Building Your Artist's Toolkit

Art Supplies for the Newbie Analog Artist

2026 is around the corner, and a lot of people are craving analog hobbies they can actually stick with in the new year. Let me make a bold and practical suggestion. Take up drawing.

Before you tell me you can’t draw, let me stop you right there. You can. If you can draw a circle, a line, a square, and a triangle, you already have everything you need to start. Period.

To make it easy, I’m sharing a few of the art supplies I reach for on a regular basis. Think of this as a starter kit, not a rulebook. I’m not married to brands, though I am open to collaboration. Use these as examples and build a toolkit that fits you, your hands, and your curiosity.

Pens

The Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen is my go to for daily sketching.

Add a few white pen options to your toolkit. They are perfect for adding highlights to your art and writing on photos. Posca is great, and so is Paper Mate Ink Joy.

The SAKURA Pigma Micron Fineliner Pens is an excellent archival pen. I use them for crosshatching and adding shading to my drawings.

Sketchbook

I love mixing different art supplies and I have found a mixed media paper that allows for watercolors and paint are perfect for my style.

Pencils

I LOVE Blackwing pencils. They are simply the best pencil I have ever used.

I’ve been using these Prismacolor Pencils forever. They are smooth and the color is absolutely stunning.

Markers

I’ve used highlights to make some of my favorite drawings. Quick color and a great tool for quick marks.

Tombow Dual Brush Pen are great for adding quick color to a drawing. There are LOTS of colors available. I strongly suggest creating a list of the colors you have so you don’t buy duplicates.

Paints

Watercolor is my go to paint of choice. My kit is a mixture of pan paints from a few collections I put in a bigger paint tin.

I recently discovered Gouache Jelly Paints and I LOVE them. What I like about gouache is the opaque nature of the paint, but it is still water friendly.

This list isn’t about doing art the right way. It’s about making it easier to begin. Pick a few tools, make imperfect marks, and come back when you can. That’s how a practice forms.

I like a little cold foam with my matcha. 😉 Thank you for supporting me.