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

I prefer using Faber-Castell indian ink artist pens/markers for most of my work because they just have incredible quality, great colors, and last a super long time. I have recently purchased a few Pantone Universe markers, which are extremely permanent, and have fine line and brush tips. Yet, they are overly potent, and kind of difficult to hold due to their square shape. Micron pens and Pilot pens are another favorite of mine for tiny details (lines, triangles, etc.), as well as white gel pens. When it comes to using graphite, I tend to use lead/graphite sticks housed within a metal holder for more control. I also frequently use powdered graphite to cover larger areas, create smudges, and build upon the page.

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

Everything (including my media/tool choices) usually just evolves in itself. I suppose it just depends on what I am creating and what kind of effect is occurring at the time.

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

I use a lot of Faber-Castell watercolors, in addition to Acryla gouache paints. Recently, I began working on a larger oil painting, which is very strange due to the change in media and size.

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

I work in 9.5” x 7” Moleskine sketchbooks/notebooks, as well as various scraps of paper. I’m currently working on a bookmaking project to create another sketchbook for myself. I like that it has a more DIY/hand-made feel, especially since I can make use of all the random paper just lying around.

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

No way! I am very passionate about working on everything with my very own two hands. I try not to dwell and over-analyze/work on anything too deeply, and feel like that would probably happen if I began relying on a computer to “edit” my work.

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

A friend of mine told me about those Pantone Universe markers, and although they have a huge array of colors…I’m just not too thrilled about them. Other than that, I haven’t really experimented with any new brand/company of art supplies.

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)?

I think it really depends on what kind of art work one creates. Corporate graphic designers tend to strictly rely on computers to make logos, etc., but I love designers that have more of a DIY/hand-made aesthetic (such as Martin Venezky). Tumblr is a great tool that I regularly use for displaying work and discovering inspiring imagery. I keep up with various art/design blogs (such as designformankind.com and booooooom.com while drinking my morning coffee, too.

Thanks Rebecca!

You can find Rebecca Volynsky online at her personal art weblog, and she has some work for sale in her Etsy shop.

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

I most enjoy working with pencils and permanent ink pens.

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

Often I start making sketches in pencil, but I use pens with lightfast ink on all my final drawings to make my artwork more archival.

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

My favorite pens are from the Faber-Castell PITT artist pens series, especially the pens with black waterproof India ink.

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

I use a combination of water-based painting techniques - watercolor, gouache, and acrylics.

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 like Lascaux acrylics and Winsor & Newton watercolors. I use top quality paints to make sure my artwork will last for a lifetime.

Travel sets are fun, and I do usually take some art materials with me when I travel.

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

My favorite papers to work on are thick handmade papers that are made in France. I love the deckled edge and the textured quality of the paper. It makes the completed works seem almost like “objects.”

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

I do sometimes work on canvas or panel, and I like working on wood very much. Sometimes I carve bits out of the wooden panels to give my images a more dimensional quality.

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

No.

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

I think I am usually more inspired by the imagery in the work, than the actual materials. However, I especially like looking at artwork from other mixed media artists.

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

In my collage work, I use papers that I collect from all around the world. I love Japanese, Indian, Asian, and Italian papers; there are many multi-cultural, handmade papers that I find beautiful.

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 prefer to work non-digitally as much as possible. I just like getting my hands dirty, I suppose!

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)?

Although I don’t use the computer to make my actual artwork, I have found the Internet to be an incredible tool to use in promoting my artwork and making contacts. Through the Internet, I have found an online network of artist and designer friends who are wonderfully helpful, friendly, and like-minded. I don’t know what I did before I met them.

Last year, I bought an iMac and a new digital camera, and I am really happy with both. The quality of the photographs I can make of my work has improved dramatically, and I am now able to print and sell high quality digital reproductions of my artwork in my online shop.

Thanks Stephanie!

You can find Stephanie Levy online on her weblog stephanielevy.blogspot.com, on Flickr (stephanielevy), Twitter (@stephanielevy), and her work can be purchase online in her Etsy shop. Stephanie also runs the wonderful Artists Who Blog.

What are your favorite drawing tools (pens, pencils, markers, drawing tablet)?

Probably you’ll be surprised, but it’s an ordinary graphite pencil. The softer the better. I like 9B most of all, but everything up from 4B works great too. They are usually wooden or just pure graphite. One of my favorites is the Austrian wooden clutched pencil Cretacolor I bought in London. I also like Faber Castell PITT Artist pens, Tombow ABT Dual Brush Pen and Pentel Color brush pens.

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

I carry my drawing tools in my bag, so it’s always a bit messy inside. I was thinking about getting boxes, but still don’t have one. Going out I just pick up some tools I like at the moment, or the ones which are more suitable for the place where I’m going. It’s much more comfortable to draw with a pencil and felt tip pens while traveling on the subway for example. And the Pentel Aquash Waterbrush pen is good during a coffee break, when there’s some time to dry the pages of your sketchbook before you need to run somewhere else.

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

I like color in general, so I don’t really care what I use. I haven’t worked with oil since my uni days though. But all the rest, yes! Watercolor is tricky, but grateful, acrylics are good for my matreshkas, colored pencils remind me of childhood and felt tip pens are so bold I just can’t resist. Gouache Master Class is also one of my favorites. It has such a nice velvet texture!

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 like Russian watercolors like St. Petersburg’s White Nights. I remember them from my childhood. Usually each pan of paint is wrapped in foil, so I felt like a child unwrapping them, like I’ve got a box of candies. And the quality is excellent, too. Foreign paints are usually too expensive and I hate expensive art tools … they don’t give me any chance to experiment, and I’m always afraid to ruin them. When I travel I tend to choose a small range of materials. For example, last time when I was traveling I had two Pentel Color Brushes filled with Indian black and orange ink, a dark grey Faber Castell PITT liner and two Tombow Dual Brush Pens, light and dark blue. The only thing that never changes is my soft graphite pencil.

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

The main rule is the cheaper the better. I hate all those trendy sketchbooks deep inside.
I don’t want to think something like “I need to draw a masterpiece, because this sketchbook looks so nice and costs a lot.” Despite that fact, I have some Moleskines, but who doesn’t! Cahier Moleskines work best for me. They come in three different sizes, large one is good for projects and research, the one in the middle is for sketching and the smallest one is for notes and quick drawings on the run. My recent love is Muji Scribble Pads, they seem to be made for drawing with pencil. Scrap paper works good too, you just need to bind it properly and to not get irritated by the mess and to keep a step-by-step order.

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

If it’s an editorial, then yes, there is some post-processing, but mainly because of rush. Usually deadlines are so tight, I don’t have any chance to experiment or make mistakes. With Photoshop I can change the color, add or remove something from the picture in two seconds. With, for example, watercolor I don’t have any chances to survive right now. The last editorial piece I was working on, it had to be made in an hour, for example.

On the other hand drawing for myself I make only analogue things. All the pages of my sketchbooks you can see in my portfolio are absolutely hand made.

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

A lot of times! That’s how we all share information. For example once I’ve noticed colorful ink pens with a brush on its end on Bubi Au Yeng’s Flickr photostream. I asked her about the brand (it was the Pentel Color brush) and purchased the same thing for myself.

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

Not really. The way your art looks like isn’t the result of using some special tool. The most important thing is your personality, way of living, who you are. Your inner world can help to turn an ordinary pencil into the magic wand. And if you don’t have much to say, I doubt there’s something that’ll help you.

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)?

Well, it’s helpful, yes. You see, in case of editorial illustration there are deadlines you can’t avoid. And you don’t have time to go to the street or library to make a proper visual research. If I need to draw a giraffe, I’d like to look at it one more time to have a fresh point of view. The computer is also an excellent tool for self-promotion. I found my first client through the internet. To be precise, it was the client who found me. Nearly all of them came after they checked out my online portfolio. It helps me to reach art directors worldwide without even sending them a paper version of my portfolio, isn’t it magic?! And to meet people! I can’t imagine my illustrator’s career without the computer now.

Thanks Irina!

You can find Irina Troitskaya online on her portfolio website irtroit.com, on her weblog, and on Flickr (irtroit).

What are your favorite drawing tools (pens, pencils, markers, drawing tablet)?

My favourite drawing tools are Faber Castell PITT Artist pens, Pilot Super Grip pencils, Pentel brush pens and my Montblanc fountain pen.

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

I carry my drawing tools in a small Muji Pencil box. It means I can only carry 4 pens at a time, I like the fact that I have relatively few choices and don’t really have to decide what pen to use at any time. Saying that I have tried lots of different type of pens from Rotring, Edding, Staedtler to Pigma Microns but for the moment I like drawing with brown ink as it throws the line back a bit and makes it a bit less dominant than a black line. I carry the Pentel brush pen and fountain pen as sometimes its good to have a looser approach and using a fountain pen or brush stops you be too precise and tight.

The other kit I carry around with me is another Muji Pencil box (large) in it are 2 pencils 2b and 4b, a pencil sharpener, a rubber (or for Americans an eraser) and 2 Pentel water brush pens a medium and a large. The box is padded with tissue to stop them rattling about.

All thats left is a small Winsor & Newton travel watercolour kit. I’m in the middle of trying to simplify the colours I use, but I like to replace some of the pans with colours I prefer such as Permanent Sap Green, Neural Grey, Permanent Mauve and Cerulean Blue. Typing this out I realise that maybe its colours suited to the Scotland’s landscape and light?

It’s all really basic. If I just want to draw on the way to work I take the small Muji box. If I want to paint I take the larger one with the watercolour set - no thinking involved at all! :)

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

Apart from Faber-Castell PITT artist pens I like to use Noodler’s Bulletproof ink in my fountain pen. It’s a total lifesaver as you can work over the top of it with watercolour.

How do you like your color? Watercolour? Acrylics? Oil?

I use watercolour pretty much all the time in Moleskine sketchbooks. They react pretty strangely to watercolour almost repelling the paint so you have to work in washes almost scrubbing the paint into the page. From what is kind of a negative thing, I’ve got into painting this way and enjoy the results. So, now I’m trying to do watercolour on proper paper and finding it really difficult.

You recently posted a weblog entry with the kit you carry around. If and when you work at home, or in an office, do you use the same types of tools, or do you have a larger set of colors, pens, brushes, etc.?

Yes, I have a larger variety of brushes and pens to choose from. I also use Dr. Ph Martin inks as well they really add a vibrancy to watercolours. So if you want the reds and greens to really pop out of the page its amazing fun to try these out.

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

Sorry, I’m a sucker for Moleskine sketchbooks, its a little bit embarrassing how ubiquitous they are. The fact that they are expensive is quite a good thing as you’re not likely to leave them lying about, but because it takes me about a month or two to fill one they turn out to be okay value. Also I like the fact they fold flat so I draw over the two pages, its seems quite a small thing but its a rare quality in sketchbooks. Finally the proportion for the moleskine large sketch book just, well feels right.

I sound like a total fanboy!

I carry around sketchbooks around pretty much all the time, but aye if there’s a scrap of paper around I’ll use it.

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

Oh, occasionally. The Moleskine paper is quite yellow. So what I generally do in Photoshop is take a colour sample of the paper colour add a new layer and fill that layer with the colour then turn this layer off. The layer with the drawing I use auto tone, colour and levels to accentuate the tone and colours, but it takes the yellow tone away. I then turn that yellow layer back on and choose “multiply” and reduce the transparency to what looks right.

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

Yes I’ve tried some new Kuretake brush pens which I read about on Meg Hunt’s site which have an amazing dark fluent line. I think they’re for Japanese calligraphy. I just wish they weren’t water soluble.

Also I’ve experimented with trying dip pens after an article by Kevin Cornell who recommended Hunt’s Speedball #102 nibs.

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

When I’m traveling abroad drawing I carry around a Fuji Pivi printer which does small polaroid type photos. Instead of carrying glue to stick all those handy exotic receipts, tickets and bags of sugar you can buy pre blobs of glue on bits of paper. I put these handy things in the back of my Moleskine.

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)?

Yes, all of the above! I’ve avoided doing digital colouring deliberately. I’m not sure if I’m doing the right thing using watercolour but its something I really want to stick with as I’m really enjoying the process.

Building a web presence and finding like minds has been incredible! At the same time I need to get away from the computer and make things.

From your CV/folio it looks like you do more web design and layout. Do you, in a way, consider that art? I certainly do, even though I’m not very good at it. I’m more on the programming side. If so, what are your common tools for web design and graphic/art layout?

I don’t know if web design is art? I use Photoshop for layouts and Illustrator for more design logo work.

For so long though its been part of who I am as a designer who likes to sketch. I’m at a crossroads at the moment as I’ve left the BBC and I’m looking to try and spend more time doing illustration. It’s a big step for me but at the moment it feels like the right thing to do.

Thanks Wil!

Wil Freeborn can be found online at his weblog, on Flickr (ghostschool), and on Twitter (@ghostschool). Wil also participated in the 6th Moleskine Exchange.