One of my art secrets is to always carry a sketchbook and a sketchbag of art supplies, so I wanted to tell you my favorite art on the go watercolor supplies!
Watercolor supplies are out of this world today!!! There are watercolor crayons, watercolor pencils, ink watersoluble pencils, watercolor travel sets and waterbrushes that make it sooo easy to paint in the car or while waiting at the Doctor's office!
Strathmore Visual Journal 140 lb. Watercolor Cold Press, Niji Waterbrush, & Micron Pen
The Strathmore Visual Journal 140 lb. Watercolor Cold press sketchbook is my favorite because it's small enough to fit in my purse (5.5 x 8 inches), it's spiral bound so it stays open flat, the paper doesn't warp, and it costs around $8.00! I fill up one of these beauties about every month or two and I absolutely love it!
Tombow Dual Brush Pens & Niji Waterbrush
Did you know that watercolor markers even exist? Yes, they do!
These Tombow Dual Brush Pens are my favorite on the go watercolor set because I use a Niji waterbrush and there is no mess and they are so fast! With regular watercolors it takes me an hour to do a quick urban sketch but with Tombow markers I can do a sketch in 15 minutes!
Tombows are awesome because they are highly pigmented and they have a brush tip and a fine tip on either end.
First I color with the Tombow markers and then go over it with the Niji waterbrush. It is mesmerizing to watch the colors ebb and flow over the paper in amazing wet on wet effects!
In a few minutes when the painting is dry, I will finish it by tightening up the painting with a Micron pen to put in some outlines or details.
The one negative for Tombow markers is they are not archival - they will fade in time but I use them to do quick studies and I absolutely love them especially while waiting in the car!
Sargeant Art Watercolor Crayons
Sargeant Watercolor Crayons are super fun too! Get a waterbrush, watercolor sketchbook and have a blast watercolor painting on the go.
In the world of watercolor crayons these are the cheapest you can buy because they are not archival.
Caran D'Ache Neocolor II Watercolor Crayons
Caran D'ache Neocolor II are the most expensive, they come in a ton of colors and they are archival! I find that watercolor crayons are not as great at details which has helped me loosen up, become more Impressionistic, and has inspired a lot of amazing paintings including A Day in Chicago!
Prismacolor Watercolor Pencils, Niji Waterbrush, Kum Ellipse Sharpener, and DickBlick Pouch
Prismacolor Watercolor Pencils are lovely! You can draw a details picture and then use the waterbrush to turn your controlled sketch into a gorgeous watercolor!
One of my tips with art sets is to always get them out of the box and into a clear bag for easy travel and usability. I find that leaving art in art kits promotes NON-USE because they look so pretty that one doesn't want to ruin the set and if one loses one pencil then it drives a person nuts, so they give up painting!
Anyway, get your tools out of the box, in a pouch that you can take with you so you use your watercolor tools!
Derwent Inktense Watersoluble Ink Pencils and Niji Waterbrush
Derwent Inktense Watersoluble Pencils are even more colorful than watercolor pencils because they are made with INK! They are so intense! Thus, the name INKTENSE! I love them! Try them and see if you like them!
Your fellow art friend,
Krystal Meldrum
The Color Dancer
P.S. Please tell me your favorite on the go watercolor tools!
