I don’t know many people who don’t love a good list, women especially if I might generalise for a minute. And what could be better than a list turned into a visual?
Not much, obviously.
You’re welcome.
I was thinking the other day about what I love to use most when I’m making art, and there are definitely art supplies I come back to again and again, for various reasons, but mainly because they are what I most enjoy using to express myself creatively.
If you are not so familiar with using some of these materials, today I am sharing my reasons for choosing these over the bajillion other options out there. Obviously I use other things too, but I consider this my core group.
Sketchbook
For me, it has to be square. I simply can’t find a groove with rectangular sketchbooks. It also has to be quite large, which doesn’t make for back pocket storage when out and about but for me, bigger is better in this case! My current favourite size is 31 x 31 cm, and it has to be spiral bound so I can lay it flat. This one is my favourite make; the pages are 160gsm which is a great weight for drawing and painting.
Canvas
Again, has to be square. I can work on rectangular canvas but I don’t like it as much. I prefer not to go smaller than 30 x 30cm, and LOVE to go large ~ I’m currently working on a 100 x 100cm canvas. I buy them ready stretched and gessoed for ease. Sometimes I’ll work on wooden panels but I seem to always return to canvas.
Brushes
I have two favourite styles ~ flat and round, usually around a size 12, nice and chunky, although they can be used to make finer lines too. I’m not fussy about make but I do like the ones specially made for acrylics with synthetic bristles as they have a good springiness to them. I also have a few very tiny ones for detail, although they inexplicably get wrecked very quickly.
Palette Knife
Part of the reason I love this particular palette knife is the paint build-up on the handle. That aside however, this baby is flexible and easy to manipulate. I can use it to spread the paint on thick, or scrape it back to create lovely texture. Also useful for mixing paints. {If you use a brush a lot of the colour gets lost in the bristles.}
Soft Pastels
My pastel preference for their blendability, although they do make a lot of dust. But it’s colourful dust so I don’t mind. I have these Winsor and Newton ones and also some by Inscribe, and the colours are intense and gorgeous.
Fluid Acrylics
I have used Golden exclusively up til now but they are very expensive, especially if you’re just starting out. I’ve recently become acquainted with Liquitex’s fluid acrylics {called ‘soft body’} and am pleased to see that they maintain the pigment strength. Some cheaper acrylics can be very poor in terms of colour density so it is worth going as high quality as you can afford. But you certainly don’t need to go top of the range to get a good colour. I also prefer fluid over ‘heavy body’; I find them easier to manipulate.
Compressed Charcoal
I have this make, and prefer it to willow charcoal as it’s denser and less inclined to snap! It allows for a broader range of shades and you can go really black with it. Used in conjunction with a rag, an eraser and fingers, this is one of my favourite ways to make art. {I will be talking more about my love affair with charcoal in a later post.}
Black Pens
I use these ones by Uni called ‘pin’ pens. They come in various thicknesses and I just bought a pack of them in a range of sizes. Really nice for line work and drawing over pencil for definition or simple doodling in my sketchbook. They are also water and fade proof.
Rag
Great for use with paint, charcoal and pastels, for rubbing back, smudging, creating texture and blending and softening edges. I use old clothes that I’ve worn out cut up into little pieces. Waste not want not.
Fingers
Not often mentioned in a tools list but seriously one of the most useful tools you have! I love to smudge and move the paint around with my fingers, as well as using them for charcoal and pastel blending. I also love having painty fingers; it’s a kind of weird inverse vanity thing.
Oh my goodness. I forgot one.
Ink and feathers
A more recent discovery for me. There are plenty of seagull feathers round here where I live, although all you need is one sturdy enough; just snip the end off at an angle, dip it in basic ink, and you can make some amazing marks with it ~ and kind of feel like you’ve stepped back in time.
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Finding ‘your’ supplies is usually a process of trial and error. Obviously just because I love the ones I’ve mentioned doesn’t mean you will, but perhaps knowing a little more about what’s available and how it can be used can start you off trying out what sounds like the most fun to you.
Do you have favourite tools and mediums? I always love to learn new ways to use these things, and also to try things I haven’t used before, so feel free to share in the comments!
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Great post my friend! I’ve shared it on FB!
I shouldn’t have read this post, my bank account is now less than when I started!
I find square pads easier to work with, but for some ideas I need oblong, so have both. I find Pink pig to be good, they’ll take most paints.
Most of my paint supplies seem to be Daler Rowney; brushes, paint and inks.
Sorry Nigel, I am a bad influence. 😉
I just saw a Pink Pig sketchbook the other day, having never heard of them before. Will have to check them out!
Just curious, do you know how those Uni Pens work on top of paint? I know some people love the Permaball pen for this, but I can’t find those anywhere. 🙂
Fun post!
xx Kate
They do if it’s not too thick. I tend to use them more in my sketchbook than in larger paintings, and they work great over water soluble pencils/crayons for defining edges.
I’m curious about these. Do you use them for signing work? Or do you not sign your paintings at all? I’d love to see you do a bit on signing work.
Also, I’m so with you on the square canvasses. . . Don’t know why, but they feel right to me. However, I just finished a 10×20″ canvas, and I actually enjoyed that.
Hi Mary – what are you referring to when you ask about what I use to sign work? I used to use paint but it was too unwieldy so now I tend to use a Pitt pen or marker of some kind. I sign my initials on the front and my full signature plus the date on the back usually.
Oh Tara, I am so with you with the square sketchbook and canvas! well,
Happy to read and see all the wonderful things you present and the photo is so clear and charming at the same time. Love this combination of photo and writing! (I am huge time into creating photo books these days for about the same reasons…)
As I seriously tend to carry the lot of it to the park and cafés … (in the “art washbag” which makes me get some suspicious glances here and there, haha) I even add wax Crayons and letter rubber stamps. 🙂
You are quite at the right spot for collecting feathers over there at the beach, eh?
On Friday a 6 year old Student collected feathers on the schoolground and offered some to the teachers….after having read your blog post I really think shouldn’t have declined, ^^…
Have a lovely Weekend!
best, Nicole
Oh yes crayons and stamps! I particularly like the Neocolor water soluble crayons. Take a feather next time!
I share your need for only spiral bound sketchbooks (and notebooks)! I can’t function with something bound any other way! I do prefer rectangular sketchbooks, but they have to be bound on the short side! It’s funny how we get so particular!
Absolutely! I would go for bound on the short side too if I was going rectangular. 🙂
Great post you have answered my questions.
I am also gutted I have never seen square sketch books!
Me either. I’ll have to look for them.
Conversely, I like small A6 sketchbooks, hardback and bound. These fit into a jacket pocket and, with any sort of pen or pencil (and watercolour at a pinch) I can make discreet sketches anywhere.
The small size forces you to think of content. Turner’s sketchbooks were often tiny and each page sub-divided.
Big isn’t always best.
All good points! I’m hopeless at working small, but of course lots of people love it and find it easier. Much more travel friendly too. 🙂 And I like your point about how it forces you to consider what to include. Thanks for stopping by David!
Have you tried atilier interactive acrylics?.. they are brilliant and you can rework them days later with their opening fluid.. you should try them!
I do have one or two of those!
I had never used pastels and after reading your ideas, I bought some pastels and charcoals. I found that I love using pastels! I am just trying to have fun with my “art” and the process. Thank you so much for the inspiration. You have given me permission to just do it, and not fear the outcome. I find that it is fun!
Yay! Finding new materials to try out and enjoy is such a fun part of being an artist I think. So glad to have helped you on your artist path Carol!
I like to pack light: a black double-ended paint pen (brush tip and fine tip), a white gel pen, and a few PrismaColor pencils.
Tara Hi, I have been with you for over a year now.
I can say I enjoy all the blogs and all the information you give and present. Of course you also inspire me greatly, to produce greater art pieces and to use different materials and mediums too.
Thanking you, greatly, because you make my art world and life complete. I am very Happy you came into my world…. Have an Excellent Day…
Thank you Marie! So glad you find something that helps you here. 🙂