My Favorite Drawing Supplies for Beginners

​​You don't need a huge collection of art supplies to learn how to draw. In fact, I think it's much easier to learn when you start with a few good, basic tools and understand how to use them.
These are the drawing supplies I use and recommend. Some are important from the beginning, while others are useful as you move from practicing basic skills to creating more finished artwork.

* The links in the blog are Amazon affiliate links, which provide a tiny kickback to support our studio if you use them! 

Drawing Pencils
A good set of graphite pencils is the first thing I recommend.
I particularly like STAEDTLER Mars Lumograph Black Drawing Pencils because of their matte finish. Traditional graphite can become shiny, especially as you build up darker values. These pencils create rich, smooth darks without as much of that graphite shine.
They also blend beautifully, which makes it easier to create gradual changes from light to dark.
You don't need every pencil grade ever made. A small set with a range of light, medium, and dark pencils is plenty for learning.

My pick: STAEDTLER Mars Lumograph Black Drawing Pencils, 6-Pack

A Kneaded Eraser
A kneaded eraser is one of those funny-looking art supplies that doesn't seem particularly exciting until you learn what you can do with it.
Unlike a traditional eraser, a kneaded eraser can be stretched, rolled, and shaped to fit whatever you're working on. You can form it into a point to lift graphite from a tiny area or flatten it to lighten a larger section.
It also essentially cleans itself. Instead of rubbing away and leaving eraser crumbs all over your paper, you knead the graphite back into the eraser.
And an eraser isn't only for fixing mistakes! In drawing, we can actually use the eraser as another drawing tool, pulling highlights and details back out of shaded areas.

My pick: PRISMACOLOR Design Kneaded Rubber Eraser

​Blending Stumps & Tortillons
Your fingers are always conveniently attached to you, but they're not necessarily the best blending tools.
Skin contains natural oils that can transfer to your paper and affect the graphite. Blending stumps and tortillons give you much more control.
I use them to soften shadows, create gradual transitions, and develop different textures without losing control of the drawing.
They come in several sizes, and an inexpensive assorted set is all you really need.
I like this set, it comes with all the sizes I normally use plus the sharpener and soft foam sticks for larger areas.

My pick: Haojiaho Blending Stumps

Drawing Paper for Learning & Practice
Not every drawing needs to go on expensive paper.
For practicing techniques, working through exercises, sketching ideas, and simply learning, I like a good drawing pad.
The Strathmore 300 Series Drawing Pad has 70 lb. paper with enough texture for graphite while still being affordable enough that you don't feel like every sheet has to become a masterpiece.
That's actually important when you're learning. You need to be willing to use the paper.

My pick: Strathmore 300 Series Wire Bound Drawing Pad, 9" × 12", 70 lb., 50 sheets

 Bristol Paper for Finished Artwork 
Once you're ready to create a more finished drawing, I prefer smooth Bristol paper.
Bristol is heavier and sturdier than everyday sketch or drawing paper and gives you a beautiful surface for detailed work. The smooth finish is especially nice when you're working with graphite and mechanical pencils because you can create very fine details and clean edges.
I wouldn't use Bristol for everyday exercises—it would get expensive quickly. Save the good stuff for artwork you intend to finish and keep.

My pick: Strathmore 300 Series Smooth Bristol Paper Pad, 11" × 14", 100 lb.

​A Mechanical Pencil for Fine Details
For most of a drawing, I prefer traditional drawing pencils. But when I get into tiny details, I reach for a mechanical pencil.
A 0.5 mm mechanical pencil gives you a consistently fine point without constantly stopping to sharpen it.
It's wonderful for small details, crisp edges, hair, eyelashes, texture, and those last little touches that can make a finished drawing come alive.

My pick: STAEDTLER Mars micro 0.5 mm Mechanical Pencil

Mechanical Pencil Leads
The lead inside your mechanical pencil matters, too.
I like 2B lead because it's softer and darker than the standard HB lead commonly used for writing. It gives you the precision of a mechanical pencil while still behaving more like a drawing pencil. HB lead is more compact, making it lighter and can leave creases in your paper.

My pick: STAEDTLER Mars micro Carbon Mechanical Pencil Leads, 0.5 mm, 2B

​Clear Rulers — 6" and 12"
A clear ruler is surprisingly useful when you're learning to draw. I recommend having both a 6-inch and a 12-inch clear ruler. Because they're transparent, you can still see your drawing underneath while you're measuring or lining things up.
A ruler isn't just for drawing straight lines. It's a great tool for learning to check proportions, distances and placement—for example, comparing the width of an object to its height or checking where one feature sits in relation to another. The 6-inch ruler is easy to maneuver around smaller drawings and details, while the 12-inch ruler is helpful for larger measurements, guidelines, and perspective work.
As your eye gets better at judging proportions, you'll rely on measuring less, but it's a very useful way to train yourself to see accurately.

My Picks : 2 Pack Clear plastic ruler 
I like the finger grip on this one so my finger doesn't rub the drawing : Westcott Finger Grip

A Sharpener Made for Drawing Pencils
Yes, the pencil sharpener actually matters.
Artist pencils have different cores than the standard yellow pencil sitting in your junk drawer, and a poor sharpener can break the core, chew up the wood or leave you repeatedly sharpening a pencil that's getting shorter without ever getting sharper.
I prefer a STAEDTLER handheld sharpener designed for their pencils. It gives me the point I want without unnecessarily eating through my drawing pencils.
A sharp pencil isn't just about drawing thin lines, either. Learning how to use different parts of a properly sharpened pencil is part of learning good drawing technique.

My pick: STAEDTLER Double-Hole Pencil Sharpener

Drawing Board— Optional, But Very Useful
You certainly don't need a drafting table to learn to draw, but I do recommend getting your paper off a completely flat tabletop when possible.
A portable drawing board lets you work comfortably in different places and position your drawing at an angle.
More importantly, changing the position of your drawing makes it easier to step back and look at it properly. When we're bent over a drawing on a table, our viewing angle can distort what we're seeing. Bringing the artwork upright helps you check proportions and perspective and catch problems that aren't nearly as obvious when your nose has been six inches from the paper for an hour.
It's also simply nice to be able to take your drawing to the couch, porch or wherever you happen to be comfortable working.

My pick: TX Liteart 13" × 17" Drawing Board with Clip (optional)

You Really Don't Need Much
Art stores can make drawing look as though it requires an entire tackle box of mysterious supplies. It doesn't.
A good set of pencils, kneaded eraser, blending stumps and decent drawing paper will take you a very long way.
As your skills develop, adding Bristol paper, a mechanical pencil and a drawing board gives you a little more control when you're ready to create finished artwork.
Good supplies help—but they don't do the drawing for you. Learning to see shapes, proportions, values, edges and light is what makes the real difference.
Start with the basics, learn what each tool can do, and then practice. Lots and lots of practice.