HOME | DD

Description
I got infected too I couldn’t resist doing this too.
So, these are my tools of trade, although photographed on a table I don’t much use any longer to draw upon since I joined the studio.
As you may suppose, I need *laaaarge* space when I create. I tend to expand myself all over the table, covering it with any kind of stuff from references to sketch papers to tissues to empty tea mugs and so on. I drink litres of water and tea during my days (not shown).

Pic 1: Just like =mary-chan I’m a compulsive buyer of artistic paper, always trying to find the “ perfect” surface. When I do watercolours for contests, or just need an extra quality paper, I usually buy loose sheets of Fabriano Artistico 50% Cotton (A) which then I cut by myself (a most tedious job). For everyday pieces, I use mostly Cotman Gummed Watercolour Pads (D). Recently I discovered Clairefontaine Etival (B) and I’m very satisfied by it. On the other hand, despite its name Fabriano Artistico in pads (E) is a waste of money. I suggest you not to throw away your money on it if you want to do a detailed and bright watercolour. You could use it with acrylics, in any case.
Académie Drawing pad (F), though very thin (80 gr) it’s a favourite of mine because of its parchment-like texture. Another favourite, if not the best of the best, is Hahnemühle Toscana (C). I found it in France and still preserve some sheets from that pad for grand occasions.
I always surround myself with sketchbooks (G) of various size and weight.

Pic 2: Now the basic setting for colouring. Being left-handed, I place everything on my left so that I won’t stain the sheet with colour drops. I need a used papercup (H) for water and plastic dishes (I) to mix colours. For mixing small quantities of colour I use this delicious flower-shaped basin (L) that I bought in Belgium with *Sigune . Just a few month ago an identic basin could be found in Italian newspaper kiosks, along with the first number of a drawing lessons series.
To protect the table from stains I use an old newspaper (N) or a thick cardboard derived from an extinguished paper pad (M). To copy the drawing from sketch to final sheet I use pencils or pastels (J), taken from my chest of wonders, the Mary Poppins-like case (K).

Pic 3: Colouring kit. I’m faithful to my Windsor & Newton Cotman palette (O). Originally it contained just 12 watercolour pans; I customized it adding a whole new row of pans and two more pans in each row, and it now contains up to 24 pans! I’m very proud of this custumization. I replace finished pans with refills (P). They’re very cute, they look like candies. On (Q) you can see my watercolour brushes set. I basically use da Vinci Nova Synthetics and Junior Synthetics from number 0 to 6. Seldom I use a n. 12 for backgrounds. The one alone in the middle is more or less TEH brush. Even if it’s just a common da Vinci Nova n. 4 I painted with it just about everything. It is at least 6 years old.

Pic 4: The delicious flower-shaped basin used (R).

Hope this will be helpful and sorry for the lenght.

Made for AquaProject #1 - Tools of the Trade [link]

Description
I got infected too I couldn’t resist doing this too.
So, these are my tools of trade, although photographed on a table I don’t much use any longer to draw upon since I joined the studio.
As you may suppose, I need *laaaarge* space when I create. I tend to expand myself all over the table, covering it with any kind of stuff from references to sketch papers to tissues to empty tea mugs and so on. I drink litres of water and tea during my days (not shown).

Pic 1: Just like =mary-chan I’m a compulsive buyer of artistic paper, always trying to find the “ perfect” surface. When I do watercolours for contests, or just need an extra quality paper, I usually buy loose sheets of Fabriano Artistico 50% Cotton (A) which then I cut by myself (a most tedious job). For everyday pieces, I use mostly Cotman Gummed Watercolour Pads (D). Recently I discovered Clairefontaine Etival (B) and I’m very satisfied by it. On the other hand, despite its name Fabriano Artistico in pads (E) is a waste of money. I suggest you not to throw away your money on it if you want to do a detailed and bright watercolour. You could use it with acrylics, in any case.
Académie Drawing pad (F), though very thin (80 gr) it’s a favourite of mine because of its parchment-like texture. Another favourite, if not the best of the best, is Hahnemühle Toscana (C). I found it in France and still preserve some sheets from that pad for grand occasions.
I always surround myself with sketchbooks (G) of various size and weight.

Pic 2: Now the basic setting for colouring. Being left-handed, I place everything on my left so that I won’t stain the sheet with colour drops. I need a used papercup (H) for water and plastic dishes (I) to mix colours. For mixing small quantities of colour I use this delicious flower-shaped basin (L) that I bought in Belgium with *Sigune . Just a few month ago an identic basin could be found in Italian newspaper kiosks, along with the first number of a drawing lessons series.
To protect the table from stains I use an old newspaper (N) or a thick cardboard derived from an extinguished paper pad (M). To copy the drawing from sketch to final sheet I use pencils or pastels (J), taken from my chest of wonders, the Mary Poppins-like case (K).

Pic 3: Colouring kit. I’m faithful to my Windsor & Newton Cotman palette (O). Originally it contained just 12 watercolour pans; I customized it adding a whole new row of pans and two more pans in each row, and it now contains up to 24 pans! I’m very proud of this custumization. I replace finished pans with refills (P). They’re very cute, they look like candies. On (Q) you can see my watercolour brushes set. I basically use da Vinci Nova Synthetics and Junior Synthetics from number 0 to 6. Seldom I use a n. 12 for backgrounds. The one alone in the middle is more or less TEH brush. Even if it’s just a common da Vinci Nova n. 4 I painted with it just about everything. It is at least 6 years old.

Pic 4: The delicious flower-shaped basin used (R).

Hope this will be helpful and sorry for the lenght.

Made for AquaProject #1 - Tools of the Trade [link]