Hey friends! If you haven't heard the exciting news yet, I am so pumped to share that our Quell Carrier Case is finally here and already heading out to many of you! What started out as a dream, then a sketch, then a mock up and then a reality is now finally here and ready to help each and every one of us break the barriers of art making with organization, portability and ease. You can learn all about the Quell Carrier Case here!
Now, next order of business: To address all the many questions I have received asking "Kaitlyn, what supplies do you recommend keeping in your Quell Case??"
As an artist and art teacher, I know how important it is to have the right tools on hand, whether you’re working in your studio or creating on the go. With the Quell Sketchbook Carrier Case, I’ve been able to keep my favorite art essentials organized and ready, making it easier to dive into projects anytime, anywhere. In this post, I’ll be sharing my favorite types of art supplies that I always keep in my Quell Case. These categories include the versatile basics that cover a wide range of artistic needs! *Note: this blog contains affiliate links.
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1. Sketchbooks
First up, the heart of any artist's toolkit, a good sketchbook is where all the ideas begin. I keep a compact A5 sketchbook (5.5" x 8.5") in my Quell Case for doodles, sketches, even paintings! Having a portable, high-quality sketchbook means I’m never without a space to let my creativity flow, whether it’s capturing a beautiful moment in my surroundings, doodling or writing/ sketching up ideas.
My favorite sketchbooks that I have used and love for easy art making on the go are:
• Stillman and Birn Zeta, Beta, or Delta Sketchbooks. These are my absolute favorite. Seriously any Stillman & Birn sketchbook is amazing, but which one you get just depends on what materials you envision using in it! But the ones I listed above all are heavyweight, yet smooth paper so you can use anything from pencil, to ink and even paint inside!
• Moleskine Sketchbooks. I like this one because again the paper is thick and durable, but you can also check out their watercolor sketchbooks if you'd like to primarily paint with watercolor. (Note though: the watercolor sketchbooks have the spine at the top, so they won't be able to slide through the center piece of elastic in the Quell Case)
• Leuchtturm Sketchbooks: If you want tons of fun cover options, this brand delivers! I will say, these sketchbooks are a bit thicker (almost double the pages as the others) so they fit a bit more snug in the Quell case. They still zip fine, you just might have to be mindful about how many supplies you stock your case with.
• Paperage Sketchbook: these are a few more affordable options with fun colors!
2. Drawing Pencils and Pens
You’ll always find a variety of pencils and pens in my case. I like to have a range of drawing pencils for sketching and shading, from soft graphite pencils to harder leads. Alongside that, I keep fine-liner pens for adding definition, ink drawings, and details. These tools are perfect for anything from rough sketches to final line work.
• Pentel Graphgear 1000 mechanical pencil - I love these pencils, but it's definitely a good idea to get one that comes with back up graphite!
• Faber-Castell PITT artist pens - I love this pack because there are so many pen nib varieties! You have anything from ultra fine to brush tip and anything in between!
• Tombow Fudenosuke Pens - These are my absolute favorite brush tip pens. I love that this pack has one pen thats a little softer, harder and also a soft twin tip!
• Pilot Bravo Marker Pen - This is the juiciest mono line pen/ marker and is sooo fun to draw with! I love!
3. Markers
Markers are one of those supplies that I use to associate with kids. That was until I discovered Tombow Dual brush markers and paint pens! My oh my! Now they are essentials in my travel sketchbook set up. I love creating with color and markers are a must for quick color studies and vibrant illustrations.
• Tombow Dual Brush Pen Set: This is the MEGA of all the tombow sets, and if it's too much (price and product wise) there are several of other smaller sets that you can get. I LOVE these markers so much and they have made my sketchbook practice sky rocket with their ease and portability! They are buildable, almost like watercolors, and have a brush tip and fine line option. 10/10 highly recommend!
• If Paint Pens are more your thing- you can't go wrong with Posca Paint Pens. I like to keep one white Posca paint pen in my case at all times.
4. Paints
Even when I’m out and about, I still paint! No, I'm not dragging around a standing easel and a case of oils, but I have found that I can keep a small, portable watercolor or gouache set fit with me that fits perfectly in the Quell Case. These sets give me the flexibility to add washes of color and experiment with blending techniques. Paired with a water brush pen, this is an easy and mess-free way to bring a painterly feel to my sketches. Here are my favorite sets:
Watercolors: Winsor Newton Travel Watercolor Set Really any of these would work, it just depends on what you are looking for. The Cotman sub-brand of Winsor Newton is geared more towards amateur, where as the professional field set is just that- definitely a higher quality, more pigmented paint set.
You can also check out Schmincke watercolors for professional quality.
Gouache- My favorite art supply of the last 5 years for sure! I use a mix of Winsor Newton gouaches as well as Arteza gouache. To make my gouache easily transportable, I pre-pour them in a small empty palette, and then just reactive them with water when I am ready to use them while out and about. I get questions all the time about what palette I use (because let's be honest, the ceramic and wood combo is just gorgeous) and it's from Nailea Sarait's etsy shop but if you are looking for something a bit cheaper, I found this one on Amazon that is similar, as well as this metal palette with a travel water container!
5. Brushes
Water brushes are fantastic for painting on the go. They sometimes have a little learning curve, but once you get the hang of them they make painting on the go easy as pie. They’re portable, versatile, and great for adding a little extra flair to my artwork when I’m away from the studio.
Pentel Aquash Brush Set: Love this set- especially for the price! They are so portable and easy to use on the go! They do take a little while to get used to, but once you get it- you're golden! Don't forget to keep a small piece of paper towel tucked in your case to clean off your brush!
Travel Brush Set: I personally do not have this set (yet) but it's been on my "want" list for a while!
6. Colored Pencils
For softer color applications and detailed work, colored pencils are another must-have in my Quell Case. They’re easy to carry and perfect for layering or blending to create subtle gradients and texture in my illustrations. I love using them for quick studies or more refined drawings.
Prismacolor Colored Pencils: The quality is superior! They are so creamy and dreamy and opaque over marker, gouache, etc!
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Whew!! I I could probably go on and on forever but for now, I'll stop here :) These are my go-to categories of supplies that I always have on hand in my Quell Sketchbook Carrier Case. Keeping these essentials organized and accessible allows me to create freely and spontaneously wherever I am. Not mention, so many of these materials work amazing together, allowing you to use mixed media without the mess of laying out tons and tons of supplies. Also, I should mention that the only thing better than creating art when I'm out and about is making art side by side with my kids in their own Quell Case. There is so much power in modeling creative habits that now my kids just automatically bring their Quell case wherever we go! Above you can see a picture I snapped of my son and I both making art while we waited for my daughter to finish her dance class. If you are interested in learn more about how you can use your Quell case with kids, and what supplies you can stock it with, check out my blog here.
I hope this blog helped you feel confident in moving forward with your sketchbook and art making journey! Now let's get out there and make some art!
Cheers!
Kaitlyn
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