Let's Celebrate...Materials!

A few of my favorite supplies right now.

There is nothing art nerds love more than discussing materials. What brand of tape is that? What paper weight is your favorite? What kind of sketchbooks do you use? I’ve gotten a few of these questions from fellow art nerds recently and thought I’d share some of my favorite stuff. 

STORAGE

This canvas roll bag from Colton Creations was intended for wrenches n’ things. But how perfectly does it work for my cute lil pencils? If you’re traveling or going out and about often enough with your sketchbook, this bag will be a lifesaver. It makes me feel like the organized queen I certainly am not.

SKETCHBOOKS 

The Strathmore Softcover Mixed Media Sketchbooks are my absolute faves. Since I’ve been rolling through the sketchbooks lately though, I started opting for a more budget friendly option- Talens Art Creations. Great price point and the paper weight works well for most mediums. 

PENS N’ PENCILS

I’m fresh to the Black Wing club, but I definitely get the hype. It offers a delightfully smooth, rich line. The pencil does get small and stubby rather quickly though, so my everyday sketching pencil is just the good ol’ Dixon Ticonderoga.

As for colored pencils, I’m not loyal to one brand. It’s all about the color for me. Prismacolor, Caran d’Ache, Faber-Castell, I use them all.

This Sailor Fude De Mannen pen was recommended by two incredibly lovely n’ talented illustrators-

Kayla Stark

and

Kaly Quarles

, so I had to try it! I’m still getting the hang of it, but I’m loving all the wonky, inky goodness this pen delivers.

PAINT:

I’m an acrylic gouache gal. But I’ve been playing more and more with watercolors and inks recently as well. And yes, you can purchase my incredibly profesh paint storage from Aldi for $4.99.

BUT REALLY, JUST PLAY AROUND

My biggest advice with materials is just to play! Try some stuff out- a sketchbook size that seems weird to you or colors you never really go for. I know it can get expensive with materials, but really exciting things can happen when you use what’s around you too. I’ve made a paintbrushes out plastic bags, drawn with black ink using sticks and feathers, and pulled charcoal from a fire pit. The art store is not the only place to find your supplies!

I’d love to hear some of your favorite materials lately!