Do you want to become a better drawer and sharpen your creative skills? Are you looking for a gift for a good friend who loves to draw? Either way, this guide will help give you the lowdown on the standard and not so standard drawing supplies for that special artiste in you. For some help with the little ones, please see our guide to Drawing for Kids.
Gifts for Adults
Art supplies make great gifts, hands down. They are fun and enriching, as well as great way to get someone started on a new hobby. In order to best shop for whomever you have in mind, think about thier skills and interest level. Here are some suggestions for basic pencil and pastel kits. For some more help, browse through our Gifts for Artistic People.
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Buying the Right Kind of Paper
The two most common types of paper for this craft are tracing paper, is too thin. A think 100lb drawing paper will be good for most drawing mediums. If you will be painting with watercolours, you will need an excess of 100lb paper. When using charcoals, you'll need at least a 60lb paper.
Texture of paper also is important. The smoother the texture of the paper, the straighter and smoother a line you'll be able to make. It might seem like the less texture the better, and that is true for when using pencils and ink. However, when using many colours, texture is a great way to add multiple layers to the piece. Little texture will allow the colours to bleed, which is not a desired effect. Also, charcoals and heavier mediums of the like will require a more textured paper.
The shape of the pad is also important. Consider all of the factors. lf you're going to be drawing on a flat surface, then you might want to not have a spiral binding. If you are going to be drawing mostly landscapes, then you might not want to purchase a portrait shaped drawing pad.
Here are some different types of drawing pads you might like:
