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Most of the Typism Skills Summit workshops can be completed with simple drawing tools you might already have. Even if the technique is demonstrated on an iPad or with specialised tools, you can usually still participate in the workshop with a simple pencil and paper.
However, if you want to explore the techniques demonstrated in the workshops further, we have asked the speakers to put together this handy list of the items they used and where to buy them online.
TIP: if you’re in Australia, most of these can be bought at Officeworks if Amazon doesn't work for you.
PILOT Parallel Calligraphy Pen Set, 1.5 mm, 2.4 mm, 3.8 mm and 6 mm with Bonus Ink Cartridge
The Pilot Parallel Pen set includes four pens with nib sizes ranging from 1.5mm to 6.0mm, making it perfect for creating crisp, beautiful lettering artwork. Its unique parallel plate design delivers sharper, more refined strokes than traditional calligraphy pens. Plus, you can blend colors by touching the nibs together for stunning gradient effects—ideal for showcasing your calligraphy or lettering art in a creative and eye-catching way.
Used by many of the calligraphers in their workshops.
Rigid Mailers
This package includes 30 rigid mailers measuring 9.25 x 11.75 inches, so be sure to check the quantity and size before purchasing. Made of heavy-duty cardboard, these mailers resist bending and tearing, allowing you to ship items without extra reinforcement. The easy-to-use seal and tear strip ensure secure closure without damaging the contents. Ideal for flat items like envelopes, greeting cards, and magazines, these mailers are perfect for businesses, post offices, and home use. Choose the right size and color to make shipping more convenient!
Suggested by Brittany W-Smith in her workshop.
Liquitex Professional Acrylic Ink
Liquitex presents an inter-mixable acrylic paint that blends beautifully with other Liquitex acrylics and mediums, offering versatility in your lettering expression.
This ultra-fluid permanent acrylic, crafted with high-quality pigments, ensures lightfastness and lasting vibrancy in your lettering and artwork.
Specifically designed for watercolour effects, such as colour blocking and underpainting, this fine art ink works very well with calligraphy pens and brushes.
Canson XL Series Marker Paper
These 9x12 inch pads feature semi-translucent white paper, perfect for drawing or designing from rough sketches to finished forms.
These have 100 sheets in each pad; the fold-over bound sheets are acid-free and are a hefty 18 pounds/70 grams, ensuring durability and quality.
The paper works with various mediums, including pen, pencil, and alcohol or solvent markers, without the risk of the ink bleeding through the paper.
LitEnergy A4 LED Copy Board Light Tracing Box
This affordable light tracing box is designed for easy carrying, featuring a super-slim and lightweight profile with a thickness of only 0.2 inches (about 5mm).
Adjusting the brightness is convenient with a touch switch that allows gradual dimming. The eyesight-protective design incorporates energy-efficient, flicker-free LED lamps, providing a uniformly illuminated surface.
Powered by USB, the tracer light board includes a USB power cable, enabling easy connection to any computer, power bank, or USB adaptor.
These light pads are perfect for tracing or using guidelines underneath your marker paper.
Prismacolor Ebony Sketching Pencil
The jet-black drawing pencil boasts a sleek black matte barrel and features a large core diameter that produces jet-black, extra-smooth lines.
Suggested by many of the speakers.
Pentel Fude Brush Pen
The Pentel brush pen has a nylon brush tip and dye-based inks, making it perfect for calligraphy, painting, and sketching.
Flexible tips allow for the creation of diverse line widths and bold strokes, all in a rich, vivid black colour.
The Pentel Standard brush pens are categorized based on the thickness of their tips, offering versatility for different lettering styles. We recommend you start with a medium.
Posca Paint Markers
Reversible bullet tips allow Posca markers to last twice as long as other markers. To reveal the other side of the tips, pull the bullet nib out to reveal one of two sides, from 1.8mm to 2.5mm.
Posca markers are non-toxic, alcohol-free, waterproof, and lightfast.
Remarkably versatile, they've been professionally tested on over 50 surfaces, including canvas, fabric, acrylic, metal, and more. We love using light colours on dark backgrounds.
Suggested by Brittany W-Smith and Mirage of ink in their lettering workshop.
Fineliner Pens
A pack of fineliner pens in different nib sizes are a staple in every lettering artist's toolkit. We recommend you grab a pack for all kinds of lettering practice.
Any black and blue fine-liner pens will work from any brand.
We recommend starting with 0.5mm if you want to try one pen first, but we like this pack of GETHPENs because it’s affordable and you get a brush pen as well as the fineliners.
Fineliners are used by many of the speakers in their workshops.
Uni-Ball UB 150 Eye Roller Pen
These pens offer a fantastic writing experience, ensuring no skipping, smearing, or stuttering, and they won't bleed through your paper.
The fast-drying ink is specifically designed for everyday use.
They are excellent for everyday writing, lettering practice, journaling, note-taking, sketching, and more.
Pentel Fude Touch Sign Pen
If you are new to brush lettering, finding a good pen to start with can be difficult. The Pentel Fude Touch Sign Pen is a great brush pen because the nib is flexible and easy to use, especially for beginners.
Tracing Paper for Drawing
SuFly's Tracing Paper set includes 75 sheets of high-quality 9 x 12-inch translucent vellum paper, weighing 38 lb/60gsm, designed to resist tearing and curling.
Convenient for a range of lettering sketches, SuFly's trace paper provides clear visibility for easy drawing and tracing with a pencil or pen.
These trace papers come in white and transparent varieties, available individually or in pads.
Suggested by Mirage Of Ink in her workshop.
Apple iPad and Apple Pencil
The addition of the Apple Pencil has made the iPad an essential tool for every lettering artist, especially when combined with the Procreate App.
An iPad is an expensive investment if you buy the latest model, but many of the older models can still be used with the pencil and Procreate.
Suggested by many of the speakers.
Baking Parchment Paper
You can buy any roll of baking paper at your local supermarket, but if you want to have a large number of flat sheets on hand, Katbite offers a set of 200 white baking parchment paper sheets made from 100% natural unbleached wood pulp.
They are pre-cut in convenient 12x16-inch half sheets for easy use without the hassle of curling like a roll of baking paper and are much more affordable than tracing paper.
Glass Frame
This 11x14 natural solid wooden frame is crafted from 100% solid wood, free from formaldehyde, making it an eco-friendly and healthy choice. Featuring a clear, non-reflective plastic panel, it enhances the clarity of your artwork while ensuring safety with its lightweight and durable design. The stylish wood grain texture adds a natural, timeless touch, making it perfect for showcasing your lettering artwork in a home, studio, or gallery. Whether for personal use or as a thoughtful gift, this frame beautifully preserves cherished memories and creative expressions.
Suggested by Mirage Of Ink in her workshop.
Procreate
Procreate and Procreate Dreams are cutting-edge digital apps that transform your iPad into an animation and lettering playground.
Suggested by many of the speakers.
Photoshop
Fire up your imagination with the most powerful Photoshop yet. Get amazing photorealistic results with Generative Fill. And add more picture to your picture with Generative Expand. Now available on iPhone, included in your plan.
Suggested by Lyn Tran and Tara Leslie in her workshop.
Fontself
The easiest way to make fonts. Quickly turn your letterforms into real fonts. Enjoy your custom OpenType files on Mac, PC or iPad.
Suggested by Jimbo Bernaus in his workshop.