Marvy LePen Technical Drawing Pen Review

I'm on the record as not being a big fan of the Marvy LePen, much to my friend Ana's dismay. It is by no means a bad pen, I just feel that there are many similar pens that do a much better job than the LePen does. That made me hesitant to try out the Marvy LePen Technical Drawing Pen but I am glad I did since it is quite good.

It falls into the same category as a litany of other drawing pens like the Sakura Pigma Micron, Uni Pin, Staedtler Pigment Liner, etc. It is a crowded group for sure, making it hard to stand out. But I like how the LePen Tech has performed so far and would say it ranks highly among its peers.

What I liked the most about it is despite the super fine tip I went with (the 0.1 mm in this case), it felt durable. My lines were crisp and clean, and while I haven't put this pen through the ringer that an artist would, it held up well. The barrel is larger than most other similar pens but I didn't find that to be an issue. In fact, it was downright comfortable. You can see the size comparison next to a Sakura Pigma Micron below.

The Marvy LePen Technical Drawing Pen looks like a keeper to me. I plan on ordering one or two other sizes to test out and if that goes well may add it to the regular rotation of drawing pens in my arsenal.

Ohto Graphic Liner Needle Point Drawing Pen 03 Review

The Ohto Graphic Liner Needle Point Drawing Pen is one of those pens that caught me off guard - in a very good way. I wasn’t paying attention when I ordered it to be honest. I thought it was another plastic tip drawing pen but when I received it I realized just how wrong I was.

The Ohto Graphic Liner is actually a metal-tipped drawing pen, somewhat of a cross between a Sakura Pigma Micron in ink quality and properties and a Pentel EnerGel Euro Needle in style. It is a little bit hard to explain but it works wonderfully. I went with the 03 thinking it had an 0.3 mm tip, but that is a little misleading. From one of the reviews at JetPens, here is how the tip widths line up:

005 = 0.3 mm

01 = 0.4 mm

02 = 0.5 mm

03 = 0.7 mm

05 = 1 mm

1 = ? (could not find this one)

I would say the 03 translates into right around an 0.7 mm so the list is probably accurate. That is too wide for me, but I was so impressed with this pen that I can’t wait to try a few of the smaller tip sizes. Too bad they have been out of stock for months.

Kuretake Zig Cartoonist Mangaka Outline Pen Review

Well surprise, surprise, surprise.

Never one to pass up a new art pen, the Kuretake Zig Cartoonist Mangaka Outline Pen is the latest to hit my desk. I have tried many over the years - most are good, a few not so much - but even fewer are elite. The Sakura Pigma Micron comes to mind at the top of the list and it might now have company.

My test subject was the 02 Violet. Like many pens in this category, the barrel is no great shakes. The most important thing it can do is stay out of the way, and the Zig Cartoonist does just that. It is lightweight and comfortable, and even does a nice job in the grip area by not having any sharp edges like so many of its competitors.

Where this pen really shines is in the tip. It is very firm and performs exceptionally. My lines were tight and look great on the page. I haven’t put it through a true use durability test to see how it holds up over the long term but I am not seeing much breakdown in the tip so far. And have you noticed the color? I am a fan of purple inks, and this is one of the best I have seen.

So what’s next for me and the Kuretake Zig Cartoonist? I am going to try a few other colors and tip sizes and see if I can get a better gauge on its durability. Look out Micron - I’m coming for you!