Brush pens for journaling, lettering and creative headings

Brush pens are popular pens for journaling, lettering, and creative headings in bullet journals, planners, and notebooks. The flexible brush tip allows you to vary the thickness of lines, so you can create both thin lines and broad brush strokes in the same stroke.

A brush pen therefore functions as both a pen and a small brush. This makes it ideal for creative pages in journals, decorative headings in planners, and lettering projects.

Brush pens are part of the category writing articles. If you want to see the full selection of pens for journaling and planners, you can explore all our writing articles.

At Plan & Plot Studio you will find brush pens from well-known brands that work well on paper in journals and planners. In our range, you will find popular brands such as Tombow, Sakura and Zig, which is often used for journaling, planners and brush lettering.

What is a brush pen

A brush pen is a pen with a flexible brush-like tip. The tip reacts to pressure, so you can create both thin and thick lines in the same stroke.

Therefore, brush pens are often used for:

• lettering
• Bullet journal headings
• Creative layouts in journals
• Decorations in planners
• illustration and colouring

Many people use brush pens along with Fineliners, where fineliners are used for structure and text, while brush pens are used for headings and decorative elements.

Popular brush pens for journaling and lettering

There are many types of brush pens, and some models are particularly popular for journaling, planners, bullet journals, and brush lettering. These pens are known for their good ink flow, flexible tips, and colours that work well on notebook paper.

Tombow ABT Dual Brush Pens

Tombow ABT Dual Brush Pens are loved for their versatility and high quality. As well as a flexible brush tip at one end, you also get a fine tip at the other. This makes the Tombow ABT suitable for both detail work and broad brush strokes.

Their water-based inks can be mixed, offering a wealth of possibilities for working with colour gradients and shades in journals and creative projects.

See more products from Tombow.

For small headings, many choose a smaller brush pen such as Tombow Fudenosuke, which is known for its firm tip and good control in small headlines and lettering.

Sakura Koi Brush Pen

Sakura Koi Brush Pens has a durable brush tip that makes it easy to switch between fine lines and broad brushstrokes. The water-based ink can be mixed with water, making them suitable for watercolour effects in journals.

Sakura is known for pens that work well on paper in journals and sketchbooks and are often used for both journaling and lettering.

Zig Clean Color Real Brush

Zig Clean Color Real Brush pens are popular with creative users due to their real brush tip and large colour palette. They offer a high degree of control and flexibility and are often used for illustration, lettering and colouring.

They are particularly popular for creative spreads in bullet journals.

Tombow Fudenosuke brush pen

Tombow Fudenosuke pens have a smaller and firmer brush tip. This makes them suitable for precise headings and lettering in smaller sizes.

They are often used for small headings in journals and for practising brush lettering.

Brush pens are used for lettering, calligraphy, illustration, and colouring.

In creative projects on paper, brush pens make it possible to vary line thickness, creating a more lively and dynamic expression.

In journaling and planners, they are especially used for:

• Bullet journal headings
• lettering and handwriting
• Creative spreads in journals
• Decorations in planners
• colourful titles and quotes

mange kombinerer brush pens med Fineliners for structure and text.

Gel pens also often used with brush pens for details, highlights, and colours in planners and creative pages.

Different types of brush pens

If you're working with journaling or lettering, it can be an advantage to choose different types of brush pens for different purposes. Some are best suited for large headings, while others are better for small details in a bullet journal.

Brush pens are available in several varieties, and the choice often depends on how they are to be used in journaling, lettering or creative projects.

Some brush pens have a soft tip which makes it easier to create clear differences between thin and thick lines. Others have a firmer tip which gives more control and is therefore good for beginners.

There are also brush pens with two tips where one side is a brush tip and the other is a fine tip for details.

How to use brush pens in your bullet journal and for journaling

In bullet journals and creative journals, brush pens are popular because they allow you to create clear headings and decorative elements without needing to use many different tools.

A common method in a bullet journal is to combine brush pens with other pens. Many first create structure and text with Fineliners and then makes headings and decorations with brush pens.

Typical applications include, for example:

• Headings on monthly pages
• Titles of trackers
• Decorative quotes
• colourful headings in planners

For smaller headings, many opt for a smaller brush pen like the Tombow Fudenosuke. For larger headings and colourful titles, Tombow ABT Dual Brush pens are often used.

If you work a lot with journaling, it can also be an advantage to combine brush pens with Gel pens for highlights and small details.

Frequently asked questions about brush pens

Below you will find answers to some of the most common questions about brush pens, how to use them, and how to choose the right type for journaling and creative projects.

How do I choose the right brush pen?

The choice of brush pen depends, among other things, on the tip's firmness, ink type, and what the pen will be used for. For journaling, many choose water-based brush pens because they work well on notebook paper.

Beginners often prefer brushes with a slightly firmer tip because they offer better control.

Can brush pens be used by beginners

Yes. Both beginners and experienced users can work with brush pens. Many start with small brush pens or models with a firmer tip because they are easier to control.

With a little practice, it quickly becomes possible to create attractive headings and lettering in journals.

Can I mix the colours of my brush pens

Many brush pens with water-based ink can be mixed to create new colours and gradients. This is a popular technique in lettering and creative journaling projects.

How do I store my brush pens

To prolong the life of your brush pens, they should be stored horizontally or according to the manufacturer's recommendations. This ensures that the ink remains evenly distributed within the pen.

Is the ink in brush pens waterproof

It depends on the manufacturer. Some brush pens have waterproof ink, while others have water-soluble ink and are therefore well-suited for watercolour techniques.

Ja, brush pens kan bruges på forskellige papirtyper

Brush pens can be used on many types of paper, but the best results are achieved on good quality paper. For journals and planners, paper of at least 140 grams is often recommended so the ink doesn't bleed through the page.

If you use this type of pen a lot, you might find it beneficial to choose journals or notebooks with thicker paper.