company Uni Mitsubishi Pencil (known by many simply as Uni) back in 1983, the original range of water-based paint markers included 22 colours and four different tips.
Known for their rich pigments, bright colours, and ability to adhere to many surfaces, they’re already long-lasting and durable but can be made even more so with the help of a simple spray sealant. Cass Art is home to a brilliant selection of classic paint pens, in an impressive 65 colours and almost every tip shape – our personal favourite being the extra-thick option.
Buy now £3.00, Cass Art
Derwent Paint Pens - Set of 5 #03
Featuring extra-fine 0.5mm nibs for delicate line work, these water-soluble paint pens fro Derwent are easy to blend while working, but waterproof and permanent on porous surfaces when dry. The brand even suggests diluting with water and brushing whilst wet to create transparent watercolour washes.
This set features a selection of ultra-bright hues including cranberry and magenta, but they’re available in a variety of other colourways.
Buy now £14.95, ArtDiscount
Mitoymia Paint Pens
For a value-for-money set of paint pens which feature a bustling selection of colours, look no further than Mitoymia’s set of 24 reversible tip pens, which are all equipped with a versatile 3mm tip. Non-toxic and odour-free, the water-based pens are perfect for all your casual arts and crafts needs.
Buy now £9.88, Amazon
Artistro Acrylic Paint Pens
Available in packs ranging from 24 to 72, Artistro’s premium, dual-tipped paint pens feature a brush nib on one side, and a dot nib on the other. They’re highly saturated and offer great coverage with an even flow, preventing the possibility of any potential mishaps associated with leakage or an over-active cartridge.
Buy now £13.99, Amazon
Liquitex Fine Marker Set of 6
Though on the pricier end of the spectrum, Liquitex paint markers are prized for their supreme coverage and ink flow. The professional-quality, water-based acrylic markers contain artist-grade pigments that can also be mixed directly with acrylic paint. They’re equipped with a pump valve system for even flow and can be used on wood, card, metal, primed canvas and so much more.
Buy now £20.45, Cass Art
Copic Acrea Paint Markers Essential Colours Set of 6
Though beloved for their classic, ink-based markers, Copic also produces a small selection of water and pigment-based paint markers – with 24 opaque shades ranging from classic hues to pastels and metallics.
We find that we get pretty fantastic use out of the metallic selection, which works brilliantly on artworks created with Copic’s alcohol-based markets. The 0.8mm nib is optimised for intricate detailing and delivers an ultra-smooth ink flow.
Buy now £17.55, Cass Art
Molotow ONE4ALL Acrylic Paint Refill
These refill paints are designed for use with Molotow’s dripstick squeeze marker, which is available in sizes ranging from 50-100ml. Beloved in particular by street artists, they’re brilliant for creating drips, splash effects and detailed markings on a large scale while maintaining control over ink flow and movement thanks to the adjustable pressure.
Buy now £5.75, Cass Art
Sharpie Creative Marker Acrylic Paint Pens
Unlike classic Sharpies, these brilliant water-based paint pens won’t bleed through or transfer – no matter what material you’re painting onto. They have that iconic bullet tip for precision drawing and easy colouring, and they’ve been designed to pop boldly when used on darker surfaces.
Buy now £18.44, Amazon
Uni POSCA Marker Pen PCF-350 Brush Set of 10 Assorted
Posca pens aren’t your traditional type of brush pen. Filled with permanent, opaque water-based pigment ink, Posca markers produce an acrylic paint-like effect and can be used on any surface imaginable. The PCF-350 brush-tipped pens are a newer addition to the Posca range and have been designed to give the tool a more flexible feel and a fluid finish.
Buy now £44.00, Cult Pens
Karin Brushmarker Pro
Manufactured with innovative ‘liquid ink’ technology, the Karin Brushmarker Pro pens are equipped with a super flexible, Japanese-style nylon tip for supreme fluidity and durability. Each pen contains 2.4ml of water-based ink, which makes them suitable for creating watercolour-inspired illustrations.
The metallic DécoBrush Marker by Karin is an alternative option which is better suited to crafters since it can be used on almost every surface.
Buy now £49.42, Amazon
