My Supplies

I sometimes get asked about what I use to draw and paint with. Here’s a rundown of what I’m currently using.

PAINT: I mainly use Daniel Smith watercolors, but also have some Windsor Newton paints that I’ll dip into. I like the Daniel Smith paints because they’re very rich and a little goes a long way, which is great because they’re expensive.

PENS: I have three fountain pens that I rotate between: the Twsbi Diamond 580, a Lamy Safari, and a Kaweco Sport all with extra fine nibs, although my main pen is the Twsbi. I fill them with Tom’s Studio 60 waterproof ink.

PENCILS: Sometimes I go straight into the drawing with pen, and other times I do a light pencil sketch. For pencils, I use a Staedtler Mars lead holder with 2H lead.

BRUSHES: I honestly don’t pay much attention to the brushes. I bought a cheap set at Hobby Lobby and another one off Amazon. Honestly, when doing this kind of work, the paper is the most important part, IMO. You can get by with cheaper brushes and paints, but don’t skimp on the paper.

PAPER: I have a collection of cheap watercolor sketchbooks with wood pulp that are primarily for practice, but you can get good results on cheaper paper if you know how to work within their limitations. My favorite sketchbook is Reflexions. They’re affordable and have decent paper. For “serious” paintings, I use 100% cotton, either Arches (which is fantastic, but very expensive) or New York Central, a very good budget option.

And that’s about it. Pretty simple.