If I had a pound for every time someone asked me which pens I used, well, I'd be able to buy a lot more pens!
As a professional wildlife artist who shares my art process online, I am often asked about which materials I use. After years of trial, error and experimentation here is what I have learnt over the years and what materials I always go back to.
Pens
One of my all time stationery brands is Tom's Studio. If you are looking for ever lasting quality, sustainability, and beautifully handcrafted designs this is it! Every element of Tom's Studio products are made with love and care which is evident from the moment you receive their stunningly packaged products. If you are a stationery aficionado I can guarantee you'll love them too!
Every single one of my art works starts with their mechanical pencil, which is so nicely weighted. I use the 'Lumos' for some of my bolder fine line work too - dipping into ink bottles feels very nostalgic! What's more, this pen is infinitely refillable, with a selection of different nibs meaning you can say goodbye to disposable fine-liners. You can also use some of their magical colours to add something special to your line work.
You can find different, pens, pencils, inks and more here, and use code RACHELBROOKSART for 10% off any purchase over £30.
As my style has progressed over the years, my details have got smaller and smaller. So for a lot of my illustration work I do require a pen with a finer nib size, and the sizes I use for most of my work are 003 & 005. My go to pens for this are 'Pigma Microns' by Sakura, they are archival quality waterproof inks, which is especially important for me as I often mix watercolour into my work (more on this further down!). Another plus for me with this brand is that the ink dries almost instantly, I have tried other brands which claim to be 'waterproof' and have had my ink bleed! So do trial your materials before applying water to your original drawings!
If you are looking to sell your work I would say that archival ink is a non-negotiable, but if you are practising and getting started grab any fine liner and have a play to see which sizes you like best! I started drawing with ballpoint pens which I first started experimenting with pens, and I'm sure that's something you already have at home!
Shop 005 8 piece set ,003 8 piece set, and if you aren't sure what size I recommend starting here as this set has a great mix of nib sizes.
Colour
Adding colour to my ink work and the way I do it has become a unique technique which my work is well recognised for. When I started doing this I had never seen anyone else do it this way round, and wasn't really sure it would work! Again, lots of trial and error with materials!
Whether you use watercolour as a base, to embellish your drawings, or want to start painting, you really can't go wrong with Winsor & Newton watercolours. This is the first watercolour set I owned, and the one I still use with every art work.
I've added a few different colours to the palette, specifically blues, but this is a great starting point. If you are looking for some bolder colours gouache is a wonderful medium to add stronger colour to your work, I especially love white gouache for adding highlights. I also use a Winsor and Newton gouache set which you can purchase here.
Paper
Now you could be using the best quality pens and paints, but if you aren't using the right paper for your medium you are going to experience some problems such as tearing and damage to the paper surface.
Especially using watercolours on paper that isn't thick enough to handle it! The main reason I use watercolour for my ink drawings is because I want to add colour to most of them afterwards. I love using a textured paper, purely for the aesthetic and feel, though it does make fineline work harder! I recommend a hot pressed paper with a smooth finish if you are looking to refine your line work.
My favourite picks are Hahnemühle, their 100% cotton papers feel like a dream to work on, I also use their German Etching for my limited edition prints. Another option I love is the Daler Rowney Langton cold pressed watercolour paper.
What other materials questions would you like me to answer?
