Sketching Supplies to Power-Up Your Ideas
Sharing a few of my favorite sketching tools.
“Do not wait; the time will never be ‘just right.’ Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.” — George Herbert
Sketching is a tactile activity. The shape and feel of the pen and the smoothness of the paper combine to make your sketching experience good or great. The smoother the experience the faster and easier your ideas will flow from your mind to the paper.
Although I recommend those new to skething, to start off with a pen and paper. As you gain more confidence in your sketching skills you can try experimenting with new tools to find ones that match your sketching style.
Here are some sketching supplies to try out.
Pens
Pentel EnerGel Euro Needle-Point Gel Pen — 0.50 mm
Price: $2.75
This is my go-to pen. It writes smooth and the ink dries quickly which is really important when you’re sketching. If you’re a lefty like me then you will enjoy this pen even more. I love it.
Uni-ball Signo UM-151 Gel Pen — 0.5 mm
Price: $2.85
Another great pen for sketching. The ink is waterproof and fade-resistant so you can use it together with markers for added depth in your sketches. The ink flows smoothly to give you a great sketching experience.
Prismacolor Premier Illustration Markers, Fine Tip, Black, Set of 5
Price: $9.19
Sometimes you need details in your sketches whether you are sketching an outline of a mobile phone or a button. This set of 5 fine tip markers is perfect to show those details. I like the sizes are far apart enough to make visually see a difference. Sizes include .005, .01, .03, .05 and .08. You can try making thicker lines with a .05 tip marker but you won’t get a clean line like you will be using a .08 tip. You will be happy you included these in your sketching toolbox.
Pencils
Caran d’Ache Sketcher Non-Photo Blue
Price: $6.98
I use this pencil when I illustrate. The lead is very soft and is perfect for when you want to do rough sketches while illustrating because the lines disappear when photocopied or scanned.
Notebooks
Moleskine Classic Soft Cover Notebook, Squared, Large (5" x 8.25") Black
Price: $19.95
This is my go-to notebook for sketching, writing, and doodling. It is just the right size to carry around from my desk to meetings. Because of the durable soft cover and the elastic closure, I can easily keep a pen and a pencil to carry within it so I am prepared to sketch as soon as an idea comes to me. I tried the hardcover version but that makes it difficult to carry anything within it.
Maruman Mnemosyne N180A Imagination Notebook — A4–5 mm Graph
Price: $17.50
The paper in this notebook is heavenly and is as smooth as silk. This notebook has subtle features that make it a wonderful experience using it. The micro-perforated pages allow you to tear out each page easily. The grid is a light gray so it doesn’t get in the way of your ideas. You can also label each page using the Title and Date/No. sections at the top of each page for documentation. The cover is flexible yet sturdy enough to allow for sketching while holding the notebook in your hand. As the saying goes details make the design, the manufacturer even removed the last rings from each side of this notebook to help tear the pages cleanly. You have to experience this notebook at least once.
These are some of my favorite sketching tools. Give them a try or experiment with other pens, pencils, or notebooks that catch your eye.
What are your favorite sketching tools?
Share them in the comments
Until next time, keep on sketching!
