FAQs

Do you take requests for your Draw Tip Tuesdays?

I am open to your suggestions. In fact, I am curious about your needs! You can email me via the contact form on this website. If your request is something I can explain within the 4-8 minute video format, I add it on my DTT wishlist., . Just send me an email, reply to a blogged Draw Tip Tuesday or leave a comment below one of the Draw Tip Tuesday videos on YouTube.

Where did you get that tiny watercolor box?

It’s a vintage Windsor and Newton. But you can’t buy it anywhere, because they don’t make these anymore. It’s very precious to me as it used to belong to my grandfather who was a painter and an artist.

What is your favorite pen?

I’ll suddenly fall in love with a pen and then it’ll be the favorite of the month or year.

I like to use fountain pens, because you can choose what ink to fill them with and you don’t need to throw them away as they never run out. The Sailor Fountain pen with calligraphy nib makes me happy. It has a bent nib, which allows a more loose and bold style. For a clean and crisp line, I like using a Lamy Safari pen (I use nib sizes b and m), for which I use a converter which is refillable. You can swap out the nibs if you want to try different sizes. Another favorite is the TWSBI Eco fountain pen. It has a piston system, so it keeps more ink. The flow of the nib is smooth and luscious. Not a fountain pen but a really great and reliable pen with water-resistant ink is the Uniball rollerball pen (size: 1mm). Very reliable and a wonderful constant flow of ink! All these pens are quite affordable too.

What ink do you use to combine with watercolors?

Make sure to buy a waterproof ink that is suitable for fountain pens. These are the brands I use to refill my ink converters: 

• Platinum Carbon ink, my favorite pitch black ink).

• DeAtramentis Document ink (comes in a variety of colors)

• Rohrer & Klingner “Sketchink” (comes in a variety of colors)

• Super5 (I like their grey ink)

Which paints do you use in your watercolor box?

I fill my watercolour box with watercolours from tubes. Currently I use Daniel Smith’s watercolor paint:

I would like to create an art habit or routine. What do you suggest? Tips?

Good for you! The only way to get started and to keep going is by doing it. 

Keep a sketchbook, and keep it near to you, along with your favorite drawing tool(s). Draw every day, even if it’s just 5 minutes. You can do it! If you need ideas, you can take up a theme for some time (for example draw a selfie every day, draw a meal a day, draw a book cover every day, draw your feet…), join a drawing challenge on social media, like a 30-day challenge. 

Stick to it for at least one month – do it religiously each day. That will get you into the habit. You’ll find out about favorites and ‘go-tos’, and you will get new ideas. And after maybe ‘forcing’ the fun habit upon yourself, you’ll get attached to it. You won’t want to stop after that month, and keep going. Because drawing makes you happy. Don’t miss out on that because some other things in daily life seem more important but they aren’t!