Prismacolor portrait set (eBay)

I purchased these 22 portrait set pencils of eBay for $20 AUD.

Some colours give off a chalky look so I suggest you purchase a colourless blending pencil to soften the colours.

The top half has not been blended with the colourless pencil, but the bottom half has it's not noticeable in the lighter colours but makes a big difference in the darker shades.

My most used colour in portraits, "light peach" varies with pressure more than the other colours seem to.

Unlike Derwent/Polychromos pencils these leads are easily broken and require a lot of sharpening, the blacks seem to need to most sharpening even with the same usage as the other colours.

Overall a good set for the price and for people starting out drawing but not a wide enough range for professional artists.

Sofft Panpastel tools.

I was in my local art shop and they had a one of supply of Panpastel tools (Sofft tools) which in Australia is extremely rare, So I picked up this oval set for $4.90 AUD.

If your using Panpastels you definitely need the Sofft tools they are partly what makes the product so unique, eBay art products sellers stock Panpastel products but are usually expensive so head down to a local art shop or look at online shops.

Unlike the actual Panpastels the tools don't come with any storage containers or covers so I store mine in a transparent acrylic box.

My favourite brushes.

The flat and round brushes I use most. Both synthetic #4.

I acrylic tube I kept from chocolates proved to be a great holder for those delicate little brushes, currently holding my to favourite large detail brushes.

My Mont Marte taklon detailer in #1 was only a few dollars yet proved to be a great brush for travelling, I use it with watercolour more than other paints. 

One of my favourite brushes for fabric painting, I use a taklon round brush in #5.

Mechanical Pencils, better than any pencil.

I use Staedtler  for all my 0.5mm mechanical pencils 

Tradition 0.5mm mechanical pencil, 2H lead.

Mars Micro 0.5mm mechanical pencil, HB lead.

'Maries' mechanical pencil with 6mm lead in 6B.

I always rely on mechanical pencils for drawing, I love taking them travelling and to use in my studio. I'm extremely heavy handed when I draw either breaking leads or re-sharpening them every minute, when i use mechanical pencils I love how long they last and the pencil holds them in so well. I would recommend Staedtler mechanical pencils and wood less graphite pencils, Mont Marte make wood less pencils in 8 pack which are better quality and cheaper than any other.

Prismacolor Verithin review.

I was wanting to buy a large set of Prismacolor Verithins so i purchased a single black pencil to test the product first, I was amazed definitely worth the hype, I've recently been using Derwent Colorsoft which are great but not practical for details in eyes or flowers as they act like pastel pencils giving off dust and a wide spread of colour. Definitely recommend to anyone wanting to buy a large pack of artist (expensive) pencils to buy a single or small (6-12pack) first of colours you know you would use, which for me is black and primary colours. I'm waiting on some Faber Castell Polychromos hopefully they live up to the hype as well.