My Urban Sketching Tools

It's time for an update on what I carry with me when I go out, even if it's not to sketch or watercolour... because I'll never know when there'll be an opportunity. :)
🎒 M Y G E A R
Everything I use:
kit.co/alvinmark
0:00 Intro
0:31 When it was new
1:00 Sketch Inks
1:58 My Sketch Tools
4:10 My Watercolour Kit
7:27 Extra Pen Brushes
8:27 Sketching Paper
Join artist Alvin on his Sketching Singapore series during his journeys around the entire island of Singapore. In every episode, Alvin shares painting tips and drop anecdotes about the location he paints at. It’s a fun way to explore the other side of the tropical isle.
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F O L L O W A L V I N
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👨🏾‍🎨 W E B S I T E
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↩️ P R E V I O U S V I D E O: • Sketching inside the O...
#UrbanSketching #sketchtools #urbansketchers

[@SerenaLewis]

Cool use for the bottle cap. Thanks for sharing your sketch kit with us, Alvin. I'm one of those who can never decide what I'll need so I end up taking way more than I need. lol I love the Moleskine watercolour books. I do think, like Larry said, that a lot of people get confused between the Moleskine Watercolour and the Moleskine Sketchbooks. Their sketchbook is not meant for watercolours as it does have a smooth, resistant surface...a bit like smooth card-stock. However, I have used watercolour in their sketchbooks but the paint doesn't blend well. You can't use typical watercolour techniques in their sketchbook but their watercolour notebooks are specifically designed for watercolours. :)

[@AlvinMarkArt]

I’m always trying to make more compact. :) we are never satisfied 😆 I remembered Francis Theo telling me about how the A4 watercolour Sketchbooks are waxy. And I remembered experiencing it too, where the water molecule would not be absorb. This was during my time in Italy. After my return, when I ordered, no more of that waxy feel.

[@SerenaLewis]

@@AlvinMarkArt That's interesting. I've never had the waxy issue with the Moleskine watercolour books...since I started using them anyway. Perhaps they may have even changed the composition at some point.

[@AlvinMarkArt]

@@SerenaLewis good point. So the only time I had issues was during my time in Italy. After, when I got back and ordered via BD, it was ok.

[@thesketchingsisters]

Thanks Alvin - I want to try and get out more and start urban sketching, so it’s great to see what you take out with you… a good reminder to keep it simple!!

[@AlvinMarkArt]

Thanks for checking in, Emma. I hope the little Sketching on the Move instruction kit helped.

[@nattyw495]

I love seeing others artists supplies that they use alo I find it interesting to see the container they carry their art supplies in

[@AlvinMarkArt]

Thank you for watching 😊

[@dilipsamarasinghe778]

It is practical. Just the right amount of art supplies. I would be a little shy to carry a pencil case like that one but nothing wrong with its quality.

[@AlvinMarkArt]

It works for me :)

[@DanilaAbramenkovArt]

Cool tool you have)) have a happy painting😉

[@AlvinMarkArt]

Thank you, Dan! You too :)

[@Doitnow7]

.good 🎒bag very interesting 👍

[@AlvinMarkArt]

Thanks for watching ! :)

[@genekirkham2704]

kaco makes a extra long cartridge international size. I refill these with a hipo needle you can get from local pharmacy. Get large one. This gives great ink supple and you can keep same pen.

[@AlvinMarkArt]

Yes, I do have a large syringe for ink transfers into my brush pen.

[@Mochicchino]

♥

[@AlvinMarkArt]

Thanks for tuning in 😊

[@stephanieng5702]

To infinity and beyond!

[@AlvinMarkArt]

Up up and away... 😊

[@annhoung9800]

the case is cute :)

[@AlvinMarkArt]

I love it... I travel in it to my sketching adventures :)

[@durgasarvepalli7164]

Wow...Alvin..I am still surprised that you use the same tools ..since the last video was posted..🤩.from that I tried my best to pare down my urban sketching kit...but it never happened . I start with one round brush and one black ink fountain pen, then I want sepia pen, then a dagger and flat brush, then a liner , white uniball pen, then pigment fine liners for backup...and the list goes on ...I hope I can pared down like you some day..😭

[@AlvinMarkArt]

As long as it works... I am looking forward a transparent pen barrel that can hold x3 the amount of ink. Thank you for sharing your kit with me. It is an endless journey to stay compact. 😊

[@cazkiwinz4300]

That’s how I started... buying this pen, that brush, those inks.... now I have 2 craft rooms full of stuff..... 😂 Soooooo not handy to carry around but now I just sit in my rooms and stare at all my awesome stuff.....not drawing..just staring 😂😂😂 I found out you can have all the tools... but they don’t work without the talent and I haven’t found where to buy or download that from yet 😜🤪

[@OneTrueWord1988]

@@cazkiwinz4300 😅😂😊

[@MrsBarnabas]

@Durga Sarvepalli: I think the problem with wanting more and more brushes is because we don't learn how to use a 'basic' round brush to its full potential. Buying and learning all the potential of a _good_ round brush will replace your dagger (and almost all other brush shapes!). Having a good point will eliminate the need for a liner brush, too, and investing in one will save you hassle, frustration, time and money as well as space, in the long run. I haven't yet managed to discard my flat yet, though I've tried over 26 years of painting plein air! 😄 It's also fun to limit ourselves to one pigment fine liner, and change the colour according to where we are going (as Alvin does with his brush pens - I've not seen anyone else do that - they usually take several.). However, the problem I have is that I used to take out two lots of people each week for landscape pastoral painting, and always had a second set of everything, because someone always, without fail, forgot something! I can't break that habit if I'm going out for the full day, and end up pulling a shopping caddy loaded with that second set as well as my own full plein air kit! 😄 (Since I moved here, though, I'm making the transition from country to urban work, as fuel prices and environment concerns stop me from using the car now I'm (currently) by myself. Hence the need for the shopping caddie for the kit + lunch, etc). Anyway, hopefully something here will help. 😊

[@larrymarshall9454]

Hi Alvin. The Moleskine you showed looks like one of their watercolour "albums." That's not the series people say is waxy. Those are the Sketchbook series, which also have thinner paper than the watercolour albums.

[@AlvinMarkArt]

Thanks for the input, Larry. I've heard someone telling me that the A4 folios that I am using is waxy. But I love them anyways. I think it's a matter of control.

[@larrymarshall9454]

@@AlvinMarkArt There is so much confusion because people just say "I use a Moleskine" that maybe your someone was confused. I've never heard anyone who states clearly that they're using the watercolor books who has said they are waxy. I certainly haven't found that to be the case.

[@genekirkham2704]

on us amazon US $9.90 called Kaco Dawn. Measures 2 1/2 inch and I have same pen. Also the green Sailor.

[@AlvinMarkArt]

This is good to know!! Thank you :)

[@R_H21]

In this video, you said when you travel, you might bring certain brush pens, ie, Japan - red; UK, red and ultramarine blue. Just curious, when you come to the U.S., what color(s) would you bring?

[@AlvinMarkArt]

For the brush pen, black, blue and red 😊

[@jemini7353]

What version of jinhhao pen is that?

[@AlvinMarkArt]

Thank you for sharing this... I’m looking forward a larger barrel to fill more ink. Ink flow on my nib has been good, but no harm fir me to try the jowo and see what type of magic it produces!

[@AlvinMarkArt]

Here's a link for it: kit.co/alvinmark/gear-for-urban-sketching/jinhao-nature-rose-w

[@AlvinMarkArt]

@@ellievanderheide1926 thank you for the link. I appreciate this. Will check their website soon. 😊

[@phisquared6187]

But ... but ... but ... where's the folding chair, umbrella, wheelie trolley to put them in, artist apron, spare tubes of paint, LUNCH?? :-)

[@AlvinMarkArt]

Ahhh... yes. That's in part 2: What I do with my interns.

[@MrsBarnabas]

@@AlvinMarkArt 😄

[@ms.marvelous7019]

My favorite part about this is the coolest pencil case ever 🚀

[@AlvinMarkArt]

Please note that in real-life, it doesn't fly. Otherwise, I 'd have to be buying new cases every now and then. 😅

[@gwenhutson]

Loved your suggestions. Music is distracting

[@AlvinMarkArt]

Noted, thanks for the feedback