January 30, 2026

A Peek into Our Staff’s Toolkits

Retail Specialist Jemma Pereña and Logistics Manager Michael Hoover share the contents of their Art Toolkits and some pages from their sketchbooks!

By The Art Toolkit Team

Two zippered organizer pouches displayed side by side. The left pouch is orange and contains scissors, pens, sticky notes, and a binder clip. The right pouch is black and holds various markers, a small metal box, and a roll of cords. Both pouches feature a strap for carrying.

Jemma Pereña

I have always included art in my life in some shape or form, from taking studio classes in school to (over-)collecting art supplies. I love to create in many different media, including pine needle basketry, dip pen calligraphy, chalkboard signage, lettering, and watercolor.

Art supplies arranged on a white surface, including a black zippered pencil case, assorted colored pencils, pens, a red circular object, a watercolor palette, and an open sketchbook featuring a watercolor landscape of mountains and a lake.
A woman stands on a mountain peak, wearing sunglasses and a hooded jacket. She has a braid and a bandana around her neck, with a stunning landscape of rocky mountains and a clear blue sky in the background.
A miniature diorama depicting a scenic mountain landscape with snow-capped peaks, rolling hills, and a tree displaying autumn foliage. The artwork is housed in a black box, highlighting the layered depth of the scenery.
Three small woven baskets made from natural fibers, resting on a wooden surface. The baskets have round shapes with intricate details in their weaving pattern.

Ever since being gifted a Pocket Palette several years ago, I’ve made a point to carry watercolors and a notebook on every hike in my backpack. Its size and customizability have made it the 11th essential on my many wanderings into the wild, allowing me to more fully absorb and record the natural world.

Working at Art Toolkit and being able to talk about and explore art supplies all day has inspired me to create on a more daily basis. I look forward to seeing where my art journey takes me.

—Jemma, Retail Specialist

A sketchbook opened to two landscape paintings. The left page features mountains and a lake, while the right page showcases a more arid landscape with rolling hills. Three colored pencils, including a white one and a brown one, rest on top of the sketchbook.
Landscape paintings by Jemma.

Jemma’s Supplies

Jemma carries a Black Pocket Art Toolkit which includes the following supplies:

*Currently available in the retail shop only.

A watercolor painting of mountains and trees is displayed beside an open sketchbook featuring a text titled "Our Manifesto." Two paintbrushes are positioned above the sketchbook.
Mountain range painting by Jemma.

Jemma’s Pocket Palette contains the following colors*:

Undersea Green (DS), Green Apatite (DS), Elm Green Gouache (H), Rich Green Gold (DS), Neutral Tint (DS), Cobalt Turquoise Light (WN), Lunar Blue (DS), Titanium White Gouache (WN), Sap Green (DS), Titanium White (DS), Quinacridone Magenta (DS), Pyrrol Red (DS), Shadow Violet (DS), Cobalt Blue (WN), Lemon Yellow Gouache (WN), Yellow Ochre (H), and Burnt Umber (WN).

*Pigments are watercolor unless otherwise specified. DS=Daniel Smith, H=Holbein, WN=Winsor & Newton.

A sketchbook opened to two pages. One page features illustrations of wild plum branches with small green leaves and notes about them. The opposite page depicts sweet peas with delicate pink flowers and additional annotations. A purple pen lies beside the sketchbook.
Jemma’s sketches of wild plum and sweet peas.

Michael Hoover

A young man wearing a red jacket and a black cap stands in a lush forest, surrounded by tall trees and greenery. He has a backpack on and is smiling at the camera.

I love trying all different kinds of art media, forms, and styles. I did a variety of performing arts growing up, and I always liked to draw. Otherwise, I’ve dabbled in a whole lot without mastery, but I love being exposed to something new.

A sketchbook page featuring a pink elephant walking down steps on the left, with green plants in pots. The right side shows a colorful architectural scene with stairs and various buildings in shades of purple and blue.
Sketchbook pages by Michael.

I joined Art Toolkit in May of 2025, after relocating to the peninsula to be closer to family and the great outdoors. I am new to watercolor and have really enjoyed getting to know what I like. My personal favorite tools so far are the Gelly Roll Pens and Pentel Brush Pens, which add dimension without additional paints.

My artistic goal this year is to revisit print photography. I loved doing it in college and have so much more to learn!

—Michael, Logistics Manager

A creative workspace featuring a red organizer filled with art supplies, including pens, markers, watercolors, and scissors. An open sketchbook displays a colorful watercolor painting of a landscape and an abstract design. A color palette and transparent rulers are also visible.

Michael’s Supplies

Michael’s Duotone Desert Pocket Art Toolkit includes the following supplies:

A watercolor sketch split into two scenes. The left side depicts tall pine trees near a lake with distant mountains in the background. The right side shows a desert landscape with rocky cliffs and tall cacti under a bright sky.
Landscape sketches by Michael.

Thank you, Jemma and Michael, for sharing the contents of your Art Toolkits with us! See more from our staff here: Ron and Lexi, Chelsea and Morgan, Lena, Alex, Maria, Darin, Justin, Noah, Renée, Nakaia, and Cole.

What’s inside your Art Toolkit? Tag us on Instagram with your unique sketching tool curations!
An artist sites on a rock, dipping a paintbrush in a Pocket Palette.

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