Want to pep up your sketching habit? These 6 pieces of kit, with tips for using them, are my secret weapons. They’re ideal for all sorts of situations, whether you’re a seasoned sketcher or an absolute beginner. Such as…

Want to jump ahead?!

• Kraft Paper

• Drawing pencils

• Mount kits

• Online frames

• Pencil rolls

• Attitude

1 - Kraft Paper

Like traditional parcel paper, this drawing surface is a warm mid-tone, which is easy on the eye, and gives you a timesaving head start for sketching. The slightly ribbed texture ‘grips’ the pencil pigment well, and gives a cool corduroy effect in evenly shaded areas. Kraft paper has a matte and a shiny side (I use the matte side, which picks up the pencil pigment slightly better, but is less easy to erase from) - it’s so cheap you can experiment freely!

Available in 100 sheet pads of different sizes here from Cass Art

2 - Derwent Drawing Pencils

Derwent make these ‘Drawing’ pencils, which I have used for years. They are highly pigmented, and slightly waxy, so they don’t smudge or come off on, say, a cellophane cover. But when lightly applied they can be lifted with a putty rubber. Some colours only get used occasionally, but I order the ones that I get through quicker using Derwent’s handy ‘build your own tin’ feature.

Using the pencils and paper

I usually start with Warm Earth (it’s a close match to the paper, so is great for mapping out shapes inconspicuously), then work out to lighter and darker values from there. For portraits I use ‘Ink Blue’ to reinforce some outlines at the end, and to hatch in a background - the cool blue colour contrasts with any skin or hair colour, so helps offset the main drawing:

There is a great range of warm and cool colours, which I would describe as harmoniously natural earthy hues, equally suited to portraits and landscapes. They can be mixed in layers - I’m particularly fond of using the ‘Ink Blue’ as a sky underlayer, laid down lightly. Blending white over the top makes a surprisingly intense sky colour, by virtue of those strong pigments:

Rather infuriatingly for those of us who can spend weeks on a single piece, when sketching you can casually knock out some of your best work. If you’re in public, it’s a wonderful feeling when someone comments positively on your sketch. Nice presentation can bring out the beauty and truth in a humble drawing. So here are some ideas to package and present your sketches on the spot, and to frame them economically (should you get home from your expedition and discover a gem languishing in that sketchbook!)…

3 - Mount Kits

Brampton Picture Framing do these really practical, good value mount kits. They can be cut bespoke, but I like to buy them in standard size packs. They include a sturdy self-seal cellophane bag, good quality Larson-Juhl mounts (computer cut), and a piece of Larson-Juhl backing board. These kits are great for quickly packing the portraits up, they look really professional. They’re also perfect for presenting unframed work in browsers at events like Open Studios.

Using the Mount Kits

In preparation for a professional sketching event I tape a sheet of Kraft paper carefully (absolutely central) to each kit backing board, and put my brand stickers on the outside back of each kit cellophane bag. When I’m sketching, I use the backing board as a drawing board, with the paper already stuck to it. Then when the sketch is finished, I simply lay a kit mount card on top to ‘frame’ it, and put them sandwiched together into the bag. I pop a Certificate Of Authenticity inside, and seal it closed with the adhesive strip, so it is neat, protected and looks the part for handing to the client.

Thanks to photographer Sue Nitti (find Sue on instagram and on Facebook) for the wonderful action photos of me

4 - Online frames in standard sizes

The advantage of using standard paper sizes is that you can buy (or keep a small stock of) standard frames that match perfectly. Personally I like the constraint of having a ‘regular’ paper size, it is a gentle challenge to plan the composition to sit well within the bounds of the page, and has taught me the discipline to avoid ‘scope creep’.

The Frame Company are great to deal with, reliable, and I love their Campbell warm grey frames. For white frames I use the Franklin moulding. Both are made from sustainably sourced pine. You can optionally order mount card with the frames. There are plenty different mouldings, and custom sizes available if needed.

I keep a small stock in the following sizes:

5 - The personal touch

Most artists have one or two beloved unique tools that have been made by, or inherited from, their ‘art family’. Pencil rolls keep your pencils safe and organised, with room for different bits and bobs. Mine was a handmade gift from my daughter (she’s not taking commissions!), but I absolutely love the independent company Pajama Pantry, who sell Artist Rolls like these, handmade using offcuts in a constantly updated choice of fabrics.

6 - Positivity

For pressure-free sketching you need reliable materials that don’t cost the earth. You can grab them at a moment’s notice, knowing you haven’t risked too much if it doesn’t work out. I find this happy, ‘abundant’ mindset is a key ingredient on any sketching expedition. So ditch the monkey on your shoulder, perch yourself on a convenient tuffet, get in the zone and churn them out - just remember to set an alarm in case you get carried away!