Brush Pen Illustration by Sho Ito

Brush Pen Illustration

by Sho Ito

Curious about the world of brush pens but aren't sure where to start? Brush Pen Illustration​ shows how to draw pretty much anything in 2 – 4 steps.

Brush pens have taken the illustrating world by storm! This unique medium comes in hundreds of colors and produces a beautiful, soft, watercolor effect which has had lettering artists buzzing. Now, though, illustrators in all walks of art are incorporating brush pens' into their repertoire as a simple way to include color and motion into their art.

Brush pens' style is reminiscent of Chinese brush painting and drawing. They offer a gentle, paint-like quality that replicate watercolor paints without having use paint and brushes. Brush Pen Illustration is a comprehensive guide which shows you how to draw pretty much everything in 2-4 easy steps; apples, zebras, penguins, flowers, this book shows you how to draw everything under the sun with fun and colorful brush pens.  

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on

4 of 5 stars

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I received a copy of Brush Pen Illustration through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Brush Pen Illustration is the perfect art book for anybody that has ever found themselves fascinated by this style of artwork. It’s perfect for any level, but especially for beginners, as it gives a wonderful understanding of the style itself and many details of the intricacy in how it works.
Included in this book is a basic overview of the style itself, the techniques involved, and a variety of different themes that are commonly used. There’s a whole chapter dedicated to foods, which may or may not have made me a bit hungry, a chapter for cats and other animals (my personal favorite for this style), water brush techniques, plants, Asian art, and finally black & white illustrations.
What I especially loved about this guide was that they took the time to not only explain, but show the effects on different paper types. This is something that’s so frequently overlooked, but can be really frustrating for a beginner. There’s nothing more frustrating than following a guide and not understanding why everything keeps coming out differently than intended. It’s understandable that many wouldn’t even consider the paper being a culprit, but in this style in particular it can’t be overlooked.
On the whole I was very happy with this book, and impressed with the precision and attention to detail shown. Going into this I didn’t feel like I had a firm grasp on the subject or how it was rendered, but now I certainly have a better idea, not to mention increased respect for the style.

For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 9 July, 2018: Finished reading
  • 9 July, 2018: Reviewed