(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter.)
I can't draw or do lettering very well, so brush pens always confound me a bit. I love the feel of the way they write, but I can't wield them the way that artists do, and I certainly don't get the beautiful results. I still reach for them, though. I'm usually writing just for myself, so neatness isn't critical.
The very fine points on these Kuretake Fudegokochi brush pens give me the fun feeling of writing with a brush pen while still allowing me to write legibly. Well, as much as I ever do, anyway. The line varies from .4mm to 1.8mm, and the firm felt tip springs back so that the very fine line is maintained even as the brush breaks in.
The pens are very well made. The body is lightweight plastic. The caps and end caps are the color of the pen ink, the body is in a parchment color with a matte finish, minimal branding in Japanese text, and the grip section is clear, so the ink can be seen moving through the feed. The clip is metal, very sturdy and springy. The cap snaps securely and posts deeply. The grip is not tapered at all, but the cylinder is a good diameter and the pen is light enough that a fancy grip isn't needed.
The ink colors in these blue-black and brown samples are lovely. They're earthy and neutral, but rich in pigment. They do feel a bit dry on the page, but there doesn't appear to be any ink starvation. It may just be the texture of the tip. The ink dries quickly and doesn't smear. I did not see any feathering on Rhodia paper, and there was no bleed-through, even when I pressed the tip to its maximum flex. It is important to note, though, that this ink is not waterproof. So, while it is great for line drawings, it should not be colored over with paint or marker (unless you want smearing and colors to run, which does look cool, if that's what you're going for).
The pens are not refillable, and are a bit pricey at $4.25 a pop. The six-color pack at $20 isn't a bad deal, though, and is something I'd definitely go for if I used brush pens with any regularity (or if I used them with even a small measure of talent). Of all the brush pens I've used just for funsies, these are some of the nicest.
(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
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