Tools to make ideas a reality
Here at JNPcreative everything we do stems from a very basic form of design, sketching. Sketching is a fantastic way to get ideas out of your head and on to paper, it’s something anyone can do and all you need are a few simple but essential tools to make an idea become a reality.
There are different tools we use for different purposes that allow us to either sketch on the go or in the office. Below we’ve given our review on some of our favourite tools and the drawing styles you can get from them.
The out and about artist
Sketching on the go allows you to capture moments and jot ideas down so you can develop them at a later point, to do this all you need is a good sketchbook, pencil and rubber. Below are our favourite on the go tools.
All of the links below will take you to Amazon where you can purchase some of these tools for yourself.
Sketchbooks
Leda Art Supply A5 Sketchbook
A great A5 sketchpad with quality paper (120gsm) and a handy elastic strap that will ensure your pages don’t get bent at the edges. It’s cover is also made of a flexible material that is weather proof which keeps your work protected.
Artway Studio Casebound A5 Sketchbook
A cheaper option is the Artway Studio A5 Sketchbook. It has a hardback cover to prevent any warping or damage and it has a great quality paper (170gsm) which is perfect for sketching and is also good for light water colour washes.
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Pencils & Pens
Kuru Toga - Uni-ball mechanical pencil
A fantastic on the go pencil that offers a strong sturdy plastic housing to prevent your lead from snapping, a handy rubber built in the pencil (replacements can be bought separately) and a pack of 0.5 lead refills which is perfect when you run out.
Pilot G Tech - C4
This pen is great for getting those really fine details. With a fine nib (0.4) and a gel ink you really get a quality and crisp finish. Although it is simple in design it is comfortable for long periods of use and glides easily across the page. The pen’s ink also has a very long lifetime which is great while on the move.
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The static artist
Being in the office is great for getting ideas on to paper. You’ll have more space to spread out and relax and it also means you can have a wider range of equipment to hand. Below we’ve given our favourite tools for the static artist.
All of the links below will take you to Amazon where you can purchase some of these tools for yourself.
Sketchpads
Art Gecko sketchpad A3
With a ring bound spine this sketchbook is great for allowing you to draw on a flat surface. With a funky lime green insert with gecko skin texture the rest of the book has great quality white 150gm paper which is perfect for quick sketches, detailed drawings and light watercolour washes. This sketch pad really is a JNPcreative favourite!
Arteza A3 Mixed media
The ring bound spine allows you to place the book flat making it easier to draw on. This pad’s paper is more premium, has a greater thickness paper throughout of 180gsm which is perfect for not only sketching but using other mediums on it too, meaning you can add a splash of colour to your images with paint or ink.
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Pencils & Pens
Derwent Graphic Soft Graphite Drawing Pencils
This set of 12 pencils ranges from 9B to H so is the ideal set for shading and drawing. These pencils are of a professional quality and are what JNPcreative use when producing commissions. They are a very reliable pencil and are a must have on any artists desk.
STA Pigma Micro Liner Pen
This set of pens is fantastic for fine detailing as well as covering large areas as there are two brush pens included in the pack. There are a good array of tips ranging from 0.05 - 0.8 so you can be sure you have every type of pen for all levels of detail. This set of pens also comes with a convenient felt pouch.
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We hope you’ve enjoyed this article. If you purchase any of the products above please let us know what you thought of them in the comments below. You can see some of the work we’e done with the products above in JNPcreative’s gallery.