Beginner Lettering Series- How to Hold a Brush Pen
Hello lettering friends!
Today I’m back with a new post in the beginner lettering series, how to hold a brush pen properly.
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You may not realize this but brush pens are held differently than any other pen. In order for the brsuh tip to function properly (and not work against you) it needs to be on a angle. A common misconception is that hand lettering and handwriting are the same. I’ve touched on this before and you can read all about in this post.
You will hold your brush pen differently than all other pens!
Brush-lettering is beautiful! The contrast between the thin and thick downstrokes is what makes brush-lettering stand out from other types of hand lettering. To achieve this look, you NEED to hold your brush pen in to correct way. Let’s jump right in!
It’s a few simple steps:
1. Pick up your pen and hold it with your dominant hand. I’m right-handed.
2. Angle the pen and hold it at a 45-degree to the paper, not straight up and down!
3. You want to make sure you are holding your pen so it is perpendicular to the slant of your downstrokes.
4. Hold your pen about an inch or an and a half away from the tip (even farther for larger tip brush pens).
This allows you to get the full amount of pressure on your downstrokes and protects the pen tip from being crushed. The pen will work for you and not against you. The pen is doing most of the work and you are guiding it along with the page.
Are you ready to practice? Click the picture below to download my basic strokes freebie!
Did you learn something new today? Are you a lettering beginner? Check out these popular posts and happy lettering friends!
Different Lettering Styles Defined
