Drawing Supplies

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Are you interested in getting into drawing or offering drawing supplies as a gift? This guide will give you some of the basics on the essential supplies and how to go about choosing them. The first thing though, which pertains to all supplies, whether for yourself or others, is that quality is of the essence. Good art supplies are easier to use, last longer, and provide better results. It's in everyone's best interest to get the best supplies that fit into your budget.

Please see Drawing for Kids if you are interested in art supplies for the little MC Escher in your life.

Gifts for Adults

Whether for yourself or a friend, an aspiring artist or just someone with a hobby, art kits make great gifts. You have to make sure to have a good idea of what someone has already and what their preferred style is. Here are some suggestions for basic pencil and pastel kits. Don't forget that art books, instructional art technique books, and even art magazines make great gifts as well. You can find more gift ideas in the Gift Guides or in the Gifts for Artistic People guide.

Prismacolor Portrait Sketch Kit 

Faber-Castell Watercolors 

Sennelier Wood Boxed Soft Pastel Set 

Cretacolor Charcoal Set 

Derwent Drawing Pencil Gift Set 

Buying Paper Products

Buying paper is relatively simple despite the fact that there are a multitude of choices available. Basically, you will find yourself deciding between sketching and drawing paper. The big difference is quality and weight. Most often, sketch paper  is geared towards school children and for practicing. It is lighter weight, and thus, less durable than drawing paper. Drawing paper  is higher quality and costs more, but it usually has a heavier weight and a nicer surface. Whichever type you choose, be certain that it is suitable for the type of medium that you typically work with. This often has to do with the weight of the paper. For example, a light 30lb paper, such as newsprint, is a very thin paper (slightly heavier than tracing paper ) and not very durable. A heavy duty 100lb paper is ideal for drawing with most any medium. For painting or watercolor you'll need paper than exceeds the 100lb mark. Charcoal needs at least a 60lb weight.

You'll also want to be aware of the surface texture of the paper, or what is sometimes referred to as "tooth". The less textured it is, the smoother lines you'll be able to make. Thus, for drawing with pencils and ink, smoother is better. However, some texture can be good for creating multiple layers of colors, whereas little or no texture will facilitate blending. Typically, heavily textured paper works well for charcoal and pastels.

Finally, keep in mind of where you like to work when drawing or painting. Sometimes a side-bound spiral sketchbook is easier to use than those that are tape bound. Also consider which side you want the spine on: do you draw landscapes or portraits?

Here are some sketchbooks and drawing pads that you might be interested in:

You might also be interested in this glossary by Daniel Smith Art Supply that explains all the jargon that goes along with choosing paper.

Colored Pencils

Choosing a brand of colored pencils  is not always easy when you don't have experience with them. Some popular brands are Faber-Castell,  Derwent,  and Prismacolor.  For the brightest and most rich color, high quality brand pencils are best. If you want to have a very creamy application that blends well and is quite vibrant, Prismacolor is a great brand with which to start. In any case, a large set with a wide range of colors is a great starter kit. Down the road you can purchase individual pencils as needed to compliment the type or style of drawing that you enjoy most.

Graphite and Charcoal Pencils

Graphite  and charcoal pencils  are ideal for sketching. What you should know is that graphite pencils range in hardness from 9H to 9B, with H being harder and B being softer. What this means is that B pencils will be lighter and create fine lines, while H pencils will creat heavy, thick, dark lines. Charcoal pencils can be measured in the same fashion or simply as hard, medium, or soft. However, charcoal pencils tend to be softer all-around compared to graphite pencils.

Essentials For All

Kneaded Rubber Eraser 

Rulers 

Protective Folders 

Pencil Sharpener 

Organizer 

External Links

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