Calligraphy Felt Markers

When you are first starting with calligraphy, one of the easiest ways to learn is using a calligraphy felt marker. That way you can concentrate on learning how to hold the pen and on making your strokes, instead of fussing with ink and all that goes along with that.

Calligraphy felt markers comes in lots of sizes, shapes and colors these days, which certainly makes things fun and interesting.

So what should you look for in a good calligraphy marker?

First, you want a good tip. That means you want one that has a nice sharp edge to it, so that your hairline strokes are nice and thin. You also want one that has good square side edges to it, rather than rounded edges, so that you get sharper, thinner lines when you use those edges. And you want a felt tip that is strong enough to keep its shape over the use of the pen instead of getting soft and flabby.

It's nice if you can get a marker that doesn't run dry on you in short order.

You may want to think about whether or not permanence or light-fastness is important to you. If you are doing works that need to last, then do consider this. Otherwise you may find all your hard work fading away on you. That's certainly not what you want, especially if you are selling your work.

Another thing to think about is whether or not you need your marker ink to be waterproof. If you are layering colors or adding waterbased paints over the ink, then that may be an issue. If you just want a simple pen for playing around, then it probably doesn't matter.

My own personal favorite for just playing around and experimenting is the Staedtler Calligraph Duo 3002. It comes with a 3.5 mm tip on one end and a 2.0 mm tip on the other - it's nice having the two sizes in one pen. I've been using these pens for years. The tips keep their shape nicely, and it takes forever for them to run dry.

By the way, if your markers start to go dry, they can sometimes still be used for special effects - like a dry-brush look.

What's available in Calligraphy Felt Markers?

Staedtler Calligraph Duo

      • comes in five colors - red, blue, green, violet and black
      • two chisel tips for fine and broad lettering
      • permanent, pigmented ink that is lightfast and quick drying
      • photo-safe, acid-free ink

Zig Calligraphy Markers

      • waterbased ink, non-bleeding, waterproof, photosafe
      • comes with 2 tips - 5 mm & 2 mm
      • available in 48 colors
      • lightfast, acid-free, archival quality

Speedball Elegant Writer

      • water soluable, acid-free ink
      • comes in a variety of tips
      • available in black, blue, red, brown & green
      • usually comes in sets