Graphite Pencil Drawing Supply Lists

Grab a pdf of this list.

Starter List: Basic supplies

Graphite drawing or sketching pencils

• These come in grades and range from 9B (very soft) to 9H (very hard).
• A good starter range would be 2H, B and 2B.
• You can buy drawing pencils in sets or individually.
• Graphite drawing and sketching pencils at Dick Blick.

Good hand held pencil sharpener

• A small plastic one will do but make sure it brings your lead down to a full long sharp point.
• Long point hand held sharpener at Dick Blick.

Kneaded Eraser

• Soft malleable eraser that's very easy on the paper but still lifts graphite well.
  • I think several small individually wrapped erasers are more convenient than one large eraser.
• Kneaded erasers at Dick Blick. (Store brand is good quality and least expensive.)

Rectangular vinyl (plastic) eraser

• Cleanly erases even very dark graphite.
• Rectangular vinyl eraser at Dick Blick.

Drawing Paper

• Make sure the texture is not too rough (or your details will look rough) and not too slick (or the graphite won't stick to it well enough to make dark values.)
• A tablet that is marked as "drawing paper" will probably work fine.
• Get a good sized tablet. (At least 8.5 x 11) A tablet that has rings is much more useful than one with a bonded top or side.
• If you are concerned about your drawings lasting for a while, look for "acid free" paper.
  • I like Canson Pure White and Strathmore Drawing paper pads best.
• Drawing Paper at Dick Blick

Intermediate List: After Basic Supplies.

Wider variety of pencils

• To extend your range of pencils, add a 4B, 6B, 4H, and 6H. You will be able to make interesting value variations and textures with these grades.

"Stick" eraser

• They come in a plastic body and you can sharpen the eraser's end into useful shapes, like a point or a wedge, to create special effects.
  • I like the Tuff Stuff eraser by Sanford.
• Stick erasers and refills at Dick Blick

Small sharp knife

• Use it to shape vinyl erasers into better erasing tools.
• Sharpen pencil tips into flat and angled chisel tips.
• Small craft knifes at Dick Blick

Blending tools

• Stumps - rolled paper blender with a hard point.
• Tortillons - ground gray paper formed into a stump shape. They are slightly softer than rolled paper stumps.
  • I prefer tortillons because the softer texture works well with graphite.
  • To save money, buy a package of mixed sizes.
• Small flat brush - for blending and also shading techniques and textures.
• Stumps and tortillons and inexpensive small flat brush's at Dick Blick

Archival 100% cotton paper

• To preserve your artwork.
• Good for drawings that you intend to sell.
• I like Stonehenge paper because it has a smooth surface and is very inexpensive.
• Stonehenge paper at Dick Blick

Matte Fixative

• Protective spray finish for your drawings.
• Don't skimp on this. Your drawings are worth it, one can lasts a while, and it's not very expensive.
• For graphite drawings, use the kind marked "archival," "matte finish" and "for pastels and charcoal.".
• Matte Fixative at Dick Blick (The store brand is the best buy and works fine.)

Advanced List: Useful Tools

A Storage Box

• To keep all your tools in.
  • I use a plastic tool box I bought at a hardware store. It was cheap and works great.

Small battery powered eraser

• Use it to create textures and to erase very small details and highlights.
  • I use a Sukura. I've had it for 10 years, used it on hundreds of drawings, and it still works fine.

Mechanical pencils with 2mm leads and a hand held rotating point sharpener

• These large leads come in several grades and sharpen to a long fine point quickly with a good sharpener.
  • I currently use Staedtler leads.
• Use them to draw extremely small detail.
• Be sure to get a sharpener that fits the mechanical barrel. (Information about which pencils it's for is usually on the back of the package.)
• Mechanical pencils with 2mm leads and a hand held rotating point sharpener at Dick Blick

Blow-bulb

• To blow away graphite dust and eraser crumbs.
• Look in the pharmacy in the "infant" section for a blow-bulb type of "nasal aspirator."

High quality archival 100% cotton paper

• Arches smooth surface watercolor paper is preferred by many drawing artists including me. The surface works well for graphite and can take a lot of erasing and re-working.
• Arches Watercolor Paper at Dick Blick

Pastel brushes For Blending Graphite

• I've never found bushes made specifically for graphite, but some pastel brushes work well.
• Use them to blend and to apply powdered graphite.
• Pastel brushes at Dick Blick

© Carol Rosinski 2010
The writing and images on this page are the copyrighted work of Carol Rosinski and cannot be used without her permission.

Web design by C. Rosinski

I've been growing Toad Hollow Studio since 1999.