My Drawing Equipment

[Bruce Lee]

I get asked every now and then what sort of equipment I use to draw with. I have a lot of art equipment in my studio. Here's a list of supplies that I commonly use on the job:

1) Design pencils.



I use these design pencils often, and other similar brand drawing pencils. My "lead" preference (and it is still called "lead", folks, even though it is actually graphite) is a 2H, but I sometimes use and H or an HB as well. These are quality pencils that last a decent amount of time. I like using wooden pencils instead of mechanical pencils or "lead holders" because they're sturdier. I break mechanical pencil graphite too easily.

2) 400 Strathsmore Bristol Board.



Most of the time I work on 400 series Bristol board. It's a good, general-purpose board. The 300 series board is "kid finish" and not to my liking at all. I sometimes work on 500 series bristol, and that's the BEST, but it's expensive.

3) Mars Plastic Eraser.



The Mars Plastic Eraser is a good old fashion block eraser that really gets the job done. I've found few block erasers that compare to this one.

[Bruce Lee]

4) Electric Eraser.



For work on the board, I find nothing better at getting at those tiny, tight lines than an electric eraser. Staedtler makes a dandy electric eraser that's affordable at under $15. I ordered 70 extra eraser fills for mine, and it's one of my favorite and most useful pieces of drawing equipment.

5) Speedball Super Black India Ink.



When I ink, I use Speedball Super Black ink. It's a solid ink that plenty thick and covers well. It can easily be thinned down using a few drops of water also, or with thinner inks like the modern Black Magic Ink. For brush inking, I highly recommend it.

6) Raphael Kolinsky Red Sable 8404 Brushes.



I've found no better brush for inking. I use the #2 and the #3 Raphael brushes. The hair used in Kolinsky Sable brushes comes from the hair of a mink in the weasel family found in Siberia and Northeastern China. Kolinsky hair brushes are considered to be of the best material for oil and watercolor brushes because the hair is strong, springy and retains its shape, holding a very fine point. If you treat these brushes right, they will last for a long time. I use several Kolinsky brushes, but I've been using one particular Rapheal Kolinsky Red Sable for over a decade now. and it's still going strong, and retains a nice point! The 8404 and the 8408 series of Raphael brushes make for excellent inking brushes.

A good brush can give you the best range of line for inking, and I highly recommend Raphaels. Only the Winsor and Newton Series 7 brushes come close to these.

A number of art stores carry these brushes, but they tend to be difficult to find. Your best bet to obtain them is from dickblick.com. Here's some links:

Raphael Kolinsky Red Sable 8404s:
http://www.dickblick.com/zz050/48/
Raphael Kolinsky Red Sable 8408s:
http://www.dickblick.com/zz052/89/

[Bruce Lee]

7) Pelikan Graphic White Acrylic



When you're inking, you need a good "white out". My white out of choice is Pelikan Graphic White. It covers well, and lasts a good long time if you maintain it properly. It does require some water and some shaking to ensure that it doesn't harden up in the bottle though. Still the best I've found, despite the maintenance.

8) Metal Ruler.



I often make use of a 24" flexible metal ruler when I'm working. I prefer metal rulers to wood and plastic rulers because they're less likely to get dinged and warped over time. It's a great straight edge for drawing panel borders, buildings, or gridding out perspective lines. Everyone should have one of these, preferably with a raised bit of cork on the back, which allows it to be used while inking.

9) Faber-Castell Pitt Pens.



When it comes to sketch in ink or needing to ink mechanical things, I often use a Pitt Pen for the job. Pitt Pens are similar to Micron Pens, but unlike Microns, Pitt Pens are filled with a black India Ink. As a disposable pen goes, you can't beat these. Their only disadvantage is that they don't come in enough point size variation. They are available in small, fine, Medium, and brushpen points. Even without having a larger point variety, I'll take these pens over other disposable pens any day.

[Bruce Lee]

10) Kneaded Eraser.



This little eraser is good if you pencil with softer graphites. It excels at picking up smudges and "paw-prints". It's also good at picking up faint pencil lines used for underdrawing.


11) Dr martins dyes/watercolors.



Sometimes I am asked to do full color commission art. When this happens, I use Dr Martins dyes/watercolors. Dr Martins colors actually dye the paper, so they are a bit unforgiving, but the vivid colors you can get from them is amazing. Usually a few drops of water and a drop of one color goes a very long way. They can be used like watercolors--easily diluted with water. used straight out of the bottle, the colors are quite overpowering, so it's good to have a mixing palette tray. Back at the Kubert School, I found that a common kitchen ice tray made a great mixing tray for colors. Dr Martins used to be used to make color guides for comic pages, and have been used by industry pros for decades.

[Bruce Lee]

BEFORE YOU POST QUESTIONS HERE: I would just like to say that I'm happy to answer specific questions about the various drawing equipments that I use on a daily basis, provided you are first willing to ask yourself if your question is something that might be better suited for the TIPS & TECH board, where you can get the opinions of many other PJers. If you have any doubts about your question, you might want to post it on the TIPS & TECH board, where you can be sure to get a well-rounded response. I can provide you with my own personal opinions and info here, but the TIPS & TECH board is probably suited for more general questions, etc. I don't mind elaborating on some of the items I list here, or on some other equipment I use from time to time, but remember that the TIPS & TECH board is your best bet for answering most questions.

[KrisDiaz]

i got a qiuck question....you say you use pitt pens and that they are similar to microns except that they use black india ink.my question is what makes them better than microns and what ink do microns use?do they smere less or something?personally i use microns in every size from.2 to the brush tips and i think they are fine...but i also dont ink to often

[Bruce Lee]

i got a qiuck question....you say you use pitt pens and that they are similar to microns except that they use black india ink.my question is if that makes them better than microns and what ink do microns use?personally i use microns in every size from.2 to the brush tips and i think they are fine...but i also dont ink to often

It's a matter of personal preference, but I think the Pitt Pens have some advantage of the Microns. Micron Pens use a thinner, pigma ink of lesser quality, IMO. I prefer the richer black look of Pitt Pen lines, and find them to bleed less.

[fatmancomics]

I'd like to see your full color work. Can you post some in your sketchblog or in the color section?

[bindlestitch]

Loston,
I was wondering if you could recommend a pen, I'm wanting a refillable pen but nothing with a techpen style tip. I've used statdler marsomatic techs for umpteen years and I'm just sick of their temperamental nature. Always having to clear the tip, or if you try to thin the ink down so it flows better then your ink is washed out looking. Then I've got the problem of (in the fine points particularly ) the tip wanting to drag on the paper.
Any recommendations?

[Bruce Lee]

Loston,
I was wondering if you could recommend a pen, I'm wanting a refillable pen but nothing with a techpen style tip. I've used statdler marsomatic techs for umpteen years and I'm just sick of their temperamental nature. Always having to clear the tip, or if you try to thin the ink down so it flows better then your ink is washed out looking. Then I've got the problem of (in the fine points particularly ) the tip wanting to drag on the paper.
Any recommendations?

I used the Marsomatic pens, and I agree with you about them. They clog far too easily--even if you clean them regularly-- and it takes forever to get them flowing again. I've had better luck with the white Rapidographs, but all tech pens will clog.

I think you'd be better off just using Pitt Pens or Microns, bindlestich. I know you're looking for something refillable, but you'll have less hassle out of these disposables, and are great for doing technical line work. These pens last a decent amount of time, and work well with rulers, templates, etc. I really recommend buying the Faber-Castell black pen four pack containing a small, fine, and Medium point pen, and a brushpen. I think you'll forget about ever using the Marsomatic Pens again.

As for refillable pens, I don't know of any good ones offhand--I've never needed more than a disposable-- but you might find someone on the Tips & Tech board who can offer some suggestions to you.

Loston