Drawing Supplies for the Beginner

So, you want to start drawing but aren't sure what kind of supplies you need?

Well, you've come to the right place. Honestly, you don't need many supplies to start out. A few pencils, a good eraser, and paper will do the trick. I'll list some of the supplies I use, but by no means is that a definitive list. Some people prefer one material over the other, so make sure to experiment.

Pencils - One of the first things you'll need, obviously, is a pencil. Now, for a beginner, a regular wooden pencil will do just fine, but if you want to take your drawings to the next step, you'll want different ranges of leads. The softer the lead, the darker the line will be. Lead usually starts at 8B (softest/darkest) and goes to 6H(hardest/lightest). I'm sure you can find harder or softer leads, but these will be more than enough. In fact, I usually don't go below 6B or above 4H. So, make sure to get a range of leads to accomodate for the different shades in a drawing. It will really make your drawing come to life.

As a side note, I use clutch pencils with 5mm leads. This is more comfortable for me and makes it easier to change leads. It depends what you get comfortable with. I would recommend you give it a try as you become more comfortable with drawing.

Erasers - So, you've got your pencils, but now you need an eraser to fix your mistakes (everyone makes them). You can definitely use the eraser on top of you pencil to erase, but that doesn't give you much control and it leaves nasty eraser shavings that could ruin your drawing. I definitely recommend getting a regular pink eraser for big erasing jobs. However, I highly recommend getting a kneaded eraser as well for more precise erasing and lightening of your drawings. A kneaded eraser is moldable to a desired shape and doesn't leave shavings that get all over your drawings, but instead picks up the lead off the paper. I use it a lot to lighten areas that I've gone a bit too dark on. It's defintely a tool to keep in your drawing arsenal.

I also recommend getting an eraser shield for precise erasing. This can come in handing sometimes for highlights and places where you've messed up in a tight spot. Not necessary, but definitely useful at times.

Rulers - If you're looking at doing portraits, I definitely recommend getting a decent ruler. When I draw portraits, I use a grid method to transfer the lines from a photograph to the paper. A ruler definitely comes in useful in making sure the grids are correct and straight. So, if you're going to be drawing portraits, definitely invest in a decent metal ruler with cork backing.

Paper - Much like everything else, as a beginner, you can draw on regular printing paper. However, you won't get the same quality as you would on other papers. If you can, I would advise getting a sketchbook. Sketchbooks contain a more "toothier" paper that accomodates the lead better. Even better, however, is vellum. I've fallen in love with drawing on vellum because it is high-quality paper that accepts lead perfectly, and leads to very good quality drawings. The downside, however, is that it's a bit pricey. Again, I highly recommend trying different types of paper and finding which one suits you best. Drawing is about finding a medium that you are comfortable with and expressing yourself throught that medium.

Other Tools that might be useful:

-Compass - for perfect circles
-Pencil Sharpners - Easily overlooked until your pencils die
-Vyco - A mat that you can put on a table so that your drawing surface isn't hard
-Colored Pencils - If you're brave and want to add some color to your drawings

So, as you start drawing, make sure you experiment with different mediums and supplies. This guide is just that, a guide to get you started. You'll quickly find what suits you and you'll be drawing masterpieces in no time.

Drawing is a form of expression, so have at it.