my supplies

Since starting the 100 Day Project, with my series of 100 quick, black and white line sketches #100daysofsketchingsketchy, I've been getting a LOT of questions about what pen and tools I use. I decided to do a more in-depth look at all my favorite go to supplies here in the Sketchy Notions studio. 

When my trip back to Italy this summer gets closer, I'll do a travel supply version as well. I wrote a post a few years ago before my last trip with Quarto, but a couple of my favorite travel essentials have changed since. But here's a peek at all my favorite supplies that I use here in California on a daily basis. 

Basics:

• Sketchbooks: I almost always have a small Moleskine cahier on me, they're the easiest to throw in a purse or keep in my pocket. 

          I also always have one of my mixed paper travel sketchbooks with me. I used to only               use these for big trips but now I love having the different papers with me at all times. 

• Pencil: Around the art bubble, I typically just use a basic #2 pencil but I also really like these mechanical pencils from Kaweco (the green one up above). More on my Kaweco love later...

• Paper: My go-to paper for albums, sketchbooks or illustrations is Canson 140 lb. I buy them in pads in bulk from Dick Blick and I love them! I also love a good Fabriano but Canson is my everyday paper. 

Pens:

1. Kaweco Sport Fountain Pen: This was my very first fountain pen that an avid fountain pen friend gifted me years ago. I now have 3 travel sized fountain pens, 2 of which are Kaweco. I LOVE how compact they are! They fit in my pocket and I can easily have different colors of ink with me at once. 

2. Faber Castell S Pen: This is my go-to pen for children's book illustrations and line work on the coloring postcards. It's waterproof so I don't have to worry about the ink bleeding when I paint on top. 

3. Pilot G-2 .07: I use this pen EVERY DAY for notes, quick doodles and just everything. They're the best pen! (My mum and I hoard them). 

4-5. Kuretake Zig Pens w/ Cocoiro bodies: I have two different tips for these, the brush tip that I use for lettering and the fine point drawing. The fine point (teal) is the pen I've been using for the 100 day project. All of these parts are available on Jet Pens.


Brushes:

5-9. Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Brushes: I have more than just these 4 but these are the sizes I use the most: 0, 2, 8, and 10 Round brushes. 

10: Princeton Neptune Synthetic Squirrel Brush: I have two of these brushes, but I use this one more. It's a size 4 and I also have a size 6. Great for washes, or when I need to mix a lot of a specific color. 

Paints:

1. Van Gogh Watercolors: This is a new brand to me, I was gifted some of the primary shades. This blue is a fantastic shade, I use it in skies all the time!

2. Winsor & Newton Designers Gouache: I first started using these in college and I still love them! Just the versatility of being able to use them opaque as a gouache and more transparent like a watercolor makes them a great investment. 

3. Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolors: These are my favorite watercolors! I have two travel sets that I love as well! 

4. Reeves Watercolors: I use a lot of Reeves as well, they're cheaper than W&N. I also tend to use the black in lieu of ink when I need to do brush lettering, it tends to stain my brushes less. 

And that's about it! Let me know if you guys have any specific questions or have any thoughts or recommendations! I'm always up to play with new supplies!