One of the questions I get asked most often is what tools I use for my visual thinking work. So I thought I’d share three of my favorites — a marker, a pen, and a sketchbook — each suited to a different scale of work.
The Marker: Sakura Permapaque
Some folks have been asking about the particular marker that shows up in a lot of my videos. It’s called the Permapaque, made by Sakura, and it’s my favorite for medium and large scale sketching.
Part of the reason I like it is the dual tips. On one end you’ve got a rounded point for smaller, more detailed marks. On the other end there’s a chisel tip for thicker lines. So with this single marker I can do big and bold titles with the chisel tip, medium headers with the smaller edge of the chisel tip, and detailed drawing and writing with the rounded point. From titles to headers to details — you’ve got a lot of flexibility in one tool.
They are a bit expensive — I think around $3 or $4 each — and they can be a little hard to find. I usually get mine from Blick Art Supply and pick up 10 or 20 at a time. Each one does last quite a while, though.
So if you do medium or large scale visual thinking work, you might enjoy checking out this tool.
The Pen: Pentel EnerGel (0.7mm)
This time we’re going small scale with the Pentel EnerGel — metal tip, 0.7mm ball. It’s got liquid gel ink that flows really smoothly on the page.
I use it for index card notes, for writing on legal pads, and for chapter summaries when I’m done reading a good book. Anything from about a standard page size or smaller, this pen is my go-to.
It has refillable ink cartridges so you don’t have to keep buying the whole pen every time. It’s got some good grip built in, and a clicker in case you need a little bit of fidgeting. I find it to be a sturdy, reliable tool.
You can do good work with any pen or marker, but the next time you run out and need a new one, give this a try.
The Sketchbook: Strathmore 300 Series Drawing Pad
This drawing pad is made by Strathmore — it’s the 300 series. Nine by twelve inches, 70-pound paper, 50 sheets per spiral notebook.
If you want to use it as a journal you can keep all of the pages bound, but what I typically do is pull pages out, tear off the frayed bits from the spiral, and use them as individual sheets. I actually prefer the 9×12 size compared to standard 8.5×11 printer paper — it gives you just a bit more room to work with.
I’ve used this format for chapter sketchnotes when I finish reading a book and go back through to break down the key ideas from each section. I also use it during the live Q&A workshops that I host, capturing one topic or one question at a time on each page. And I use it in conjunction with the Pentel EnerGel 0.7mm metal tip pen I mentioned above.
The 70-pound paper has the right amount of thickness and sturdiness to know that your work will last for a long time. It’s also got a nice thick cardboard back, which is great if you’re using it on the go and need a solid surface on which to sketch.
So if you’re on the lookout for a medium-sized visual thinking surface, I recommend these Strathmore drawing notebooks.
For more on using tools like these to sketch out the ideas you’re learning, the problems you’re solving, and the things you want to communicate with others, check out our library of courses.
Happy sketching,
-Doug