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My Favorite Art Supplies

Kelly Latham

Here's some of my favorite art supplies all in one place.

I use these to paint on when I want a watercolor board that won't warp. Really easy to frame, no glass needed!

Watercolor Board - Ampersand Art Supply Watercolor Painting Panel: Museum Series Aquabord, White, 8x10

I've used this travel watercolor set since 2015, and it is hands down my favorite. Highly rec to anyone and everyone.

Watercolor Set - SAKURA Koi Pocket Field Sketch Kit - Watercolor Sets for Painting On the Go - 30 Colors - 1 Water Brush - 1 Sponge - 1 Mixing Palette

This is my favorite watercolor sketchbook. It comes in a soft cover too, but I like the hardcover because I can paint on the go on a hard surface when I travel the world.

Travel Watercolor Sketchbook - Strathmore 467-5 STR-467-5 48 Sheet No 140 Watercolor Art Journal, 8.5 by 5.5", 5.5"x8.5", 24 , White

This is the brush I use with my travel watercolor set.

Watercolor Brush - 1Pc Pentel FRH-B Aquash Water Brush (Fine Point Large)

Waterprood Pens - comes in lots of sizes. The multipack is a great way to start out.

Waterproof Ink Pens - SAKURA Pigma Micron Fineliner Pens - Archival Black Ink Pens - Pens for Writing, Drawing, or Journaling - Assorted Point Sizes - 6 Pack

This is my favorite sketchbook. The paper is thick enough to hold lots of media but smooth enough for ink pens. It lays flat and the cover feels nice.

Favorite Sketchbook - Strathmore 567-7-1 Softcover Mixed Media Art Journal, 7.75" x 9.75", White, 64 Pages

Waterproof brush pen. I use this for a lot of my inking, but especially paired with watercolor.

Watercolor Brush Pen - Pentel Arts Pocket Brush Pen, Includes 2 Black Ink Refills (GFKP3BPA)

This is the pencil I use for all my underdrawings in my sketchbooks and ink drawings. If you're used to working in layers digitally, draw your first sketch in this, second sketch in pencil, and then you can ink, just like working in layers in photosh...

Underdrawing Pencil - Staedtler NonPhoto Pencil - for under drawings

This is my second pic for an under drawing pencil. It's softer, but I'm heavy handed when I sketch, so the staedtler works well for me. I know MANY people that love this more tho.

Softer Underdrawing Pencil - Caran d'Ache Sketcher Non-Photo Blue 2 Pc Blister Card (903.302 )

I use these in my sketchbook. They're nice cause the pigment sits on top of the paper instead of soaking in, so it doesn't bleed through as easy. they're also really vivid and fun to play with.

Paint Makers - Uni Posca Paint Marker Pen, Fine Point, Set of 7 Natural Color (PC-3M 7C),Original Version

These are my go-to markers for sketchbooking. They're water based, so they don't blend as easy as copics, but they aren't smelly or they don't bleed through pages as easy. I like the tropical set for the colors, but there are lots of options.

Markers (Water Based) - Tombow 56189 Dual Brush Pen Art Markers, Tropical, 10-Pack. Blendable, Brush and Fine Tip Markers

This is a really good way to elevate sketches in a simple way. I like using these in tandem with the micron pens and pentel pocket brush.

Grey Marker Set - Tombow ABT Dual Brush Pen set of 10, GRAYSCALE

This is a great set to start working with colored pencils in a more elevated way. Nice for art students. I'd rec the 36 or the 24 set to start.

Colored Pencil Set (Good Quality) - Prismacolor 92885T Premier Colored Pencils, Soft Core, 36 Pack

A watercolor pencil set I've used for years. Works great with the Pencil Aquabrush. You color with them like normal colored pencils, and add water to the drawing to turn it into a watercolor painting. Great for beginning watercolor as well.

Watercolor Pencils - Prismacolor Premier Color Pencils | Water-Soluble Color Pencil Set, Assorted Colors, 36 Count

Alcohol markers are expensive. I'd recommend buying little sets to work up to a collection. I like copic, but lots of people like prismacolor brand too.

Copic Markers 3pc Sets - Copic Sketch, Alcohol-based Markers, 3pc Set, Color Fusion #6

If you wanna make an artist's day, or have the money and wanna REALLY dive into marker-land strong, this is the set I'd suggest.

Copic Markers Big Set - Copic Sketch, Alcohol-Based Markers, 36pc Set, Basic (New ver.)

This is the set I started out with for detailed graphite drawings. In my sketchbook I use the HB or the F.

Artist Pencil Set - General Pencil Kimberly Graphite Drawing Kit-12 Pieces

This is the pencil I use in my sketchbook most. Usually as underdrawings to ink, but sometimes in the finished pieces too.

Sketching Pencil - GENERAL'S PENCILS DRAWING GRAPHITE HB PACK OF 12

These are my favorite erasers. I also use a box cutter to slice them in half if I need them smaller. or to cut off dirty ends for crisp corners.

Favorite Erasers - Pentel White Small Hi Polymer Block Eraser 3 Count Sold In 5

This is nice to use to pull up some pencil drawing so it is lighter before you go in with ink or watercolor.

Kneaded Eraser for Underdrawings - PRISMACOLOR Design Eraser, 1224 Kneaded Rubber Eraser, Grey (70531) (3 Pack)

This is a good brand, economically priced, and the paper will hold a lot of different stuff from marker to watercolor to pencil to most other things.

Great Starter Sketchbook - Canson XL Series Mix Paper Pad, Heavyweight, Fine Texture, Heavy Sizing for Wet or Dry Media, Side Wire Bound, 98 Pound, 5.5 x 8.5 in, 60 Sheets, 5.5"X8.5"

This is the paper I use for most of my projects. Holds up to pen and ink and marker well. Posca pens yes. Not really for watercolor.

Bristol - Heavyweight Smooth Paper - Great for Ink/Marker - Strathmore 300 Series Bristol Paper Pad, Smooth, Tape Bound, 9x12 inches, 20 Sheets (100lb/270g) - Artist Paper for Adults and Students - Markers, Pen and Ink

Love this watercolor paper. It's so smooth and comes in a lot of different sizes.

My Favorite Watercolor Paper - Fluid Artist Watercolor Block, 140 lb (300 GSM) Hot Press Paper Pad for Watercolor Painting and Wet Media with Easy Block Binding, 8 x 8 inches, 15 White Sheets

This is how I made my first stickers! I downloaded the template, printed my art out, and cut them apart.

Beginner Stickers - Pack of 360 Permanent Print-to-The-Edge Round Labels, Laser/Inkjet, 2-Inch, Glossy White

It keeps all my alcohol markers in one spot and I can see all the ends and the colors. Very handy.

Copic Marker Case - BTSKY New 120 Slots Marker Case Lipstick Organizer--Canvas Markers Holder for for Primascolor Markers and Sketch Markers (Black)

This is the stapler I use to make books! It's really long, so it can staple i the middle of pages where a normal stapler couldn't reach.

Book Making Stapler - Swingline Heavy Duty Stapler with Built-in Ruler & Adjustable Locking Paper Guide, Desk Top Long Reach Stapler for Home Office Supplies, Staples Up to 20 Sheets Office Paper, Black (S7034121P)

hands down the best white pen in the world. Opaque. Solid. Beautiful.

Uni-Ball Signo Broad Point Gel Impact Pen White (2 Pens)

I've had mine for ever a decade and it is easy to pack, there when I need it, and the grooves at the top stop my brushes from rolling off. Love it.

Collapsable Paint Water Cup - Faber-Castell Clic & Go Artist Water Cup - Dark Green

i KNOW it is ugly. I know. BUT, this is the closest thing to my drawing chair as I can find, which also happens to be camo… but I love that mine has a strap, and the storage. Great for a day walking around drawing outside of urbansketching.

Outdoor Drawing Chair - Portal Foldable Outdoor Chair Fishing Stool 10.43"X12.8"29.13" with Storage Pocket, Camouflage

Used for tracing! I've had mine for 15 years, so it def holds up!

Artograph LightPad 930 LX - 12" x 9" Thin, Dimmable LED Light Box for Tracing, Drawing