TOOLS & MATERIALS

 

I strive to choose quality over quantity so I can rest assured that my creative practice does right by the planet. 

All products listed are vegan. cruelty-free, and as sustainably sourced as possible. 

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  • Fabriano Artistico Traditional White Watercolor Paper. Beautifully smooth and velvety, this 100% cotton paper from italy has been my go-top since I discovered it in 2013. It’s always consistent in quality, acid-free, vegan, and archival.
  • Ticonderoga My First Pencil. Yes, this line of trusty Ticonderogas was intended for kids with tiny hands who need a bigger writing instrument, but seriously…these things are great. I use a knife to chisel the large point into a nice flat blade and lay down basic sketches to get the gesture and composition nailed down. Smooth line, comfy grip. They just feel good.
  • Pentel Champ or Pilot G-2 0.7 Mechanical Pencil. Not necessarily a favorite for any particular reason, it’s just what I bought in a pinch and it works fine. I use this for the down and dirty details when super precise lines are needed.
  • Derwent Drawing Pencils. These come in an array of colors, but I like the sepia and terracotta shades for sketching. Super smooth. 
  • Prismacolor Ebony. Just very dark graphite.
  • Le Pen and Sakura Micron Pens
  • Tortillons. Just paper stumps used for blending graphite and charcoal. Cheap as hell, keeps your paper nice and free of oils from your fingers, and people always mistake them for joints, which is amusing. Get ’em in all sizes for all of your obsessively detailed drawing needs. 
  • Large, thick-bristled brush, any brand. I was using a huge brush with stiff bristles for years to “paint” graphite powder onto large-scale drawings. The brush creates various effects that pencils and smudge sticks just can’t do. 
  • Tombow Mono Eraser (round). For erasing fine details in eyes, fur, feathers, beaks, etc.
  • Kneaded Eraser. Doubles as impromptu clay for mindlessly sculpting into weird shapes while bored.

All pigments are Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolors and are vegan, lightfast, and non-toxic.

 

Buff Titanium

Lemon Yellow
New Gamboge
Burgundy Yellow Ochre
Burnt Yellow Ochre
Goethite
Minnesota Pipeline Genuine
Lunar Red Rock
Green Apatite Genuine
Undersea Green
Cascade Green
Jadeite
Perylene Green|
Bronzite Genuine
Indanthrone Blue
Phthalo Blue (green shade)
Deep Scarlet
Perylene Maroon
Quinacridone Lilac
Burnt Umber
Environmentally-friendly Brown Iron Oxide
Bloodstone Genuine
Lamp Black

  • Princeton Velvetouch, Loew-Cornell, & Utrecht. I typically use a #8 or #10 flat shader, sizes #2-6 rounds, and large 1″ flats for washes.
  • Airtight Travel Palette. This affordable palette has been a lifesaver (er, paint saver) for me. Comes with a pop-up silicone water cup that’s perfect for plein air painting. 
  • Sienna plein air box, medium
  • Various porcelain dishes
  • Small spray bottles
  • Masking tape or Scotch tape. For creating borders on the page.
  • Fabriano Artistico Traditional White Watercolor Paper
  • Strathmore Vision Sketchbook, 7″ x 10″
  • Stillman & Birm Nova Series