Part 2 – Latest Drawing Tools, ‘Tools of The Trade, Markers, Pencils, Precision Tools, Erasers, Brushes, Paint Markers and More’ series
Need supplies quickly? In Part 2 – Drawing Tools, we will discuss supplies that are running low and those that have been used around the shop for the longest time. Some of these supplies have been with me for 15 years, and others for over 20 years. In previous post, we talked about the Amazon Affiliate direction. For continuity and to prepare for upcoming posts in early to mid-June about our 3D print upgrades, it’s important to have the right parts. So, let’s share the latest list of art supplies. Check out part two of our to-do list on the producer’s product page.
Part 2, Continues
In Part2 – Latest Drawing Tools we will focus less on the items mentioned above, as they are already essential in my drawing kit. However, we will discuss easels, additional brushes, and Moleskin albums or pads. The list of supplies goes on, including math sets (squares, compass, angles), sharpeners, on-the-go pads or albums, paints, paint markers, and drawing tools (mechanical) to keep on hand.
Recent Purchases, Recommendations
Moleskin – Art Watercolor Album 3.5×5.5 inch, (1 pad, 60 sheets)
Staedtler 4H Pencils – Mars Lumograph Pencils 4H (12)
Staedtler Instrument Math Set – Writing Instrument Math Set (14)
Staedler Mechanical Pencils* – Mechanical Pencils (3)
Strathmore – Sketch Pad, 8.5×11 inch, 1 pad (100 sheets)
Luxi – Sketch Book, Top Spiral, 9×12 inch, 1 pad (100 sheets)
Princeton* – Aspen Series Paint Synthetic Brushes, Acyrlic and Oil (5)
Liquitex – Marker set – Liquitex Professional Paint Marker Set, Monochromes (3)
Liquitex Markers – *Individual – Professional Paint Marker, Carbon Black (1)
Acrylic Paint BASICS Acrylic Paint Set, Tube Set (48)
More Recommendations
First, easels are a tough, rare breed of ‘kit’ to have around the shop. I’ve used desktop easels, metal easels and composites of some kind, only to come back to the Studio H. The Studio H can be found on Blick, specifically the Blick Studio Heavy-Duty H-Frame Easel, which is more importantly on wheels! I’m going to brag on this H-frame easel for a moment. While other easels can be found on Dick Blick or Utrecht, this easel is tough, agile and easy to put together. It has a nice shelf for convenient storage, where you can store additional tools, rulers, or markers, especially nice to have when using those Liquitex paint markers mentioned above. It’s easy to clean, accommodates oversized work, and sits on wheels, so maneuverability and the ‘space’ the easel consumes around the shop can be kept to a minimum.
Brushes
Next, let’s talk brushes, specifically the Princeton Catalyst Series brushes and *Golden/Utrecht acrylic paints. Occasionally, I will buy second-hand or slightly flawed brushes so that I always have the right brush for any situation. Therefore, the Princeton Catalyst and Aspen series are my go-to brushes for acrylics. I also want to mention that I consistently use Liquitex Basics-to-Advanced viscosities of paint. I stock up on Basics for commonly used colors, while opting for high-density, firm acrylics for filling, highlighting, or shadowing. It has been quite some time since I changed my paint selection, approximately 27 years ago. Regardless, easels, paints and brushes can all be found on our shopping list page. Feel free to browse those items in the cart, as they have been purchased multiple times.
In closing, we highly recommend the items listed on the shopping list, as they have been purchased more than three times over. In certain cases, such as the Liquitex paints, they have been purchased for over 27 years. Supply consumption varies, as supplies come and go. A never-ending cycle. Therefore, I like to occasionally add new items to test, place on the bench, and experiment with. It’s always important to test new supplies, versus those that are necessary for immediate purchase. Discover the supplies that best suit your needs and circumstances. Enjoy and good luck with your creative endeavors. Refer to Part One for more information.
Lastly, Keep Building Your List
Let’s end with an old saying ‘No pain, no gain’. I would venture to say. While building your supply list can be daunting and suppliers change, solving the problem of the list is the fun part. Sometimes things work out, while others should remain in the trash receptacle (or, on the never buy list). It’s part of being a consumer, which involves consumption, right? In all honesty, this part can be fun, so make it enjoyable! Turn it into a game if you choose, wheel and deal.
Before we move off of the new supplies. I don’t want to forget a few other upgrades around the office to share such as the GTRacing Mesh Back Chair a new upgrade here in the office… long awaited change, and time for the older model to be replaced with a new mesh back gaming chair. The Fisher Space Pen for you outer space fans… posted back in January 2021. Awesome pen, I use it on the road for any and all writing needs! Check back in a few weeks for updates. Items to look out for on the list include Moleskin pads or albums, and a few other goodies. Spoiler alert: there are additional 3D print upgrades, parts, and a new series just around the corner… less than a week away!
