Curious about the art supplies and tools that are essential to my creative process and business operations? Check out my comprehensive guide to discover the items I rely on for my artistry. I've curated this list with the hope that it serves as a useful resource for you!
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Painting & Art Supplies
Watercolors: Professional
If you're serious about your art, check out Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolors. Yes, they're pricier than the student range, but for good reason. The colors are vivid and the quality is unmatched, giving your artwork that professional edge. These paints dry transparent and smooth, avoiding that chalky residue cheaper paints often leave behind. I use them for my most important projects, but stick with the more affordable student-grade for everyday practice and fun experiments.
Watercolors: Beginner Friendly
The Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolors are a student-grade collection that I've trusted since my early days as a 20-year-old emerging artist. They've been a mainstay in my palette, replenished time and again. These pans offer a slice of Winsor & Newton's renowned quality without the investment required for the Professional range. Ideal for artists who seek excellence and value, this set is a smart pick for those building their artistic toolkit.
Metallic Watercolors
Handcrafted with care, these metallic watercolors are presented in a compact tin that's tailor-made for travel. The set includes six half-pans of richly pigmented metallic shades, each one capable of adding a dazzling sparkle to your artwork. These hues are designed to impart a shimmering luster, elevating your paintings with a touch of brilliance.
Field Watercolor Palette
The Field Artist watercolor set is my go-to when I need to pack light but dream big. Whether it's a quick sketch or a thoughtful cityscape, these vibrant squares are my silent companions, making sure my artistic spirit never has to stay behind, no matter how small my carryon. It’s not just about traveling light—it’s about carrying my studio in the palm of my hand.
Portable Collapsible Brush Washer
For the artist on the go, my collapsible paintbrush washer is as essential as the brush itself. It unfolds to signal the start of creation, whether amidst the hum of a coffee shop or the quiet of a plane ride. With each new location, it's there, ensuring the journey of art never pauses for want of clean water. It's the silent ally to the roving watercolorist.
Watercolor Mop Brushes
In my studio, these Dainayw mop brushes are indispensable. They're a cruelty-free blend of squirrel and horse hair, offering the best of both worlds: kindness to animals and exceptional brush performance. With watercolor or gouache these brushes handle it all with ease. They're the kind of quality supplies that let you paint with a clear conscience.
Watercolor: Tubes
When it comes to tube paints, I enjoy blending them with my pan colors for added versatility and depth in my artwork. My preferred choice is Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolors. The colors I often reach for in tube form include Cobalt Turquoise Light, Opera Rose, Gamboge Hue, Cadmium Red, Cobalt Blue, and Cadmium Yellow. These hues provide a vibrant range that enhances my palette, perfect for bringing my artistic visions to life.
Watercolor Mop Brushes
In my studio, these Dainayw mop brushes are indispensable. They're a cruelty-free blend of squirrel and horse hair, offering the best of both worlds: kindness to animals and exceptional brush performance. With watercolor or gouache these brushes handle it all with ease. They're the kind of quality supplies that let you paint with a clear conscience.
Small Watercolor Paper
For all my compact watercolor projects and travel art, I turn to the Bee Paper 6" x 9" Watercolor Paper Pack. Its robust quality holds up splendidly against watercolors, and being acid-free, it's excellent for both learning artists and creating professional-grade pieces. It's my reliable choice for crafting beautiful, lasting artwork, no matter where my inspiration takes me.
Tech Supplies
Tablet
For my digital art, the 12.9” iPad Pro is my trusty canvas. It's especially brilliant when I'm working in Procreate, where the generous screen size means I'm never boxed in by canvas restrictions that I've encountered with other models.
Stylus
My go-to for illustrating on the iPad is the Apple Pencil (2nd Generation). It's essential to check compatibility; this stylus is designed for the newer iPad models and won't work with the older ones. It's a crucial detail to ensure your setup works seamlessly.
Scanner
To transform my watercolors into art prints, I rely on the Epson Perfection Scanner. It's not only lightweight, making it travel-friendly, but also remarkably resilient. Despite the occasional splash from my watercolor sessions, it continues to be an indispensable asset in digitizing my artwork.
Laptop
I've upgraded to the 2023 MacBook Pro with an M3 chip for my digital art tasks. Its 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display and seamless iPhone/iPad integration make it indispensable for preparing and uploading my art prints online.
External Hard Drive
My art journey takes me around the globe, and so does my trusty SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable SSD. It's small enough to fit in any bag, tough enough to handle the rigors of travel, and has room for all my art and print files. Whether I'm in a studio or on a mountain top, this little drive ensures my creations are always with me.
Headphones
When it's time to zone into my painting, head out for a run, or make calls, my AirPods Pro earbuds are always with me. The best feature? Those squishy tips! They're so comfortable that I can wear them all day without the earaches I used to get from my old, hard-tipped earbuds. They're a small but significant part of my daily routine.