A lot of people ask me what I use for my workshops and business in general. So now here’s a very comprehensive list. From ink, to paper, to email service provider. Even my website host. I’m giving you everything I got. I’m literally showing you my ways.
But…
Please know that some of these products give me some love if you buy them using my links (I mean money, as I’m an affiliate partner, and I’m also an Amazon Associate). But also know I PERSONALLY use everything that’s on this list.
Let’s begin.
Learn
I’d like to start with the platform that helped me learn almost everything I know. This includes the art and the business aspects of my business. be a member and watch as many classes as you’d like. Learn a brad new skill, or just improve one you already know and do. You can even teach on Skillshare as you progress with your craft.
Skillshare
You can either sign up for a whole year and get 30% off right away, or you can try it out for 30 days free. Offers cannot be combined. Either way, I’m confident you will enjoy your time being a Skillshare member.
Calligraphy
Nib
There are SEVERAL nibs I have used throughout the years. My go to is always a G nib. This one is the Nikko G and I used that one for all my client work. If you’re just getting started, give this one a shot. If Nikko G is not available, then go for Zebra G. Same thing.
Pen holder
I write with an oblique pen, and I bought mine from Etsy. It came all the way from Turkey and it took a month to arrive. If you’re looking to get something inexpensive you can always go for Speedball straight pen. I recommend you buy them from Paper and Ink Art. Or you can buy my favorite straight pen with a very comfortable cork grip from Amazon below.
Paper
The best paper to practice is laser jet printing paper. It’s the smoothest paper and the best one to practice. If you’re looking for a note pad, try Rhodia. You can find that blank, dotted, graph, and lined. They also have different sizes, so make sure to check that before buying. The bigger the notepad, the more they cost.
Ink
Black ink is all you need when you’re starting out. But if you’d like to explore, be warned that you will get addicted into trying all sorts of colors and effects.
Engraving
I personally use the professional engraver from Inkmethis. However, if you’re just getting started and don’t want to spend $300+ for a machine, you can find really great ones on Amazon. You can find the engraver that I use HERE. Or check out the very well recommended one from my fellow calligraphers below.
Bottle Painting
Paint
Arteza. Here you can find so many products and their craft paint of excellent quality. I use a mix of brands, and Arteza is definetly one of them in my tool box. You can get their products using my unique link HERE .
Or you cna also buy FolkArt on Amazon. Below is the best deal I have found.
Brush sets
Again, you can buy a multi-media (acrylics/watercolor) on Amazon or at your local craft store. But if you’d like to splurge a little you can check out the sets below:
Arteza: they have a great set, just click HERE to check them out.
Business Stuff!
Are you gearing up to open your own little art business? The keep reading! Here are the tools I use:
Best email tool:
Flodesk. If you are launching your business you probably need to work on your email list. Flodesk is my go to and has been for several years (I started with their Beta account!!). I moved from Mailchimp because it wasn’t easy to navigate and the more subscribers I got, the more I had to pay.
Flodesk has ONE price. You can have 10 names on your list or 5 million. Still-the-same-price. PLUS their email designs are just a big bonus (so gorgeous). You can design yours from scratch or you can use their templates (or a mix of the 2!).
To get 50% off from your first year of membership just click HERE .
WordPress Hosting Platform:
Namecheap
If you are now starting to build your website, chances are you have heard of WordPress. A WordPress site is free if you know a lot about building your own (I don’t). So I host mine with Namecheap. My website is FAST and their customer service is awesome. Their price is competitive, and the first years is even better.
To check out their current plans and sign up, click HERE .