I get asked all the time what pens I use, so I’ve put everything in one place.
These are the exact pens and markers I use across Korp Academy sessions like Posca Club, Doodle Club and Colour Club.
You don’t need all of this to get started. In fact, you’re better off starting simple and adding more once you know what you enjoy drawing.
If you’re not sure where to begin, jump to the starter kits below. If you already know what you’re looking for, you can go straight to the pen breakdowns.
Not sure what to use? Start here.
Each session in Korp Academy uses a different type of pen. Pick the one that matches how you want to draw.
Doodle Club
What you’ll draw: sketchbook doodles, wonky characters, kawaii style
Pens used: Sharpies + fineliners (mainly black)
What it feels like:
Fast and loose. No overthinking. Just getting drawings done.
Good for:
- Filling sketchbooks quickly
- Building confidence
- Messy, expressive drawings
Watch out for:
- Ink bleeds through thin paper
- Extra focus on linework
Posca Club
What you’ll draw: bold characters, paint marker pieces.
Pens used: paint markers (Posca or Molotow One4all)
What it feels like:
Thick, punchy colour. You’re building drawings in layers rather than sketching.
Good for:
- Big shapes
- Bright colours
- Overcoming mistakes
Watch out for:
- Needs drying time between layers
- Can get messy with the wrong paper
Colour Club
What you’ll draw: coloured characters, blended marker pieces
Pens used: alcohol markers (like ProMarkers) + fineliners
What it feels like:
More controlled. Slower than Doodle Club but smoother results.
Good for:
- Blending colours
- Adding depth and shading
- More “finished” looking pieces
Watch out for:
- Needs proper marker paper
- Can feel intimidating at first if you overthink it
Starter Kits
Don’t overcomplicate it. Start with one of these and get drawing.
You don’t need loads of pens. Pick a lane, get a small set, and build from there.
Absolute Beginner Kit
If you just want to start drawing today without thinking about it.
What to get:
- Black Sharpie
- Fine black liner (like Sakura Pigma Micron)
- Basic sketchbook or marker pad
Why this works:
Covers line work, details and highlights. That’s enough to make solid drawings in the Doodle Club sessions straight away.
My advice:
If you’re stuck, start here. Don’t overthink it.
Doodle Club Starter Kit
For fast sketchbook drawing and building confidence.
What to get:
- Twin-tip Sharpie
- Sakura Pigma Micron fineliners (a couple of sizes)
- Cheap sketchbook or marker pad
Why this works:
You’ve got thick and thin lines. That’s all you need for wonky characters and filling pages quickly.
My advice:
This is where most people should start.
Posca Club Starter Kit
For bold colour and paint marker drawings.
What to get:
- Posca PC-5M Black
- Posca PC-3M White
- Small set of coloured Poscas
- Black card or thicker mixed media paper
Why this works:
Gives you solid coverage, highlights and a few colours to build with.
My advice:
Don’t go mad buying loads of colours. A small set is enough.
Colour Club Starter Kit
For blending and more finished coloured pieces.
What to get:
- Winsor & Newton ProMarkers (small set)
- Sakura Pigma Micron fineliners
- Faber-Castell Pitt pens
- Proper marker paper
Why this works:
You get smooth colour plus clean outlines.
My advice:
Paper matters more than you think here. Don’t skip it.
Start with one kit. Don’t try to buy everything at once.
Pen-by-Pen Guide
If you want to understand what each pen actually does, this is where to look.
You don’t need all of these. Pick one or two and get good with them first.
Sharpies
I use these for: fast doodles, bold outlines, sketchbook pages
Good bits:
- Cheap
- Easy to find
- Great for building confidence
Watch out for:
- Bleeds through thin paper
My tip:
Use these when you want to stop overthinking. They force you to commit.
Posca Pens
I use these for: bold characters, black paper, colourful pieces
Good bits:
- Opaque colour
- Works on loads of surfaces
- Great for layering
Watch out for:
- Needs shaking and priming
- You have to let layers dry
My tip:
Slow down. If you rush Poscas, you’ll just drag paint around.
Promarkers
I use these for: Colour Club drawings, blending, shading
Good bits:
- Smooth colour
- Easy blending
- Good range of tones
Watch out for:
- Bleeds on normal paper
My tip:
Paper matters more than the pens here. Get marker paper or you’ll fight it.
Sakura Pigma Microns
I use these for: clean outlines, detail work, textures
Good bits:
- Consistent lines
- Waterproof ink
- Different nib sizes
Watch out for:
- Nibs wear out if you press too hard
My tip:
Use more than one size. Thick + thin lines instantly make drawings better.
Faber-Castell Pitt Pens
I use these for: line work, details, adding structure
Good bits:
- Nice deep black
- Good control
- Reliable
Watch out for:
- Brush nibs can fray
My tip:
These sit nicely between Sharpies and Microns. Good when you want control without stiffness.
Paper & Surfaces
If your drawings aren’t coming out how you expect, it’s probably the paper — not the pens.
Different pens need different surfaces. Get this right and everything feels easier.
For Sharpies & Fineliners
Best for: Doodle Club, sketchbook drawing
Use:
- Cheap sketchbooks (if you don’t care about bleed-through)
- Marker pads (if you want cleaner results)
What to expect:
- Ink will bleed through thinner pages
- Lines can feather slightly on rough paper
My tip:
Don’t stress about perfect paper here. This is about drawing more, not making perfect pages.
For Posca Paint Markers
Best for: Posca Club, bold colour work
Use:
- Mixed media paper
- Black card
- Canvas boards
- Thicker sketchbooks
What to expect:
- Paint sits on top of the surface
- Works well on dark backgrounds
My tip:
If the surface is too smooth, the paint can slide around. Slight texture helps.
For Alcohol Markers (ProMarkers)
Best for: Colour Club, blending and shading
Use:
- Proper marker paper (this matters)
What to expect:
- Ink soaks into the paper
- Colours blend more smoothly
Watch out for:
- Normal paper will bleed, feather and kill your blends
My tip:
If blending isn’t working, it’s almost always the paper. Fix that first.
Good paper won’t make you a better artist overnight, but bad paper will slow you down.
Use These Pens Properly
Having the pens is one thing. Knowing what to draw with them is the bit that actually matters.
Inside Korp Academy, I run regular drawing sessions using these exact materials.
What you’ll get
- Step-by-step drawing tutorials you can follow along with
- Sessions built around specific tools (so you actually use what you’ve bought)
- Regular challenges to keep you drawing
- A community where you can share your work without it feeling intimidating
Doodle Club
Sharpies, fineliners, fast sketchbook ideas
Posca Club
Paint marker drawings, bold colours, black paper work
Colour Club
Alcohol markers, blending, more finished pieces
Why it works
You’re not just collecting pens.
You’re actually using them, regularly, with a structure that makes it easy to keep going.
Join the Korp AcademySome of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you buy through them.
It doesn’t cost you anything extra, and I only recommend pens and materials I actually use in my own drawings and Korp Academy sessions.