Tombow vs Artist Loft Brush Pens: Dupe or Dud?
Bullet Journal for Summer Teaching Projects + Updates
May 19, 2016
#PlanWithMeChallenge June
May 25, 2016
In the makeup world we often seek advice on whether it is “worth it” to spend that kind of money on face cream or eyeshadow. In similar ways we wonder in the planner, lettering, and stationery world if there are such things as affordable supplies. Before you spend the money, I’m comparing two comparable brush pens – the infamous Tombow Dual Brush and the Michael’s brand Artist’s Loft. With Tombow pens at $3.19 a pop and this set of 20 for $30, it was worth doing a review. See how they compare in lettering and blending!
COMPARISON: TOMBOW AND MICHAEL’S ARTIST LOFT DUAL BRUSH PENS
What’s your experience with these pens? Do you have a preference? What should I compare next?
Yours,
Jessica
PrettyPrintsAndPaper
Jessica is.a Minnesotan handlettering artist, leadership educator, and bullet journal blogger. She is passionate about working with people to uncover their personal power and potential through connection, creative planning, and calligraphy. You can find her at a local ice cream shop, teaching, on Instagram (@prettyprintsandpaper)
23 Comments
Jessica, this is great information. … thanks 👌
so glad you find it helpful! have you gotten a set now?
Great idea for a video! I will be getting the Artist Loft to start off with. Thanks!
Hey nora! Did you end up getting a set? How did it work for you?
Not yet. I have to budget my purchases and want to get a journal and my first fountain pen first. In a couple of months, I will.
Great comparison! I learned a lot! Looking forward to a summer of getting into creative lettering!
Can’t wait to see what you’re up to! Feel free to tag me @prettyprintsandpaper on Instagram if you have it to share your work!
GREAT Info!!! T*H*A*N*K*S for Sharing!!!
Thank you for this simple and informative tutorial! It answered many questions that I didn’t realize that I had.
So happy to hear that 🙂 if you have ideas for other comparisons, let me know! Did you end up deciding on one or the other?
Jessica, thank you so much for this helpful side-by-side review. I have the Tombow markers, but as a lettering novice they are too flexible for me to control. Based on your comparison I bought the Artist Loft set. You are right that the brush is much stiffer. It is so much easier for me to use! The colors in the set are not as pretty as the Tombow markers, but that’s okay. One day I will master the Tombow dual brush markers, but for now this is a great, affordable tool for learning.
I am so happy to hear that!! That’s exactly my thoughts and I”m glad I wasn’t the only one. How are you enjoying them so far? I think it’s so annoying that the purple is missing!
Thanks so much! Very helpful. I have the Artist Loft markers and can’t wait to get started!
Have you had the opportunity to play around with them yet?
I’m glad to see Artist’s Loft markers getting some love, I was starting to think I was the only one who enjoyed them, lol. One thing you didn’t mention in your video, though, is if you can use the Tombow and Artist’s Loft together. The lack of purple and other colours in the AL line is a downer, but I have been filling those holes with the Crayola brush pens and even the StudioG brush markers. I’m just getting into brush lettering so I’ve mostly used them for watercolor projects that don’t need to be lightfast, but they all seem to play well together. Perhaps someone could start with the AL line and fill in the color gaps with Tombow as needed?
That is a great idea! It definitely would be cheaper… LOL
THANK YOU!!
This review doesn’t compare them on their main purpose- being water color markers. Kinda a useless review.
[…] cheaper, drug store versions to see if paying the extra was really worth it. I’ve compared Tombows to Artist Loft brush pens, Staedtler vs Michael’s vs Stabilo fineliners, Kuretake Clean Color vs Artist Loft Brush Pens […]
I just went in today 1/5/17 (to Michaels crafts). And they have a 48 pack now with tons of color. Including purples. Also on sale for 50% off
IN YOUR COMPARISON YOU USED YURE “NEW INKPAD THAT YOU PUT THE WATERCOLOR MARKERS DIRECTLY ON & WERE ABLE TO TAKE A BIT OF EACH COLOR TO THEN BLEND. YOU DID NOT GIVE THE NAME OF THAT INKPAD AND I CANNOT FIND IT OR ANYTHING LIKE IT ANYWHERE. COULD YOU PLEASE PROVIDE THE NAME OF WHERE IT S AVAILABLE. THANK YOU IT WAS A HELPFUL REVIEW AS WELL.
EXUSE ME MY COMMENT WAS NOT VERY CLEAR–I MEANT TO ASK YOU THE NAME OF YOUR “NEW INPAD” YOU USED IN YOUR VIDEO. COULD YOU PLEASE PROVIDE THE “NAME OF IT” AND: PROVIDE WHERE IT CAN BE PURCHASED. THANK YOU
[…] seen a lot of bigger pens come out to compete with the Tombow Brush Pens (like the Michael’s dual brush pens, Yoobi from Target, Crayola, and more, but it’s difficult to use these regularly in your […]
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