slanted edges

Anonymous asked: what kinds of pens and stuff do you use to draw?

For my steady fine lines, I use Sakura Micron pens. They’re a bit frustrating because I find they putter out quickly (you can tell immediately when the ink levels are less than full capacity), but it’s basically a problem I’ve had with every single technical drafting pen I’ve tried, and Microns don’t have the problems that other brands have.  For instance, on some, the nib will run down and splinter.  Not with Microns.

For my brush-like black lines, I use a Pentel pocket brush pen. This pen is possibly one of the best investments that I’ve ever made, holy shit.  I’ve owned it for years and with the ink refills it’s continued to work perfectly.  Seriously can’t recommend this thing enough.

For (almost) all shading and colors, I use COPIC markers.  I basically spent my entire high school and early college career tossing money around to buy them so now I’ve got a pretty big collection.  They’re costly but AMAZING.  I’ve never liked a marker as much as I like them, and their ink refills are so awesome; they last just as long as those Pentel brush pens.  And this might be weird but I love their smell.  Whereas the smell of Prismacolors and sharpies and the like make me want to vomit, COPIC’s are like rubbing alcohol. I love it.  The best and cheapest place I know of to buy them is Carpe Diem Store.

Hum hum let’s see, for paper I use Bristol board or my sketchbook.  I’m not too faithful with my sketchbook brands but I must say that Pentalic has always suited me well.  If you can afford it, though, you should definitely try a Fabriano sketchbook — they’re not the sturdiest, but the paper is FABULOUS.  Generally, I don’t use paper that has a weight lower than 80 lbs.  I hate thin paper than crinkles easily when you try to erase.

I think that’s everything?  And that it maybe helped?  IDK, this is all stuff I’ve stumbled on through years and years of trial and error, but I’m kind of set in my ways now and don’t do much experimentation.  8\  So there might be better stuff out there now, but these are the tools I use.