Sakura Koi Watercolor Sets
According to Zhivka Sakura Koi’s pocket watercolor sets Sakura Koi inspire even people who aren’t used to drawing to start creating. We combine the set with a black Micron fine-tip pen and a mini sketchbook with cards, and the result is a tried-and-true formula for a superb, versatile gift. The palette, with its compartments for mixing colors, slides out and attaches to the bottom, and the A6 sketchbooks fit perfectly into the box’s lid. This way, the entire set fits in one hand, leaving the other free for drawing.
Sakura Pigma Sensei
Whether for taking notes or for meditative doodling to give the mind a break, Ogi always carries Pigma Sensei in her bag. The set consists of two markers and two fine-tip pens with different line widths. The black ink doesn’t bleed through, even with repeated use, and when combined with our smoothest sketchbooks , Sensei keeps every line firmly on the page.
Derwent Coloursoft
About Dobi Derwent Coloursoft is the go-to set of pencils for a little art therapy through coloring on the weekends. With their velvety feel on the paper, Coloursoft truly lives up to its name. Thanks to their formula , they quickly fill in the indentations in the paper’s texture, achieving rich, opaque color. Meanwhile, the lead core withstands pressure and accidental drops.
Rembrandt Watercolors
One of the most prominent admirers of Rembrandt granulating watercolors is our very own Diliana. Granulating paints are proof that watercolor hues can be even more beautiful. They have the ability to sink into the paper’s texture, lending even more expressiveness and character to the ethereal hues. Some highly granulating paints, such as oxide black , can be added to standard colors to create interesting textures.
Talens Chinese Ink
Talens Chinese Inkhas many fans among lovers of deep black, who use it for a wide variety of purposes. Chris is a fan of one of the more interesting uses—printing the paw prints of his dog family on watercolor paper. It’s an easy gift idea, as well as a great option for other design projects.
2B pencils
Sasho, who more often than any of us sketches us with a graphite pencil, says that 2B is the first step in every drawing he creates. A 2B truly strikes the perfect balance—it’s hard enough to create fine, light lines without smudging too much, yet soft enough to allow for variety in the shading.
The blackest black pencils
While we’re on the topic of graphite pencils, I’ll also mention my personal favorites— Mars Lumograph Black and Lumocolor Non-Permanent. I always enjoy coming across truly deep-black drawing tools, such as Staedtler’s Lumo series. Lumograph Black is something between graphite and charcoal pencil with a smooth, semi-matte finish and very sturdy graphite. Lumocolor, on the other hand, feels like oil pastel and is completely matte and water-soluble. For a super-dense black, the two can be combined to create the effect of a colored pencil on an oil pastel.
Shellac
Rady and shellac are inseparable companions. And it couldn’t be any other way, given the numerous qualities and uses of this varnish. Let’s start by noting that, unlike many varnishes on the market, shellac is a harmless product —it is a natural resin secreted by lac bugs. It can be used as a varnish, primer, corrosion inhibitor, pore filler, and adhesive. It is a thermopolymer and is extremely acid-resistant.
Author: Martina Petrova
