My essential tools for painting
It’s not only the physical tools I use but the mindsets they allow me to implement that encourage the flow of creativity and invite clarity into my creative process.
My approach is minimalistic and intentional
Working in a monochrome palate along with a minimal selection of tools, offers an opportunity for intentional and thoughtful mark making to build dynamic designs - exploring deeper into my own style and experimenting with textures, bold contrast & soft details.
Having my selection of tools set leaves space in my practice to gather inspiration and explore different concepts and techniques.
My essentials consist of 5 tools - A rigger Brush, A round Brush, Black Ink, Ink Palate & Watercolour Paper (the most important, in my opinion).
Firstly- Brushes. A rigger brush is my go to for pulling long fine lines with precision, accompanied by a round brush that has a slight point at the end for blending and laying down grey wash.
My painting practice is reflection of my tattoo practice - in both I only use black ink. Winsor & Newton Black Indian Ink offers a similar consistency to tattoo ink which is is watered down to various tones of grey wash in concentrations of 90%, 60% and 20%. This creates bold solid black, soft light washes and it is blendable to create spit shades (a traditional method of shading tattoo flash). Ink is only part of the formula for getting smooth shades which leads on to the next tool - paper.
In my opinion paper is the most important tool and will affect your painting process so it is worth spending the money to get the best quality you can. 100% cotton rough grain cold pressed is my go to - usually Arches. A high quality paper offers better durability, allowing you to create smoother, softer shades and gradients without buckling or tearing.
For me, this process invites space for stillness, infusing a part of this ritual into every piece of art. Allowing for clarity, flow & intention in my art practice. By limiting the tools I use, I’m able to expand the amount of exploration and experimentation within those bounds.
From my experience and struggles with decision fatigue & procrastination having a system of tools implemented reduces the friction allowing me to create more frequently & with ease. Whether your style is similar or wildly different this system of ‘minimal & intentional’ may help to remove some of the blocks and offer the same freedom to create more artwork.
