Is FREE Pencil Brush (Use Code: FREEPENCIL) worth it if you’re shopping in Drawing & Painting?
You know that specific moment when you’re staring at a blank canvas in Photoshop, holding a generic hard brush, and just… can’t get the line to feel right? It’s not your skill; it’s the tool. You need something that responds to pressure, tapers naturally, and doesn’t require you to spend twenty minutes tweaking dynamics just to draw a straight line. That’s the exact gap FREE Pencil Brush is designed to fill. Shauna Lynn has packaged her personal sketching and linework workflow into a simple, accessible download, and the price point is so low it’s practically a gesture of goodwill rather than a transaction.
Quick answer
| Best for | Digital artists who want a reliable, pressure-sensitive pencil for sketching and clean linework without building a custom brush from scratch. |
| Skip if | You are looking for a full library of specialty textures, watercolor effects, or a brush set for a specific niche like concept art or character design. |
| Price | $3 (or free with code FREEPENCIL) |
| Format | 2 ABR brush files for Photoshop |
| One-line take | A no-nonsense, high-quality starter pencil that removes the guesswork from your linework. |
What you’re actually buying
At first glance, “2 ABR brushes” sounds like a thin offer. But in the world of digital art, a well-tuned pencil is the foundation of everything else. This pack isn’t a bundle of random textures; it is a specific, refined tool for the job of drawing. Shauna Lynn describes this as the exact brush she uses for her own sketching and linework, which means it has survived the test of daily use. You aren’t buying a “pencil simulation” that feels slippery or inconsistent; you are getting a tool designed to behave like a real graphite pencil on paper, with the natural taper and pressure response that makes sketching feel intuitive. (FREE Pencil Brush (Use Code: FREEPENCIL))
The value here is in the specificity. Instead of downloading a 500-brush megapack that you’ll never organize, you get two files that do one thing exceptionally well. This is the difference between buying a Swiss Army knife and buying a high-quality chef’s knife. If your bottleneck is getting clean lines down quickly—whether for thumbnails, final art, or inking—this pack eliminates the friction. It’s a $3 investment (or free if you use the code) that upgrades your entire drawing experience by giving you a tool that feels like an extension of your hand. (FREE Pencil Brush (Use Code: FREEPENCIL))
Why it’s on our radar
This product stands out because it solves a very common, very specific pain point: the lack of a “just works” pencil in Photoshop. Many artists spend hours tweaking brush dynamics, trying to find the right balance between hardness, spacing, and pressure sensitivity. Shauna Lynn has already done that work for you. The fact that she offers this as a low-cost or free entry point makes it an easy “yes” for anyone looking to refine their workflow without a significant financial commitment. It’s a smart, low-risk way to upgrade your toolkit. (FREE Pencil Brush (Use Code: FREEPENCIL))
One buyer captures the sentiment perfectly, noting that the quality of the work is evident even in the free offerings: “I already love her work, the brushes are awesome too” Gumroad reviews. That kind of feedback suggests that the brush isn’t just a placeholder; it’s a genuine tool that holds up to the scrutiny of people who already appreciate the artist’s style.
What actually matters
Before you download, keep these practical details in mind to ensure this fits your setup: (FREE Pencil Brush (Use Code: FREEPENCIL))
- Photoshop Specific: These are
.abrfiles, which means they are native to Adobe Photoshop. If you use Procreate, Krita, or Clip Studio Paint, this will not work directly. You would need to use a different format or a different brush pack. (FREE Pencil Brush (Use Code: FREEPENCIL)) - The “Free” Code: The listing explicitly mentions using the code
FREEPENCILat checkout. If you want to support the artist, the $3 price is a nice gesture, but the code is the intended path for most users. Check the current listing to confirm the code is still active. (FREE Pencil Brush (Use Code: FREEPENCIL)) - Simple, Not Complex: This is a starter pencil. It is not a specialty brush for painting, inking with a pen tip, or creating textured backgrounds. It is for sketching and linework. If you need a full suite of tools, this is just the first piece of the puzzle. (FREE Pencil Brush (Use Code: FREEPENCIL))
Mid-check
If you’ve been using the default Photoshop brush for your linework and it’s been feeling clunky, this is the fix. (FREE Pencil Brush (Use Code: FREEPENCIL))
FAQ
Can I use this brush in other software?
No, these are .abr files, which are exclusive to Adobe Photoshop. If you use Procreate, Krita, or Clip Studio Paint, you will need to look for brushes in those specific formats. (FREE Pencil Brush (Use Code: FREEPENCIL))
Is it really free?
Yes, the listing includes a code (FREEPENCIL) that makes the brush free. However, the artist also welcomes tips or the standard $3 purchase if you want to support their work directly. (FREE Pencil Brush (Use Code: FREEPENCIL))
What’s the difference between the two brushes? The pack includes two variations, likely offering slightly different hardness or taper profiles. This gives you a bit of flexibility to choose which one feels more natural for your hand, but both are designed for the same core purpose: sketching and linework. (FREE Pencil Brush (Use Code: FREEPENCIL))
Bottom line
If you are a digital artist who wants a pencil that behaves like a real pencil, FREE Pencil Brush is a no-brainer. It’s cheap, it’s effective, and it’s made by an artist who clearly knows what they’re doing. Whether you use the code to get it for free or pay the $3 to support Shauna Lynn, you’re walking away with a tool that will make your sketching process smoother and more enjoyable. Stop fighting your brush and start drawing.