SketchLoose · The Kit
My Recommended Supplies
This is the gear I actually reach for, the sketchbooks, inks, and brushes I use across my courses and YouTube videos. Nothing here is filler. If something made the list, it earned its place in my bag.
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.
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.
Stillman & Birn Delta Series Sketchbooks
Smooth, heavyweight pages that handle ink and watercolour beautifully. Available in several sizes.
Seawhite of Brighton 300gsm Watercolour Pad
Recycled 300gsm cold-pressed. Great for practising washes without worrying about your sketchbook.
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
Extremely fine, dense pigment that doesn’t clog nibs. Waterproof when dry. One of the best black inks available for sketching.
Indian Ink
Dense, waterproof, and opaque. For dip pens and stick-and-ink techniques only — not suitable for fountain pens.
Diamine Earl Grey Ink
A warm, smoky grey with real character. Fountain pen safe and water-soluble — not waterproof, which makes it ideal for softening lines with a wet brush.
Rohrer & Klingner Lotte SketchINK
A rich, warm black with good flow. Designed specifically for sketching — lays down beautifully with a dip pen or brush.
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.
Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolours
An exceptional range with an unusually wide colour selection and some of the most lightfast pigments available. If you want to invest in quality tube colours, start here.
Schmincke Horadam Watercolours
German-made, artist-grade watercolours with superb colour strength and consistency. Rich, saturated pigments that reward a loose, expressive approach.
Schmincke Tundra Violet (specific recommendation)
A stunning granulating violet. One of those colours that does unexpected things on wet paper. Worth picking up as a single tube to try.ble s
Jackson’s Artist Palette Dippers
Clip-on dippers that attach to your palette to hold water or medium. Useful for keeping a clean water supply separate from your mixing area.
Jackson’s Empty Plastic Pans & Half Pans
For filling with tube colours and building your own travel palette. Buy a mix of full and half pans to suit your range.
Jackson’s Empty 12 Half Pan Metal Palette Tin
A compact metal tin holding 12 half pans or 6 full pans. Solid, light, and fits in a jacket pocket. Pairs well with the empty pans above.
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
Great value synthetic brushes with good spring and shape retention. Available individually or in sets.
Da Vinci Casaneo Range
Soft, high-capacity synthetic brushes ideal for watercolour. The travel range caps into a self-contained brush for sketching on the go.
Derwent Push Button Waterbrushes
Squeeze-to-flow waterbrushes in four sizes. Convenient for plein air work where carrying a water pot is not practical.
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.
Platinum Preppy (0.2mm & 0.3mm)
A fantastic beginner’s pen — reliable, very affordable, and takes Platinum’s excellent carbon ink. A brilliant starting point.
Platinum 3776 Century (UEF & Music Nibs)
Platinum’s premium everyday writer — precise, beautifully made, and available in an ultra-extra-fine nib perfect for detailed line work.
Platinum Fountain Pen Converter
Needed to use bottled ink with your Platinum pen. Jackson’s Art does not stock Platinum converters or pen accessories.
Platinum Carbon Ink Cartridges
Pre-filled carbon ink cartridges for Platinum pens — a convenient alternative to bottled ink. Jackson’s Art does not stock Platinum ink cartridges.
Pilot Custom 742 (Posting Nib)
An exceptional fine nib fountain pen with posting capability and remarkable line control. A premium choice for those seeking precision in their sketching.
UNIPIN Fineliners
A reliable set of black fineliners in sizes 0.05mm to 0.8mm. A range of sizes is essential for varied line work.
Tombow Fudenosuke (Fude Nib)
A firm brush nib that gives expressive line variation — great for adding calligraphic detail to sketches.
06
Mixed Media
Derwent Inktense Pencils
Water-soluble coloured pencils that activate with water to give rich, ink-like washes — great for bold colour in sketchbook work.
Caran d’Ache Neocolor II Crayons
Soft wax pastels that blend beautifully and become watercolour-like washes when touched with a wet brush — wonderfully versatile.
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. Note: Cult Pens does not stock Etchr carry gear.
JustGoSketching 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.
08
Furniture & Studio
Meeden Drawing Desk
A sturdy adjustable drafting desk, ideal for working at an angle with sketchbooks and watercolour paper.
Meeden Studio Easel
A solid studio easel that holds canvas or board at a comfortable working height.
Meeden Adjustable Stool
An adjustable wooden drafting stool that pairs well with the drawing desk for long studio sessions.
Lumi Daylight Lamp
A daylight-balanced task lamp that gives accurate colour rendering for mixing and painting under artificial light.
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.