🖼 What's in my Art Toolkit?

The Watercolor Story Weekly

I often get asked by fellow artists about the art supplies I use. I firmly believe in using high-quality materials. By "high-quality," I don't mean breaking the bank, but rather selecting a few reliable items that you use frequently. For example, having a good brush is essential, and I highly recommend investing in a couple of quality sable hair brushes.

Here are the items in my art toolkit, including those I've used in the past. Some are essentials I use all the time, while others are reserved for rare occasions, but I wholeheartedly recommend them all:

PAINTS:

1. Highly recommended: DANIEL SMITH 285610005 Extra Fine Essentials Introductory Watercolor, 6 Tubes, 5ml, Blue/Transparent/Yellow, 0.17 Fl Oz (Pack of 6)

2. Best for Travellers: Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Paint Set, Sketchers' Pocket Set, 12 Half Pan w/ Brush

3. If you want to get into the professional range: Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolor Paint Set, Lightweight Metal Box, 24 Half Pans

4. Recently on a trip to Thailand, I was introduced to REMBRANDT Watercolors by a friend. So I bought three tubes and I must say, these are at par with any of the brands mentioned above.

BRUSHES:

1. Escoda Prado Series 1468 Artist Watercolor Paint Brush Set in Synthetic Leather Case, Synthetic Sable, 6 Travel Brushes, Size 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12

2. Winsor & Newton Series 7 Kolinsky Sable Brush - Pointed Round, Set of 5

3. Rosemary Pure Kolinsky Brushes

SKETCHBOOK:

1. If I had to choose one sketchbook brand to use for the rest of my life, without hesitation, this would be my pick: Stillman & Birn Zeta Series Sketchbooks

2. My second favourite would be Hahnemuhle Sketchbooks. These sketchbooks are so good during painting and equally good from archival point of view. The vibrancy of colors is maintained.

3. Moleskine Sketchbooks were my first ones. I love the build quality of these sketchbooks and needless to say the paper quality.

PAPER SHEETS:

Here I would not give my direct recommendation as I believe that paper is something that one must test from various brands, varieties and thickness (lb). You should finally find one or two papers that fit your sweet spot. For me that is Arches 300 lb coldpressed papers. If you plan to make works smaller than full imperial sheets (56 x 76 cm), then go for the pads. Or else you can simply buy rolls so that size is not a limitation.

PEN & INKS:

This is one of the most used things in my case. The following are the ones you can invest on. I don’t believe in buying too many varieties only to keep it as a collection (unless that is your intent). I realised I end up using only one or two of the below mentioned items, which are best in the market:

1. Lamy Safari Fountain Pen. This is my sword in battle. The best illustration experiences that I got are from using this pen. I have a yellow one & I love it.

2. Uniball Air Micro Pen. The most budget friendly & best one for travelling without the fear of ink leakage.

3. Sakura Koi Pigment Markers. I recommend buying a set of 6.

4. Noodler’s Bulletproof Ink. Best waterproof ink for fountain pen.

5. Sailor Fude De Mannen - Stroke Style Calligraphy Fountain Pen - Bamboo Green - Nib Angle 55 Degrees (11-0127-767). I own one but never used it. So cannot comment about it’s ease of use. Quality is not an issue though.

OTHERS:

1. Caran D'ache Luminance Colored Pencil Set of 20. These are the best color pencils you can find in the market. Like every other Swiss product, they are very expensive and it makes sense if you plan to go for hyperrealism style of work or use as mixed media (I use it with Watercolors and they are magical). My wife gifted me these for my birthday and I absolutely love them.

2. Caran d'Ache Classic Neocolor II Water-Soluble Pastels, 15 Colors. Haven’t yet used them but I plan to buy them soon. They got some very good reviews from fellow artists/illustrators.

If you are not sure about how to select colors for a start, I’d recommend you read this small post first: The One Color Theory Hack That Will Transform Your Watercolors 🌈

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