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✏️ Drawing & Sketching Supplies I Actually Draw With
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items These are the pencils, pens, markers, and sketchbooks I actually draw with, from Prismacolor and Blackwing pencils to Micron pens and a pocket watercolor set. If you're getting into sketching or want to upgrade your art kit, this is everything I'd bu...
My Prismacolor Premiers are the colored pencils I reach for first, because the soft cores blend like butter and the 72-color tin covers almost everything.
Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils, 72 Ct
I use Polychromos when I want crisp detail, since the oil-based leads hold a sharp point and never get that waxy buildup.
Faber-Castell Polychromos 24 Color Pencils
A colorless blender is my cheap trick for smoothing out colored pencil layers so a drawing looks polished instead of scratchy.
Prismacolor 962 Premier Colorless Blender Pencils, 2-Count
My Mars Lumograph set gives me every grade from 4H to 6B, and the leads almost never snap when I sharpen them.
STAEDTLER Mars Lumograph 12-Piece Pencils
Blackwings are my splurge pencil for loose sketching, because the soft graphite glides and the flat ferrule eraser is genuinely useful.
Blackwing Matte Soft Graphite Pencils, 12 Ct
Pigma Microns are the pens I ink every sketch with, since the archival ink is waterproof once it dries and doesn't bleed under watercolor.
Sakura Pigma Micron Fineliner Pens, Black, 6 Pack
The Pentel Pocket Brush gives me thick-to-thin lines like a real brush, and it's what makes my quick sketches look confident.
Pentel Arts Pocket Brush Pen + 2 Refills
I keep a white Signo in my pencil case for last-minute highlights, and it shows up bright even over dark marker.
Uni-Ball UM 153 Signo Broad Gel Pen White 3
Tombow Dual Brush pens are my go-to for lettering and soft color washes, since the water-based ink blends out with a wet brush.
Tombow 56169 Dual Brush Pen Markers, 10-Pack
My Ohuhu alcohol markers blend almost like the pricey brands for a fraction of the cost, so I'm never scared to use them up.
Ohuhu 24 Colors Alcohol Markers Brush & Chisel
Posca paint markers are what I use on toned paper, wood, and even my sneakers, because the opaque color covers anything.
Uni Posca 5M Acrylic Paint Markers, 29 Set
The Cotman pocket box fits in my jacket, and the 12 half pans plus the mixing lid are all I need for watercolor sketches on the go.
Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Sketch Set
I bring my Koi field sketch kit on trips since it has 24 colors, a water brush, and a sponge all in one tiny case.
Sakura Koi Pocket Field Sketch Kit, 24 Colors
Aquash water brushes mean I can paint anywhere without a water cup, and I use them to blend my Tombows too.
Pentel Arts Aquash Water Brush, 3 Pack
The Canson XL Mix Media pad is my everyday sketchbook, because the 98 lb paper takes pencil, ink, marker, and light washes.
Canson XL Mix Media Pad 9X12
My Moleskine Art sketchbook lives in my bag for drawing at cafes, and the thick pages and elastic band keep it tidy.
Moleskine Art Plus Large Sketchbook, Black
When a painting matters I use an Arches block, since the 100% cotton paper stays flat and lets me lift and layer without pilling.
Arches Watercolor Paper Block, Cold Press, 9x12, 140lb, 2 Pack
A kneaded eraser is how I lift highlights out of graphite and charcoal without ever smudging or leaving crumbs.
Prismacolor Scholar Kneaded Rubber Eraser, 1-Count
The MONO Zero erases tiny details like eye highlights and hair strands that a regular eraser would wipe out.
Tombow Mono Zero Precision Rubber 2.5x5mm
Blending stumps are how I get smooth gradients in my graphite shading, and this set has every size I need.
Art Alternatives Stumps & Tortillons Set, 10pc
My KUM long point sharpener gives my pencils that super-long artist point, and the two-step blades are gentle on soft leads.
AS2M Long Point Sharpener w/ 2 Blades, Blue
When I want to sketch digitally, the Huion H640P is a cheap, no-battery tablet that feels surprisingly close to drawing on paper.
HUION Inspiroy H640P 6x4 Drawing Tablet