10 Essential Drawing Supplies For Artists

Art by: Maartje de Boer
   ​It can be difficult to choose quality art products, so we have pooled our experiences to create a list of drawing supplies that every artist should have and the brands that stand apart from the crowd.​​​​

The Drawing Supplies List:
  • ​​Quality Pencils - By far the most used graphite pencils of the people I know would be The Staedtler Lumograph Pencils.  These pencils have extremely smooth lead which leads to nice crisp lines when you need to be detailed or smooth gradations when shading.  We suggest starting with a set of 12 so that you can choose which hardnesses you like more than others for drawing.
  • ​​Sketch Paper - Quality paper is one of those art supplies that people don't often pay attention to.  But paper can bring drawings to life and make the difference between leaving it a sketch and moving on to making it a full piece.  For quick sketches when I know I will want to add some ink work, I like using the Strathmore Spiral Toned Sketchbook 5.5"x8.5".           
  • Copic Markers - Perhaps the hottest product on the market right now, Copic markers are changing the way people draw.  These markers contain alcohol based ink which allows for seamless blending of color and full coverage.  Even more enticing, these markers are refillable and offer replaceable nibs.  (These awesome features alone make them worth buying.)  Best uses for these markers range from architectural design work to cartooning and illustration. 

Technical Pens

Technical pens are definitely my favorite drawing utensil right now.  They have the ability to add so much depth and visual interest to any drawing!  Use them to add texture to watercolor paintings or play around with some pen and ink sketches.  Sakura Micron Pens are by far the best, their pens contain high quality inks and they do not bleed​ when they are used with watercolors.

Plastic Erasers

Erasers are used by both novice and professional artists alike, so don't forget to buy a good one!  And you're going to need it because erasers are used in almost every medium as well.  We've found the eraser with the best quality is the Staedtler Mars Plastic eraser.  The white material doesn't stain the paper and the plastic keeps its integrity as long as the eraser lasts!

Colored Pencils

Colored pencils are a no brainer if you are wanting to find a cheap way to add some color to your drawings.  These Sargent Art colored pencils in particular come in 50 different colors!  All of which are interesting subtle tones and shades, allowing for excellent blending of color and really accurate drawings.  Last but not least, the thick 3.3 mm leads almost never break mid drawing; saving you all those pesky scuff marks!

Blending Stumps

 ​A Blending stump is a tool used to intentionally smudge graphite to give a smooth gradation of tone.  This is a better alternative to using your finger because using your finger to smudge graphite causes the paper to soak up the oils from your skin, leading to a different appearance.  These tend to get used quickly, so buy these in bulk to save money.

Watercolor Paper

For more professional drawings I draw on heavy paper in case I want to add some watercolor washes later.  Pentalic makes an amazing sketchbook that is perfect for this and is included in both my drawing AND watercolor travel kits.  However this paper can be a bit rough if you want to add in some inkwork with pens.  The paper texture is rough on the tip of the pens and makes for a bumpy drawing experience.  ​

A Compass

A Compass is an important tool if you are going to be focusing on drawings too large for a circle template.  Compasses are also helpful if the exact center of the circle is known, allowing for pin-point precision.

Ellipse & Circle Template

Ellipse and circle templates are super useful for quick drawings.  If you checked out our How To Draw In 3D! tutorial you know that circles in a perspective drawing are actually ellipses, so these templates are really helpful. 

Kneaded Erasers

Kneaded erasers are used to perform what is known as subtractive drawing.  Where additive drawing is what most people associate with drawing, subtractive drawing is the removal of graphite or charcoal from the surface of the paper.  This method would be used in situations where an artist would need to add a highlight to a darkened surface.