Short answer
Buy the Artistro white extra fine: it was one of the most opaque pens in a large independent test. Treat the color sets as budget sets with uneven results, and skip the brush tip set, which tested poorly. For budget color that performs better, look at Tooli-Art Extra Fine.
The Artistro range, line by line
| Line | Tip | What testing found | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extra fine | 0.7 mm | The white was one of the most opaque pens in the test. Other colors worked on colored pencil but not on markers, rocks or black paper. | Buy the white |
| Medium | 3 mm | Mid-range overall. Took 10 to 20 pumps to activate; some colors dried unevenly or separated; had a smell. The clear barrel shows whether the paint is mixed. | Budget fills only |
| Dual tip (brush and fine) | Brush plus fine | Easy to use and long-lasting, with a huge color range, but very tight caps and many lids that did not match the ink. Average overall. | OK for color range |
| Brush tip | Brush | Watery, washed-out color, among the worst opacity tested; 4 of 16 pens did not match their lids. Not recommended by the reviewer. | Skip |
| Jumbo | 15 mm | Not covered by the comparison we use. | Spec only |
Tip sizes from Artistro’s range. Results from pump-action and cotton core results in Sarah Renae Clark’s comparison.
The pen worth buying
-
No. 01Standout
Artistro white extra fine
Best for: white highlights, lettering on dark paper and rocks
- Tip
- 0.7 mm
- Mechanism
- Pump valve
- Refillable
- No
- Price tier
- Budget
- It was the reviewer’s best-performing white in earlier testing and one of the most opaque in the 2026 test.
- White is the hardest paint pen color to get right: even Posca’s white was its weak spot in the same test.
“I LOVE the Artistro white paint pen. It was the best performer in my past testing, and was one of the most opaque in this testing too.”
Source: Sarah Renae Clark, The Best Pump Action Acrylic Paint Markers
If you buy an Artistro color set
- Prime patiently. Gentle, repeated presses on scrap; the medium set may need 10 to 20 before paint flows. More fixes for a pen that will not flow.
- Shake longer. Uneven drying and separation usually mean unmixed paint. Use the clear barrel to check.
- Swatch before you start. Lids did not always match the ink color in testing.
- Two coats for light colors, drying in between.
- Ventilate if the smell bothers you; most acrylic markers have little odor, but the medium set did in testing.
Artistro medium sets on Amazon
Better-value swaps at a similar budget
- Fine detail: Tooli-Art Extra Fine, a stand-out fine tip and one of the most opaque markers overall. Search Tooli-Art.
- Color sets: Grabie Dual Tone, above average on most tests and easy to use. Search Grabie.
- Brush lettering: Enmy Ink Control, the reviewer’s favorite of all. See our Enmy guide.
- Step up: Posca, which scored highest overall. See best acrylic markers for artists.
Questions people ask
Are Artistro paint pens good?
Some are. In Sarah Renae Clark’s 2026 comparison the Artistro white extra fine stood out, the medium and dual tip sets were mid-range or average, and the brush tip set was one of the weakest she tested.
How do I start an Artistro paint pen?
Shake it with the cap on, then press the tip on scrap paper repeatedly. The reviewer found the medium tip needed 10 to 20 pumps to activate, so be patient and press gently rather than hard.
Are Artistro paint pens good for rocks?
The white extra fine is useful for highlights on rocks. The other extra fine colors did not perform well on rocks in testing, so pair the white with a stronger color set.
Are Artistro paint pens refillable?
We found no refill option for Artistro paint pens. Treat them as disposable.
Sources
Last reviewed 2026-10-12. Specs and availability change; check the listing before you buy.