My philosophy on art can be summed up as:
- Anyone can make art.
- You don't need fancy supplies to make art.
Tips for art on a budget.
I'm a starving college student. Art supplies can be expensive! Over the years, with (a lot of) trial and (a lot of) error, I've found a number of supplies that work well without breaking the bank. These can be found in most big chain art stores in the U.S. (such as Michaels, Jo-Ann Fabric, or even Walmart!) or bought cheaply online.
What do you use for...?
WATERCOLORS?
I have a number of little watercolor sets (what can I say— I adore travel art kits!) but my favorite is this pocket set by Daler Rowney.
And it comes with my favorite brush! The included brush can make a thin line or broad stroke, depending on the pressure used.
For Inchies and other tiny detail work, I use the size #0 liner by Pro Art.
For those super-bright neon colors: good old Crayola! (:
PAPER?
I use Strathmore 400 series watercolor paper. The paper size doesn't matter to me since I almost always cut it smaller. (Use scraps for testing ink and colors!)
INKING?
For Inchies and detail work, I use the teeny-tiny Micron 005 pen. It's amazing!
For larger works, I use a dip pen and India ink. I have this Leonardt calligraphy set. I really only use the large blue nib, but it comes with a cute little tin, so it's okay! (:
The ink I currently have is Higgins Waterproof Black India ink. However, I would recommend using Speedball instead. Higgins works fine, but Speedball is noticeably smoother and darker when they're placed side-by-side.