Medium Art Kit Recommendation

_ This review is for a medium size art kit and notebook, with pens, and a small travel size  watercolor kit.  These materials are suitable for artists interested in working on developing greater content in small landscapes and studies.  This kit is easy to carry in a small bag, pack, or briefcase with other items you might travel with, and has archival qualities you would expect in a piece of art.  These links are to an art supply store called Daniel Smith.  Other art supply shops have these items as well.  If you choose to mail order from Daniel Smith you can receive a 20% discount through the link on the Sketchy Tours website.

This notebook is larger than the pocket size and is made of watercolor paper.  There are a number of sizes and types of paper available in the Moleskine line of notebooks. I like these because they pack small and they live well on a bookshelf when they’re full, easily accessed for travel and at home.

The Sakura micron pens described in the small art supply kit are a great way to capture a number of sketches quickly on site and won’t smudge when working with watercolors either on site or at a later time.

Most watercolor kits come with a small travel brush which works well for small notebooks and washes.  As you fill notebooks you might recognize a need for another small travel brush or two.  You’ll find travel brushes in art supply stores and online.  I typically have a nicer travel brush with a fine tip but long bristles to do a range of things as well as a larger mop, or wash brush for covering larger areas.  It’s fun to buy these brushes while traveling and in a store where you can see the brush to make your selection.  The Magasin Sennelier is an art supply store in Paris with a few locations and a website for such a purchase.

 

Moleskine Large Watercolor Book, 200gsm Cold Press, 5-1/4" x 8-1/4", 72 Pages

The legendary notebook of Hemingway and Matisse
The Moleskine Watercolor Notebooks offer all the characteristics of the sketchbooks except the thick warm-white paper is sized for watercolor use and the 25% cotton fiber paper has a cold press finish. Notebook secures with an elastic band and has an expandable inner pocket.

http://www.danielsmith.com/Item--i-750-090-002

Sakura Pigma Micron Pens

Acid-free and archival, Pigma Micron Ink Pens are ideal for papercrafts, journals, illustration, crafts, or any application requiring precision and permanence.

Unlike dye-based ink found in most pens and markers, Pigma ink will not feather or bleed, even through the thinnest paper. Pigma ink is derived from a single pigment to ensure color consistency, and is fadeproof against sunlight or UV light. Pigma inks will not clog or dry out like most mechanical pens.

http://www.danielsmith.com/Item--i-G-205-040


Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Compact Set

This pocket-sized lightweight box is ideal for the outdoor artist.

The set includes:

• 14 half pans of Cotman Watercolors
• A Cotman Series III Watercolor Brush
• A number of useful mixing surfaces, including a sliding palette and a mediums dish
  http://www.danielsmith.com/Item--i-261-620-040