a marker for all art projects

Paint pens are markers that come with nibs of all sizes that contain a permanent pigment ink. The pigment makes them opaque when applied, which makes them suitable for projects that regular ink pens would not work for. Paint pens can draw on top of paint and photographs, on dark surfaces and even on non-paper surfaces such as glass. Whether you're into fine art painting, prefer to stick with drawing or primarily work in paper crafts, paint pens can be a powerful tool for creating your art.

Best for: where writing or drawings are required on glass, wood, plastic or ceramics

Modern calligraphy can be practiced with a variety of different tools, such as brush pens, classic dip pens, pencils, markers and broad nib pens (parallel pens). For total beginners it is recommended you start practicing with a brush pen simply because it is much easier to learn how to work with it, then move on to the traditional dip pens when you feel more confident.

Best for: calligraphy and hand lettering

Brush markers spare you the trouble of mixing your own ink or paint. Brush pens come with a variety of synthetic tips to mimic the qualities of brush bristles, making them ideal for lettering and calligraphy.

Best for: illustrations where varying widths of lines are required, lettering

Ink drawings have a very long artistic tradition, with ink pens favoured by artists and graphic artists alike. Ink is durable and can be combined with many other drawing techniques. Faber-Castell has combined all the advantages of artist's inks with the benefits of a modern, easy-to-use pen - the Pitt Artist Pen. The pigmented and very lightfast drawing ink is ideal for sketches, drawings, layouts, fashion design and illustration.

Best for: sketching, fine line drawing and illustrations, crafting

There are many benefits of working with coloured pencils. Coloured pencils allows precision, control of detail and depth. Work lightly for a soft look or with many layers to get the effect of oil paint. Coloured pencils are an economical medium, and you don’t need many extra supplies. They require little storage space, no drying time and creates no fumes or chemicals.

Best for: sketching and colouring work

The smooth bold feel of using a Sharpies marker makes them a great choice for cartoon drawing, comic book inking and caricatures. Sharpies are also commonly used by web designers, architects and others that need to communicate visually. When sketching, broader tip markers allow drawing to progress more freely without worrying about finer lines and details. Remember when using Sharpies, they may bleed through the paper, so tensure you place a piece of cardboard or newspaper underneath. Sharpies come in a range of colours including bright colours and the popular pastel range.

Best for: drawing, illustrations and colouring work