Bare Necessities

Within three months of urban sketching I've figured out the most lightweight configuration that would keep me happy. With these, I could sketch anywhere without feeling like I'm sacrificing something: a pen with flexible nib that could double as a good writing pen, in blue/sepia/black two brushpens filled with fountain pen inks a white gel/paint pen a pocket sketchbook And that's it! Everything else is secondary. This kit could fit a vest or a jacket, and the only consideration for me to bring a bag is to have a way to carry a water bottle. Maybe one of these days I'll find a bottle bag that fits mine and sling it over the shoulder. The way I choose my inks: they should have enough character to stand on their own, but also mix well for my secret third color. Generally one cool and one warm would do the trick. I try not to overthink this. It's mostly about feelings anyway. I've also leaned into a more relaxed approach: if people keep moving and I couldn't have them hold the pose long…