My Favorite Art Supplies

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05-09-2026 at 09:38 pm

Summary: This page contains my absolute favorite art supplies. I also use this page to store the info for random art supplies I don’t have pages for.

This page will be periodically updated.

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Faves

I have used SOOOO many art supplies in my life. Even now, I frequently change which supplies I’m using and which are my “favorites.” I think it’s hard for me to choose which ones exactly because every art supplies has pros and cons, but I can quantify each supply’s use. I’ve compiled the art supplies below that I tend to reach for most often *and* have a very high regard for.

✵ Table of Contents ✵

Group	Category	Supply
Drawing Supplies	Pencils & Pens	Pental Graphgear 1000 (0.5)
		Pental 0.5 F Lead
		STAEDTLER Technical Pencil
		STAEDTLER 2mm 4H Lead
		Uni 2mm 2H Lead
		Uni Pin Fine Liner
		Tombow Mono Zero Eraser
		Faber-Castell Kneaded Eraser
	Paper & Surfaces	Bee Paper Super Deluxe
	Color Mediums	NICETY Acrylic Markers
		Prismacolor Colored Pencils
		Bombay India Inks
Support Supplies

Drawing Supplies

These supplies are my most frequently used as most of my drawings start with a sketch (doodles are the exceptions, though I *will* sketch other parts of a piece if it includes things other than doodles).

Pencils & Pens

Always good to start with the actual drawing utensils used. These are my absolute favorite drawing utensils, the ones I go back to quite frequently over the last decade. I’ve tried MANY many different pens and pencils, and will continue to try new ones (there’s a specific set I currently have my eyes on 👀), but the below are tried-and-true.

Pentel GraphGear 1000 - 0.5

Image from Amazon

Specs

Type: Mechanical Pencil
Make: Metal body with textured grip & soft latex-free pads
Line/Size: 0.5mm (HB lead pre-installed)
Purchase Info: Amazon | Purchased: Oct 2023 | Price: $7.90 USD

Overall Thoughts

✐ Pentel GraphGear 1000 - 0.5

DRAFTING PENCIL

✨ retractable tip ⚠️ nice weight, metal body 🎨 small enough for precision, thick enough to not break

This pencil is so solid and feels great to use. It’s balanced and I usually don’t feel any hand fatigue after long periods of drawing.

💡 Tip I found online: To set the lead hardness indicator, loosen the conical end piece first. The dial will then spin freely.

Why Favorite?

This specific pencil is one I keep coming back to. I’ve tried sooo many different pencils, mechanical or otherwise, but I just keep coming back to this one. I’ve finally determined that it is, indeed, my favorite pencil.
This brand comes in 0.3, 0.7, and 0.9. I have all the sizes and they all have their functions, but the 0.5 is the main one I use.
The metal body is SO nice.

Tips & Usage Notes

Remember to actually retract the nib. I have stabbed myself multiple times because I forgot to retract the nib.

Pentel Super Hi-Polymer Lead - F

Image from Amazon

Specs

Type: Lead Refill
Make: Super Hi-Polymer
Line/Size: 0.5mm, F Grade
Purchase Info: Amazon | Purchased: May 2023 | Price: $12.29 USD

Overall Thoughts

✎ Pentel Super Hi-Polymer Lead

LEAD REFILL

✨ strong & break-resistant ⚠️ F is firmer than HB but not as hard as H 🎨 has enough give to shade, but light enough to erase

This is my go-to lead for any mechanical pencil in any grade, but F is my favorite to sketch with. I find the flexibility is good for what I want.

Why Favorite?

Pentel Lead in general has been consistently good and lasts longer that other brands.
Pentel is one of the few that comes in weird grades like F.
F is favorite because it’s not to hard but not to soft.

STAEDTLER Mars Technico Mechanical Pencil

Image from Amazon

Specs

Type: Lead Holder / Mechanical Pencil
Make: Metal clip & push-button mechanism, plastic body
Line/Size: 2mm lead
Purchase Info: Amazon | Purchased: July 2024 | Price: $12.51 USD (current $15.49)

Overall Thoughts

✎ STAEDTLER Mars Technico Pencil

TECHNICAL PENCIL

✨ efficient and less wasteful ⚠️ dulls quickly and is messier 🎨 great for sketching

A great 2mm lead holder with a built in sharpener. Has worked well for the whole time I’ve used it. Feels good in hand.

💡 Tip: A looser grip and longer lead can help with quick, even sketching.

Why Favorite?

Just a nice, functional pencil. Has lasted a few years so far.

Tips & Usage Notes

2mm lead tends to lay down more graphite and means the graphite may smudge easier.

STAEDTLER Mars Lumograph 2mm Leads

Image from Amazon

Specs

Type: Lead Refill for 2mm Lead Holders
Make: Mars Lumograph Carbon Lead
Line/Size: 2mm, 4H Hardness
Purchase Info: Amazon | Purchased: April 2024 | Price: $11.24 USD (current $14.50)

Overall Thoughts

✎ STAEDTLER Mars 2mm 4H Lead

2MM PENCIL LEAD REFILL

✨ very light ⚠️ sometimes too light 🎨 base sketches with other layers planned

Used to be what I used most but the lightness can sometimes be a little too light for what I want. Works great for when I need a base sketch that I want to easily erase.

💡 Tip: Don’t press too hard, you will never get the shade darker.

Why Favorite?

Of all the 4H leads I’ve tread, this is my favorite.
Super light. Erases well.

Tips & Usage Notes

Don’t press too hard, it will never get very dark.

Uni Drop Holder 2.0mm Lead

Image from Amazon

Specs

Type: Lead Refill for 2mm Lead Holders
Make: Uni Drop Holder Type Pencil Lead
Line/Size: 2.0mm, 2H Hardness
Purchase Info: Amazon | Purchased: July 2024 | Price: $4.29 USD (current $5.29)

Overall Thoughts

✎ Uni Mitsubishi 2mm Lead

2MM PENCIL LEAD REFILL

✨ a good middle ground between hard and soft ⚠️ this brand doesn’t erase as well 🎨 best for general sketching

Uni seems to erase worse than other brands but this 2H lead is light enough to erase easier. While not as dark as the Pentel 0.5 F lead, it is comparable.

💡 Tip: Can get darker but still don’t press too hard.

Why Favorite?

It’s a 2mm pencil lead without being too soft to smudge.

Uni Pin Fine Liner

Ref. Uni Pin Fine Liner

Overall Thoughts

🖊️ Uni Pin Fine Liner

FINE LINER PEN

✨ deep, rich black ink ⚠️ can feather and spread on thinner paper 🎨 I use these pens almost exclusively to doodle

I’ve used this pen for many years. I used to use the 0.2 size but switched to 0.3 when I realized I’d still get nice, fine detail, without having to spend as much time on pieces.

💡 Tip: Pressing hard will weaken the nib, keep a steady, light hand.

Why Favorite?

The color of the ink is so nice. It’s darker than most other inks and pens I use. It’s also very rich, I find a lot of black in fine liners are a little more gray or even brown.
Size is perfect for not-too-big, not-too-small effects.
Lasts awhile.

Tips & Usage Notes

I use fresh new nibs for very intricate and careful pieces. I use duller nibs for repetitive tasks that don’t need very delicate lines.

Runner Up: Sakura Microns

My second go to is the Sakura Pigma Microns. While I tend to prefer Uni Pin to Microns in how they perform and how the ink looks, I find Microns work with a larger variety of papers than Uni Pin.

🖊️ Sakura Pimga Micron

FINE LINER PEN

✨ works with most papers ⚠️ ink isn’t as rich and dark as Uni Pin 🎨 I use this pen when the paper can’t take Uni Pin

Microns are a classic art supply and are a great workhorse. They tend to work on most papers, including thinner ones (but not super thin). Also very permanent and won’t bleed with water or alcohol.

💡 Tip: A light hand helps preserve the nib.

Erasers

I like to use erasers that are separate from my pencil. Regular pencils will eventually run out of erase, causing the use of external erasers anyway. Even mechanical pencils can run out and if you don’t have any spares, then you’re out of luck. I’d prefer to rely erasers that are self contained so that they last longer and can give me more precise erases.

Tombow Mono Zero Eraser

Image from Amazon

Specs

Type: Precision Eraser
Make: Pen-style metal body with rubber tip
Line/Size: Round, 2.3mm diameter tip
Purchase Info: Amazon | Purchased: May 2014 | Price: $6.27 USD

Overall Thoughts

⌦ Tombow Mono Zero Eraser

PRECISION ERASER

✨ ultra-fine 2.3mm tip gives great precision ⚠️ refills needed 🎨 works well on all most dry media

I love this little guy. I’ve bought at least three over the last few years because I use them so often that I lose them. I also have them in multiple kits, including my travel case and my home kit. Very useful, even when erasing large areas.

💡 Tip: When the tip gets dirty, just rub it on a scrap piece of paper to reveal a clean surface.

Why Favorite?

Very precise, exactly what I need to sculpt images.
Small, portable, light.
Eraser lasts, though the need for replacements means I may need to carry an extra refill or to.

Tips & Usage Notes

Works best on graphite pencil but has worked on colored pencils.
Holding it sideways gives more coverage for larger areas.
Can be shaped into a point.

Faber-Castell Kneaded Erasers

Image from Amazon

Specs

Type: Kneaded Eraser
Make: Soft, pliable rubber
Line/Size: Large size (approx. 3.2" x 1.3" per eraser)
Purchase Info: Amazon | Purchased: January 2025 | Price: $6.49 USD

Overall Thoughts

⌫ Faber-Castell Kneaded Erasers

KNEADED ERASER

✨ essentially endless eraser ⚠️ needs kneading to stay clean 🎨 works well to lift graphite without damaging paper

I got this four pack specifically so I could mix the colors. It came out successful and now I have purple, orange, and green erasers. I don’t use the gray one anymore.

💡 Tip: Lift, don’t smear when erasing.

Why Favorite?

Very gentle on paper, doesn’t tear, even when rubbing.
Essentially endless eraser, as kneading creates clean surface.
Custom colors.

Tips & Usage Notes

Works best with graphite, charcoal, and pastel pencils. Not effective for ink.
To clean the eraser, stretch and knead it until the dark spots disappear into the material.
Warm it in your hands for a few seconds to make it more pliable.

Paper & Surfaces

I’m constantly disappointed by paper. When I was only doodling and doing nothing else, my main medium was Uni Pin Fine Liner pens. My confetti doodles (and any predecessors) use thick layer of pen strokes to “bold” the exoskeleton of doodles while also leaving the inner space a single stroke pattern. Lots of paper falls apart when you go over the same spot when an ink pen over and over. Other papers will feather or bleed. It’s been so hard to find paper that will handle this style. But I have found some.

Bee Paper Super Deluxe

Ref. Bee Paper Super Deluxe Paper

Overall Thoughts

📄 Bee Paper Super Deluxe Mixed Media

MIXED MEDIA PAPER

✨ 25% cotton holds many mediums really well ⚠️ on the thinner side of mixed media paper (150gsm), warps 🎨 I primarily use this paper for my doodles

Bee Paper Super Deluxe has been my favorite art paper for almost 15 years. This paper is incredible and whiel I haven’t always been a fan of the off-white color, I’ve come to appreciate it. This paper has never been beat by any other paper I’ve tried (though things have been close).

💡 Tip: Can handle watercolor but not heavy washes.

Why Favorite?

Every art supply I’ve used looks better on Super Deluxe paper than any other paper I’ve tried. Literally, the paper makes those supplies look great.
While not as thick as watercolor paper, 150 gsm is still thick compared to printer or drawing paper. It handles media well, including wet media, but will warp.
Erases well. Handles a lot of working.

Tips & Usage Notes

Don’t get too wet.
Paper isn’t double-sided so one side is toothier than the other. Both sides function the same but it could be helpful to know which side you’re using when using dry media like colored pencils.

Runner Up: Canson XL Mixed Media Paper (+ Graduate)

While not the exact same paper, both the Canson XL Mixed Media Paper and the Canson Graduate Mixed Media Paper are really good alternatives to Bee Paper. They both take Microns quite well, better than Uni Pin.

📄 CANSON MIXED MEDIA PAPER

MIXED MEDIA PAPER

✨ thick, handles most media well ⚠️ still not watercolor paper 🎨 I use this paper for doodling and other dry media

I’m drawn to Canson papers, and their mixed media paper has always been really good. It’s a great alternative for doodles and other dry media. It got even better when they released their Graduate mixed media paper. It’s thicker (200gsm and handles media better).

💡 Tip: The two lines aren’t the same but function similar.

Color Mediums

This was a hard one. Color media give me such a hard time. I love watercolor but it’s so hard to master. Any other types of traditional paint aren’t practical for me. Alcohol markers were a great find but isn’t lightfast and WILL lighten relatively quickly over time. They’re also very transparent, which means you can only ever get darker. But they blend well. Ultimately, they didn’t make it on the list.

NICETY Acrylic Paint Markers

Note: My acrylic marker favorites tend to change a lot, so this is what it is right now (05/20/26 2:41 pm).

Ref. NICETY Acrylic Paint Markers

Overall Thoughts

🫟 ARTISTRO Pains Markers

ACRYLIC PAINT MARKER

✨ juicy and opaque ⚠️ need to shake before use 🎨 this brand will eventually become my main brand once I use up others

I haven’t had these markers as long as some of the others but it became my favorite quite quickly. I don’t have any other sets besides green at this current moment *(05/20/26 2:49 pm)*, but plan to buy colors as I need them. Once I run out of good pinks, for example, I will get the NICETY pink set.

💡 Tip: If paint seems weird, shake it A LOT before trying again.

Why Favorite?

They have THE best color range.
Direct ink flow means more ink that’s more opaque (and they are quite opaque).
Pretty colors.
Can get individual sets for individual colors, which means I can buy what I need when I need it (though each set is quite large at 32 markers).

Tips & Usage Notes

Shake it, baby, shake it.

Runner Up: ARTISTRO PAINT MARKERS

ARTISTRO makes some of the cheapest paint markers you can get. The colors are vibrant but the cheapness show itself in how transparent this paint is. It often takes multiple layers to get a nice solid coat, and lighter layers appear to never get fully opaque.

Still, they have their use. Sometimes I want transparent. Sometimes they have really nice colors not in other sets. They will probably remain in the rotation no matter which other marker brand is my favorite. I will get more when I run out.

🫟 ARTISTRO Pains Markers

ACRYLIC PAINT MARKER

✨ great colors, transparent when needed ⚠️ needs lots of layers for solid color, sometimes never gets opaque 🎨 best for mixing and using when transparency is the goal

ARTISTRO are a great example of how the cost of art supplies doesn’t have to dicate the quality of your artwork. It takes a little more TLC to get these to look more opaque but the transparency is a benefit sometimes.

💡 Tip: The lighter the color, the more likely it will be transparent.

Prismacolor Premier Soft-Core Colored Pencils

Please refer to the Prismacolor Premier page for more information.

Overall Thoughts

🖍️ Prismacolor Premier

COLORED PENCILS

✨ vibrant, blends well, buttery ⚠️ becomes hard to layer after a few layers are down/burnished 🎨 frequently used for coloring

I had a hard time deciding which colored pencils I liked best. But it’s definitely Prismacolor. These pencils are just so much nicer is saturation than any others. While it’s annoying that layering gets difficult after awhile, the blending is so nice that it makes up for it.

💡 Tip: Can get waxy but a soft brush will help remove it.

Why Favorite?

While I tend to use both Faber-Castell Polychromos and Prismacolor Premier (often at the same time), if I could only do one, it would be Prismacolor because the buttery blending and saturated colors make up for it’s lack of ability to keep a point for long.

Tips & Usage Notes

Light pressure to layer more.
Don’t burnish until you are R-E-A-D-Y.

Runner Up: Faber-Castell Polychromos

Faber-Castell Polychromos are excellent pencils. They do blend well, and best of all, they keep a point for much longer than Prismacolor. Their hardness means they can also create sharper lines too.

Generally, both sets will be used since they combine very well into a nice chromatic fusion, but Polychromos are just not as nice (saturated) and can be harder to blend as the hardness of the lead can cause streakiness if not careful.

🖍️ Faber-Castell Polychromos

COLORED PENCILS

✨ hard lead keeps point and sharp lines ⚠️ not as saturated as I want 🎨 I use these for crisp lines

These are definitely quality pencils and the colors are nice and bright…just not as saturated as, say, Prismacolor. The sharp lines are nice but I often accidentally go too heavy handed and create streaks while color. But it’s really nice that these pencils can layer way more than Prismacolor.

💡 Tip: Super light hand.

Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bombay India Ink

Ref. Bombay India Inks

Overall Thoughts

🫟 DR. PH. MARTIN’S BOMBAY INDIA INK

INK

✨ gorgeous colors that function like watercolor while being permanent ⚠️ can get shiny if used in layers 🎨 drawing, blooming, and writing are all nice with this ink

I love how pigmented India ink is and how well it blooms in water. It mixes well and the colored inks are transparent. This ink has consistently beat out any other inks in terms of final product. They are a great alternative to watercolors as these are permanent once dry.

💡 Tip: Using a brush pen will really give you that watercolor feel.

Why Favorite?

Cleans up SUPER easy with Dawn dish soap.
The blooms are gorgeous. It spreads like granulating watercolors and functions like them too.
The colors are super bright and I consistently prefer how India ink looks to acrylic inks.
Permanent.

Tips & Usage Notes

Wash with dawn dish soap to break down any spilled ink.
I sometimes use this ink with glass pens.

Runner Up: Liquitex Acrylic Inks

Liquitex Acrylic Inks are an excellent runner up. They are very nice and come in a much larger range of colors. These may also be more opaque than colored India inks. I’ve noticed they warp paper less.

They are definitely great as supplementary inks, and they function fine with the India inks, but they are a little too shiny when dry and the bottle itself is easy to spill.

🫟 Liquitex Acrylic Ink

INK

✨ great color range, opaque, and less damaging ⚠️ shiny, sometimes goopy 🎨 I tend to use these when I don’t have a specific color in my India inks

Acrylic inks are easier to get and have a better range of colors. They also look great and are very saturated. Their shininess is relatively mild but thick layers will shine far more than other inks. I’ve spilled half a bottle of black paint on myself that soured me from using the ink a lot. These inks also bloom nice, but not as well as watercolor or India inks.

💡 Tip:

Support Supplies

Overall Thoughts

✧ [SUPPLY NAME]

[CATEGORY TAG]

✨ [pro 1] ⚠️ [con / quirk] 🎨 best for: [use case]

[Your personal notes — why you love it, how it behaves, any stories]

💡 tip: [one piece of practical advice]