Choosing the Best Gel Pens for Coloring
Do you love to color?
Do you like to doodle and create art in your spare time?
If so, you need a solid set of gel pens!
Gel pens offer vibrant colors and smooth ink flow for writing and art, making them perfect for all your coloring needs.
With such a versatile tool for your art supply toolbox, there's no end to the amazing artwork you can create.
In this review we will discuss the best gel pens for coloring and all your artistic needs!
So whether you are just starting out or looking for an upgrade, we have your perfect gel pens for coloring.
Keep reading to find the best gel pens for your art needs!
How We Choose Our Selections
Maybe you're feeling stressed out from life and want to try coloring to relax, but you don't know where to start.
It can be hard to find the right art supplies, especially if you're unsure what to look for.
There are so many different popular gel pen brands and gel pen packages, ranging from cheap gel pens, neon gel pens, metallic and glitter shades, pastel gel pens, and so much more.
It can be a serious struggle finding the perfect art ink pen that is just right for your needs and budget.
You might spend hours online, reading reviews to decided which gel pens to take home, but then end up frustrated and overwhelmed by the sea of choices for gel pens.
Fret not! We've done all the hard work for you and found the best gel pens for coloring based on thousands of customer reviews.
Whether you're just starting out or are a more experienced artist, you can find the best gel pen for you.
This list of best gel pens for coloring will help you can find the perfect gel pen set for your unique needs!
Gel Pen Types
Gel pens offer a smooth writing experience and vibrant colors, making them a great choice for many people, especially for adult coloring books.
Gel pens are also great for coloring and come in a variety of types and sets.
When looking for gel pen sets, you'll notice a variety available online and in stores.
While browsing, you're likely to come across:
—Classic color gel pens
—Dual-color combination gel pens
—Pastel gel pens
—Neon gel pens
—Metallic gel pens
—Glitter gel pens
Whatever your preferences, there's sure to be a gel pen set that's perfect for you.
Why We Love It
Looking for a set of colored gel pens that packs a punch?
Then check out Shuttle Art’s colored gel pens!
There are 7 groups of different gel pen colors – glitter, metallic, neon, pastel, neon glitter, swirl, and standard.
With these color gel pens you’ll be able to add extra pizzazz to your coloring books, scrapbooking projects, sketches, doodles, and drawings.
So let your creativity run wild and add some beautiful color to your life with Shuttle Art gel pens!
What You Should Know
Shuttle Art gel pens are some of the best on the market.
They are made with high quality ink that is long lasting and nontoxic.
The ink flows smoothly with its writing tip, making it perfect for coloring and drawing.
The gel ink is acid-free, making it safe for use on paper and other materials.
Shuttle Art gel pens are available in a wide range of colors, making them perfect for any project.
Whether you are a professional artist or a beginner, Shuttle Art gel pens will help you create beautiful works of art.
Why We Love It
Bring your artwork to life with Soucolor gel pens!
These fun colored gel pens come with high-quality ink that dries quickly to prevent smudging.
Soucolor's gel pens have smooth ink flow and are fitted with a comfort grip for easy handling.
Whether you're coloring, drawing, sketching, journaling, scrapbooking, or crafting; these gel pens are perfect for any art project you can think up!
What You Should Know
The gel pen set includes 60 gel pens with 60 matching color refills, a coloring book, and a storage case.
The rainbow colored gel pens are extra fun because as you write and color, the color changes between the colors of the rainbow.
These gel pens are also great for drawing, sketching, and journaling.
The ink is smooth and feature bright, vibrant colors.
The set comes with a black carrying case that is perfect for storing the gel pens and keeping them organized.
The set also makes a great gift for any occasion for artists and hobbyists of all ages and skill levels.
Why We Love It
Looking for a gel pen set with a wide color selection?
Aen Art gel pens have you covered!
With 80 different colors to choose from, this gel pen set is perfect for any creative project.
These gel pens feature different color schemes, including glitter, metallic, pastel, classic, neon, and rainbow.
The soft grips and fine tips make writing, drawing, and sketching a breeze, while the vibrant colors are sure to make your project pop.
Plus, each gel pen comes with a matching refill so you can always have a backup on hand, making them excellent gel pens for coloring.
Whether you're a professional artist or just getting started with your creative journey, this set is a great asset for your artistic endeavors!
What You Should Know
The Aen Art gel pens are a great product for those who enjoy adult or children's coloring books.
These gel pens are nontoxic and acid-free, making them safe to use.
They also come with 5 coloring sheets and a premium carrying case, so you can take your gel pens with you wherever you go.
The Aen brand is committed to high quality products at affordable prices, and these gel pens are no exception.
You can rest easy, knowing you're getting a great value for your money.
These gel pens are a great addition to your art supply collection.
Why We Love It
Wanting to find a gel pen starter set that will add some color and pizzazz to your writing and art?
Tanmit gel pens have your back!
This awesome gel pen set comes with 36 beautiful, premium-colored pens that are perfect for any art project you have in mind.
These gel pens are equipped with comfortable grips, so you can keep enjoying writing, drawing, or sketching without experiencing discomfort.
So whether you're working on a masterpiece or simply doodling in a coloring book, Tanmit gel pens are a great choice.
What You Should Know
Tanmit is committed to providing the highest quality gel pens.
These gel pens are made with nontoxic, acid-free ink, and they come in a wide range of colors, from classic black and blue to pastel, glitter, metallic, and neon.
Whether you're looking for gel pens for coloring, school, work, or art projects, these gel pens will meet your needs.
Why We Love It
Sakura Gelly Roll provides professional quality gel pens for coloring that have ice cream smooth gel-ink.
This gel pen set come in classic, metallic, duo-colored, moonlight, and stardust color schemes.
Whether you're coloring in a coloring book, doodling, drawing, or sketching, these premium gel pens are sure to help you create beautiful artwork.
What You Should Know
Sakura is well-known on the gel pen scene; they were the creators of the first gel-based ink.
Since then, Sakura’s Gelly Roll pens remain ranked among everyone’s favorite gel pens.
Gelly Roll pens are well-known and trusted as some of the very best gel pens.
These gel pens are perfect for adding a pop of color to any masterpiece.
Sakura Gelly Roll gel pens that allow you to become immersed in coloring realm and help you unleash your inner creativity.
So take some time to unwind, and let your inner artist shine.
Gel Pens FAQs
Gel pens are a great way to add some personality to your writing and art, but if you're unfamiliar with art supplies and coloring pens, selecting the right gel pens for you may be overwhelming.
There are so many different types of gel pens on the market, it can be hard to know which one is right for you, especially with the different sets, colors, and types.
We've put together this gel pen frequent asked questions collection to help clear things up for you.
Whether you're looking for the perfect gift for the artist in your life or just need a new pen for taking notes, you'll leave feeling confident.
What can you do with gel pens?
You can do a lot with gel pens!
Some people enjoy using them for drawing, sketching, and coloring, while others find they are perfect for writing in journals or taking notes.
They're great for making cards and posters.
Gel pens can also be used for scrapbooking, calligraphy, and other crafts.
The possibilities are really endless, so it's worth experimenting to see what works best for you.
Some people prefer to stick with just one type of gel pen, while others like to have a variety on hand so they can choose the right color or style for the task at hand.
Whatever your preference, gel pens are a fun way to add some personality to your writing and creative projects.
What is the difference between roller ball pens and gel pens?
There are different kinds of pens, including ink pens, ballpoint pens, or even a fountain pen.
Gel pens aren't your average ink pen.
Roller ball pens have a thinner ink compared to gel pens.
The ink in roller ball pens is more susceptible to smudging, while the thicker gel pen ink doesn't smudge as easily.
Roller ball pens also typically have a finer point than gel pens.
How do you create gel pen art?
There is no one "right" way to make gel pen art.
You can create gel pen art by drawing with a gel pen on paper.
The ink from a gel pen is more viscous than the ink from a ballpoint pen, so it creates a more pronounced line.
Additionally, the ink from a gel pen is less likely to bleed through paper than the ink from a ballpoint pen.
The key is experimentation and finding the techniques that work best for you.
Here are a few tips to help get you started:
Start by drawing a basic outline of your image with a black gel pen.
Use light strokes to fill in the details with different shades coloring pens.
For extra dimension, try adding highlights and shadows with metallic and white gel pens.
You can also start with a blank sheet of paper and draw a picture using light pencil strokes.
Once the picture is complete, go over the lines with fine tip gel pens.
Another way to create gel pen art is to start with a picture that's been photocopied or printed out.
Trace the outline of the picture with a light pencil, then fill in the colors with gel pens.
Additionally, you can use an image as a stencil.
Draw or trace the outline of the image on paper, then cut it out.
Place the stencil on top of another piece of paper and color in the negative space with gel pens.
When you're finished, remove the stencil to reveal your gel pen art.
You can even draw on dark paper or combine gel pens with supplies like markers and pencils to create mix media artwork.
Be creative and experiment with different color combinations and techniques!
How can gel pens be used for drawing?
Gel pens produce a smooth, glossy finish that is perfect of accenting or adding details to drawings.
They also come in a variety of hues, so they can be used to create colorful artwork.
Gel pens can be used for writing and drawing on light or dark colored paper because the pigments will show up well on the surface.
Some artists also use them for calligraphy and sketching.
Use your creativity when using gel pens for coloring and drawing, and see the wonderful results you can achieve.
How do you color with gel pens?
Most gel pens are refillable ink pens.
The pen barrel is filled with a small reservoir of ink, and a tip draws the ink up through a metal ballpoint tip.
To color with gel pens you'll need a piece of paper and at least one pen.
Once you have those handy, it's as simple as coloring in the desired area with the pen.
When you color with gel pens, you need to apply more pressure than you would with a ballpoint one in order for ink flow.
This is because gel ink is thicker than traditional liquid ink.
You can also adjust the thickness of your strokes by changing the amount of pressure you apply to the paper.
Many artists and hobbyists use gel pens for coloring, but be aware that it's possible that gel pens bleed through thin paper.
How do you blend and shade with gel pens?
Blending and shading with gel pens is a great way to add detail and texture to your drawings.
If you're a gel pen user, you know there are a few different ways that you can blend and shade with these coloring pens.
One way is to use the pen tip to slowly build up color in a certain area. This will take some patience and practice, but you can eventually get a nice gradual shading effect.
You can use a lighter gel pen for the base color, then layer on darker colors until you achieve the desired effect.
Also you can experiment with different brands of gel pens to see which ones work best for blending and shading.
Another idea is to experiment with different techniques, such as stippling (dots), hatching (straight lines), or cross-hatching (lines going in different directions).
You can try using white gel pens to add highlights.
You can also look for blending tools.
Are gel pens or markers better for coloring?
There isn't a definitive answer to whether gel pens or markers are superior, as it depends on personal preferences and what type of coloring you're doing.
Gel pens are generally good for smaller details, while markers are better for larger areas.
However, there are many different types and brands of both gel pens and markers, so it's best to try out a few different kinds to see which you prefer.
Gel pens don't bleed through the paper as much as markers, though.
The downside to gel pens is that they can sometimes be a bit more expensive than markers, and they also require a bit more time to dry.
Gel pens are a better option if you're looking for something that won't bleed through the paper.
Can gel pens work on canvas?
Yes, you can use a gel pen on canvas but with a few caveats.
Gel pens are essentially pigment ink in a gel medium, which means they will be water-resistant once dry.
This can be both good and bad news when working with them on canvas.
On the one hand, you won't have to worry about the gel ink smudging or running if the canvas gets wet (though it may still fade over time).
On the other hand, if you're trying to achieve a delicate blending effect, it can be difficult to get the gel ink to flow evenly on a textured surface like canvas.
Just know that the gel ink is designed to flow out evenly and smoothly, but canvas is a more porous and absorbent surface.
If you're determined to use a gel pen on canvas, be sure to test it out on a scrap piece of fabric first to see how the gel ink will react.
You may also want to consider using a paint marker or marker pen instead, as those are specifically designed for use on porous surfaces like canvas.
Do gel pens dry out?
Gel pens can dry out, though, how quickly depends on the brand and type of ink.
If you leave a gel pen uncapped for too long, the gel ink will start to dry out and the pen will eventually stop working.
To prevent this from happening, make sure to cap your pen when you're not using it.
If you notice that your gel pen isn't writing as smoothly as it used to, this may be a sign that the gel ink has dried out.
There are a few things you can try to fix this problem.
One option is to place the gel pen in a cup of hot water for a few minutes.
This will help loosen up the ink and make it easier for the pen to write again.
Another option is to use a slightly damp paper towel or cotton swab to lightly moisten the tip of the pen.
This will also help loosen up the ink and make it easier for the pen to write again.
You can try giving the tip a good cleaning with a paper towel or cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol.
Then, see if the ink flow improves by priming the pen by scribbling on a piece of scrap paper.
If none of these things work, then unfortunately you may need to buy a new pen or buy an ink refill.
Most companies that make gel pens offer closed system refills - where you can unscrew the back off the pen, take out the old cartridge and screw in a new one.
These are great for people who want to use their pen a lot, as you don't have to worry about the ink drying out.
Should gel pens be stored upside down or right-side up?
There is no one correct answer to this question, it simply depends on personal preference or the particular pen's design.
Some people find that gel pens write more smoothly when they are stored upside down, while others find that they write better when they are stored right-side up.
Some gel pens are designed to be stored with the ink cartridge facing down so that the ink will not leak out, while others can be stored either way.
You can consult your pen's manufacturer's instructions if you are not sure how to store it or experiment with both orientations and see which works better for you.
At the end of the day, it might not matter much which way you store them, as long as you aren't storing them in direct sunlight or in a very warm place because gel pen sets are best stored in cool, dark places.
When thinking about storage, also consider grouping pens in like color families and customized containers to make creating easier for you.
Best Gel Pens for Coloring for You
So, what are the best gel pens for coloring?
After hours of research reading thousands of Amazon customer reviews on gel pen brands, we’ve found the best gel pens for everyone, all ages and skill levels.
Whether you are a newbie looking to learn, a hobbyist looking to unwind, or professional looking to take your artwork to the next level, these gel pens will meet your needs.
We’ve included a variety of gel pens with different price points and color ranges, so there is a gel pen set for everyone.
Hopefully, our findings have given you the necessary information to make an informed decision about your best gel pen for coloring, so you can walk away a happy shopper and focus on creating beautiful art!
Don't forget to tap the button to check Amazon for the best prices for gel pens!
Thanks for reading and happy creating!
Looking forward to creating with your gel pens and want to learn more about how to use them? Check out Archer and Olive's video!
If you'd like to see drawings made with gel pens and other media, you can find some of my art at Redbubble, TeePublic, and TeeSpring.
And if you'd like to listen while creating like I do, you can get a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime Music or Two Free Audiobooks from Audible Plus!
I love listening to a great book while losing myself to the world of coloring!
It makes the creating process much more fun!
Plus, if you want to take advantage of 2-day shipping, get a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime, or if you want to take advantage of down time, get a free 30-day trial of Prime Video!
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