Current Favorite Art Supplies

If you're looking to add some fun into your creative routine check out Tracy's Current Favorite Art Supplies on Shutterbean.

I’ve been asked by quite a few people to do a post on my Current Favorite Art Supplies and here it is! These are the things I’m into right now and I’m sure that in a few months, I’ll have a few more things to add to the list.  My melted crayon phase has morphed into a daily routine of practicing my penmanship through  hand lettering song lyrics that mean something to me. It’s been fun!

Here’s what I’m into:

Moleskine Notebooks  I am currently alternating between two books in addition to my bullet journal. I have a leather book for my writing journal and a few of these as sketch books. I like how thin they are and they feel less formal so I don’t feel pressure to make whatever I put in it GOOD. 

Mechanical Pencils- I tried one of these at my sister-in-law’s house and was HOOKED. They write like butter. Smooth, bold and dreamy. Sometimes I break the lead. I am an aggressive pen writer. What can I say?

Koi Brush Pens – I’ve been using these ones lately to color in drawings in my journal and highlight things in my bullet journal. I have to stop letting kids use them because the tips are looking ROUGH around the edges. Fortunately, my local art supply store sells them all independently so I mostly need to replace RED BLUE and BLACK.  

Prisma Colored Pencils – I like to use these ones when I’m working on coloring books. I tend to press hard when I am drawing and these ones provide so much color and pigment that I don’t have to push too hard.

Watercolor Travel Kit – I’ve written about this kit before. It’s my favorite and I’ve had mine forever…although I think I am almost ready for more teal (my favorite watercolor color). It’s small enough to pop in my bag so we have something to play with if we’re out on a family hike or at the beach. I always make sure I have a small mason jar filled with water and some brushes in a little bag and we’re ready to go.

Tombow Dual Brush Pens– These ones are super versatile. TWO PENS IN ONE! The only thing I don’t like is that they’re kind of long and don’t always fit in my pen cases. Oh and also— I lose the caps all the time. But other than that, they’re dreamy!

Staedtler Eraser – They’re the best. If you know of a better eraser, please tell me so I can test them out. I’m always down to try new/ dreamy erasers.

Pentel Brush PensI’ve already written about these on my favorite writing pen post, but a few of you asked me what pen I was using the other day on Instagram, so here it is! I like that you can see brush strokes!

Sharpie Brush Tip I can’t get enough of these. Is it the fumes? Is it because they are inky? When I’m at baseball coloring in the bleachers with the kids, the girls calls these ones the “spongey pens” and that makes me happy. They’re right. These pens are very satisfying to work with when you get the right edge! SPONGEY!

Crayola Twistables Crayons– I don’t like drawing with crayons unless they are these twistables. THEY ARE SO GOOD and I don’t feel like I am going to break them (like a regular crayon) when I’m using them with my giant man hands.

Pentel Pens– Fun fact: I still have the set my mom bought me from Costco when I was like 11. Most of them still work but the tips are SOOOO JANKY. I treated myself to a new set because I deserve it. Also, I don’t let any kids use these. THEY ARE ALL MINE. I want them to last until I pass them onto my grandchildren. Is that too much to ask?

My Everyday Life - Week 19 on Shutterbean.com

Are any of you really enjoying new art supplies in your creative routines? I’m always looking for fun art supplies, so let me know! 

  • ACB

    Very thorough list! Staedtler erasers are my favorite to, and I love that watercolor kit. I received one last year with the water brushes and they really are perfect for travel. My favorite colored pencils are Derwent because you can also watercolor with them and the colors are so vibrant.

    • Tracy

      Do you keep the paper on your eraser? I can’t seem to keep them on!!!

      • ACB

        I do keep it on, I use thin strips of washi or drafting tape and that seems to work.

  • Leslie

    Thanks for sharing this list! I have been so inspired by your Instagram posts lately! It truly encourages me to slow down and create! Keep posting. I love it!

  • Marcia

    Hi Tracy, this is the first time I’m commenting here, so hiya! Like many of your readers I’ve been inspired by your blog, specially the brush lettering, thank you so much for that. I’ve watched few lessons on Skillshare (I’m deaf and the videos there have no subtitles/captions) and I’ve been practicing and having fun with that. The best part of all this is to get to buy new pens!! It’s steadily turning into an obsession. One brush pen I absolutely love at the moment is the Kuretake Zig Art & Graphic Twin, all those pastel colours are going to the end of me! They are quite watery so the letters look pretty much like watercolour, Also, talking about watercolour you’ve mentioned carrying a mason jar and brushes with you in your travel kit, I’m wondering if it wouldn’t be easier to have few Pentel Aquash Water Brush Pens instead? Thanks again for all the work you put in your blog, I love the recipes as well, it’s a great source of creative inspiration.

    • Tracy

      Those are convenient for sure but for some reason, I don’t like using the brushes that come with them. I like a natural bristle brush 🙂

  • Megan

    Ha! My mom had a set of Pentel pens that we WERE NOT ALLOWED TO TOUCH. She was right to make that rule, and so are you.

  • S

    I love this, thank you! Recently I was looking for an adult coloring book with a California theme but I can’t find one! Do you know of one?

  • Kristen

    Have you tried gelly roll gel pens? They draw and write easily over watercolor and gouache!

    • Tracy

      Cooper loves the gelly roll pens!! They’re too inconsistent for me and i write hard so they sometimes go through the paper.

  • Sara

    I LOVE those Koi brush pens!! They are so versatile and the colors are awesome. I got some for my students this year (grade 8-12) and they really love them, too! Fortunately, they have been relatively gentle with them. 🙂

    For watercolors, I HIGHLY recommend checking out Peerless watercolors – I started using them six or seven years ago and they completely revolutionized how I draw and paint. They are very different from liquid or regular pan watercolors … and they travel well. And I realized a couple years after I started using them that they were originally produced in my neighborhood here in Rochester!

    Unrelated but speaking of things made in Rochester, have you ever tried Fee Brothers bitters? Their black walnut bitters are my absolute favorite.

    • Tracy

      Oh good to know about the watercolors. I’ll look out for them for sure.
      And yes! I love the Fee Brothers bitters!!!!!

  • libby

    My husband got me water brushes as a part of my Christmas gift this year but I just can’t ease them into my painting routine like I’d hoped. Have you had much luck with them?

  • Meredith

    I love everything about this post! Especially the Pentel Pens. I cherished my first set from Costco around the same age as you and still look for them today when I shop for there. I think I might need to indulge in a new set! So fun Tracy, thanks for sharing. Can’t wait to see what you create next!

  • Lorin

    It’s funny to me that you love the twistables! I can’t stand them. Too hard – I want my crayons to smudge & blend.

  • Michelle

    This is a great list. If you haven’t yet found jetpens.com stay FAR away!!! It’s my fave place to spend my bit of fun money 🙂

  • Courtney

    I have my own set of Pentel pens that are off limits to my kids too! I did buy my oldest her own set for her 11th birthday, so that must be the age 🙂

  • Laura

    Hi Tracy! Love your blog!

    How do you organize all your art supplies?

    Thank you!

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