I personally use a HB mechanical pencil, eraser and a tissue
and thats it
Full Version: What do you use?
the tools i use vary from medium ..so here are the pics of some of my tools..first yes my trusty mechanical pencil (these come in different lead sizes, mine is a .05 with a 2b lead) and of course my trusty erasers..NOT ALL ERASERS ARE CREATED EQUAL..i use the typical gum eraser, these are great and also come in different sizes..i usually just get the big one and break it down if i want a smaller size..it is a good idea to seperate your erasers ..you know one for charcoal, one for graphite..you can clean your hard erasers with your gum eraser too..oh my mechanical pencil is the very first one i bought when i decided i wanted to try to draw..it is about 6 yrs old now and the end of it shows..i love that pencil
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then if i am using charcoal i sometimes use prisma color pencils. they came in soft, med. and hard..for large areas of black i use the compressed or stick charcoal. and for blending charcoal i choose qtips, oil/scent free tissues, and of course my fingers..careful with that though..fingerprints are the dickens to get out and in some cases cant be removed at all..you will also find that charcoal isnt as friendly with mistakes as graphite and wont erase easily so work gently till you are certain of your marks before you make a hard one..i mostly use generals charcoal pencil though i like them all..i find i use the hb and 6b and 8b the most but i do use the others alot as well..
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when i am using watercolor pencils i use a mixture of aquarelle, derwent, derwent inktense, and derwent graphitint..in order to get a good range of colors it is necessary to purchase these different types cause one type will only have so many colors or one set will have a couple colors that you like..of course you can buy these pencils one at a time in open stock too. i house my pencils in these wonderful and versatile cases..i have 3 of these cases..each case holds 120 pencils..i have 2 full of colored pencils, and one full of watercolor pencils..the strips that hold the pencil are velcroed in so no falling out and each strip comes off and connects end to end to form a nice pencil holder..when all is done it folds up in a nice compact case
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I also use the wonderful waterbrushes when working with my water color pencils, of course regular paint brushes work every bit as well....but this has constant clean water flowing to the tip..no more ucky water..see how it comes apart and the blue part is the well where the water is held..these also come in different sizes and are awesome for this type of artwork..i love mine
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when i am working with these cased pencils they drape wonderfully over my drawing table
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a pencil sharpener is wonderful too..of course the small handheld one works...but this lil baby here is awesome and a wise investment if you are serious about drawing
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see the little red doo hickey..that is the sharpeness of the point you can adjust this little baby to any point type you like
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and see how this front comes out and grips the pencil..you need not hold it..that is its job to hold it with just the right amount of force to get the point to the pre adjusted size..
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then last but not least is my pencil holder which my hubby made..a 2x4 with like 60 drilled holes in it and then sanded and stained..a treasure this is let me tell you..this holds pencils i am currently working with as well as the colerase pencils i use..the colerase pencils i use when i work in colored pencils..they are great for laying your line drawing and not worrying about the graphite mess..lay your lines with these erasables..use em lightly though cause they dont erase all that greatly..
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oh and this thingy here is an eraser guard, i only recently discovered this lil thing myself and it is wonderful for putting highlights in and what not
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i use a basic sketch book for lessons, and learning and challenges, i have one for charcoal, one for graphite, and one for colored pencils..i have a seperate sketch pad for watercolor
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and here is my drawing desk
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then if i am using charcoal i sometimes use prisma color pencils. they came in soft, med. and hard..for large areas of black i use the compressed or stick charcoal. and for blending charcoal i choose qtips, oil/scent free tissues, and of course my fingers..careful with that though..fingerprints are the dickens to get out and in some cases cant be removed at all..you will also find that charcoal isnt as friendly with mistakes as graphite and wont erase easily so work gently till you are certain of your marks before you make a hard one..i mostly use generals charcoal pencil though i like them all..i find i use the hb and 6b and 8b the most but i do use the others alot as well..
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
when i am using watercolor pencils i use a mixture of aquarelle, derwent, derwent inktense, and derwent graphitint..in order to get a good range of colors it is necessary to purchase these different types cause one type will only have so many colors or one set will have a couple colors that you like..of course you can buy these pencils one at a time in open stock too. i house my pencils in these wonderful and versatile cases..i have 3 of these cases..each case holds 120 pencils..i have 2 full of colored pencils, and one full of watercolor pencils..the strips that hold the pencil are velcroed in so no falling out and each strip comes off and connects end to end to form a nice pencil holder..when all is done it folds up in a nice compact case
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
I also use the wonderful waterbrushes when working with my water color pencils, of course regular paint brushes work every bit as well....but this has constant clean water flowing to the tip..no more ucky water..see how it comes apart and the blue part is the well where the water is held..these also come in different sizes and are awesome for this type of artwork..i love mine
Click to view attachment
when i am working with these cased pencils they drape wonderfully over my drawing table
Click to view attachment
a pencil sharpener is wonderful too..of course the small handheld one works...but this lil baby here is awesome and a wise investment if you are serious about drawing
Click to view attachment
see the little red doo hickey..that is the sharpeness of the point you can adjust this little baby to any point type you like
Click to view attachment
and see how this front comes out and grips the pencil..you need not hold it..that is its job to hold it with just the right amount of force to get the point to the pre adjusted size..
Click to view attachment
then last but not least is my pencil holder which my hubby made..a 2x4 with like 60 drilled holes in it and then sanded and stained..a treasure this is let me tell you..this holds pencils i am currently working with as well as the colerase pencils i use..the colerase pencils i use when i work in colored pencils..they are great for laying your line drawing and not worrying about the graphite mess..lay your lines with these erasables..use em lightly though cause they dont erase all that greatly..
Click to view attachment
oh and this thingy here is an eraser guard, i only recently discovered this lil thing myself and it is wonderful for putting highlights in and what not
Click to view attachment
i use a basic sketch book for lessons, and learning and challenges, i have one for charcoal, one for graphite, and one for colored pencils..i have a seperate sketch pad for watercolor
Click to view attachment
and here is my drawing desk
Click to view attachment
wow Kay that's very neat 
I don't have half the pencils you do, I do have alot of paint tubes thought
I keep my graphite and coloures pencils in one box, I only have a set of 12 colored pencils (I have to buy more I
know!)
I have one normal eraser and one pen eraser (the ones that work like a mechanical pencil) and I use tissue
and my fingers to blend.
I have one mechanical pencil, one charchoal pencil, and one small hand pencil sharpener.
I have one book of nice smooth drawing paper A4 size and one A3 size, and for the challenges and lessons I use printer paper.
Looks like I should go shopping
I don't have half the pencils you do, I do have alot of paint tubes thought
I keep my graphite and coloures pencils in one box, I only have a set of 12 colored pencils (I have to buy more I
know!)
I have one normal eraser and one pen eraser (the ones that work like a mechanical pencil) and I use tissue
and my fingers to blend.
I have one mechanical pencil, one charchoal pencil, and one small hand pencil sharpener.
I have one book of nice smooth drawing paper A4 size and one A3 size, and for the challenges and lessons I use printer paper.
Looks like I should go shopping
it is nice to have these now to really get the skills..my husband tells me if am serious about this he doesnt mind getting me the right tools..now mind you..i just got these things this year..this is NOT something i ran out and purchased on a whim..the tools can be costly..i have been practicing a very long time with the very basics..it is only this year that i purchased these great toys..i wouldnt want a newbie to race out and spend money on tools they may never use again..so purchase accordingly
Nice the idea of posting one's studio equipment! I would like to post something too :-)
As for graphyte I use my trusted derwent graphic numbered from 3H to 6B with a kneaded eraser. I have not found my ideal solution to sharpen the pencils yet. Lately I have been using a cutter but I am not very familiar with it. I use Fabriano rough paper for most of my pencil and charcoal sketches.
Some drawings are made with a limited stock of quadrelli (contè) in black, sanguine and white, and soft charcoal sticks.
As for watercolours, I use winsor and newton artists watercolours. I prefer pans, but recently I made a good deal by buying a lot of tubes at a very convenient price, and they both have their pros and cons. I use a sable kolinsky brush and a variety of sintetic brushes for larger washes.
As for the paper, I use a cheaper Fabriano for "training" and and other pads (Cartiere magnani) whose tooth I love very much and use for the most carefully planned paintings. I have also at hand a small pad of postcard-sized sheets for my little studios.
As for oils, I use W&N. and cheaper brushes without solvents.
I've also purchased a box of Lefranc oil pastels.
While this is less true for pencils, I recommend to purchase the best quality colours you can afford, because you are likely to attribute to your inexperience some faults which rather depend on poor quality materials!
So, always purchase the best quality you can afford without making great damages!! An idea could be investing on a very limited stock of colours and after having experimented enough dare buying more...!
Sarah
As for graphyte I use my trusted derwent graphic numbered from 3H to 6B with a kneaded eraser. I have not found my ideal solution to sharpen the pencils yet. Lately I have been using a cutter but I am not very familiar with it. I use Fabriano rough paper for most of my pencil and charcoal sketches.
Some drawings are made with a limited stock of quadrelli (contè) in black, sanguine and white, and soft charcoal sticks.
As for watercolours, I use winsor and newton artists watercolours. I prefer pans, but recently I made a good deal by buying a lot of tubes at a very convenient price, and they both have their pros and cons. I use a sable kolinsky brush and a variety of sintetic brushes for larger washes.
As for the paper, I use a cheaper Fabriano for "training" and and other pads (Cartiere magnani) whose tooth I love very much and use for the most carefully planned paintings. I have also at hand a small pad of postcard-sized sheets for my little studios.
As for oils, I use W&N. and cheaper brushes without solvents.
I've also purchased a box of Lefranc oil pastels.
While this is less true for pencils, I recommend to purchase the best quality colours you can afford, because you are likely to attribute to your inexperience some faults which rather depend on poor quality materials!
So, always purchase the best quality you can afford without making great damages!! An idea could be investing on a very limited stock of colours and after having experimented enough dare buying more...!
Sarah
I posted this picture in response to a similar thread on WetCanvas back in April:
My description from April:
My description from April:
QUOTE
My workspace has to double as my desk during the day, so all of this stuff sits up on a shelf until I'm going to do some art. The thing in the middle is made not from toilet-tissue rolls, but from very heavy wrapping-paper rolls which I sliced up on my bandsaw. They're glued to a thin piece of particleboard. You can see all the tricks of the trade there: superglued pencil stubs, a pencil holder, a solvent blender (this week's favorite tool), some blue-tak, and all my graphite art stuff in the tackle box on the right there, including a new package of Wolf's carbon pencils (this week's other favorite tool!)
My materials range from my favorite derwent graphic pencils to oil paints.
here's a short list of all the mediums:
graphite, charcoal, oil pastel, pastel, colored pencils, watercolor pencils, crayons, ink, watercolor, gouache, acrylic, and oil paint.
With those mediums come their various tools, but since i mainly draw here are the accessories:
kneeded, gum, and rubber erasers, tissues, tortillions, ruler, fixative, paper, canvas, and a pencil sharpener.
My grandfather was an artist, and when he died of cancer a year ago he left his art supplies to me. Thousands of dollars in art supplies! things i never could have afforrded. Up till then i was only experimenting with graphite, pastels, and colored pencils. So ironicly, when he died he passed his love of art to me through the use of all the different mediums and the exploration of the mediums. Ive spent this last year just figuring out how to use each one, and i still have so much more to learn.
here's a short list of all the mediums:
graphite, charcoal, oil pastel, pastel, colored pencils, watercolor pencils, crayons, ink, watercolor, gouache, acrylic, and oil paint.
With those mediums come their various tools, but since i mainly draw here are the accessories:
kneeded, gum, and rubber erasers, tissues, tortillions, ruler, fixative, paper, canvas, and a pencil sharpener.
My grandfather was an artist, and when he died of cancer a year ago he left his art supplies to me. Thousands of dollars in art supplies! things i never could have afforrded. Up till then i was only experimenting with graphite, pastels, and colored pencils. So ironicly, when he died he passed his love of art to me through the use of all the different mediums and the exploration of the mediums. Ive spent this last year just figuring out how to use each one, and i still have so much more to learn.
wow this is a nice thread going on here, so much of information about the things being used. really like this and would like to have more people sharing their tools.
as for me I have started with just graphite at the moment so I have the basic stuff, but hope to buy some more later when I try out other mediums.
as for me I have started with just graphite at the moment so I have the basic stuff, but hope to buy some more later when I try out other mediums.
QUOTE (Cayla92 @ Sep 26 2008, 10:37 PM) 
My materials range from my favorite derwent graphic pencils to oil paints.
here's a short list of all the mediums:
graphite, charcoal, oil pastel, pastel, colored pencils, watercolor pencils, crayons, ink, watercolor, gouache, acrylic, and oil paint.
With those mediums come their various tools, but since i mainly draw here are the accessories:
kneeded, gum, and rubber erasers, tissues, tortillions, ruler, fixative, paper, canvas, and a pencil sharpener.
My grandfather was an artist, and when he died of cancer a year ago he left his art supplies to me. Thousands of dollars in art supplies! things i never could have afforrded. Up till then i was only experimenting with graphite, pastels, and colored pencils. So ironicly, when he died he passed his love of art to me through the use of all the different mediums and the exploration of the mediums. Ive spent this last year just figuring out how to use each one, and i still have so much more to learn.
here's a short list of all the mediums:
graphite, charcoal, oil pastel, pastel, colored pencils, watercolor pencils, crayons, ink, watercolor, gouache, acrylic, and oil paint.
With those mediums come their various tools, but since i mainly draw here are the accessories:
kneeded, gum, and rubber erasers, tissues, tortillions, ruler, fixative, paper, canvas, and a pencil sharpener.
My grandfather was an artist, and when he died of cancer a year ago he left his art supplies to me. Thousands of dollars in art supplies! things i never could have afforrded. Up till then i was only experimenting with graphite, pastels, and colored pencils. So ironicly, when he died he passed his love of art to me through the use of all the different mediums and the exploration of the mediums. Ive spent this last year just figuring out how to use each one, and i still have so much more to learn.
I am sorry to hear you lost your papa but what a wonderful gift he left for you, all the tools and the desire to use them..i am sure he would be sooo pleased with you..
Cayla, that must be a great responsability, to give the proper use to those suplies knowing they belonged to your grandfather and knowing he was an artist, I bet you tressure them with your heart
Speaking of suplies I went to the art shop today, oh my so many goodies they have there, and so little money in my pocket
I had to buy some paper for the under sea trade, so I decided to buy 3 watercolour pencils and each time I go there I'l buy another 3 or 4 so in no time I'll have quite a few
can anyone explain to what exactly is a kneedeble eraser
Speaking of suplies I went to the art shop today, oh my so many goodies they have there, and so little money in my pocket
I had to buy some paper for the under sea trade, so I decided to buy 3 watercolour pencils and each time I go there I'l buy another 3 or 4 so in no time I'll have quite a few can anyone explain to what exactly is a kneedeble eraser
eraser
clara the kneadable eraser is awesome..it lifts the graphite out instead of rubbing it in as a hard eraser may do..they are square and gray and come in a couple diff sizes..they last a very long time too..let me go get you a pic of one
awesome cause you can squish them to a razor edge too..
clara the kneadable eraser is awesome..it lifts the graphite out instead of rubbing it in as a hard eraser may do..they are square and gray and come in a couple diff sizes..they last a very long time too..let me go get you a pic of one
awesome cause you can squish them to a razor edge too..
QUOTE (oliverandjazz @ Sep 27 2008, 09:16 PM)
eraser
clara the kneadable eraser is awesome..it lifts the graphite out instead of rubbing it in as a hard eraser may do..they are square and gray and come in a couple diff sizes..they last a very long time too..let me go get you a pic of one
awesome cause you can squish them to a razor edge too..
clara the kneadable eraser is awesome..it lifts the graphite out instead of rubbing it in as a hard eraser may do..they are square and gray and come in a couple diff sizes..they last a very long time too..let me go get you a pic of one
awesome cause you can squish them to a razor edge too..
Thank you Kay, I wonder what they call them here
, I'll have to check that out next time I go to the art store
QUOTE (Kaly @ Sep 27 2008, 04:29 PM)
Thank you Kay, I wonder what they call them here , I'll have to check that out next time I go to the art store
, I'll have to check that out next time I go to the art store Clara,
You will really like the kneaded eraser, you pull it and fold it over itself, and it cleans itself! As Kay says, you can roll it, or smash it down to a tiny point or edge to take out the graphite that just got a bit too heavy in one spot. I would give away all of my erasers and use only a kneaded eraser if I had to.
Regards,
Trish
P. S. they are usually very cheap.
OMG!!! I felt really proud of my extremely small collection of art equipment until i read this thread and now i know otherwise. This thread is completely ironic as only last weekend i was chatting with my father-in-law, who i should say is an extremely good artist (mainly paint though), and i was proudly showing him my portfolio of achievements.
He actually said that the potential for completing really good pieces was there and he could see it but he was convinced that it was not my ability that was lacking or the talent but it was my tools that were letting me down.
At the moment i am using mainly pencil, Staedtler Mars Lumograph soft head pencils ranging from HB to EE and Berol Verithin coloured pencils (yeh i know the cheap stuff). I recently purchased some more pencils which included 2H, F and 8B along with three Spectrum Charcoal pencils 2, 4 and 6B's (which i haven't tried yet). I also purchased some Faber Castell Soft Pastels just to try them out but as yet haven't managed (too scared). My paper is just the run of the mill printer paper, which i personally use for both my sketches and serious works. I will upgrade this at some point.
My father-in-law liked my portfolio, that only the other night he dropped in to give me his Faber Castell Pitt Monochrome Graphite Set, which is really cool and packed with some great stuff. You can imagine my excitement, then he dropped the bombshell - it was only on LOAN!!! - Deflated!!!!
Anyway i have dropped so many hints we will have to see what Santa brings to me this year but i am aware that the right tools are the key to a successful artist and agree with Kay wholeheartedly that you need to build your tools up rather than spend a fortune on things you might never use again.
My computer desk doubles as my drawing table (i know what a cheap skate) but it seems to work for me at the moment. My personal thought is that if you enjoy your art that much your surroundings and available tools become insignificant as you submerge yourself deeper and deeper into your sketch. A bomb could be going off next to me when i start sketching and i wouldn't know about it. I will increase the quality and quantity of my tools as time goes by but i still love to draw irrespective of my current tools.
That's my take on this thread.
Martin
He actually said that the potential for completing really good pieces was there and he could see it but he was convinced that it was not my ability that was lacking or the talent but it was my tools that were letting me down.
At the moment i am using mainly pencil, Staedtler Mars Lumograph soft head pencils ranging from HB to EE and Berol Verithin coloured pencils (yeh i know the cheap stuff). I recently purchased some more pencils which included 2H, F and 8B along with three Spectrum Charcoal pencils 2, 4 and 6B's (which i haven't tried yet). I also purchased some Faber Castell Soft Pastels just to try them out but as yet haven't managed (too scared). My paper is just the run of the mill printer paper, which i personally use for both my sketches and serious works. I will upgrade this at some point.
My father-in-law liked my portfolio, that only the other night he dropped in to give me his Faber Castell Pitt Monochrome Graphite Set, which is really cool and packed with some great stuff. You can imagine my excitement, then he dropped the bombshell - it was only on LOAN!!! - Deflated!!!!
Anyway i have dropped so many hints we will have to see what Santa brings to me this year but i am aware that the right tools are the key to a successful artist and agree with Kay wholeheartedly that you need to build your tools up rather than spend a fortune on things you might never use again.
My computer desk doubles as my drawing table (i know what a cheap skate) but it seems to work for me at the moment. My personal thought is that if you enjoy your art that much your surroundings and available tools become insignificant as you submerge yourself deeper and deeper into your sketch. A bomb could be going off next to me when i start sketching and i wouldn't know about it. I will increase the quality and quantity of my tools as time goes by but i still love to draw irrespective of my current tools.
That's my take on this thread.
Martin
QUOTE (provmeister @ Oct 3 2008, 12:31 AM)
Anyway i have dropped so many hints we will have to see what Santa brings to me this year
Martin
Martin
I hope he understood you!!!!
QUOTE (Kaly @ Oct 3 2008, 01:38 AM)
I hope he understood you!!!!I hope so too, but i've still got time to work on him so fingers crossed
Martin
OJ impressive pictures .. thank you for sharing ... Ernest I use the same thing ..my husband made me a holder out of TP rolls it works very well .
Hi everyone! - new here. 
I am a coloured pencil artist(plus acrylic painter), some will know me from Wetcanvas as "gnu"
I use Prismacolor Pencils and Faber Castell Polychromos pencils. I have over 120 of the prismas, and about 80 or so polys. I use sticky tak(blue Tak) to erase/lift, I have an Angel hand turned-pencil sharpener, and also a Ledah 333 electric sharpener, (they cost nearly $300 here in NZ!!!!!)
I have just managed to source some Stonehenge paper so am using that, plus Arches 100% cotton rag, pastel papers and good quality WC papers.
I keep current in use pencils in either a cup, or plastic pencil case if travelling. I use odorless solvent mostly if I use a solvent, and Micador Fixative Spray.
I am currently creating NZ Botanicals, and also some still life subjects, just finished some jellybeans!!!
seeyah
Gill
I am a coloured pencil artist(plus acrylic painter), some will know me from Wetcanvas as "gnu"
I use Prismacolor Pencils and Faber Castell Polychromos pencils. I have over 120 of the prismas, and about 80 or so polys. I use sticky tak(blue Tak) to erase/lift, I have an Angel hand turned-pencil sharpener, and also a Ledah 333 electric sharpener, (they cost nearly $300 here in NZ!!!!!)
I have just managed to source some Stonehenge paper so am using that, plus Arches 100% cotton rag, pastel papers and good quality WC papers.
I keep current in use pencils in either a cup, or plastic pencil case if travelling. I use odorless solvent mostly if I use a solvent, and Micador Fixative Spray.
I am currently creating NZ Botanicals, and also some still life subjects, just finished some jellybeans!!!
seeyah
Gill
A pencil (HB)
Thats all.
I dont blend or smudge, I havent used an eraser at all for years.
All I do is draw and add layers.
I am sure my technique is suspect, and I would never advise anyone to do as I do and abandon blending and erasing, I just have no need of them at this stage in my development.
Brian
Thats all.
I dont blend or smudge, I havent used an eraser at all for years.
All I do is draw and add layers.
I am sure my technique is suspect, and I would never advise anyone to do as I do and abandon blending and erasing, I just have no need of them at this stage in my development.
Brian
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