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Drawing Essentials for Total Beginners
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items Drawing with pencil and paper is the most beginner-friendly form of art—no fancy tools needed, and no barriers to entry. You probably already have a pencil and some paper lying around. That’s all it takes to start. The most important thing? Draw ever...
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Some links on this page may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them — at no extra cost to you. I only share products I genuinely use or recommend.
The classics are classic for a reason! Start drawing with a regular #2 pencil. You probably already have one so you can start drawing right now!
Ticonderoga 30ct Pencil Yellow: No. 2 Wood Cased Presharpened Pencils, 2.2mm Point, Stationery & Office Supplies
Grab some paper out of your printer and just start drawing!
500ct Letter Printer Paper White - up&up™: 8.5x11 Inches, 20 lb, 92 Brightness, Ideal for Printing Letters
When you're done with the store brand printer paper, you can get one that's higher quality. Like this Astrobrights paper that is heavier, smoother, and brighter white than standard printer paper. This is the paper I use
Astrobrights 8.5" x 11" Printer & Copy Paper, 300 Sheets, 28lb - Astro White: 97 Brightness, Uncoated, White Cardstock
I have this sketchbook. I prefer this larger sized sketchbook but it comes in multiple sizes. The paper is nice and smooth with a fine tooth. Dick Blick hardcover sketchbook is perfect if you are drawing on-the-go. You can toss it in your backpack or bag and draw at school or on your lunchbreak. I also included the spiral bound version of this sketchbook on this board. Some people don't like a hardbound sketchbook because they don't lay flat. It's just personal preference
Blick Studio Hardbound Sketchbook
Dick Blick wirebound sketchbook. This is the same paper as the hardbound sketchbook (also on this board). Some people prefer the spiral binding so you can lay it flat or fold it over. But it still has a hard cover so it travels well in a backpack. The best sketchbook is one that you'll use.
Blick Wirebound Sketchbook
My go-to pencil—smooth writing, reliable eraser, and never needs sharpening. I recommend a 0.7 or even a 0.9 size. Pentel leads are good quality as well – they don't break easily. It's the only brand of lead I use.
Pentel Twist-Erase EXPRESS Mechanical Pencil, 0.7mm, #2 Medium Lead, 4/Pack (QE417FLZBP4)
These are great for precise lines. Much skinnier line than a traditional pencil. Pentel 0.7 HB lead refills Essential lead refills for your mechanical pencil— These have a polymer additive to make them less brittle. They don't break all the time like other leads I've used
Pentel Super Hi-Polymer Lead Refill, 0.7mm, 30/Leads, 3/Pack (C27HBBP3)
Pentel 0.7 B Lead. Softer lead for darker lines and smooth shading—great for depth and dimension. Pentel leads come in multiple darkness ranges just like drawing pencils
Pentel Super Hi-Polymer Lead Refill, 0.7mm, 12/Leads (50-B)
Pentel Twist Erase Refill erasers. These go in the Pentel mechanical pencils above
Pentel Twist-Erase Mechanical Pencil Eraser Refills, White, 3/Pack (E10)
This Pentel Clic Eraser is what I use. I like stick erasers in general because you can have more control over how you erase.
Pentel Clic Eraser with Grip, White, 3/Pack (ZE21BP3-K6)
These are great because you can draw really thick lines with them and create different effects. These Arteza woodless graphite pencils give rich tones and have a smooth coating so you don't end up with graphite all over your fingers. They have a great feel.
Arteza® 12 Piece Woodless Graphite Pencils
I clip my paper to this every day—it’s solid, smooth, and super handy.
Staples® Hardboard Clipboard, Letter Size, Natural Brown (ST44292-CC)
This pencil set by Dick Blick comes in a tin and is a great all-in-one pencil set with a wide range of values from hard to soft.
Blick Studio Drawing Pencils - Set of 12
My favorite eraser of all time! Which is a good thing because the last time I ordered them I accidentally purchased a case instead of just 1. That was 5 or 6 years ago. They last. These erasers do the job, erase cleanly, don't rip the paper or leave the surface “fuzzy” like pink erasers do
Prismacolor® Magic Rub® Vinyl Erasers, Beige, Pack Of 3
LEFT HANDED ARTISTS! This sketchbook has the binding across the top so you may prefer this one. If you continue drawing (and I hope you do) you should try out different brands of paper because every company has a different texture and feel when you draw even for 2 papers that seem the same just looking at website descriptions. So you'll want to experiment with different papers until you find one that feels good to you. Fabriano is an *old* paper company. This sketch pad has the wire binding at the top of the pad instead of down the side. It has a chipboard backer but a soft cover on the front so it might not travel as well if you're tough on books. However, it comes with 100 sheets of paper in this spiral binding (versus 80 in the Dick Blick wirebound) A quality pad that handles graphite well and has a nice surface texture.
Fabriano 1264 Sketch Pads
Here is another popular sketch paper option for daily drawing. The spiral binding is down the side. It has 100 sheets. You could do a daily drawing for the next several months!
This one’s a staple—versatile and consistent, a favorite of many artists.
This one’s a staple—versatile and consistent, a favorite of many artists.
Strathmore® 400 Series Sketch Paper Pad
This pencil sharpener has 2 holes for regular and thick pencils. Basic but effective—great for quick sharpening when you need it.
Staples® Manual Pencil Sharpener, Assorted Colors (10898-CC)
Perfect for blending and smudging your graphite to create soft transitions. But you can also make your own by cutting strips of paper and rolling it.
Blending Tortillons by Artist's Loft
A versatile drawing tool! These erasers go by multiple names “kneaded erasers”, “gummy erasers”, etc. These aren't really meant to be used like a solid eraser. They're slightly tacky. So you kind of dab at the surface to lift off some of the graphite. You can also drag it across the paper to smear or add highlights. Over time they accumulate graphite powder into the dough and they become dark gray. At that point they become like another drawing tool – you can use it to smear graphite onto the paper instead of picking it up
Faber-Castell® Kneaded Erasers
A German-made sharpener that gives a sharp, clean point every time.
Mobius & Ruppert Elliptic Swing Sharpener