My Favourite Tools & Studio Materials
People are often surprised by the variety of tools I use — some traditional, others completely improvised. That’s the beauty of mixed media: the freedom to experiment with what feels right.
In this post, I’m sharing a few of the tools and materials I return to again and again — the ones that have become quiet companions in my creative process.
Paints & Pigments
I mainly work with acrylic paint, as it dries quickly and allows for layering. I also use gouache and watercolour when I want something more delicate or transparent. Occasionally, I’ll mix my own pigments or use glazes to create subtle shifts in tone.
Brands I trust: Golden, Liquitex, Winsor & Newton
Textures I love: matte mediums, crackle paste, light modelling paste
Drawing Tools
Marks are essential to my work — they add structure, energy, and a kind of raw honesty.
Charcoal (for expressive, smudgy linework)
Graphite sticks & mechanical pencils (for fine, intentional detail)
Oil pastels & Conté crayons (when I want a waxy, broken texture)
Collage Materials
I create and collect all sorts of collage papers — many of them hand-painted or printed in the studio. I also use:
Old book pages, tracing paper, tissue, rice paper
Vintage envelopes, music sheets, receipts
Fabric scraps, thread, and sometimes wax or stitch
Brushes, Knives & Tools
A mix of soft and bristly brushes for contrast
Palette knives for scraping and layering
Old credit cards, clay tools, rags, sponges — anything that can make a mark or remove one
I’m not precious about tools. If it leaves an interesting trace, I’ll try it.
Paper & Surfaces
I often work on paper rather than canvas — especially when travelling or working quickly. My favourites are:
Heavyweight watercolour paper (300gsm or above)
Khadi papers (handmade, beautifully textured)
Wood panels when I want something rigid and sculptural
The Studio Itself
My studio is a quiet, sometimes chaotic place. I need room to move, step back, make mess, and reflect. Music, silence, the hum of a kettle — these things matter too. The environment is part of the process.
Final Thoughts
Over time, I’ve learnt that tools are just extensions of instinct. The right brush, the right paper — they allow something to happen. But it’s the dialogue between material and memory that gives each piece life.