What are some of your favorite drawing tools (pens, pencils, markers, drawing tablet, all of the above)?

I always have a 9” x 12” sketchbook going but have not drawn too much recently which bums me out. In that I work with Sakura Micron pens and Sharpies.

I also always try to have a softbound small Moleskine in my pocket and a black ballpoint pen so I can sketch on the go.

The watercolor Moleskine and a Waterbrush are a lot of fun.

If you have a wide collection, how do you decide on which to use on a particular drawing, project, or day?

Just depends on the mood I am in. Whether I want color or not, whether I feel like painting or drawing.

If you prefer pens, is there any particular brand, color, or type of ink you like best?

Sakura Microns are great since they are waterproof and come in so many sizes and colors.

How do you like your color? Watercolor? Acrylics? Oil? Colored pencils? Markers?

Acrylic is my main medium. I used to use Liquitex Concentrated in bottles exclusively since they had so many opaque colors but more recently been using Golden fluid acrylics as well.

Daler Rowney FW Acrylic Artists Ink is pretty awesome. You can get so many “watercolor” effects but once it dries stays put.

If you paint, is there any particular type of canvas you prefer? Do you like to paint on wood or any other materials?

Paper bag is generally what I paint on. I like the tooth, the folds and the way opaque acrylics “pop” off the surface. I have started branching out with Arches watercolor paper and Okiwara paper for the acrylic ink and wash effects.

Do you ever do any kind of post-processing (like adding color in Photoshop or similar tool) to your drawings?

No. I scan all my paintings or have them photographed. The only Photoshop action is sometimes tiling together multiple scans of larger pieces.

Have you ever tried a new pen (or paper, etc) from reading about it, or seeing the results in another artist’s work?

The water brush I got from seeing a friend use it and how handy it seemed (water filled handle allows for water to slowly flow out of brush tip). Great for traveling.

The acrylic ink I picked up on a tip from Robert Hardgrave.

Do you have anything you use out of the ordinary for making your art?

Besides the bag, not really. My original bag paintings all had the drawings inked in with a bamboo pen, but now everything is pretty standard.

I asked about post-processing on a computer, but do you think the computer is a helpful tool for making art? Whether it’s looking for inspiration online, or using it to build a weblog to promote yourself and your art, do you think a computer is necessary, helpful, or a distraction (or all of the above)?

Not necessarily a necessity, but the computer has certainly made the process faster for me. I am able to adjust images’ contrast so that they work better for my limited palette style. I also like the fact that I can scan my images and that is about the cheapest, easiest and almost best method of documenting for me. Websites I think are pretty critical for an artists exposure. Sites like Flickr help as well. It sure does become a distraction having a computer in the studio. Hearing the email incoming or just thinking about checking the weather or other online nonsense.

Thanks Chris!

You can find Chris Crites online at his portfolio website bagpainter.com and on Flickr.

What are some of your favorite drawing tools (pens, pencils, markers, drawing tablet, all of the above)?

Pen and ink…

If you have a wide collection, how do you decide on which to use on a particular drawing, project, or day?

It just kind of depends on the mood I’m in or how much coffee I drank… deadlines kind of determine my day-to-day also… if it was up to me I’d probably play with inks and watercolors all day, on enormous paper after enormous paper… but sometimes I actually have to finish a piece, or do some computer work… so things will get a little bit more intricate or digital.

If you prefer pens, is there any particular brand, color, or type of ink you like best?

Uni-Ball Black Vision Exact Micro pens and stupid Gelly Rollers (love)

How do you like your color? Watercolor? Acrylics? Oil? Colored pencils? Markers?

Acrylic ink for life.

If you do use paints, inks, pencils, or markers for coloring, are there any in particular that are your favorites? Do you prefer travel sets of paints to a full set?

I only buy the colors I’m attracted to… full sets tend to be a waste of color…

Is there any particular type of notebook or drawing pad you prefer? Or does any scrap of decent-sized paper work in a pinch?

God- Bristol Vellum paper to work small- usually 9 x 12” packs- and huge 140 lb. hot pressed Fabriano watercolor paper- as big as they got.

If you paint, is there any particular type of canvas you prefer? Do you like to paint on wood or any other materials?

Nah- I hate em all.

Do you ever do any kind of post-processing (like adding color in Photoshop or similar tool) to your drawings?

Only for commercial jobs. But yes, Photoshop and Illustrator.

Have you ever tried a new pen (or paper, etc) from reading about it, or seeing the results in another artist’s work?

I dunno… sometimes I go off a recommendation, but I usually stick to what I know.

Do you have anything you use out of the ordinary for making your art?

Like baby blood and tears?? All the time…

If you work both digitally and non-digitally, which do you find yourself doing more? Is there a reason you would prefer one of the other? Is it because of the tools available in either space?

I’m pretty 50/50- it just depends on commercial vs. fine art projects that I’m engaged in.

I asked about post-processing on a computer, but do you think the computer is a helpful tool for making art? Whether it’s looking for inspiration online, or using it to build a weblog to promote yourself and your art, do you think a computer is necessary, helpful, or a distraction (or all of the above)?

Hells yes. Necessary. Whether I like it or not I spend most of my time on the computer.

Thanks Hannah!

Hannah Stouffer’s illustration website is located at hannahstouffer.com, her personal art site is grandarray.com, and her weblog is grandarray.blogspot.com. You can also find Hannah on Flickr (grandarray) and Twitter (grandarray). Some of Hannah’s work is available for purchase on her Etsy store.