PIXELREASON TOOLBOX

In this section, I'll be showing you guys the tools that I use to create the artwork
you see on this website and on the PixelReason YouTube Channel

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PENCIL



Number 2 pencil (Technical hardness is: HB). Some pencils (softer pencils) are good for shading , some (harder pencils) are good for line art. The number 2 pencil is pretty much right in the middle (but slightly softer). One of the main reasons why I like it is that if you go too far on either end of the lead-hardness spectrum, the lead is usually hard to erase completely. Too soft and it's all "mucked" into the paper. Too hard and it's practically etched into the paper.

Usually I like a little softer lead for fooling around and basic sketching because of the feel of the pencil and that I can vary line thickness and shading better. The only time I'll use a hard lead is if I want to pre-sketch a large drawing quickly. Then I will go in with the softer (darker) pencil afterwards (I will be posting a video showing an example of this sometime in the near future).

You can buy the good old number 2 pencil anywhere (supermarket, office supply store, steal it from a little elementary school kid... kidding kidding!).

*TIP: Most Number 2 pencils are pretty much all the same. The only thing to watch out for is the eraser on the top. Once in a rare while, I've found bad number 2 pencils that have bad "rubbery" erasers that smear the lead a little when trying to erase. This is usually on the novelty pencils (cartoon character themed, etc.) but it really does seem to be random. So you can still buy that Finding Nemo pencil. Just take a look at the eraser first ;)

CAMERA
 
Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX7

This is the camera that I use to film my YouTube videos. I shoot the videos in 1080p HD in movie mode. This camera has continuous auto focus, great image sensor, about double the battery life of other similar cameras and so many other great features that I chose to use this over my Canon HD camcorder since I can just put the LX7 in my bag and then record my drawings on the go. 

*For my videos that only go up to 720p, they were filmed with a Panasonic Lumix LX5. 1080p videos were filmed with this Panasonic Lumix LX7. 

BRUSHES 


I only mainly use 2 brushes  (Both brushes are sable/synthetic blends.).

 WINSOR & NEWTON Sceptre Gold II Brush 2 this is the smaller brush for the details.

WINSOR & NEWTON Sceptre Gold II Brush 8 flat 505 this is the larger brush for the large areas of the painting.

PAINT

 
Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolour 6 Tube Set
The set contains the following colors: Cadmium Yellow Hue, Cadmium Red Pale Hue, Ultramarine, Viridian Hue, Burnt Umber, Ivory Black.

I also use a tube of Chinese White and Burnt Sienna (bought separately). 

I like to keep a limited palette of paint to start from. It forces you to not be lazy as a painter. You can have any color you want, but you'll have to figure out exactly the right shade you want. 

PAPER

Strathmore 500 Series Bristol Board and Pads - 11 x 14, 2-ply, 15 Sheet Pad, Vellum
I hate "bumpy" paper. There's certain times that paper with more texture (more "teeth") is good, but I've yet to run into those times. I like my paper as smooth as possible. So when I decided to use watercolor, I still wanted my paper to be as smooth as possible but still be able to handle getting wet (and not buckle or get super "wavy"). This paper stayed strong, smooth, and was pretty much exactly what I was looking for. There's some paper out there that is probably even better, but the reason why I like this one is because it comes in a pad of 15 sheets (instead of having to buy a giant single sheet of paper and having to get it cut into smaller sizes) and because for the price, it really can't be beat.