The Art of Equipment

My Art Supplies

 This post is for anyone interested in the equipment I use for my artwork. Over the years I've built up quite a big collection of materials, so I know what works well for me and what doesn't. Most of these supplies you can buy on Amazon or in stationery shops, like Hobbycraft (an art supply paradise) or WHSmith.

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Pencil set

I have a LOT of pencils. Too many pencils, one might say, ranging from 4H to 8B. They all achieve different effects but are equally important. If you are unsure what they all do, here is a quick explanation. 'H' stands for 'hardness', and these pencils leave a light, sharp mark on the paper. The higher the number before the H, the lighter the pencil is. 'B' stands for 'blackness', and these pencils leave a dark, soft mark on the paper. The higher the number before the B, the darker the pencil is. B pencils are great for shading because they blend easily. H pencils will also blend, but not as far. A good range of pencils will allow you to create depth in your drawing. I enjoy using Faber-Castell pencils, and recently bought this 12 piece set to top up my collection. There are lots of other good brands too, such as Derwent.

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Good quality paper

If you ever think of drawing on printer paper, don't. It's thin, which means it can't handle the weight of pencils and is likely to tear. The paper I like to use is from a brand called Winsor & Newton - it is thick and the texture is smooth. This sketchbook was made using acid-free paper, which is good because it means that my drawings won't fade as quickly as they would on regular paper.

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Sharpener

This one is pretty self-explanatory. I like keeping my pencils sharp to make my drawings precise. Some people like using knives to sharpen pencils... but the risk of chopping off your finger puts me off.

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Rubbers/erasers

Erasers are life-savers! The chunky Derwent one is good for rubbing out large areas. In my experience, it doesn't damage the paper or leave marks, so it's a good eraser (and cheap!). I also have a mechanical eraser from Tombow and an eraser pencil from Faber-Castell. These are both useful because they offer a lot more precision. They are also great for creating highlights.

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Blending

My GCSE art teacher used to tell me off for blending pencil with my finger, and now I understand why! You end up smudging pencil all over the paper, which makes the drawing look messy. It's much easier to blend with a tissue, in my opinion. Some good-old bog roll, an item everyone has in their house (if you were lucky enough to find some on the shelves in ASDA) will do. With a tissue, you can blend out soft pencil quite far and buff away and pencil lines. This is how I create skin texture. Blending stumps are also an option for blending. They are good for accurate, precise blending in small areas; you can control the direction.

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Pens

I mostly use pens when I draw eyes. The pen on the left is a black fineliner from Faber-Castell, which is good for drawing pupils. The pen on the right is a grey fineliner from Stabilo, which I like to use in the iris of the eye. In the middle is a white artist pen from Faber-Castell, which is good for drawing in highlights, such as light reflections, on the eyeball. All three of these pens help create depth and make drawings look realistic!

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That is pretty much everything. I hope this is helpful for anyone who is interested in starting drawing or is just looking for some new materials!