I’m always excited to explore different materials. From acrylics to printmaking, from pencils to digital brushes. I love it all and even when something isn’t 100% for me, I’ll never regret the experiment.

Before any material is incorporated into my work, I will experiment with it in my sketchbook. It all starts with that exciting first swatch, then I use it in some sketchbook sessions to explore its character. It’s a bit like speed dating before going all in.
And of course, there are things I keep just for the sketchbook, but most of the time, it’s a fluid practice.

While I’m always open to trying something again (pastels, I’m not giving up on you yet!), or testing something completely new, I do have some favorites that I will always have with me.

matching my favorite pencils 🙂

My top 5 sketching materials:

1. Soft graphite pencils, like a 7B. Gritty, dirty, expressive.
2. A duo colored pencil. Often red and blue (like this one). I like this to make quick sketches for illustrations as it allows me to play more with warm/cool tones and contrasts. A simple hint of color provides a lot more info right away.
3. Artgraf + waterbrush pen. Lovely texture, lots of possibilities for tonality, and a quick way to make plein air studies.
4. Markers. I prefer light colors to create quick shapes to work on top of. At the moment I’m enjoying the Ecoline brush pens and Stabilo markers. Depending on the paper I’m using these don’t bleed through too much.
5. My small tin with a mix of watercolor and gouache colors. I swap colors depending on the season or what I expect to be drawing.

Some extras that I often carry:
6. Neocolor 2 crayons as they layer on most other materials. I have a small tin to bring some favorites.
7. A neon-colored pencil, often orange.
8. Extra colored pencils. Luminance mostly.
9. Nitram liquid charcoal- because the tin is flatter than the one from Artgraf (I have the larger tin).