“Being familiar with art materials and what you can do technically, will only heighten your ability to express emotion.”
— Donna Baspaly
Friends, today I’m excited to return to a post I first published in July of 2013, where I outlined seven essential sketching supplies and tools for sketch artists. A little while ago, I realized it’s actually the second most read blog post on my site, even though I’ve yet to update it in the past three and a half years.
What was even more interesting to realize was that out of all seven supplies, I only still use one of them today. For the rest of the list, either my preferred brand for the supply has changed, or I no longer use a particular item at all. Just as my sketching style and methods have evolved over the years, so it seems my favorite art mediums have been undergoing their own evolution.
I will always love that about art — how the way we see the world, and the means with which we bring that vision to life, both grow with us as we grow as artists.
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As with any new hobby or interest, it can be hard to know where to start when buying your first sketching supplies. You might find yourself standing in the watercolor aisle at your local art store, feeling like you’ve just stumbled upon the mother lode of all inspiration — and yet at the same time, your brain is on information-overload at the sheer number of options available.
My vision for this post is to help curb that feeling of information-overload. By sharing the following list of what I carry with me, I hope that choosing your own supplies won’t hold you back from getting started; instead, I hope you’ll be able to walk into an art store, feel more confident in what you’re looking for, and gradually experiment with different brands and supplies, as you figure out what mediums best help you bring your singular vision of the world to life.
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1. Sketching pencils
I begin all my sketches with a light pencil outline. For me, this is a chance to let my brain warm up to the scene, to figure out the perspective, and to get a sense of what details I want to include (or not include) — and to do this, I use Derwent sketching pencils with a hardness of HB.
Find it here: Derwent sketching pencil, $1.25 on Blick Art Materials
2. Soft vinyl erasers
One of the main reasons I start every sketch with a pencil outline is that I love having the freedom to make mistakes. If I don’t get the perspective just right the first time, I can always erase my lines and start over. The best erasers I’ve discovered are extra soft vinyl erasers. I also use them to erase my pencil lines after I’ve drawn in a sketch with pen, to give the sketch a clean look.
Find it here: Faber-Castell vinyl eraser, $1.06 on Blick Art Materials
3. Drawing pens
From the first day I started sketching, I’ve been using drawing pens to give my sketches definition and detail before painting the scene in with watercolors. However, what has changed over the years are the brands I’ve used — from Pigma Micron to Stadtler to Prismacolor pens. Finally, I settled on Faber-Castell’s PITT artist pens with a superfine nib, which I love using.
No matter the brand, just be sure to look for ink that is lightfast, acid-free, and — most important for watercolors — waterproof.
Find it here: Faber-Castell PITT artist pen, $1.99 on Blick Art Materials
4. Watercolor paints
My paint kit is the only supply where I’ve stayed faithful to the same brand for six years — Winsor & Newton watercolors.
My first watercolor field kit was from Winsor & Newton’s line of affordable Cotman paints, and after a few years, I upgraded to their professional watercolor compact set. If you’re new to sketching and painting, you might consider starting with the Cotman field kit, as you grow more familiar with the medium.
In terms of adding additional colors to your kit (especially black, which doesn’t come in either set), you can easily order tubes of extra colors. I also keep a tube of white gouache paint in my sketching kit. Gouache is an opaque watercolor that feels like a hybrid between watercolors and acrylics, so that means lighter shades will generally show up on top of darker colors. I like having white gouache on hand, in case I need to add highlights to my sketch or use it for detailed lettering.
Find it here: Winsor & Newton Cotman compact set, $22.19 on Blick Art Materials
Find it here: Winsor & Newton professional watercolor compact set , $85.25 on Blick Art Materials
5. Brushes
The Cotman kit from Winsor & Newton comes with its own short brush, which is what I used during my first years of sketching. But as my familiarity with different art techniques grew, so did my preferences for more specific materials. I now use three main brushes: two Winsor & Newton Cotman watercolor round brushes (sizes 2 and 4), and my go-to favorite, a synthetic squirrel hair brush by Mimik (round, size 6). To keep the tips of the brushes from being damaged, I also store them in a separate brush roll.
I’m occasionally asked if I recommend water brushes, which are another great option for travel sketching. While I personally prefer the feel of a traditional brush, be sure to experiment to see what style of brush works best for you.
Find it here: Winsor & Newton Cotman watercolor brushes, from $4.03 on Blick Art Materials
Find it here: Mimik synthetic squirrel hair watercolor brushes, from $5.19 on Jerry’s Artarama
Find it here: Richeson bamboo brush roll-up, $6.33 from Blick Art Materials
6. Sketchbooks
The key thing to keep in mind for sketchbooks is the quality of paper. Standard drawing paper has a weight of about 130 grams per square meter (a unit of measurement abbreviated as “gsm”), but watercolors can cause such paper to buckle. A good weight for watercolor paper starts at 200-300 gsm, so keep an eye out for this when you’re shopping for sketchbooks.
In terms of brands, I’ve come to use Canson regularly, specifically their line of Montval watercolor pads. I love their 5.5” x 8.5” spiral-bound sketchbooks, as well as their 7” x 10” field artbooks, whose thick black hardcovers make the book feel solid and balanced in your hands as you sketch. In the past two years, however, I’ve primarily used Moleskine’s pocket-sized watercolor notebooks for sketching, as their smaller size helps me work faster in the field (each page measures only 3.5” x 5”).
Find it here: Canson Montval wire-bound watercolor pads, from $4.29 on Blick Art Materials
Find it here: Canson Montval field watercolor artbooks, from $16.17 on Blick Art Materials
Find it here: Moleskine pocket-sized watercolor notebook, from $13.95 on Blick Art Materials
7. Bag
As I’ll share more about just below, I haven’t always traveled light as a sketch artist, but I now store everything but my brush roll in a small canvas pouch that measures just 7” x 7”. I love how easy it is to pack — no matter what bag or backpack I’m using at the time — and it ensures I’m always ready should inspiration strike.
Find it here: Quotable 7″ x 7″ pouch, from $9.99 on Amazon
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Final tip: What matters most is the artist behind the art
While looking for a fitting quote to open this post with, I came across a page of quotes specifically about art materials — and I was struck by how one of the main themes running through them was that the materials themselves matter less than the artist putting them to use. Here’s a few more of my favorites:
“Don’t overlook some of the best tools you have in your possession — your fingers and hands.”
— Earl Grenville Killeen
“Make your drawing instrument an extension of your brain, heart, eyes, and hand.”
— Mick Maslen
“It is not the brush you bring to the canvas but what you bring to the brush.”
— Todd Plough
This idea perfectly connects with one of the biggest lessons I’ve had to learn on my creative journey — that traveling light doesn’t make me less of an artist. I don’t think it’s an accident that the more confident I’ve grown as an artist, the more permission I’ve given myself to carry fewer supplies, choosing instead to bring only the essentials. I now realize that our supplies are designed to help us on our creative journey, but they don’t define us as an artist.
What matters most is that our sketching supplies are those we feel comfortable using and can keep catching moments with from the world around us.
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Ooh, there’s nothing like new art or stationery supplies! I can spend hours browsing in art stores, and prize the few pens I am travelling with! You have inspired me to get back into painting, and I will definitely be picking up some of your recommendations, along with some oil pastels and charcoal 🙂
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who gets excited over new supplies 🙂 I have a feeling it’s a good thing we weren’t able to cross paths in Bangkok, as we might not have ever left the art section of B2S together. It’s so great to hear you’re getting back into painting, though, and please know how much I’m looking forward to your pastel and charcoal drawings!!
Unfortunately, my artistic skills can be described (at best) as “purposeful doodling,” otherwise I’d go out and buy these art supplies and start sketching!
Joseph, my friend, it would be an honor to include some of your “purposeful doodling” in the summer’s sketchbook round-up…. just sayin’ 🙂
Such helpful info!!! 🙂
I’m so glad to hear that, Andi! It was lots of fun putting the list together 🙂
At work, what I also love to do for sketching houses is to lay down the initial lines in ink on trace, and then on the back, use the prismacolor markers. They give you a nice watercolor look without the fuss!
And I do love my watercolor pencils. They are ideal. But I might just have to try your new watercolor set!
Ah! I love that idea about doing pens on one side and markers on the other…I will definitely have to give that a go as soon as I pick up some tracing paper. And yes, Prismacolor markers are an old favorite of mine, too! I still have the big set I got when I around 13 or 14 – and amazingly, they still work 🙂
PS – If you’re at all interested, I’d love to include some of your pen-and-marker creations in the summer’s sketchbook roundup!
I can’t live without Derwent and Sakura’s Micron! However, I’m pretty picky about the brushes, would only use nylon ones 😉
Yes!! So happy you’re a fellow fan of some of these brands, Lela 🙂 I don’t believe I’ve ever tried nylon brushes before though, so I will definitely have to check them out soon – thanks for the tip!
This is a very helpful list. Having spent my youth working in my Dad’s art supply store, I’m familiar with most of the brands you mention, and I’ve been thinking a lot lately of trying to make some drawings during my travels. Stumbling on this post has been a great find. I hope I can create something that’s half as lovely as your travel sketches! Thanks for the inspiration 🙂
Hello Gayla! Thanks so much for stopping by, and for your kind words – it’s wonderful to hear from you here. That’s so great that your dad owned an art supply store – I’m pretty sure if mine had, I would never have left it growing up 🙂 I’m thrilled to hear you’re thinking of sketching on your next trip – if there’s anything I can do to help, please let me know!
Maybe it’s a reflection of my own dishelvedness, but I find I have trouble with smudging when I’m on the road with my sketchpad so I prefer dryer, more stable materials. I use markers (stabilo has done me well, but I like a range of points and feels) and I like the non-smudgy Verithin line of colored pencils from Prismacolor.
Thanks for sharing a bit about your own on-the-road techniques, Todd! I like the idea of using markers – that’s something I haven’t tried out too much, but I may have to give them a go soon 🙂
Happenstance–I use the same brands (when you specify) except I’ve never tried Tombow. Next time at the store, one goes in my bag! Micron pens are the best! and I even have a Derwent canvas pencil holder.
Thanks for your comment, Rita! It’s awesome to hear you’re also a fan of Micron and Derwent – the canvas holder has definitely become one of my favorite sketching supplies. Also, I’m not sure if this is too late of notice, but I’d love to have you submit a sketch or two to the Summer’s Sketchbook round-up I’ll be putting together next week! If you have any sketches from this summer that you’d like to submit, feel free to send them to [email protected] – it’d be great to include a couple of yours 🙂
Great tools recommendations for on the go! I also do alot of sketching while traveling and recently got into watercolors. I just purchased the Derwent canvas pencil holder to keep everything organized! my friend also recommended me art tool holder you might be interested, it also helps keep art tools or brushes organized when creating art.
Candace, seeing this post is so well timed! I’ve been nervously thinking about taking up a little bit of watercolour again (after decades of deciding I simply wasn’t ‘arty’ enough to do so) but didn’t know much about where to buy the bare essentials, or which ones to go for. It’s a sign!! :p Off to get a Cotman kit now <3
Yes!! This makes me oh-so-happy to hear, Flora 🙂 I’ve so been there, with a tiny desire to start making art again but with a lot of uncertainty on how exactly to go about that–so for me this year, my big push and focus is to help others push past that feeling of uncertainty and get started with their new sketchbooks sooner 🙂 I’m thrilled to hear you’re hoping to take up watercolors again, and I can’t wait to see glimpses of your first sketches! <3
Hi Candace. Great post, awesome quotes. Thank you for comparing past and present and the evolution of creativity, not only with style but materials as well. It’s good hearing it from a professional, that it’s okay to change and that materials change too. Also that one need not spend a fortune on lots of materials that may not be needed or used.
I like that you are able to minimize what you take with you. I hope to accomplish this one day! “Less is more.”
I bought the Windsor and Newton Professional Field Box years ago when I did sketchbooks. However I removed the paint cakes and squeezed in my favourite Daniel Smith Watercolours. Along time ago I had also purchased empty pans that would fit in this box and can change the colours without wasting the paint. I still like Daniel Smith Watercolours and my field box. I have migrated to using the waterbushes and Pitt artist pens. I have always used the kneaded erasers but I do like the vinyl eraser as it seems cleaner. I used to be faithful to the 5 x 8 black hardcover sketchbook but since starting up again my choices have been erratic. I recently purchased a Moleskine 3 x 5 watercolour sketchbook that I really want to try.
Your sketch of supplies was in Costa Brava – we were there in 2015 in Tossa de Mar. We also drove up the coast to Figueres to the Dali museum and a stop in Girona. It was oh so inspiring and beautiful. I had taken my sketching stuff and sadly never even opened the book. I definitely want to go back and take in this area at a slower, more enjoyable pace and to definitely do lots of sketching!
I love the blue and white cloth that your beautiful sketchbook and supplies are on in the photo above!
Thank you again Candace for another great post! ❤🙏
Thank you so much for this amazingly detailed note, Treava–I loved hearing more about how your own favorite materials have evolved over the years! I’ve heard great things about Daniel Smith watercolors and would love to try them out one day soon, especially as I’m just now realizing I’ve never actually any brand of paints besides Winsor & Newton! I also loved hearing that you were also exploring the Costa Brava the same year I was–how fun would it be if we crossed paths in Tossa de Mar one day? 🙂 While I was based in Lloret de Mar for my last two weeks there, I thought that Tossa had such a beautiful vibe to it, and wish I could have spent more time there. I so hope you’ll have the chance to return soon–most especially so you’ll be able to catch the region’s beauty with your sketchbook 🙂 <3
I would love that if one day our paths crossed Candace.
The vibe in Tossa was wonderful, but busy. It was August, peak tourist season, but it was wonderful.
Thank you again Candace!
This is so helpful Candace, for me as a beginner. Again, you give a comprehensive guide in such a concise manner, and as always, so inspiring!!!!!! Now I can walk into an art supplies with a more purposeful mind. Thank you very much for sharing with us.
I’m so happy to hear this post was useful for you, Kar!! Concise + comprehensive is what I always strive for in these more information and tip-based posts, so thank you for letting me know it was helpful 🙂 I’m just so very excited for all the journeys these next few months will hold for you and your husband, and I can’t wait to glimpse some of them through your sketchbook! <3
Thank you as ever Candace, the photos are particularly invaluable. This is such great information because I am still floundering as to what to take out and still do not get it right and then become nervous if someone starts to watch me. I am experimenting with both Windsor & Newton and Aquarell but keep going back to my little Cotman cheapie set because it is easier to use than unscrewing lids all the time and I am still pushing out too much paint!! I really loved your piece about white gouache and will get some of that. I have just finished a birthday card for my sister and was in the art store today to find a 300GSM Canson A2 or 3 paper to back it (it is a large card) and they were telling me that Canson were not providing as much of a range as they used to. It is my favourite paper and I am concerned that it will no longer be available. Thanks again Candace, absolutely brilliant article.
Thank you so much for this wonderful and detailed comment, Victoria! First of all, I totally understand about pushing out too much paint 🙂 I do that all the time I either need a bit of white gouache, or am refilling other watercolor paints in my kit–it’s amazing how far a little paint will go, isn’t it?
I also can so relate to the nervous feeling when someone starts watching over your shoulder, if you’re out sketching on-location. Next month I’m excited to write a post addressing exactly that feeling, and one of the things I’ve been realizing I do lately, is that if someone does start to watch, I’ll often just re-draw or re-paint something that’s already done on the page (or just embellish on it a bit). Then I’ll either wait until they’ve moved on, or I’ve stopped feeling so nervous, and then keep drawing or painting a new area of the sketch. I’ve found just touching up part of the sketch I’ve already started helps me feel more relaxed and not quite as worried that their watching me is going to distract me from the sketch. I’m not sure if that will help, but I wanted to share it 🙂
Finally, I hadn’t heard that about Canson, so thanks so much for the head’s up! It might be good to start stocking up on some of my favorite papers and sketch-pads from them then. Wishing you a wonderful and inspired rest of your week and weekend, Victoria! <3
Thanks for those tips Candace, I will try that when I am out this weekend and next Sat. I know people are just being interested and often very kind with their comments but it cripples me!!!
Thanks for this Candace ,over the last 30 years my system has changed .
daily I carry a small pencil tin 7″x2″x1/2″), that has my rubber, a pencil sharpener, a B fabercastell ‘9000’ series pencil, woodlesscharcoal pencil medium grade, Derwent drawing pencil (Venetian red), Faber castell polychromes white, 0.5 mm propelling pencil , 0.7 mm propelling pencil (koh-i-nor for 5000 series ), 0.8 & 0.5 uni pin fineliners , with these i carry a 6″ X 8″ hard bound , 200gsm sketchpad .
When I want to do colour work I generally add a tin of Caran D’ Ache Supra colour water soluble pencils , or my sketchers pocket box water colour set by Windsor and Newton , with a Rowney 5 sable, a pro arts nylon 2 and a Daler Rowney 0.
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Thank you so much for this comment! I loved reading through what you keep in your daily sketching tin, and I love that you’re always ready, should inspiration find you out and about in the world 🙂 I’d also never heard of Caran D’Ache colored pencils, so thank you for sharing that with me–they look absolutely gorgeous to use, so I’m excited to look into them more soon. Happy sketching! <3