My Art Equipment
With 30 years of art under my belt, I have tried literally hundreds of different materials and art supplies, testing them all, the old and the new, and finding out which are the best, than sticking with the ones that worked the best for me and my style of art. Here on this lens I'll look at what I use to create my drawings and paintings.
Come on in and take a look inside one artist's supply closet.
What Is This Lens? Why Should I Read It?
What Is This Lens?A few months ago I created a lens about how to start your own POD business, because I had started my own POD business several years ago and was doing quite well with it, so thought, maybe I could help others to do the same. That lens, got REALLY REALLY long, and had to be divided into several smaller lenses.
Each of those sub lenses, quickly grew longer than their original content had been on the first POD business lens. One of those lenses dealt with the subject of how to create art for you POD products. That lens, just kept getting bigger and bigger. At first I had to divide it in two, but now here I am dividing it once again, with this, the second lens to break off of it.
On this lens, I focus on, not so much the art I create or the business of selling that art, but rather, here I'll look at the inner makings of my art, examining which art materials I use and which brands I prefer and why I choose one brand over another.
Why Should I Read It?
There are several reason why you might want to read this lens. Some of those reasons may include:
* You are interested in becoming an artist and you want to know which brands of art supplies other artists like best.
* You are an artist seeking to branch out you techniques and looking for new materials you haven't tried before.
* You just want to find out more about the behind-the-scenes in the life of an artist.
* Because you are already here and might as well keep reading!
Read The Rest of The Lenses in This Series
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How I Became An Artist
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I've been an artist for nearly 30 years now. In the past few years I've expanded to creating art for greeting cards and t-shirts. On this lens I'll look at what I do and how you can do it as well.
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Best Art Instruction Books
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These are the books I used to teach myself to draw and paint. I have listed them in the chronological order in which I bought and used these books, from my early years as a small child not yet old enough to read and write, through my teen years, and...
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How To Start Your Own POD Business
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I have started two different home businesses and one fund raiser all using the Print On Demand technology. On this lens I well look at what I did and tell you how you can do it too! This lens was created on September 5, 2007 Last updated on August...
Quick Overview of the Equipment I Use:
I'm a multi media artist. Meaning that if it's a method used to create art, I probably have tried it already or soon will. On the most extreme levels I have taken to drawing on fabric and "painting" the picture with embroidery.My fashion design and Twighlight Manor art is done in pen and ink and colored with marker and pencil. These are drawn on 8x11 20lb bright white paper.
My paintings are done in watercolor, gouchae, and acrylics; sometimes in one, but usually a mixture of all three in a single painting. These are done on a wide variety of backings, from copy paper to ragcloth to pastel coloured construction paper to canvas board.
For my nature and pet spot illustrations, which you see on my more popular CafePress and Zazzle items, I use crayon and pastels. These are done usually on 8x11 20lb bright white, 8x11 60lb bright white, or 8x11 60lb pastel coloured papers.
What do I prefer? Depends on what I am drawing and the end result I am trying to achieve.
If You Could Recommend Only One Brand Name, Which Would It Be?
If you give me a choice of two different companies, and one of those companies is Binney & Smith, Inc, I will always choose them no matter who the other company is, because in my book no other company is even half as good.
A Century of Crayola: Collectibles a Price Guide
Amazon Price: (as of 11/22/2008)
List Price: $24.95
Used Price: $0.58
Celebrate the 100th anniversary of Crayola crayons in 2003 with this new book by author Bonnie Rushlow! Who doesn't remember opening that new green and yellow box of Crayola crayons? Most of us can recall the nice new points all standing like soldiers ready to go to work. The author presents a rich history of the Binney & Smith Company, a chronology of changes made in crayon colors and packaging through the years, descriptions and current values, and other interesting facts and trivia about Crayola crayons. There are 380 color photographs that show a wealth of early Binney & Smith distinctive tins and boxes of crayons, chalks, and paints. In addition collectors today can find artwork, toys, games, puzzles, and an array of other products with the familiar serpentine and chevron trademarked designs, as well as the newer Crayola rainbow swash trademarked products. With this book the author brings back long-forgotten childhood memories through a myriad of Crayola collectibles from 1903 through the modern era. 380 color photos.
Release Date: 12/31/1969
Avg. Customer Rating: 
What is you first thought when you hear the word: Crayola?
Who is Binney & Smith, Inc?
A look at Crayola
Crayola is a brand of marking utensils, such as markers, chalk, and colored pencils manufactured by Crayola LLC (formerly Binney & Smith). The Crayola company was one of the first to make its crayons, chalk, markers, and colored pencils as well as other writing utensils and artistry tools non-toxic.
It is primarily popular in the United States, Canada, Australia, Mexico, Guatemala and the United Kingdom among other countries.
The company was founded in New York City in 1885 as Binney & Smith. The founders were cousins Edwin Binney and C. Harold Smith. Binney & Smith's initial products were colorants for industrial use, including red oxide pigment and carbon for making tires black.
In 1900 the company added production of slate school pencils. Binney's experimentation with industrial materials including slate waste, cement, and talc, led to the invention of the first dustless white chalk, for which the company won a gold medal at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1902.
In 1903, the company produced another innovation, the first child-friendly crayons, which it sold under the brand name "Crayola." The crayons that had existed previously were made from wax, dull in color, and used mainly in industry.
Since 1984, the company has been a subsidiary of Hallmark Cards.
On January 1, 2007, the company changed its name from "Binney & Smith" to "Crayola". Information released by the company stated that the new name was adopted to showcase the company's well-known brand, which was in use in more than 80 countries and had 99% name recognition in U.S. consumer households.
Crayola crayon packs have come in a variety of sizes from 2 crayons up to 800 for the bulk boxes. The colors contained in a package have ranged from 2 up to 200 (although a 200 color package includes "special effect" crayons such as glitters or neons, etc.). In general, though, the most common packages are multiples of eight: 8, 16, 24, 32, (40), 48, (56), 64, 72, 80, (88), 96, (104), (112), and 120 packs. The 120 pack is sometimes a package composed of two 48 pack containers and a 24 pack container. There have been 240 pack Crayola Cases that simply house two of the 120 crayon cases, although limited a number of these have been produced since 2005.
An Example of My Crayon Under Watercolour Art
What Is Your Secret To Those Eye-Popping Colors?
A common comment I get about my art, is that the colors seem to pop off the page. It's the first thing anyone ever notices is that I use very bright colors, very unnatural and bright colors. I am constantly asked, what I used to achieve these bright colors. My answer usually sets folks back. They are both stunned and shocked, by the secret to the colors in my art.
My answer: Crayola crayons.
I am never without my Crayola Big Box. Yes, the famous yellow box beloved and coveted by kindergarten children everywhere for it's 96 colors of crayons.
I buy a new Crayola Big Box every year, wither I need a new one or not. All of my drawings and paintings, get touch ups with crayons. Either a layer of crayon goes on first or an outline of crayon is drawn on after, either way, it's the touches of crayon that gives my art the "glow" of color.
In many of my darker colored paintings, I first draw the picture out in white or lemon yellow crayon, than color it in with a very thick, very heavy, but not completely filled in layer of color, red-violet and cerulean being the two most used colors seen in my art. After this crayon base is finished, I paint the painting as usual, but the paint now pools and puddles over the crayon, allowing the brilliant colors to show through from beneath the paint. This is a technique I learned in kindergarten class at age 5, and I never forgot it, and over the years have learned to expand and manipulate this technique to create stunning special effects, such as fur and feather details on my pet and bird art, or white foam on the waves of my ocean art.
More of My Crayon Under Watercolor Art
What is the Best Drawing Paper?
In the end, one brand came out on top time and time again: Georgia-Pacific. Today I rarely use anything other than Georgia-Pacific brand paper.
For my fashion illustrations, my Twighlight Manor book illustrations, my crayon art, and even some of my watercolor art, I use just one type of paper, which I often buy in bulk reems of 5,000 sheets: Georgia-Pacific Copy Paper in 88 brightness, Soft White 125, 20lb weight.
For 90% of my art I use nothing else.
For my art with a colored background, I use their 60lb pastel colored paper.
For most of my watercolor art I use their 110lb paper, in a variety of colores, but usually in white, cream, or ivory. This kind of paper works well for my crayon and watercolor techniques, because I use very heavy pigment with only a few drops of water, however, for traditional watercolor with a small amount of pigment and a lot of water, this kind of paper will bend and buckle under the weight of the water.
The 110lb weight paper is very good for pen & ink, felt tip, magic marker, gel pen, glue paint, glitter paint, nail polish, graphite, and colored pencil techniques. It is very smooth and holds the medium well. This is by far the best paper for colored pencil art as the smooth surface of the paper allows for highly detailed blending of the colors.
It should be noted though that for pen & ink with use of metal nibs and sepia or India ink, this paper is not quite strong enough, and will mar under the pressure of the metal nibs, thus causing the ink to soak through the paper and run.
Diontite Costume Stetches (drawn with Pilot v5)
Miss Citten the EelKat (drawn with Pilot Razor)
Your Twighlight Manor Art Is VERY Different From Your Other art; What Do You Use For These Pictures?
I work with models (wood forms, dolls, photographs, and actual people) to create these pictures. Each picture starts out as a lightly penciled sketch. When I have the figure the way I want them, I draw them out using one thing, and one thing only: my ever faithful Pilot pen.
I started using Pilot's Razor pen in the early 1980's when it first came out, and it was love at first sight. I have never used a different type of pen for my Twighlight Manor art since that day. Over the years the Razor pen has evolved and changed, and is now sold under a new name, but it's smooth flowing razor thin ink is ever the same.
A special note about Pilot's Razor Pen: It IS NOT waterproof ink!!!!! One drop of water will quickly dissolve your art if you do not take care to keep your drawings in a cool dry place. I personally, keep mine in a locked safe. I have had people break into my house and actually try to steal my Twighlight Manor drawings! Several of my older drawings were lost to theft during the early 1990's, and as a result they are now kept under lock and key in a safe. The safe not only keeps thieves out, but also protects my drawings from water damage, as these drawings are very delicate.
The razor pen, now called: Precise v5 Rolling Ball Pen Extra Fine by Pilot, comes in several ink colors. For most of my drawings I use black noir ink. For the lips on my character faces, I use red ink. For blue eyes characters I use blue ink.
An Example of My Twighlight Manor Eel Siren Art (digitally edited for this lens)
The rest of the picture was drawn with supplies from, you guessed it: Crayola.
Crayola would still be my favorite art suppler even if all they made was the Crayola Big Box, however, they are a company of many products, and among them are my second most used items: Crayola 50 pack of colored pencils.
For my fashion designs and for my Twighlight Manor book illustrations, color pencils are what brings in the minute details and patterns of fabric, and the scales and fins on my Eel Sirens.
In the 1990's when most of my Twighlight Manor art was drawn, I was going through 3 or 4 boxes of colored pencils each year.
In some of my Twighlight Manor art and in most of my fashion art, you also see the addition of some bright streaks and bursts of color. These, come from yet another product made by Crayola: magic markers.
I have at least one of each of every single color they make: classic, FX, bold, bright, jewel tone, limited editions, stampers, wide tip, fine tip, and all the rest.
There is nothing like a Crayola marker to add brilliant colors that fly off the page.
Crayola Broad Line Markers, Classic Colors - 10 Count
Amazon Price: $3.09 (as of 11/22/2008)
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Release Date: 12/31/1969
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
The Twighlight Manor (shown in progress against the photos of local houses; drawn with Pilot Razor)
What About Your Watercolor Paintings? What Paint Do You Use?
While Crayola does make some very good quality paint (though it is NOT sold under their Crayola name), their watercolor and acrylic paints are alarmingly expensive, with prices at $5 to $20 per tube of paint. Well, I don't care how much I love their products, I just am not willing to dish out $20 bucks for a single tube of paint!
When is comes to paint I use Reeves. And no I do not use the so called "professional quality" paints either. For my art I use the much cheaper "student quality". It has more filler and less pigment in it, than the professional quality does, and if you are painting with traditional watercolor techniques you may not want to use it as the colors can become "muddy", however, for the way I use watercolor paint, it works perfectly!
As you know already, my watercolor paintings are not strictly watercolor, but rather a mixed media of crayon, watercolor, acrylic, and gouache.
REEVES WATERCOLOR 12 ml SET/24
Amazon Price: $10.71 (as of 11/22/2008)
List Price: $14.99
Used Price:
Release Date: 12/31/1969
Avg. Customer Rating:
Usually ships in 6-10 business days
Acrylic Color Set Has 24 Beautiful Colors For Use On Almost Any Type Of Surface
Amazon Price: $11.50 (as of 11/22/2008)
List Price: $13.99
Used Price:
Release Date: 12/31/1969
Avg. Customer Rating:
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
How To Amass a Huge Collection of Acrylic Paint Colors
I use these paints to paint literally everything, from my book shelves to my doll house furniture to tiny wooden things to even making canvas paintings using these paints.
What About Brushes? Paint Needs Brushes.
I've been looking up the stuff I use on Amazon.com, because I can add an instant picture to the items via Amazon. Unfortunately, though Amazon sells a lot of great things, they do not sell the type of paint brushes I use, so I can not provide a picture link to them here. I did however, find a link back to their website instead.The type of brushes I use are:
Royal Langnickel Deluxe Beginner Value Pack 6pc set BK601
The set includes 6 brushes: a liner 10/0 Royal BK60, a script 4 Royal BK62, a round 2 Royal BK66, a flat 6 Royal BK63, a wash 5/8 Royal BK64, and an angular 1/4 Royal BK65. All of which are in a very small size, as I do mostly small mini art paintings.
These brushes are short handled for use with flat canvas (as opposed to canvas hung on an easel). The handles are made of clear bright colored acrylic, a different color for each style (flats are red, angulars orange, liners blue, etc), the bristles are made of a soft acrylic in colors to match the handles. I especially like the fact that the handles are soft and squishy, made for ease in handling for long periods of time without fatigue on your fingers, especially good for painters with arthritis or carpel tunnel syndrome.
I initially bought them because of the clear bright colored soft squishy handles, now I use nothing else!
You Mentioned Glue Paint?
These also make a great base, for sprinkling glitter flakes over.
Glue paint will take at least overnight to dry, and should be left to sit for at least 48 hours before moving the painting, because it makes a huge mess if you try to move it before the paint glue dries.
Elmer's 3D pens Flat Box
Amazon Price: $16.23 (as of 11/22/2008)
List Price: $19.19
Used Price:
Release Date: 12/31/1969
Avg. Customer Rating:
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
The Crayola brand glitter glue dries much faster than the Elmer's brand, does taking only a few hours rather than overnight.
Squeezable Washable 3-D Paint - Glitter - 9 ct
Amazon Price: $7.89 (as of 11/22/2008)
List Price: $8.65
Used Price:
Release Date: 12/31/1969
Avg. Customer Rating:
Usually ships in 4-5 business days
And Gel Pens?
For these have no one specific brand which I use most or prefer over others. I just buy all of them, from every brand. I think Fiskars brand is the ones I use the most. I love their blended colors, with 2, 3, or 4 colors in one pen, and they write in swirling stripes, without making a muddy mess.
Pentech Metallic Sparklez Gel Pens 6 ct (23375)
Amazon Price: (as of 11/22/2008)
List Price: $6.99
Used Price:
Release Date: 12/31/1969
Avg. Customer Rating:
Fiskars Gel Pens 48/Set-Assorted Glitter/Neon/Metallic/Swirl
Amazon Price: $18.25 (as of 11/22/2008)
List Price: $18.25
Used Price:
Release Date: 12/31/1969
Avg. Customer Rating:
Usually ships in 3 to 5 days
So You Use a Lot of Materials Made For Kids Than?
Yep, and a large majority of my art is aimed as being targeted for children as well. Like the books I read, the art supplies I use art basically kid's art supplies. Why?Lots of reasons:
* They are readily available at most stores, including Wal-Mart, Target, Rite-Aid, and Staples.
* They are cheap, made to be bought buy children with small allowances.
* They come in very bright, eye popping colors which is a big plus for me as I prefer bright colors.
* They are non-toxic and fume-less, which is good for household like mine, which include 13 cats, a dog, and 3 parrots, all of whom are "nosy" about my art equipment. Simply put, most art supplies are poisonous and deadly to pets, and it's just better to use a brand (Crayola) that is certified as safe for children.
* I grew up with them and learned to love them as a child, and am not quick to through away a "long friendship" with a product that has worked for me, for so many years.
* These products have been around for years, are best sellers that are likely to still be around 50 years from now, so I'll still be able to us the same materials in he future.
What One Art Supply Can You Not Live Without?
Crayola 120ct Original Crayons
Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 11/22/2008)
List Price: $12.99
Used Price:
Release Date: 01/01/2007
Avg. Customer Rating:
Usually ships in 24 hours
Here's my favorite link:
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