The Lettering Tools We Use

We’re often asked what tools (pens and brushes) we use to create our hand lettered designs. Well we thought we’d answer all of your questions by giving you a behind the scenes look at how Ben creates the different hand lettered and illustrative designs for Old English Company.

When creating our designs in a hand lettered style, the preference is for pens rather than brushes. I find that you can have more control with pens as opposed to brushes. I do use a couple of brush styled pens, which are great for mimicking a brush and allow you to increase and decrease the thickness of lines.

Paper mate Flair Pen

Great for an easy gliding pen that also offers precision. I’ll often use this to create initial sketches, or for touching up final designs.

Pigma Micron Pens

I have a set of these finaliser pens. By far the best finalisers I’ve used. The illustrations and hand lettering we crete doesn’t often need extensive detail, but they are great for touching up finished designs.

Pilot V Sign Pen

This is probably my most used pen out of the line up. It’s great for creating quick touch sketches, and over time the pen gets better as the nib flattens.

Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Brush Pen

Again one of the pens I sue the most. This is a brush pen that gives you slightly more control that others. The nib/brush isn’t too flexible, so it allows you to be quite detailed while still mimicking a brush.

Tombow N15

This brush pen is perfect for creating pieces that requires thicker and more fluid lines.

Be sure to try some of these out, and let us know if you have any particular favourites that you use.