✦ SKETCHLOOSE · THE KIT
My Recommended Sketching Supplies
The sketchbooks, inks, brushes and pens I actually reach for – tested across years of courses and YouTube videos. Nothing here is filler.
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A quick note: links below are affiliate links. If you buy through one, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep the free videos coming, thank you. If you want to understand more about these links and how they work please check my ‘about’ page.
01
Paper and sketchbooks
Seawhite of Brighton 25cm Chunky Square Sketchbook
Cloth-bound, 140gsm, square format. My go-to for mixed media and ink work.
Seawhite of Brighton 300gsm Watercolour Pad
Recycled 300gsm cold-pressed. Great for practising washes without worrying about your sketchbook.
Stillman & Birn Delta Series Sketchbooks
Smooth, heavyweight pages that handle ink and watercolour beautifully. Available in several sizes.
Saunders Waterford High White 300gsm Block (9x12in)
Gummed block so pages stay flat while wet. Crisp, luminous washes on hot-pressed High White surface.
02
Inks
Platinum Carbon Black Ink
The original and my favourite black, fountain pen safe*, waterproof ink.
Rohrer & Klingner Lotte SketchINK
A rich, warm black waterproof ink. Specifically designed for sketching and fountain pens.
Indian Ink
Dense and waterproof. For dip pens and stick-and-ink techniques only.
Platinum Carbon Black and Rohrer & Klingner Lotte SketchINK are fountain pen safe when used as directed by the manufacturer. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions closely. Indian Ink is for dip pens and stick-and-ink techniques only and is not suitable for fountain pens.
03
Watercolours
Which colours do I use and why? Read my palette notes
For a long time, my relationship with watercolour was defined by the bold, expressive energy of Daniel Smith. They are famed for dramatic granulation and striking vibrancy and this means you can create a beautiful palette built around dynamic contrasts. My go to was: Lavendar, Cobalt Blue, Cobalt Blue Turquoise, Cerulean Blue Chromium, Hansa Yellow Medium, Organic Vermilion, Perylene Green, Cascade Green, Quinacridone Sienna, Mars Yellow, Indian Red and Indigo.
Recently I have switched to using a lot of Schminkes colours. They are also vibrant, but have a smoother consistency and a traditional nuance to the page, while still letting me dip into their unique supergranulating range whenever I want a splash of unpredictable texture.
My current lineup reflects this calmer, grounded feel: Cobalt Blue Turquoise, Cobalt Blue, Hansa Yellow Medium (DS), Quinacridone Sienna (DS), Mars Black, Payne’s Grey Blue, Perylene Green, Perylene Red, Perylene Violet and Mars Yellow.
Want to know more about ‘super’ granulating colours? Check out this post
Find my blog post here – https://sketchloose.co.uk/blog/supergranulating-colours-what-they-are-and-why-not-to-buy-them/
Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolours
My long time favourite brand, for their range and granulating colours.
Schminke Watercolours
Recently my palette is being topped up with these. Lovely and rich, easy to rewet.
Jacksons Art Giant Dippers
A very specific recommendation for the dippers I use when sketching outside.
Empty metal palette and empty pans/half pans
Use these to make your own custom palette. It’s the cheapest way to truly customise your palette.
04
Brushes
Which brushes do I use and why?
The Jackson’s Studio Synthetic range punches well above its price. The rounds hold a good point and carry plenty of water — ideal for the kind of loose, flowing marks these courses are built around. The sets are a genuinely affordable way to test a spread of sizes before committing to individual brushes. My go-to rounds are the 4, 10, 16 and 24, plus a 1½ inch flat for big washes and background work.
The Da Vinci Casaneo travel brushes are a compact, capable kit: a flat, a mop and a sword brush that between them cover most situations. They’re not a replacement for a full studio setup, but for sketching on location they hold their own.
The Derwent Push Button Waterbrushes are, without question, the best waterbrushes I’ve used. The push-button flow control is a genuine improvement over squeeze brushes — you get water when you want it, not when you accidentally grip too hard.
Jackson’s Studio Synthetic Range
Affordable and great quality.
Da Vinci Casaneo Range
A rich, warm black waterproof ink. Specifically designed for sketching and fountain pens.
Derwent Push Button Waterbrushes
Always carry a couple of these for painting on the go.
05
Pens & Liners
Which pens do I use and why?
The Platinum Preppy is the ideal starting point — an exceptionally affordable fountain pen with a surprisingly refined fine line in the 0.2mm nib. It holds ink well and is far better than its price suggests.
Personally, I use a small number of more premium fountain pens day to day. I’ve linked to a few below for anyone who’s curious, but they’re far from essential. If you do want to invest in one truly outstanding fountain pen, the Pilot Custom 743 with an ultra-extra-fine nib is the one I’d point you to — the line quality is exceptional.
Fineliners are also a brilliant option, particularly for those who prefer consistency over the variation of a dip nib. Having a range of sizes is important — a single width will limit what you can do.
Platintum Preppy (0.2mm and 0.3mm)
A very affordable starting fountain pen, with a lovely fine line.
Platinum 3776 Century (UEF nib recommended)
A premium ‘everyday’ pen and a lovely sketching pen with gold nibs for flexibility, and Japanese made for an ultra fine finish.
Platinum Fountain Pen Converter
Always carry a couple of these for painting on the go.
Pilot Custom 742 (Posting nib)
Super specialist extremely fine nib! Beatiful pen!
UNIPIN Fineliners
A reliable set of black fineliners from 0.05mm to 0.8mm. A range of sizes is essential for varied line work.
06
Mixed Media
Derwent Inktense Pencils
Water-soluble coloured pencils that activate with water to give rich, ink-like washes.
Cara d’Ache Neocolour II Crayons
Soft wax pastels that blend beautifully and become watercolour-like washes when touched with a wet brush — wonderfully versatile.
Magic Pencils (Kohinoor)
Multi-coloured pencils that make mark-making a LOT of fun. Great for a relaxed drawing session. But also for exploring landscapes and other abstract subjects.
POSCA pens
Opaque, water-based paint pens that work on almost any surface — ideal for highlights, details, and bold mark-making.
07
Bags & Cases
Etchr Slate Satchel
A well-thought-out sketching satchel with dedicated compartments for sketchbooks, pens, and watercolour supplies. Built for artists who want everything organised and to hand.
Etchr Field Case
A compact, structured case for carrying brushes, pens, and small supplies.
Just Go Sketching Companion
A purpose-built sketching companion for urban and plein air work. Holds your sketchbook, keeps supplies close, and gets out of the way.
✦ I’m an affiliate of JustGoSketching
Ian, who runs JustGoSketching, produces lovely, affordable and lightweight sketching supplies. He also sells his own hand-mulled colours using high-quality pigments from Cornelissen.
Explore his kits and get 10% off your first purchase over £50 with my affiliate link, or use the code TOBY1 at checkout.
Start with what you have. Buy the rest when you outgrow it.
Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you choose to make a purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. SketchLoose is a participant in the Amazon Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk. I also have an affiliate relationship with JustGoSketching, so if you buy through those links I may receive a small commission, again at no additional cost to you.
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