Materials
I often get asked about what materials I use to create my paintings. I am also equally interested in what other artists use.
I have spent a fair amount of time testing out different paints, papers and brushes to try and find ones which give good repeatable results and, most importantly work well for me and my style.
I now always aim to use high quality materials to create my work. There is just no substitute for good quality paper or good quality brushes and paint..
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Paints, inks and pencils
I paint primarily using watercolours.
My preferred brand at the moment is Winsor & Newton and I use a combination of their Professional Travel Tin (containing 24 half pans and great for painting on the move), their Cotman 'Studio Set' (containing 45 half pans) and their individual coloured professional-grade paint tubes. The 'Studio Set' is an excellent starting point for anyone wanting to give watercolour painting a go, but their professional paints offer deeper richer pigments and I use them much more now. This online article from www.idyllsketching.com gives a good in-depth comparison if you want to find out more.
For inks, I use Speedball Super Black India Ink when I want deep blacks and Winsor & Newton white calligraphy ink for whites. I have been playing around with their gold drawing ink and it gives good results. All are waterproof.
I use Faber-Castell Polychromos colour pencils for coloured drawing and the Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer watercolour pencils when enhancing some paintings or when I want to draw, but want a watercolour feel.
For pencil sketching, I use mostly Mars Lumograph Black graphite pencils. It's a small set but the tonal range you get from them is fantastic. I also use Faber-Castell clutch pencils (various grades) when I'm drawing out the basics for a watercolour painting.
The Right Tools for the Job
Brushes, palettes, masking fluids, ink pens and pencils – the artist's toolkit is as varied as the art itself.
I use quite a varied selection of brushes; different sizes, makes, bristle types and different price points. Different brushes work well (or not) for each artist - a good brush can be quite a subjective thing and I'm sure what I use will change over time.
At the moment, I like Winsor & Newton Cotman brushes but also use brushes from the Princeton Neptune range and brushes from da Vinci. I have a Faber Castell size 12 round brush which I use in pretty much every painting and it is one of my favourites. It's quite a low priced brush but I find it super versatile.
I use a lot of round brushes because I find they hold water and pigment well and I really like mop brushes for big expressive bursts of colour and for colour washes. For detail I have some small / fine point brushes and also use my Tachikawa Comic ink and dip pen for highlights and super fine detail.
After each painting session I clean my brushes using warm water and 'The Masters' brush cleaner / preserver. Brushes can be expensive and, because I couldn't paint without them, it makes good sense to keep them in tip-top shape.
Sourcing Quality Surfaces
The foundation of any great painting is its surface. I typically use 140lb. / 300g/m² Cold Pressed watercolour paper for my work and I now always lean toward brands such as Arches or Hahnemühle.
I really like using paper blocks (which is a pad of watercolour paper glued on all four edges, with a small, unglued gap for separating sheets). It keeps paper flat while painting, eliminating the need for stretching or taping it down. Ideal for working with watercolours.
I have tried cheaper papers but I find they usually buckle when you apply water, specifically for wet on wet techniques.
When I am creating pencil drawings I will usually use the Strathmore Bristol Vellum Paper Pad which is a heavyweight (100lb. / 270g/m²) acid free paper.