What Supplies do I Use?

Supplies are an important part of making art. Although they don’t have to be expensive, you should always experiment to find out which supplies you’ll stick with. Here, you can see what I use to give you some ideas. You can also see some Instagram posts I've made using each supply to give you a better idea of what you can do with them!

Markers: Ohuhu and Copic

My first set of alcohol markers was a 60 pack of Ohuhus that I’m still using today. According to a lot of artists, they’re some of the best cheap alcohol markers available. They provide a great blend and a smooth design. However, Ohuhu does not sell refills! If that’s something you need, try looking into a different brand.

Click here to see art I did with Ohuhu markers!

Copic markers are known for being pricey. This is why I bought the cheaper alternative, Copic Ciao markers. They can still give you an amazing blend and are perfect for layering. However, if you’re not serious about sticking with markers, I recommend you buy something cheaper so your Copics don’t go to waste.

Click here to see art I did with Copic markers!

Coloured Pencils: Prismacolor

Prismacolor coloured pencils are great for realistic artwork. One of their best features is their perfect blend. They’re also ideal for art where you’ll be putting down a lot of layers of colour. There are some negative aspects to these pencils. The barrel is thin and the lead is delicate, so it breaks constantly. You’ll always need a sharpener on hand! They can also be expensive. If you’d like a cheaper alternative, look into the Prismacolor Scholar pencils, not the Premiers.

Click here to see art I did with Prismacolours!

Paper: Canson XL, Strathmore I’ve always loved the Canson XL paper brand. My regular sketchbook is a Canson XL watercolour spiral sketchbook, which works great for a lot of media, including pencil, pen, acrylic, watercolour, and marker. (Alcohol markers will bleed through). For some of my larger pieces, I bought a larger watercolour pad. This brand is relatively cheap and available at most art stores.

Click here to see art I did on Canson paper!

When I want a toned paper for my art, I always reach for Strathmore’s toned tan paper. Toned paper allows you to bring out the darkest darks and the brightest highlights. I often use it for coloured pencil work or pieces where I want dramatic lighting.

Click here to see art I did on Strathmore paper!

Pencils/Erasers: Generals

When I’m sketching, I like to use a regular mechanical pencil! I don’t know much about the different types of drawing pencils, so here's an article from a very informative website that’ll explain further.

Charcoal isn’t one of my favourite media, but when I do use it, I love the Generals brand. They sell charcoal pencils, charcoal sticks, highlight pencils, sharpeners, and kneaded erasers.

Click here to see art I did with Generals pencils!

Pens: Microns

Linework is an area of art I’m trying to improve. For my linework, I use Micron pens. They come in a variety of sizes and shapes, from brush pens to fineliners. One thing to watch out for: they smear if you use alcohol markers over them. Always wait for them to dry.

Click here to see art I did with microns!

Paint: CraftSmart

I usually use acrylic paints for my art. In fact, most of the paintings in my shop are done in acrylic. I always buy CraftSmart acrylic paints. These definitely aren’t artist’s quality, but they work well for what I like to paint. If you want an artist’s quality paint, try out Liquitex. I've never tried it, but I've heard great reviews about it.

My paint brushes are similar in that they’re pretty cheap. When looking for brushes, I look for a pack with a variety of sizes and shapes, as well as soft bristles and a comfortable grip. Most of my brushes were bought from local craft stores.

Click here to see art I did with CraftSmart paints!

Links to my Supplies:

Ohuhu

Copic

Prismacolor

Canson

Strathmore

Generals

Microns

CraftSmart

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this article. Remember, I release new ones every week. Before you go, don't forget to check out my shop!