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How do you use a metallic brush pen?

Published in Brush Pen Techniques 3 mins read

Using a metallic brush pen primarily involves controlling the pressure applied to the nib to create varying line thicknesses, which is the fundamental technique for brush lettering.

Understanding Your Metallic Brush Pen

Metallic brush pens feature a flexible, brush-like tip and pigment-based ink containing metallic particles. This allows you to create beautiful strokes with a shimmering effect. The key to using them effectively lies in mastering pressure control.

Basic Brush Pen Technique: Pressure Variation

The core concept is simple:

  • Light Pressure = Thin Lines (Upstrokes): As shown in many tutorials, including the reference mentioning up strokes, you apply very little pressure when moving the pen upwards or sometimes sideways. This uses only the tip of the brush, resulting in a fine line.
  • Heavy Pressure = Thick Lines (Downstrokes): Conversely, for down strokes, you press down firmly on the brush tip, spreading the bristles out against the paper. This creates a wide, bold line.

By smoothly transitioning between light and heavy pressure within a single stroke, you can create beautiful script lettering with thick downstrokes and thin upstrokes.

Practicing Your Strokes

To get comfortable with pressure control, it's essential to practice the basic strokes. The reference highlights the importance of practicing up strokes and down strokes.

Here's a simple practice method:

  1. Upstrokes: Practice drawing lines moving upwards using only the very tip of the pen. Keep your hand light and consistent.
  2. Downstrokes: Practice drawing lines moving downwards, pressing down firmly and evenly to create a thick line.
  3. Transition Strokes: Practice combining these, starting with a light upstroke and transitioning smoothly into a heavy downstroke, or vice versa.

Using a practice sheet that provides guided lines for "just one of each stroke" can be incredibly helpful for building muscle memory and achieving consistent results.

Holding the Pen

Hold the metallic brush pen at a comfortable angle, typically around 45 degrees, similar to how you might hold a regular pen for writing, but perhaps slightly less vertical. Avoid holding it too upright, as this can make it harder to control pressure and may wear out the tip unevenly.

Tips for Using Metallic Brush Pens

  • Paper Choice: Use smooth paper. Rough paper can damage the delicate brush tip and may not allow the metallic ink to lay down smoothly.
  • Shake Before Use: Metallic inks often settle. Gently shaking the pen before use helps redistribute the metallic particles for a consistent shimmer.
  • Storage: Store brush pens horizontally to keep the ink evenly distributed in the tip.

Mastering the use of a metallic brush pen is all about practice and getting a feel for how much pressure is needed to create your desired line thickness.