Illustration Equipment Archives

Paul Reubens Artist level Youlan series Watercolour box: Review

Posted on 17th March 202412th April 2024 in Illustration Equipment

Paul Rubens artist level YouLan series of solid watercolours is a set of 24 paints in half pans aimed at both amateur and professional artists. I sometimes get asked to trial products by art material manufacturers, so I was pleased to have the chance to give these paints a try. In exchange for my free […] Read more

Watercolour paints: Inside my paint box

Posted on 1st December 202322nd January 2024 in Illustration Equipment

Watercolour paint choice is very personal, and everyone will have their own favourite colours. I have recently been giving the matter more thought as I try to simplify equipment lists for students, and thought I’d share my paint box with you. My paint box in use I also made a guide to the colours I […] Read more

Comparing Synthetic Watercolour Brushes – Part 5 (the final episode!)

Posted on 13th June 202328th July 2023 in Illustration Equipment, Testing Synthetic Watercolour brushes

This is the fifth and final of my blogs and linked films, looking for a synthetic watercolour brush to replace the sable ones made by Winsor & Newton. My Winsor & Newton series 7 number 1 size is the brush I always use. Today I’m reviewing the Escoda Prado Tame synthetic,Escoda Perla White Toray synthetic, […] Read more

Comparing Synthetic Watercolour Brushes – Part 4

Posted on 8th May 202323rd June 2023 in Illustration Equipment, Testing Synthetic Watercolour brushes

Comparing Synthetic Watercolour Brushes – Part 4 is the fourth of my blogs and linked films, questing for a synthetic watercolour brush to replace the sable ones made by Winsor & Newton. My Winsor & Newton series 7 number 1 size is my go-to brush, and has been for years. Today I’m reviewing Bille Showell’s […] Read more

Comparing Synthetic watercolour brushes Part 3

Posted on 1st May 20239th June 2023 in Illustration Equipment, Testing Synthetic Watercolour brushes

This is the third of my blogs (and films, the one specific to this blog is here) trying to find a good synthetic alternative to my beloved Winsor & Newton sable series 7 watercolour brushes. This time I’m trying out the Princeton Neptune round (Series 4570), Jackson’s Icon synthetic Quill S777 10/0, Escoda Versatil round, […] Read more

Paintbrushes: Exploring synthetics Part 2

Posted on 29th March 20228th May 2023 in Illustration Equipment, Testing Synthetic Watercolour brushes

This blog is a follow up to one I wrote a while ago on Paintbrushes, and accompanies the series I’ve done on art equipment. There’s an accompanying Youtube film showing me trialling these four synthetic brushes. In my last blog (and accompanying Youtube film review of brushes ), I ended up recommending Rosemary and Co. […] Read more

Botanical illustration of hawthorn berries y Lizzie with her paintbox

Equipment: Paintbrushes

Posted on 10th September 20218th May 2023 in Illustration Equipment, Illustration techniques, Testing Synthetic Watercolour brushes

Equipment: Paintbrushes is another in the series about what tools I use when I illustrate; so feel free to check out my earlier blogs on what watercolour paper to use, the guest blog on waterproof inks, watercolour paints, pencils and erasers, and another on what science stuff you might need. Paintbrushes As with all of […] Read more

Equipment: Magnifiers and scalpels

Posted on 21st May 2021 in Illustration Equipment, Illustration techniques

In Equipment: Magnifiers and scalpels, I won’t only be looking at these two bits of kit. It’s a quick overview of all the bits and pieces I use to look at and dissect flowers, plants, and animals. It’s one of a series of blogs on equipment which cover watercolour paints, hotpress watercolour paper, waterproof inks, […] Read more

Equipment: Pencils & Erasers

Posted on 19th March 2021 in Illustration Equipment

This is another blog in the series on equipment used. Check out earlier blogs on Waterproof inks, Watercolour papers, Paints and look out for one I’ll soon be publishing on brushes. Personal Preference As mentioned before, choosing your equipment can be quite a personal choice. We develop loyalty to brands and types of drawing tool […] Read more

Equipment: Paints

Posted on 19th February 202119th March 2021 in Illustration Equipment, Illustration techniques

Equipment: Paints is another in my series about materials and equipment used for creating botanical and natural history illustrations. Check out my blogs on which watercolour paper to use, pencils and erasers, and a review of waterproof inks. Future blogs in this series will include one on my paintbrush of choice, one on science stuff […] Read more

Ladybug entomological illustration by Lizzie Harper

Equipment: How to Choose a Waterproof Pen and Ink for Watercolour

Posted on 23rd December 202023rd December 2020 in Illustration Equipment

Equipment: How to Choose a Waterproof Pen and Ink for Watercolour is a guest blog from KT of Goldspot pen shop. Ink and watercolour is a classic, intriguing combination that creates some really amazing effects when accomplished with the right tools. Black outlines define a beautiful watercolour painting that jumps off the page! Fig illustration […] Read more

Botanical Illustration: Comparing HP Watercolour Papers 3

Posted on 20th October 201715th December 2020 in Illustration Equipment, Illustration techniques

Introduction to the watercolour paper quest This is the third of three reviews of Watercolour Hot Press papers for botanical illustration. This time, I find the holy grail…a replacement! Please check out the first and second in this series for more tests and results. As a natural history illustrator and someone who does plenty of botanical illustration, […] Read more

Botanical Illustration: Comparing HP Watercolour Papers 2

Posted on 21st June 201715th December 2020 in Illustration Equipment, Illustration techniques

This is the second of three reviews of watercolour Hot Press papers for botanical illustration. Please check out the first and third in this series for more tests and results! As a botanical illustrator, having a good hot press watercolour paper to work on is really important. Unfortunately, recently the paper I used to use, Fabriano […] Read more

Botanical Illustration: Comparing HP Watercolour Papers 1

Posted on 5th May 201715th December 2020 in Illustration Equipment, Illustration techniques

Hot press water colour papers and botanical illustration This is the first of three reviews of Watercolour Hot Press papers for botanical illustration. Please check out the second and third in this series for more tests and results! As some of you may know, there’s been a bit of a panic in the Botanical illustration […] Read more