What Pen or Journal should I use?
I often get this question about what’s best for nature journaling.
My answer is that its a personal decision, based on what feels good for you!
The Best supplies are the ones you WILL use!
You can start to nature journal with a pencil and paper. You do NOT need fancy materials.
When I have fancy watercolor paper, I’m less likely to use it! It can become intimidating and might have a fear of wasting the paper. I like a medium quality- so I can freely sketch on it without being precious.
Below, I’ll share what I personally use now, and recommend other supplies I have used that are not too expensive. If you are a teacher looking for class supplies., I share ideas for bulk packs at the end, here.
The Basics:
- You’ll want a bound journal with a hard cover– floppy covers are hard to write on outdoors, unless you have a clipboard.
- It can be book bound or spiral-bound so that the pages stay all together. Note: If you only use graphite pencil the pages may smear in the spiral bound.
- Mixed media paper is my personal preference (its thicker than drawing paper and lighter that watercolor)- I use watercolor for my journals.
- Pencil: You can use a regular yellow wooded #2 pencil or a mechanical pen.
- Nature Journal bag— to carry everything in! I use a shoulder messenger bag, but a bookbag or backpack works too.
Some of the items have Amazon links for your convenience, and I earn from qualifying purchases. I’d suggest trying to find them at your local art supply store to support small businesses.
What I currently use
- My handmade sketchbooks,
- Fountain pen with
- waterproof ink,
- watercolors in a travel tin
- water brush with rag or paper towel to clean brush between colors
![](https://sparkinnature.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/DAY4-2-1-300x225.jpeg)
Handmade sketchbook:
You can make your own by learning from my self-paced online class here.
![](http://sparkinnature.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/IMG_9417-1024x768.jpeg)
Fountain Pen: Lamy Al-star with medium nib, and converter ink cartridge.
This is a set with the pen, converter plus some ink cartridges. I like a medium nib for a thicker line (you can use the pen, holding it so the nib tip is upside down, to get a finer line)– Or you can order one with a different nib.
Nib Size: I like to use the Medium nib for a thicker line. When I use a fine tip, it gets me caught into putting too much detail in my sketches.
This kit comes with a fine nib pen
Carbon waterproof ink in glass bottle.
This bottle lasts a long time! I like that its glass and I can reuse it when its empty. No plastic waste! I draw the ink up with piston cartridge by dipping the pen into the ink bottle.
I draw the ink up with piston cartridge by dipping the pen into the ink bottle.
Waterbrush– Pentel brand
I like this Pentel Aquash brush— I use the Fine Point LARGE tip— this holds enough water to do a large wash of sky without having to load more paint. I find the water reservoir holds quite a bit of water. Be sure to have a cloth or paper towel with you to clean paint off in between colors.
Watercolor: I use Daniel Smith Extra Fine
I make my own watercolor kits by taking an empty tin with half-pans that I fill up with tube watercolor, let dry until solid. When I am painting, I just wet the paint pan with my brush.
You can order one of my kits here.
![](http://sparkinnature.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/IMG_9301-768x1024.jpeg)
To make your own kit, you can order paint below.
Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolors: I love these vibrant pigments! Here is a starter pack:
And to this, I add: Permanent Orange, Hooker’s green, Perlyne Green, Serpentine Genuine, Manganese blue hue, Indanthrone blue, Buff Titanium, Raw Umber, Burnt Sienna Light, Shadow Violet, white gouache.
An economical option: Koi watercolors, 12 colors
I found this was a nice assortment of colors for nature jouranling. You can also add extra half-pans with other paint if you want to have more pre-mixed colors. Add a piece of blue tack to the back to stick in down inside. I do not use the tiny brush that it comes in- I prefer my Pentel Aquash brush.
Other options
Sketchbooks
Mixed media paper is great for pencil, pen and ink, colored pencils, watercolor. Choose a size that is big enough that you have room without getting cramped when drawing, and small enough that you WILL reliable carry it with you!
Canson Mixed Media: 7in x 10in is a good size. I personally use this size paper.
Canson Mixed Media- 5.5in x 8.5 in
Pens
I used to use the following pens, but because there was much waste (you have to throw the entire pen out when the tip broke or ink ran out). I am now using a Fountain Pen with refillable waterproof ink.
Sakura Micron
Here is a nice assorted pack to try out the different tips. I loved using these until I found a more sustainable option in fountain pens.
Copic Mutliliner SP pens:
I liked these sustainable alternative to the Micron pens– They have a Metal barrel, replaceable ink cartridges and replaceable nibs! Black ink. The nib sizes I liked the most were 0.1 and 0.5.
For classroom bulk packs:
Canson Mixed media: Bulk 12 pack of 5.5x 8.5, cost $5.56 each
https://www.michaels.com/12pk-canson-xl-mix-media-pad/MP636862.html
6 pack, 7×10, $6.47 each
https://www.michaels.com/6pk-canson-xl-mix-media-pad/M20003737.html
![](https://sparkinnature.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screen-Shot-2023-10-22-at-3.43.38-PM-150x150.png)
Simple sketchbooks for students in bulk
12 pack -Cover:Brown kraft paper cover about cardstock weight, (USE WITH A CLIPBOARD) with paper that is 21# so it’s like thicker printer paper. (not super thin like other kinds)- you can use ball point pen or pencils.
Roaring Hills Marble Cover notebook–Bulk for student use
Nice, Hard cardboard cover, 50 sheet blank, papers are about like 20# copier paper thickness. You can get this bulk in a case comes to about $2.21 each!