Finding the right urban sketching pen isn’t just about ink flow or line weight – it’s about how the tool fits into your rhythm as a sketcher. I’ve tested dozens of pens on benches, curbs, coffee shop tables, and while sitting cross-legged on sidewalks. Some pens frustrated me within five minutes. Others became trusted go-to tools I now carry every time I head out to sketch.
Whether you like sketching loose and lively or prefer a crisp, architectural line, the pen you use can make or break your experience. Here's what I’ve learned from trial and error, and what I recommend to anyone navigating the overwhelming world of sketching pens.
Key Points
- Refillable fountain pens offer expressive lines and flexibility but come with a learning curve and maintenance.
- Waterproof fineliners are dependable for ink and wash work, especially if you're combining them with watercolors.
- Don’t buy a full set right away—test a few different types of pens on-location to find what feels natural in your hand.
What Makes a Great Urban Sketching Pen?
The best urban sketching pen feels effortless in use, holds up in varied environments, and creates the type of line you're after—whether that's bold, delicate, or something in between. Urban sketching often happens fast and spontaneously. You want tools that support that energy, not slow you down.
Personally, I always look for pens that dry fast (to avoid smudging), don’t bleed through sketchbook paper, and are either waterproof or at least water-resistant if I’m planning to paint over them.
If you're curious about how I use different tools on-location, I cover my everyday urban sketching kit in more detail here.
Waterproof Fineliners for Urban Sketching
These are the first pens many beginners try, and for good reason. Brands like Micron, Staedtler Pigment Liner, and Uni Pin make it easy to get consistent lines without needing to worry about ink flow or nib maintenance.
They work especially well for sketchers who want to add watercolor on top of their drawings—you can check out my favorite urban sketching watercolor palette if you’re heading that direction.
Pros
- Waterproof ink
- Consistent line widths
- Easy to use and replace
Cons
- Can feel stiff or lifeless
- Disposable (not environmentally friendly)
- Line weight doesn’t vary much
Fountain Pens: My Personal Favorite
Fountain pens took a while to grow on me, but once I found the right nibs and inks, I stopped using anything else. They're expressive, reusable, and make it easy to vary your line weight just by changing pressure or direction.
I often use a Lamy Safari with a medium or fine nib, filled with waterproof ink like De Atramentis Document Black. It takes a bit more prep, but for me, the extra expressiveness is worth it. When sketching people in motion or capturing chaotic scenes like urban sketching in New York, the pen feels alive in my hand.
Tips for Getting Started with Fountain Pens
- Make sure your ink is waterproof if you paint
- Clean your pen regularly to avoid clogging
- Start with a medium nib for general sketching
Brush Pens and Calligraphy Pens
I bring a brush pen when I want to sketch bold shadows or create expressive, abstract lines. These are great for sketching trees, crowds, or capturing movement. The Pentel Pocket Brush Pen is a classic, but even a cheap felt-tip brush pen can be fun to play with.
Brush pens also pair well with some of the ideas in Loose Urban Sketching, where you embrace imperfection and spontaneity.
Keep in Mind
- Some are not waterproof
- Takes practice to control the line
- Better for expressive or gestural styles
The Surprising Power of a BIC Cristal
Out of everything I’ve used, the pen I keep coming back to is a basic BIC Cristal. It’s cheap, lightweight, and doesn’t get in the way of drawing. There’s something freeing about using a pen that’s meant for writing—not “art.”
Ballpoint ink behaves differently than technical or fountain pen ink. It responds well to pressure, which gives you a nice range of line weights without switching tools. I can sketch lightly to map out shapes, then go back over lines with more pressure to define the forms. It’s especially good for slow, layered drawing—when I want to build tone and texture gradually through hatching or shading.
Unlike waterproof ink pens, the BIC isn’t water-resistant, so I don’t usually use it with watercolor. But that’s also what makes it good for dry media studies and line drawings that focus more on value, gesture, and subtlety.
It also dries instantly and never bleeds through my sketchbook pages. And since I don’t feel precious about it, I draw more loosely. I don’t worry about wasting ink or messing up an expensive pen nib.
Why I Love It
- Glides easily over sketchbook paper
- Great for layering and tone-building
- Incredibly portable and replaceable
- Allows pressure-sensitive sketching without needing fancy materials
- Encourages experimentation because it doesn’t feel precious
If you're into more observational drawing or subtle shading, I walk through how I use ballpoint pens in my sketchbook in Simple Urban Sketching. It’s proof that the best tools don’t have to be fancy.
Don't Overthink It: Test, Then Commit
If you're new to sketching or returning after a long break, it's easy to feel like you need the “perfect pen” to get started. But honestly, you'll learn a lot more by simply picking one or two pens and trying them out in real-world settings.
Try sketching with different pens on location: in a city square, at a park, or during a workshop. Notice what feels comfortable. Look at the kind of lines that come naturally with each one. Eventually, you’ll build your own relationship with your tools.
I shared a few of my favorite exercises in Urban Sketching Exercises if you're looking to practice using a new pen.
What I Carry Now
These days, my urban sketching bag includes:
- A fountain pen with waterproof ink
- Two sizes of fineliners (usually 0.3 and 0.8)
- A Pentel Pocket Brush Pen
- A BIC Cristal
That setup gives me range, speed, and expression without weighing me down. Depending on where I’m headed, I might also toss in a gray marker or white gel pen. But I try to keep it simple—I want to be able to start sketching within 30 seconds of sitting down.
I walk through how I pack everything into a lightweight setup in this breakdown of my urban sketching bag.
Explore Further
If you're still figuring out how to build your practice, I'd recommend reading Simple Urban Sketching for an easy entry point. Or if you're ready to dive deeper, The Urban Sketcher and The Urban Sketching Handbook: 101 Sketching Tips both give great insight into techniques and materials.
Whatever pen you choose, the best one is the one you’ll use often. Just get out there and draw.