Tools of the Trade
Ever wanted to know the materials to implement illustration? Here's a list of 'behind the scenes' of everything I use to convey my visual style.
Reportage Illustration
For my location drawings, I use coloured pencils on a Royal Talens Art Creation sketchbook, supported by my curated selection of colour swatches, all kept in a Derwent Carry All kit.
Lightfast Coloured Pencils
The pencils I use to shade and colour, with lightfastness and capability in mind, are primarily Derwent Lightfast, Derwent Drawing, Caran D'Ache Luminance, Faber-Castell Polychromos and some Caran D'Ache Pablo.
Alcohol Markers
For the majority of my 'Ink' sketchbooks and other work, I use the Copic Sketch (sometimes Ciao and Classic) markers for easy layering and blending.
Linework
With nibs of various widths, I use the Staedtler Marsmatic technical pens (for crisp precise lines), alongside with Copic Multiliner SP. For softer touches, the Uni Pin fineliners help me achieve the desired realistic looks.
Oil Pastels
With lightfast reasons, I use Caran D'Ache Neopastels as they help me maximise their performance of their opaqueness, blendability and higher depth of soft, creamy colour and texture.
Watercolour
To achieve a permanent wash of colour, the Derwent Inktense (all pencils, blocks and half pans) provide me the ultimate choice for vibrant fixed laydowns. For further selection of colours, the Derwent Graphitint, half-pan sets and Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer (watersoluble version of their Polychromos) come into play when achieving opaque values and tones.
Paper
For marker paper, I mainly use the Daler-Rowney Smooth Heavyweight Cartridge paper to maximise ink absorption and blendability. To achieve highly detailed pieces, I usually use the Daler-Rowney Fine Grain Heavyweight textured paper, and Daler-Rowney Aquafine Paper for watercolour. For my metallic drawings, I use the Derwent Black Hardback Sketchbook as my preferred choice of black paper.
