I thought some of you might be interested to know what I use in my art. Inspired by repeatedly typing in my "TD," or "Technical Details," for each submission.
My work surfaces tend to be plain white printer paper or bright white cardstock, though I've dabbled with illustration board and have some saved for fancy projects. I also draw in various sketchbooks, but my current scanner is waaaaay too sensitive (it's calibrated for photographs), and thus picks up the paper texture no matter how much ink or colored pencil is on top of it, resulting in crisp, jaggy lines and random flecks of white. I have to scan at 2400 or 3600 dpi (yes, really) to give myself enough working room to clean up a bit and shrink it down to blur the lines back into something respectable. It scans photos awesomely, though, so we have a love-hate relationship.
For basic drawing, I use a plain ol' .5 mechanical pencil, with the standard HB lead you can get at any office supply store. I find it works great for most everything, can shade quite nicely with practice, and leaves wonderfully light lines for the purpose of inking over (I'm sorely lacking in a lightbox right now). Sometimes I break out my slightly fancier graphite pencils in varying hardnesses for sketchy work, but I don't usually do full pencil renderings that a mechanical pencil can't tackle.
For inking, I'm slowly working my way through the last of my Staedtler "pigment liner" pens, though they're not the only ones I use. I've used Faber-Castell pens before, which are lovely, and have some Sakura Microns I'm pulling out as the Staedtlers give up the ghost. If it leaves a good lightfast, waterfast line, I generally like it. I still need to get my hands on some fine-tipped grey pens, though. I've also got some colored .05 Sakuras that I use when I'm going to be coloring with pencils rather than digitally, and need lines to be something other than black.
My traditional coloring media run a wide gamut of brands, most of them on the cheap end of the scale. I can't really afford to buy fancy art supplies when I can do almost as well with cheap stuff. I blame being a graduate with student loans, two children, and a husband still in school. That, and I'm cheap as all get out.
Prismacolor colored pencils are lovely, but Crayolas work pretty well, and Kodaks aren't too bad (have a few random ones I found lying around my parents' house). Stay away from RoseArt, though. They're BAAAAAAAAAAAAAD. My only markers right now are Crayolas I bought for simple projects, rather than fancy arting. I want some nice markers someday, but need recommendations for ones that won't be too expensive to get.
Up until little over two years ago, my paints were acrylic craft paints from Walmart that I bought for crafts (surprise), rather than fancy painting. Then my husband got me Prang watercolors for Christmas, which work nicely. I bought some Sargeant watercolors through Oriental Trading, mostly because they offered refills through the website, but the pigments seem to be chalkier, so I'll be going back to Prang. (I found a few places that will let me order Prang refills.)
Digitally, I used to use PaintShop Pro (versions 4, 7, 8, and 9) before getting my hands on Adobe CS2, which I now use (Illustrator's LiveTrace function, with Photoshop for just about everything else). I have an old copy of Painter that came with my tablet, which I use occasionally for practice, but the controls feel clunky and I don't quite know how to use it yet, and don't have time to play with it right now. Maybe someday.
On the crafty front, I have to say I really like
the Oriental Trading Company. That's where I get my blank folding fans, and where I've also gotten photo keychains (to put art in) and badge sleeves with clips, not to mention the above-mentioned watercolors. They've got other do-it-yourself projects that look like they'd be fun to make and sell, and at some point I'll get around to getting some of them. I also use Sculpey and have plans to play around with Shrinky-Dinks once I get some. I like beading, though I'm nowhere near as talented as my friend ~
shadrach-anki, and scrapbooking interests me in a peripheral sort of way. I also do small textile work, making the occasional costume for myself as well as small stuffed toys.
Oh, and I have a box full of all sorts of random computer components that I eventually plan to use to make little robot figurines or chess pieces or something.
We shall see.
And that's about it, I think. So what do you use?
Current Major Project: Finishing OC100 and other small projects
Commission Status: 
Open
Commission Details
Art Feature
. She chose five of my pieces to feature in her journal, so I'm returning the favor with five of her pieces featured in mine. Due to lack of a subscription, I'll have to settle for links. Go check her art out anyway. 
Optimism
Sociable
Eager
Open, but non-digital only (for now) 
Stuck
