Practical examples of ink tools: pens, brushes, and nibs examples for every artist

First, some real examples of ink tools you’ll actually use

Let’s start with concrete, real-world examples of ink tools: pens, brushes, and nibs examples you’re likely to see in stores or in artists’ supply lists.

Artists’ pen kits often include a handful of workhorse tools:

• A waterproof fineliner pen, like a Sakura Pigma Micron or Uni Pin, for clean line art.
• A pigment brush pen, such as the Pentel Pocket Brush Pen, for expressive, brush-like strokes.
• A technical pen, like the Copic Multiliner or Staedtler Pigment Liner, for precise architectural or comic inking.
• A simple dip pen holder with a G-nib (Zebra G or Nikko G) for flexible, varied line weight.
• A pointed brush (size 2–6) made of synthetic or natural hair for traditional brush-and-ink washes.

These are some of the best examples of tools that give you a wide range of line quality without filling a whole drawer. From here, we can break down the main categories and show more detailed examples of ink tools: pens, brushes, and nibs examples so you can see how each one shines.

Pen-based examples of ink tools: fineliners, brush pens, and technical pens

When people think of ink drawing, they usually picture pens first. Pens are convenient, portable, and far less messy than open bottles of ink. Within this category, examples include several very different tools that each leave their own kind of mark.

Fineliners: the everyday workhorses

Fineliners are those felt or fiber-tipped pens that come in specific sizes, like 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and so on. A classic example of ink tools in this group would be the Sakura Pigma Micron series. These pens use archival, pigment-based ink that is waterproof once dry, which makes them favorites for sketching and comic inking.

Other strong examples include Uni Pin Fineliners and Staedtler Pigment Liners. All of these are great when you want:

• Consistent line width
• Smudge-resistant lines over watercolor
• Easy, low-maintenance tools for travel sketching

If you’re just starting and want a simple example of a reliable pen, grab a 0.3 or 0.5 fineliner from any of these lines and start doodling. You’ll instantly understand why they show up in almost every list of examples of ink tools: pens, brushes, and nibs examples.

Brush pens: portable drama and expression

Brush pens are designed to mimic the feel of a traditional brush, but in pen form. The Pentel Pocket Brush Pen is one of the best examples of this category. It has a real bristle tip and refillable cartridges, so you get sharp, hairline strokes and thick, bold sweeps from the same tool.

Other popular examples include:

• Tombow Fudenosuke (hard and soft tip versions) for calligraphy and small lettering.
• Kuretake Zig Brush Pens, which come in various flexibilities and ink colors.

Brush pens are perfect when you want expressive line weight without dipping into a bottle. Many comic artists ink entire pages with a brush pen because it combines speed, control, and dramatic variation. If you want a modern, 2024-friendly setup for urban sketching, a waterproof fineliner plus a brush pen is one of the best examples of a minimal, powerful ink kit.

Technical pens: precision tools for detail lovers

Technical pens were originally designed for drafting and engineering, but artists quickly adopted them. Examples include the Copic Multiliner SP and Rotring Isograph. These pens use metal tips that deliver extremely consistent lines, which makes them favorites for:

• Architectural drawings
• Mandalas and geometric patterns
• Line-heavy comics and illustration

They can be more expensive and delicate than regular fineliners, but they reward careful use with beautiful, crisp lines. If you’re the kind of person who loves tiny details and neat, organized pages, a technical pen is a strong example of an ink tool that fits your personality.

Brush-based examples of ink tools: traditional brushes and modern trends

Brushes are where ink drawing starts to feel like painting. They’re flexible, expressive, and wonderfully unpredictable in the best way.

Round brushes: classic control and versatility

The most common example of a brush for ink drawing is the round brush. Sizes 2–8 are especially popular. A synthetic round brush from brands like Princeton or Winsor & Newton is a practical place to start.

With a round brush, you can:

• Pull thin lines with the tip
• Lay down thick, bold strokes with more pressure
• Create ink washes by diluting ink with water

For beginners, a size 4 or 6 synthetic round brush and a bottle of waterproof India ink is a classic example of a simple, effective setup. Many artists still prefer this traditional brush-and-ink method in 2024 because it gives unmatched variation and flow.

Chinese and Japanese calligraphy brushes

If you’ve ever seen East Asian calligraphy, you’ve seen some of the most expressive examples of ink tools: pens, brushes, and nibs examples in action. Calligraphy brushes, often made with goat, wolf, or synthetic hair, hold a lot of ink and respond dramatically to pressure.

Artists use these for:

• Large, sweeping characters and strokes
• Bold, gestural figure drawing
• Abstract ink work and expressive mark-making

These brushes can feel wild at first, but they’re amazing teachers. They exaggerate every hesitation and every confident movement, so they can help you develop a more fluid drawing style.

Flat and dagger brushes: edges and textures

While round brushes are the most common, flat and dagger brushes are underrated examples of ink tools that can add interesting variety:

• Flat brushes create broad, even strokes and sharp edges, perfect for graphic shapes and block shadows.
• Dagger brushes, cut at an angle, can switch from thin to thick lines in one stroke and are great for foliage, hair, and dynamic textures.

These tools are used more often in watercolor, but in the last few years more ink artists have been borrowing them for mixed-media sketchbooks and stylized illustration. In 2024, you’ll see a lot of artists online using flat brushes with ink to create bold, poster-like designs.

Nib-based examples of ink tools: dip pens, flex nibs, and specialty tips

Now we get to nibs—the metal tips you dip into ink. They look old-fashioned, but they’re still some of the best examples of ink tools when you want expressive line variation and that classic, scratchy ink feel.

G-nibs: the comic artist’s favorite

If you ask manga or comic artists for examples of ink tools: pens, brushes, and nibs examples they rely on, you will almost always hear about G-nibs. The Zebra G and Nikko G nibs are legendary.

These nibs are flexible, which means:

• Light pressure gives you thin, delicate lines.
• Heavy pressure gives you thick, dramatic strokes.

That range makes them perfect for comics, character art, and any drawing where you want the line itself to carry emotion. Pair a G-nib with a simple wooden pen holder and a bottle of waterproof ink, and you have a professional-level inking setup that costs surprisingly little.

Crowquill nibs: tiny lines, big detail

Crowquill nibs (like the Hunt 102) are very fine and somewhat stiff. They’re good examples of ink tools that shine in detailed work:

• Crosshatching
• Tiny textures like hair, fur, or grass
• Intricate stippling

If you love old book illustrations or Victorian-style engravings, crowquill nibs will feel like home. They require a light touch and a bit of patience, but they reward you with incredible detail.

Calligraphy nibs: broad edges and dramatic scripts

Broad-edged calligraphy nibs, such as Speedball C-series or Brause italic nibs, are wide and flat rather than pointed. These are used to create scripts like italic, blackletter, and uncial.

In drawing, these nibs can also be used creatively to:

• Build architectural forms with strong verticals and horizontals
• Create patterned textures and decorative borders
• Experiment with graphic, blocky line work

If you’re interested in both lettering and illustration, calligraphy nibs are excellent examples of ink tools that let you combine the two worlds.

Matching tools to styles: practical examples for different goals

Let’s connect all these examples of ink tools: pens, brushes, and nibs examples to real drawing situations. Here’s how different tools tend to pair with different styles.

For sketchbooks and travel drawing

If you like to draw in cafés, on trains, or while walking around a city, portability and low mess are everything. In that case, your best examples of tools might be:

• One waterproof fineliner (0.3 or 0.5)
• One small brush pen for bold accents

This combo lets you capture quick scenes, add thick-and-thin variation, and even layer watercolor on top when you get home.

For comics and manga

Comic artists often mix several examples of ink tools: pens, brushes, and nibs examples in the same page:

• G-nib for character line art
• Brush pen or traditional brush for blacks and spot shadows
• Fineliners or technical pens for backgrounds and panel borders

This mix gives them control where they need it (backgrounds and panels) and expression where it matters most (faces and figures).

For calligraphy and lettering

If your main interest is lettering, your kit might focus on:

• Brush pens like Tombow Fudenosuke for modern brush lettering
• Broad-edged nibs for traditional scripts
• A smooth, bleed-resistant paper that keeps lines crisp

In this case, nibs and brush pens are the best examples of ink tools that support your goal, while fineliners become more of a supporting cast for guidelines and small notes.

For fine art and expressive illustration

If you’re leaning toward gallery-style work, expressive figures, or abstract ink pieces, brushes and flexible nibs will feel like home:

• Round brushes for washes and bold shapes
• Calligraphy or Chinese brushes for gestural strokes
• G-nibs or other flex nibs for energetic line work

This is where ink starts to feel alive on the page. The unpredictability of brushes and flexible nibs becomes a feature, not a bug.

2024–2025 trends: how artists are using ink tools right now

Ink drawing might be an old art form, but the way people use these tools keeps evolving. Some current trends you’ll notice:

• Hybrid analog–digital workflows: Many artists ink on paper using fineliners, brush pens, or dip nibs, then scan their drawings and finish them digitally. This combines the organic feel of ink with the flexibility of digital color and editing.
• Environmentally conscious choices: There’s growing interest in refillable pens (like the Pentel Pocket Brush Pen or Copic Multiliner SP) and bottled inks instead of disposable markers. Artists are looking for examples of ink tools that last longer and create less waste.
• Mixed-media sketchbooks: More people are combining ink with watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil in a single sketchbook. That means waterproof, pigment-based ink tools—like Microns and many brush pens—are more popular than ever.

If you want to explore current best practices around materials safety (especially if you work in a small studio or around kids), organizations like the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and educational resources from universities can be helpful starting points.

Simple starter kits: examples of how to begin with just a few tools

You do not need a mountain of supplies to start ink drawing. Here are a few simple, realistic examples of ink tools: pens, brushes, and nibs examples you might combine into a starter kit.

Minimalist pen-only kit

For someone who wants zero mess and maximum simplicity, a pen-only kit might include:

• One waterproof fineliner (0.3–0.5)
• One brush pen for expressive strokes

This gives you clean line work and bold accents, all in a pencil case.

Classic brush-and-ink kit

If you want to feel like a traditional illustrator, a brush-based kit might include:

• One round brush (size 4 or 6)
• A bottle of waterproof India ink
• A jar of water and a mixing palette or small dish

This setup is perfect for learning line variation, washes, and value studies.

Expressive nib-and-ink kit

If you’re drawn to old comics or vintage illustration, a nib-based kit might include:

• One pen holder
• One Zebra G or Nikko G nib
• One crowquill nib for detail
• A bottle of smooth, fountain-pen-safe black ink

This gives you a wide range of lines and that classic scratchy feel.

In each of these starter kits, the tools are specific, realistic examples of ink tools: pens, brushes, and nibs examples that you can actually buy and use right away.

FAQ: common questions about examples of ink tools

What are some beginner-friendly examples of ink tools I should start with?

A very approachable starter set would be a 0.3 or 0.5 waterproof fineliner, a small brush pen like the Pentel Fude or Tombow Fudenosuke, and a smooth sketchbook. These examples of ink tools give you both consistent lines and expressive strokes without dealing with bottled ink.

What is a good example of a tool for very fine detail work?

For extremely fine lines, examples include crowquill nibs (such as the Hunt 102) used with bottled ink, or ultra-fine fineliners labeled 0.05 or 0.1. Both options are excellent examples of ink tools when you need tiny textures, hair, or intricate crosshatching.

Are there examples of ink tools that work well with watercolor?

Yes. Waterproof, pigment-based fineliners like Sakura Pigma Micron, Uni Pin, or Staedtler Pigment Liner are classic examples. Let the ink dry completely, then paint over it with watercolor. Many mixed-media artists in 2024 rely on this combo for sketchbooks and travel journals.

What’s a good example of a flexible nib for expressive lines?

The Zebra G and Nikko G nibs are some of the best-known examples. They’re flexible enough to create dramatic line variation but sturdy enough for beginners to practice with. Paired with a smooth, bleed-resistant paper, they’re excellent tools for comics, manga, and expressive illustration.

Can I get good results with inexpensive tools, or do I need pro-level brands?

You can absolutely get strong results with budget-friendly tools. Many student-grade fineliners, synthetic brushes, and basic nibs are very capable. The best examples of ink tools for learning are often the ones you’re not afraid to use freely—because you’re not worried about “wasting” expensive supplies.

Ink drawing doesn’t have to be mysterious or intimidating. Once you’ve seen clear examples of ink tools: pens, brushes, and nibs examples in action, choosing your own becomes a lot simpler. Start with one or two tools that match your style, give yourself permission to experiment, and let the ink teach you what it can do.