Blog
This week I thought I'd mix things up a bit and share some of my favorite supplies for creating my delightful hand-illustrated and handmade goodies with you! I get approached at markets all the time with questions like "what do you use to create these prints?" and "how do you get such vibrant color?" After 8+ years creating, I'm happy to share some of my most-loved tools that I find myself reaching for again and again:
- Canson's Bristol Smooth Mixed Media Paper: I find that my alcohol ink markers don't bleed or leave streaks on this paper (unless they are low on ink). I use a paper cutter to cut the XL size down for each project.
- Kimberly 2B Pencils: These soft pencils layer and erase well on the bristol smooth paper.
- Micron Pens: I love tracing pencil lines with Microns, erasing, and then applying alcohol ink markers over top. That's how I get the signature look of my prints.
- Alcohol Ink Markers: The gold standard for alcohol ink markers has always been the Japanese brand Copic, and I still primarily use Copic's "Sketch" markers for my own illustration. However, because they're the best and they're made halfway across the world, Copics are expensive (~$6 per marker). I recently discovered the U.S.-based brand Ohuhu which offers alcohol ink markers for about $1 each. I'm pleased with the quality of Ohuhu alcohol ink markers and always take a small set with me so I can illustrate my travels!