My Watercolour sketching kit - Part Two

Key to Sketching kit

1. Pink zipped bag from Officeworks containing:
2. Derwent spray bottle
3. Small water bottle with lump of Pres-stick to hold it down
4. WN paint box
5. Zip-lock bag with cellulose sponge
6. Re-cycled travel wallet with foam core cut to size keeps brushes flat
7. Leather pen pouch for two fountain pens - Neon Coral Lamy Safari EF and Noodler’s Konrad Flex pen 
8. Pencil/pen roll from Officeworks (Australia)
9. Rosemary & Co Series 301 Golden Synthetic #6
10. Rosemary & Co 3/8” Shiraz dagger 
11. Pro-art 313HF flat #12
12. Neef Squirrel mop #0
13. Pentel Waterbrush Large
14. Rosemary & Co Travel Pocket brush #10 (fits into pencil/pen roll)

My watercolour palette is a vintage Winsor and Newton paint box. This was on the materials list when I started art class in High School - and no, I’m not saying when that was…

Originally there were two hinged metal flaps that held the paint pans in position. These became rusty so I removed them and in doing so made room for pans down the centre of the box. There’s almost too much room so this palette is not a minimal one.

When I was in Germany some years ago, I bought a Schmincke watercolour palette. It came with 24 pan colours some of which I have moved to the WN box. The pan paints certainly last well. 
The smaller box fits neatly into my pink zipped bag. The down side of this box is that it's a bit heavy. I have a lighter Cotman's Travel box (now filled with artists tube colours) but I prefer to have the double mixing flaps so more colours and washes are easily mixed.

Current colours in the WN palette are the following:

I use a number of different brands - Winsor & Newton, Schmincke and more recently some Daniel Smith watercolours. Each brand provides a favourite colour and they work happily together.

A few favourite mixes...

Here are some useful links to product suppliers. 
DISCLAIMER - please note that I do not receive anything from these suppliers for mentioning their products

Click on the highlighted name.
Rosemary & Co for brushes - very high quality and good value. If you are out of the UK remember the Vat % comes off.

Fountain pens - Goulet Pens have a comprehensive range and in addition many videos on pens and their maintainence. Regular Q&A sessions will answer all your quaetions.

Australian readers can also check out LarryPOST in Sydney for pens,ink and sketchbooks.

Notemaker, based in Melbourne is another stockist. 

New Brushes

Artists love getting new supplies: a new sketchbook, exciting new colours, but my favourite is a brand new brush. There is so much promise in the clean perfect bristles. Should you glance at my studio shelves you would be forgiven for thinking - "she does NOT need another brush." Yet, so often,after using a brush for a while, the honeymoon is over and the brush starts to behave badly.

I am pleased to tell you that I think I have found a make of brush that is near perfect. (Free would be perfect) Rosemary Brush Company in the UK makes the most wonderful brushes. We (my students and I) placed an order which arrived a week ago. They have been sitting in my studio saying " paint with me - paint with me now!!

At last yesterday I had a chance to try them out. I am really impressed with the way they respond. We bought a few Kolinsky Sable brushes for watercolour as well as some of the Ivory series and the Chungking bristle. The Sable are a dream to use, with a wonderful point and generous belly.

I indulged in a treat for myself - the Pocket Reversible travel sable brush solves the problems associated with transporting good brushes without damaging them. A removable shiny cover that protects the brush fits on the back of the ferrule to provide a good handle.

Ink and watercolour drawing - Alpha series sketchbook with Rosemary & Co Pocket sable

The Ivory brushes have a crisp spring to them - quite different to conventional hog hair. A lot of thought has gone into the design of the handles, the balance is good and they are comfortable to hold. The Ivory brushes in particular clean up easily.

Sparkling new brushes !!

Ok back to the Studio to paint - bliss!

Posted with Blogsy