I decided to dedicate a blog post to my go-to art supplies since I get asked a ton of questions daily about the type and brands of materials I use. These are the supplies I would bring to a desert island with me. (hopefully I would be allowed to haul all this with me!)
Let’s start by the beginning (graphite)
These are my favorite pencils. Just some regular mechanical pencils with a variety of leads and a softer graphite pencil.
Faber-Castell pencils 2H, HB, 6B, generic mechanical pencils, HB and H leads
I do own a zillion sketchbooks, but this is the one I use every single day for my personal projects. It works perfectly fine with watercolors and gouache, and I feel like it has the perfect size for my super tall illustrations.
Canson mix media 11″x14″ sketchbook
I keep a mini version at home for when I feel the urge to sketch after office hours.
My favorite media is by far, watercolor. I combine them with gouache as well. These are the ones I use the most: 
(Winsor & Newton Cotman 12 watercolor travel set. Cotman watercolor tubes in “Chinese White” and “Permanent Rose”. Dr. Ph. Martin’s Radiant Concentrated Watercolors in “Raspberry” ans “Sunrise Pink”. Acryla by Holbein Gouache in “Prussian Blue” and “Pale Lilac”)
These are the brushes I use the most. I absolutely prefer them to be synthetic since those are cruelty free. Plus, they are cheap, which is great since they last very little in their optimal form in my hands.
Blick scholastic 2/0- Princeton ang shader in 1/8 and 1/4- Princeton Snap bright shader 6- Pentel waterbrush in Fine
Water brushes are awesome (and I believe they deserve an entire post of their own).
This is where my art supplies live (the alpaca and the Domo guy are their guardians)
And that pretty much sums it up. Do you share any favorites with me? Which art supplies would you bring to a desert island with you?
xo,
Hiiiii! I just leave a quick comment now and come back later for my bigger ramble! I LOOOVE your site and imagine my surprise when I saw a photo of you in a tutu skirt! I have one too, haha! I have to update my site a bit again as I had to take more professional photos and I *had* to go for tutus! Kindred spirits!! *high fives*
Okay. Back to work for me, but I’ll be back, because I need to have more time to properly read it.
Huggsss from Rotterdam!
xoxo
Back again! I had to stare properly at the photos before leaving my comment, haha. I so love to see posts like this as I’m alway scurious what tools artists use. We use a lot of similar things! I also have a Cotman travel kit! I’m very curious about Dr. Ph Martin and the Acryla by Holbein. I have Holbein watercolours and I really love them. So smooth! Oh. I need that tiny brush from Blick! I have their script liners (have them for 3 years already now, I think!). I also prefer synthetic brushes. ^_^
I use to only work with regular pencils, but nowadays I mostly work with mechanical ones. Not sure when I made that switch now, haha.
Very curious about your posts about the waterbrushes! I still haven’t got one (or two…).
Hope you’re well, lovely! Enjoy your weekend!
xoxox
hi, sweetie! Glad to know we have some art supplies in common 🙂 I actually have my eye on the holbein watercolors.
And yes, you need one or two waterbrushes to go with your travel palette! ♥ Have a lovely week ahead, my dear. xoxo
I totally agree on the synthetic brushes!! That supply caddy is amazing. Awesome write up on your supplies. Thanks for sharing. (:
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, love! ♥