Brush Pens--Comparing Zebra, Pentel, Kuretake, Pilot, and Tombow

As an I artist I love trying new pens and markers. 

I was looking for some brush pens because I was starting to practice script writing. I also read that many were using these brush pens to outline art or create beautiful pictures.

I Googled around and found that Jet Pens had a sample set of five brush pens, one each from Kuretake, Pilot, Pentel, Zebra, and Tombow. I've used the Pentel brush pen and have a colored marker set from Tombow, both of which I am very happy with. The other three will be new to me. (Love JetPens.com BTW. Easy ordering and super fast delivery--and no, they do not pay me.)

I was looking forward to trying the Kuretake pen because I heard it had a very springy tip and lasted a very long time. I was also excited to try a brush pen with a super fine  and hard tip like the Zebra because I'd had no experience with them at that point. 

Getting the delivery was exciting. All of the pens are made in Japan, and the packaging is different from what we are used to in the USA, and it made it very interesting to open and begin.

A big PLUS for me--all of the brush tips are made from felt or synthetic hair so NO animals are hurt in the process.

Below are writing samples from each pen.

Below is a video describing from Jet Pens describing each pen and showing it in action. 

The Kuretake pen had a nice solid tip. The ink flowed well but not too fast. It allowed for nice control. I like the feel of this pen.

The Pentel pocket pen is the most popular brush pen on the market. It is a refillable pen with a springy tip and a heavy flow. Although I loved writing with it, being a beginner it allowed for the least control of all the pens. That being said, I loved it and feel it will be worth it to continue using it and improving.

The Pilot soft brush pen is very interesting. The ink flowed very dark and nicely, but if too much pressure was applied on the down stroke the entire tip lifted, and the point of the tip would pop off the paper. BUT--that makes for very interesting lettering and the ability to stylize. It was the only pen that squeaked as I wrote.

The Tombow pen was an all-around nice pen. Good control and good ink flow. 

My favorite of the pens was the Zebra fine. To me it was the closest to a Crow Quill or calligraphy pen with a nib. It offers great control and the ink is very dense and black. It also makes a slight scratchy noise as you write. I like that.

Here's a short video of me using each pen. I've just started with script writing with a brush pen so my samples are not beautiful like some other videos out there.

I have a feeling that as I improve and get used to using these pens that I may change which is my favorite.

This drawing was done with the Pentel brush pen. 

If you would like to enter a giveaway to win the all the pens in a JETPENS sampler set, click HERE. All entries will be entered into Random.com on February 1st and the winner will receive the Brush Pen Sampler that I reviewed above! Winner will be notified by email and announced in a post on this blog. If there is no response from winner within one week, a new winner will be chosen. Brush pens will be sent to winner within thirty days.

So please follow my blog and enter the contest for more art, kid lit, pen addiction posts, and a chance to win!

Good luck! xo 

Yummy Drinks Kids Will Enjoy--Under 80 Calories!! For Mom and Dad too.

Just because the summer is almost over doesn't mean all the fun has to end. 

Here is a quick post to tell you about two awesome drinks I made that are under 100 calories each--and you can share them with the kids! (If you want...)

*Coconut Fizzy*

Ice Cubes (I fill the glass)

Coconut La Croix Seltzer

Pineapple Juice

Lime

1 tsp. coconut milk or cream per glass (you can also use whipped cream)

Fill glass 2/3 of the way with seltzer. (If you have never had La Croix Coconut Seltzer I HIGHLY recommend it. It is somehow creamy all on it's own with NO sugar, NO color, and NO calories. Delicious.) Add about 1/4 cup pineapple juice (or to taste). Add about 1 tsp. coconut milk or cream and stir well. Squeeze a bit of lime on top and add ice. This drink rivals any pina colada I've ever had. Yummmm. (You can also add a scoop of whipped cream on top but that puts it over 100 calories--might be worth it.)

*Creamsicle*

Ice Cubes

Vanilla Polar Seltzer (another somehow creamy calorie free drink)

Orange Juice

Vanilla almond milk or soy milk OR 1 tsp. coconut milk

Fill glass 1/2 with vanilla seltzer. Fill other half with orange juice. Add the vanilla almond milk, soy milk, or coconut milk and stir well. Light, refreshing, and delicious.

Both of these drinks are so much better for you than soda. Coconut cream has EFAs and juices are filled with vitamin C. 

BTW--2 TBSP of whipped cream only has 16 calories. (You can also make divine whipped "cream" by taking some of the solids off of the top of the coconut cream, adding a bit of sugar and whipping the same way as cream. Yum again. And it's vegan.)

Here are the seltzers:

BUY HERE

 

BUY HERE

ENJOY!!
xo