Kuretake, founded as a sumi ink manufacturer, has brought to market various art and craft supplies, including brush pens. Its high-quality, easy-to-use products are also widely used in illustration! Did you know that even professional manga artists favor them?
This time, we will introduce Kuretake pens recommended for manga illustrations, along with social media posts from manga artists and other professional artists! We hope you will discover the charm of Kuretake pens beyond just writing text.
Recommended Product ① ZIG Cartoonist MANGAKA
●What kind of pen is it?
Leave line drawing to us! This marker is ideal for illustration outlines, lettering, and more. There are seven types of technical pen tips, from 003 to 08, and two types of brush pen tips: Fine and Medium. It boasts excellent water and alcohol resistance, so it won't smudge even when water-based or alcohol-based markers are used over the lines.
Leave line drawing of colored artwork to us!It is also resistant to rubbing from erasers and other tools, with the color remaining clear even after rubbing.
We conducted an internal test where we erased lines drawn with MANGAKA, and the color did not fade even after 20 rubs back and forth.
Lines are hard to fade even after rubbing vigorously.Furthermore, the nib is highly durable and resistant to crushing, even with strong pressure, making it ideal for those who press hard when writing!
When we introduced these features, Kuretake's official account (@kuretakejapan) went viral in January 2020, garnering 17,000 likes.
●Manga artists who love MANGAKA include…
Chica Umino
Notable works: Honey and Clover, March Comes In Like a Lion, etc.
She praised the thinness of the nib and its resistance to smudging!
It seems this pen supported her work during the tense final stages of manuscript completion.
Link to the post is here
Recommended Product ② Fudegokochi
●What kind of pen is it?
This is a brush-style sign pen characterized by its flexible brush-like tip.
What makes it so beloved is the ease of use of this tip.
It's perfect for those who find it difficult to write with unfamiliar brushes or long-tipped brush pens, but still want to create attractive text and lines with varying thickness!
Easy to use with a moderately firm brush tip.It allows for expressive lines and offers high control, making it recommended for filling in solid areas and line drawing in illustrations.
●Manga artists who love Fudegokochi include…
Konami Suzuki
Notable works: Hokusai and My Meals, Match Shoujo, Kamishoku no Ryounin, etc.
She commented, "I love it!" Her dynamic illustrations are so cool. The mountain of Fudegokochi pens also shows her affection for them.
Additionally, Ms. Suzuki provided comments on her impressions of Fudegokochi.
"The exquisite balance of hardness and softness for a brush pen makes it easy to draw smooth lines, and I also love that I can fill in solid areas while leaving just the right amount of white space. I use Fudegokochi for almost all of my solid filling work."
She praised the exquisite hardness and control of the nib.
It's great to hear that she uses Fudegokochi for almost all of her solid filling work! Thank you for the wonderful feedback.
Link to the post is here
You can watch the creation process of this artwork on Ms. Suzuki's YouTube channel.
It's amazing to see how one Fudegokochi pen can create lines with such diverse expressions!
Please check it out.
Recommended Product ③ Kuretake Fude Pen Double-Sided Kabura (No. 55)
●What kind of pen is it?
A long-selling product that has been around for over 40 years since its launch in 1980!
It can serve two purposes with one pen: a broad, soft-writing tip (soft brush) and a delicate, fine-line tip (hard brush). With just one pen, you can create illustrations with varying line weights, using the hard brush tip for line drawing and the soft brush tip for filling in.
Both fine and bold lines with one pen.
The soft brush tip of the No. 55 is also characterized by a unique "squeaking" sound. There was a time when they considered trying to eliminate this sound, but after meticulously focusing on the writing comfort and the moderate hardness of the nib, they ultimately returned to this "squeaky" nib. Its addictive drawing feel is sure to make illustration production enjoyable.
●Manga artists who love the No. 55 include…
Oreco Tachibana
Notable works: Promise Cinderella, #BattsuichiArasaJoshitoDanshiKoukousei, etc.
She used it to create analog manuscripts. The beauty of the lines is captivating!
Ms. Tachibana also shared her thoughts on the No. 55.
"The brush tip isn't too soft, making it easy to color in fine details, and it can also be used for solid fills, so it's versatile enough that you don't need to buy extra pens if you have just one."
It seems she appreciates its characteristic dual function! Thank you for the wonderful feedback.
Link to the post is here
Bonus: Kuretake pens beloved by international illustrators!
① Bimoji Fude Pen
This is a brush pen with a grip designed to be easy on the hand, inspired by a "Daruma-axis writing brush." In Japan, it tends to be perceived as a pen for writing, but did you know that this product is highly popular among international users as a pen for drawing illustration outlines? You can find many interesting examples by searching #kuretakebimoji or #kuretakebimojibrushpen on Instagram.
You can choose your preferred thickness. Which one should I pick?●International artists who love the Bimoji Fude Pen include…
Bryce Kho
Freelance illustrator residing in California, USA.
The texture of the lines, which utilizes the hard brush touch, is wonderful! Bryce frequently uses Kuretake products such as the Bimoji Fude Pen, Gansai Tambi, and ZIG Kuretake Clean Color Real Brush.
Link to the post is here
② Fude Kei! Sign Pen
This is a brush-style sign pen with a smooth writing feel and a firm, easy-to-write tip.
The water-based pigment ink is water-resistant once dry, so it won't bleed when paints or alcohol-based markers are used over the outlines. It's popular for illustration work because it produces even coverage and is easy to use on colored paper and other surfaces. It comes in four types: extra fine, fine, medium, and twin (fine + medium), so you can choose your preferred thickness.
●International artists who love the Fude Kei! Sign Pen include…
Peter Han
Freelance illustrator residing in California, USA.
The detailed mechanical designs are cool! The ability to create dynamic expressions with a single brush pen, from fine lines to filling in shadows, is a characteristic of these pens.
Link to the post is here
Conclusion
How did you find this introduction to Kuretake pens recommended for manga and illustration production? I believe Kuretake pens and brush pens can be helpful for both professionals and amateurs who want to enjoy drawing illustrations. We hope Kuretake pens can support that first step for anyone thinking, "Maybe I'll start drawing illustrations or manga," or "I want to draw like my favorite manga artist!"