My Kit

Here’s everything I actually reach for: papers, pencils, pens, and paint. This is a running inventory, not a fixed “recommended list”: it changes slowly as I try new things.

Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, mainly through Blick Art Materials. If you buy something after clicking one, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only link to things I actually use and would recommend anyway.

Essentials

• Staedtler Mars Technico 780 Lead Holder (2mm)
• Staedtler Mars Lead Pointer
• Pentel Graph Gear 500 (0.7mm)
• Lamy Safari Fountain Pen (with fine nib)
• Sailor Fude De Mannen Fountain Pen (55 degree nib)
• Platinum Carbon Black Ink (waterproof)
• Bic Ballpoint Pen (medium)

• Daniel Smith Watercolor Paints
• Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolor Paints
• Pentel Aquash Waterbrush (large size)
• Princeton Heritage Round Watercolor Brushes

Colors on my palette: Payne’s Gray, Ultramarine, Phthalo Blue (Green Shade), Cerulean, Sap Green, Perylene Green, Hansa Yellow, Quinacridone Gold, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Red, Quinacridone Pink, Yellow Ochre, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Raw Sienna

• Stillman & Birn Gamma Series - Dry Media
• Beechmore Books Mixed Media Sketchbooks, A5 and 8” Square - Dry Media
• Arches Watercolor Block 9”x12” 140lb/300GSM Cold Press 100% Cotton
• Generic 100% Cotton Watercolor Sketchbooks 300GSM (I’ll try some name brand ones at some point)

Everything Else

Dry / mixed-media sketchbooks

• Beechmore Books (A5 and 8” Square)

Watercolor pads and blocks

• Arches
• Baohong
• Lightwish
• Marie’s

Watercolor sketchbooks

• Semleart
• Lightwish
• Remowith
• Marie’s

Graphite (traditional)

• A variety of brands (Dixon, Blackwing, Prismacolor Turquoise, and others), 2H–6B, mostly 2B

Mechanical

• Koh-I-Noor Rapidomatic (0.5–0.9mm)
• Pentel Graph Gear (0.5–0.9mm)
• Nicpro (0.5–0.9mm), usually HB or 2B lead

Lead holders

• Staedtler Mars Technico (2mm)
• Nicpro (2mm)
• Generic 5.6mm holder, 2B lead

Colored

• Prismacolor Premier
• Mr Pen Rainbow Pencils

Erasers

• Pentel Hi-Polymer
• Generic kneadable erasers

Charcoal / Conté

• Conté à Paris Pierre Noire 2B
• Generic compressed and vine charcoal

Sharpeners

• Kum long-point sharpener
• Afmat long-point sharpener
• Staedtler 502 2mm lead pointer

Ballpoint

• Bic Cristal Xtra Smooth, medium 1.0mm (blue and black)
• Bic 4-Color

Fountain

• Twibi Eco
• Lamy Safari
• Platinum Preppy
• Jinhao 82
• Writech retractable
• GC Quill fude nib

Ink

• Platinum Carbon Ink (waterproof, fountain-pen safe, my favorite)
• Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black

Brush pens

• Kuretake Mannen Mouhitsu brush pen
• Kuretake Zig

Brush markers

• Tombow Dual Brush Pen Art Markers (Grayscale set)

Fineliners

• Pigma Micron 01, 03, 05

Dip pens

• Kodrily
• New York Central India Ink

White pens

• Sakura Gelly Roll Classic White

Watercolors

• Daniel Smith
• Winsor & Newton Professional
• Marie’s Masters
• Art Whale

Gouache

• Art Whale
• HIMI

Brushes

• Princeton Velvetouch
• Princeton Heritage
• Princeton Aqua Elite
• Phoenix Professional Mop Brushes

Travel brushes

• Fuumuui Artist Travel Paint Brushes
• Tumuarta

Water brushes

• Pentel Aquash (large)

Palettes

• Ceramic (studio)
• Meeden tin palette (travel)