As an artist, it’s important to make sure that you have the necessary art supplies to set you up for success with drawing.
But everyone’s artistic wants and needs are different.
With that in mind, I wrote this blog post to help you decide which drawing art supplies best suit your needs and your budget.
As such, in this article I share valuable insights regarding the best hobbyist and professional drawing supplies so that you’ll be able to:
- Know when to invest in more affordable or more expensive drawing supplies
- Make better purchasing decisions that fit your personal budget and needs
- Invest in good quality art supplies that will aid you in your learning process
I’ve experimented with many drawing supplies over the years, and the supplies mentioned in this list are some of my favourites!
By the time you’re done reading, you’ll have a solid idea about which drawing supplies best fit your artistic needs.
With this clarity, you’ll know which art supplies will be great additions to add to your drawing toolkit.
DISCLOSURE: This page contains affiliate links. If you make a qualified purchase using any of the links, I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I appreciate every sale because it allows me to create free content to promote the growth of this website.
Table of Contents
What Supplies Do I Need for Drawing?
As a beginner artist, I spent a lot of time researching brands and products because I wanted to spend my money wisely.
As a result, the following art supplies for drawing and sketching are my recommendations which I believe offer the best quality and value.
Just keep in mind that the quality of your art supplies can have an impact o how quickly you can improve your art.
After all, higher-quality products are easier to work with and usually provide superior results, whereas cheaper supplies tend to be harder to work with and break more easily.
1. Canson XL Mixed Media Pad
As an artist, you need to own a sketchbook so that you can practice freely, do multiple studies, and practice techniques.
As well, sketchbooks comes in handy when you’re struggling with art block because it’s easy to brain dump all your ideas into one book.
For this reason, I recommend the Canson XL sketchbooks because they are affordable, lightweight, and they come in multiple sizes.
I also love these sketchbooks for a variety of practical reasons:
- The book comes with 60 pages that are 160 g / 98 lbs
- It is ideal for mixed media artwork including graphite, coloured pencil, ink, gouache, acrylic, and light washes of watercolour
Canson XL Sketchbook
• Suitable for mixed media including acylic, watercolour, gouache, ink & pen, and coloured pencils
• Paper is 98 lbs / 160 g and is good for wet and dry mediums
• 60 pgs of heavyweight, archival paper
BUY ON AMAZON2. Staedtler Mars Lumograph Graphite Pencils
I’ve tried many art supplies for drawing over the years, and I’ve determined that the Staedtler Mars Lumograph pencils are my favourite graphite pencils.
Some of the highlights of this product include:
- The sets come with a wide variety of pencils ranging from H (hard, light graphite) to B (soft, black graphite) which can create tones of tonal variety and contrast
- The lead is reliable and therefore won’t break very easily
- The hexagonal shape of the pencils fits nicely in your hands
As such, these graphite pencils lay down smoothly and blend well with blending stumps or tortillons. In this way, these pencils are easy to shade with and they’re perfect for cross-hatching.
Staedtler Graphite Pencils
• Set of 12 pencils ranging from 4H to 6B
• Very smooth application and the graphite is very easy to blend
• Pencil’s hexagonal shape is designed to rest comfortably in your hand
BUY ON AMAZON3. Faber-Castell Kneaded Eraser
Most kneaded erasers are similar in their capacity to erase well. However, I enjoy the Faber-Castell kneaded erasers a lot because:
- The eraser is super subtle and pliable
- Unlike rubber erasers, this kneaded eraser is gentle enough that it does not tear the paper
- Pencil strokes and lines erase very well
Overall, I find kneaded erasers are wonderful additions to any art supplies collections because they are very flexible and convenient.
Oh, and they’re fairly cheap, too!
Faber-Castell Kneaded Eraser
• Soft, pliable, and molds to any shape
• Erases graphite very easily
• The eraser is made of soft material, so it doesn’t tear the paper you’re using
BUY ON AMAZON4. AFMAT Electric Pencil Sharpener
Honestly, I’m not very picky about sharpeners. As long as they sharpen the pencils to a fine point, I’m happy.
But my personal preference is to own an electric sharpener because they’re super fast and efficient to use compared to if you had to sharpen a bunch of pencils manually.
Bonus: this pencil sharpener is not too noisy, so you can sharpen your pencils without being disturbed by loudness.
AFMAT Electric Pencil Sharpener
• Small, compact, and lightweight pencil sharpener
• Sharpens pencils to a fine point without breaking the lead
• Graphite pencils and coloured pencils work well with this product
BUY ON AMAZON5. Norocme Blending Stumps and Tortillions
Let me tell you something…
Not all blending stumps and tortillions are made equally. I’ve bought many over time, and I find the Norocme sets are the best.
Whether you’re using graphite, coloured pencils, or charcoal, these products will smoothen the look of your artwork and reduce the grainy textures left by the pigments.
Norocme Blending Set of 13
• Set comes with 6 stumps, 6 tortillons, and one sandpaper pencil pointer
• The stumps and tortillions are sturdy and they blend pigment smoothly
• The entire set is very affordable and great for beginners
BUY ON AMAZON6. OTraki Drawing Gloves
This particular art supply for drawing isn’t a necessity, but it sure comes in handy. See what I did there?
Investing in a drawing glove might interest you because it reduces smudging.
As a left-handed artist, I know this pain far too well.
Moreover, you can wear this glove when you’re drawing on any digital device so that your hand can glide over the screen more easily.
So if you are interested in protecting your work, check out the OTraki Drawing Gloves.
OTraki Artist Gloves
• 4 gloves in a package, and you can choose small, medium, or large sizes
• Universal fitting works for left-handed and right-handed artists
• Made of comfortable material that glides onto your hand
BUY ON AMAZON7. Copic Multiliners
I know many artists swear by the Sakura Pigma Micron pens, but I personally don’t enjoy them because I find their nibs wear away too easily or the ink dries up too quickly.
So, as an alternative, I recommend the Copic multiliners because:
- The ink is a dark, black, and permanent
- The ink is waterproof and smudge resistant
- You can buy a set with a variety of nib sizes to give you lots of variation in your linework and artwork
As such, these multiliners are perfect for an assortment of art styles including comics, anime, and ink and watercolour, to name a few.
Copic Multiliners
• 9 multiliners come in a wide range of nib sizes (thin and thick)
• Lovely, rich black pigment
• Waterproof and archival ink
BUY ON AMAZON8. Pentel Pocket Brush
If you’re a novice or advanced artist, you may want to opt for the Pentel Pocket Brush instead of the fineliners because it’s much more convenient.
Although the learning curve might be tricky for beginners, this brush pen is a fantastic addition to your art collection because of all the line width variations you can create with one brushstroke.
Therefore, if you find switching between fineliners is annoying, then investing in this refillable and portable brush pen is a better option.
Pentel Pocket Brush
• Long, thin bristles have a fine point, giving you precise control
• Ink flows smoothly and does not clog
• One brushstroke can create incredible line width variation
BUY ON AMAZON9. Faber-Castell Polychromos
When I first started adding colour to my artwork, I used the famous Prismacolor Premier pencils. The pencils work exceptionally well and I do indorse them. However, the downside is that the leads are prone to breaking if you don’t use an electric sharpener.
So, if you don’t plan on investing in an electric sharpener, you should opt for the Faber-Castell Polychromos instead. I love these coloured pencils because:
- The colours are so vibrant and lovely in their intensity
- The pigments lay down smoothly and blend easily
- The oil-based pencils are strong and therefore they don’t break nearly as easily as wax-based pencils
Yes, these coloured pencils are a little bit more on the expensive side. However, they are worth the investment because cheap coloured pencils will not lay down and blend nearly as well as these bad boys.
Faber-Castell Polychromos
• Set of 36 polychromo pencils that are oil-based and resistant to breakage
• Colours appear vibrant and beautiful on paper
• Buttery smooth application and very easy to blend
BUY ON AMAZON10. Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Colour Sketchers Pocket Box
As an alternative to coloured pencils, you can invest in a limited watercolour palette so that you can do colour studies and practice colour theory in your sketchbook.
There are many reasons why this palette is desirable, including:
- The palette consists of only 12 colours, which makes it ideal for learning how to mix colours
- The colours are richly pigmented and they blend smoothly together
- The palette is small, lightweight, and portable
What’s more, this watercolour palette consists of paint pigments that are really excellent quality for their affordable price! Therefore, this set makes learning how to paint with watercolours much easier.
Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolors
• 12 vibrant pigments that blend and mix well together
• Small box that’s lightweight, portable, and convenient to carry
• Very affordable set that’s suitable for all beginners
BUY ON AMAZONWhat Does A Beginner Artist Need?
If you’re a beginner artist you should invest in a few fundamental drawing tools and equipment including:
- A good sketchbook with many pages (for studies and daily practice)
- A nice set of graphite pencils (for drawing and sketching)
- A kneadable eraser
- A sturdy sharpener
- A decent set of fine-liners or inking pens
These are the art supplies for drawing that I believe every artist should own at the bare minimum.
Related: Now that you know which supplies you need to get started, I recommend that you check out this ultimate guide to drawing so that you can start drawing with confidence!
Do You Need Expensive Art Supplies to Make Good Art?
Before we begin, I want to make something clear: Owning the most expensive or best drawing supplies on the market will not make you a better artist.
Practice, passion, and dedication will make you a better artist.
Nevertheless, higher-quality supplies can aid considerably in the learning process compared to cheap, lower-quality art supplies.
If you’re getting into art as a hobby, there’s nothing wrong with purchasing cheaper art supplies to first see if art is a hobby that you’re willing to pursue regularly.
However, if you plan on becoming a professional artist, then investing in higher-quality art supplies is preferable.
For more information on the drawbacks of cheap supplies vs the benefits of quality professional supplies, check out this article by Vanillaarts.com.
How to Choose Art Supplies for Drawing?
Now that you have a fairly good understanding of some basic art supplies for drawing, I’d like you give you a few tips that will help inform your purchasing decisions.
The next time you go to the mall or order art supplies online, consider the following questions:
- What is your budget?
- Which is more important to you: saving money or investing in quality art supplies?
- What are your artistic goals?
- What kind of artwork are you planning to make with the supplies you intend to purchase?
- Are you realistically going to use the art supplies you want to buy? If so, invest in good products. If not, reconsider.
If you’re a beginner artist who would like a more detailed breakdown regarding the qualities of common art supplies and tools, check out this article from Medium.com.
Conclusion
There you have it: a comprehensive list of basic art supplies for drawing and sketching.
Personally, I don’t believe that you need a massive collection of products and supplies. Investing in a few high-quality art supplies works just as well, especially if you’re a beginner artist.
Whatever you decide to do, keep these art supply recommendations in mind the next time you order online or walk into an art store.
For more specific art supplies and product recommendations, feel free to check out any of the following:
- 19 Exciting Gift Ideas For Artists (That They’ll Love)
- Top 10 Watercolour Painting Supplies You Need to Buy
- Shop My Faves
What are some of your favourite drawing art supplies? Leave your recommendations in the comments below!
Miranda Balogh
Artist & Online Educator
These are wonderful hints for the budding artist. It has taken me a long time to learn this important lesson, but often it is worth spending the extra money on better quality stuff because it really does make a difference in appearance and durability.
Very true! As a beginner artist, it took me a while to accept this fact, too. But it really does make a difference in the long run because higher-quality art supplies will last much longer and provide better results. Thanks for sharing your input!
This was such a well thought-out, nuanced guide, thank you SO much. I am a big pen fanatic (no artistic experience, regrettably, but love to be creative with colors and penmanship!) and have definitely found that the nicer pens are really worth the expense. I am obsessed with my Stabilo fine-liners and absolutely swear by them.
I’ve never tried the Stabilo fine-liners, so I should put that on my list of drawing art supplies to check out. Thanks for the recommendation!
Thanks for this list! Will save it. My 7-year old daughter is a great artist and enjoy seeing how she will continue to get better and better.
It’s wonderful that your daughter is exploring her creativity at such a young age! Thanks for sharing!
Never heard of drawing gloves, interesting! Thanks for the list its easier for a beginner to check this out instead of buying right away.
My intention was to help beginner and aspiring artists with their purchasing decisions, so I’m glad you found this art supplies list helpful!
I love this article. I used to paint and draw a lot and was just thinking I should start doing it again. I do need a lot of new materials so I found this so helpful, thank you!
Thank you! I’m glad this art supplies list has given you some renewed inspiration.
This is such a great post for beginners like myself! It’s so hard to know what supplies to get and which ones are good. Thanks for sharing 🙂
As a beginner, it’s always best to do some research to make sure you’re investing in good art supplies. So I’m glad that this article has given you information to inform your purchasing decisions. Thanks for commenting!
I always try to buy the best my budget will allow. I’m a big fan of Faber Castel Polychromos, they were well worth the investment. I also found that a simple blender pencil and burnisher took my coloured pencil art to another level. Some really sound advice in your blog, it can be a minefield if you don’t know where to start, what you need and which brands are best for you. Thank you.
Agreed, the Faber Castel Polychromos are amazing! As well, blending pencils are definitely helpful for coloured pencil art, so I’ll consider adding that to this drawing supplies list. Thanks for the idea!
I love it. I used to paint so much as a kid. took me back with all the colors and the canvas. Thanks for sharing this.
You’re welcome! It’s a lot of fun reminiscing about the things we enjoyed as children.
In my beginning, there weren’t many available articles like this, so I wasted lots of money on useless supplies and crappy stuff. I totally agree that you don’t need many to start, you just need the high-quality basics! Nice recommendations, very informative and to the point for a beginner 🙂
That happened to me, too! As such, it was my main motivation for writing an informative article such as this one. Thanks for sharing your experience!
I have 2 nephews who are very into art and drawing. Your post will be so instrumental as I gift them quality tools to help them harness their craft. I had never thought of a kneadable eraser, lining pen or even a quality sharpener before reading this.
I’m glad that this article has given you drawing supplies gift ideas!
You did a lot of research here. Absolutely everything required for a new artist to get those creative streaks going. Well written. Thank you
Thank you for reading this article and taking the time to leave a comment. I appreciate it!
This is a great list! I love the copic markers!!!
I don’t make marker artwork, but I’ve heard such wonderful things about Copic markers!
Such a good post! I’ve learned that there are some areas where you can save more than others. I’ve gotten great results with my more affordable paints but cheap paper tends to fall apart on me!
I agree! You don’t need the most expensive paints when you’re a beginner or novice artist, but investing in quality paper is definitely a necessity. Thanks for sharing!
Great! I haven’t heard of gloves before. While reading this post I found what to present my little neighbour, who loves painting. Thanks for useful post 🙂
The drawing gloves are great (especially if you’re left-handed, like myself) because they are really good at protecting your artwork from hand smudges!
What a wonderful detailed guide! I love kneaded erasers too!
Thank you! I’m so glad I discovered kneaded erasers a few years ago because they are amazing!
Great post. You definitely don’t need to go expensive. I love the research you did. Thanks for the info.
Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed this article.
This reminded me of when I took an art class in high school. I struggled with knowing If I should purchase the more expensive products or the cheap products. These are great tips for beginners.
It’s always good to do some research before investing in art supplies because you’ll save a lot of money while still getting the best quality products for your budget. Thanks for sharing!
What a fantastic list for artists! I did not even know there was such a thing as a smudge guard! Saving this for my kids who love to create.
I’m glad you enjoyed the art supplies on this list!
Love this! I now have some idea for my Christmas wish list!! 💞🎄
I’m glad this article gave you some Christmas gift ideas!
Might have to keep these in mind as my nephew gets older, I’d love to encourage his creative side.
It’s great that you would like to encourage your nephew’s creative side!
What a great detailed guide! I love your ideas! Plenty of them will be on my list as gifts x
I’m glad I could help!