Since I work in my studio every single day and use so many supplies, I thought I'd share my favorite tools with you today. I did a similar post a few years ago and some of my favorite supplies are the same as they were back then, but I do have some new things that are an everyday staple for me now.
#1: Princeton Series 3750 Select Synthetic Round brushes from Dick Blick. I generally use the #1, #2, and #3 sizes the most for painting the lettering on my signs. They are very inexpensive and work well in my experience.
#2: Linzer 2" angled paint brush. I buy these from Walmart, and they are very economical. I use these for painting the wood for my ocean paintings and the background of my signs. I'm clearly not very good at keeping them clean, but if they get too stiff, I can easily just buy more because they are so inexpensive.
#3: Heavyweight Canvas from Dick Blick. I don't use canvas as much as I used to, but when I do, I always get the premier, heavyweight kind from Dick Blick. They are nice and thick and have a high-end feel to them. And you can't beat the price when you buy in bulk from Dick Blick.
#4: Canvas tote bags from Amazon. I have a team of people (around 8-12 depending on the time of year) who paint for me at their homes, and I use these tote bags to send them paints and other supplies. They are very handy and inexpensive. Notice a theme here?
#5: Fiskars Paper Trimmer. I use this all the time to trim paper and cards. It comes in handy for so many things. When the blades get dull, I can buy more. I've had the trimmer for many years.
#6: At-A-Glance Weekly Planner. I have tried so many planners and systems, and I think I finally found what works best for me. It is a great size (5.5x8.5), so it fits easily into my purse if I need to take it somewhere. I mostly just need a planner to write a to-do list every day. The specific one I bought isn't available anymore, but here is one very similar. I love that it has a weekly layout and also a full monthly calendar.
Here's a peek inside from a few weeks ago...
#7: Pilot G-2 Pens. I am super picky about the pens I use, and this is my current favorite.
#8: Round white paint palettes. As you can see, they are used heavily and are an everyday staple for me.
#9: Lowe Cornell transfer paper in 18x36. I use transfer paper to create the lettering on my signs, and these large sheets are very useful for larger signs.
10: Small legal pads. I buy stacks of these and use them constantly throughout the day to take notes and make lists. They are small (5x8), so they don't take up much space.
