Drawing Materials

…start simple, then explore with enthusiasm…let your materials expand with your confidence

Drawing materials don’t need to feel complicated and you don’t need lots of things straight away. The good news is you only need a few well-chosen tools and a willingness to begin. Whether it’s the gentle control of graphite pencils, the bold richness of charcoal, the subtle layering of coloured pencils, or the fluid effect of water-soluble media and expressive pen work, each material has its own character and something valuable to teach you.

Play with them, explore what each can do with curiosity, and allow your confidence to grow. As your skills develop, so can your materials - each new addition will open the door to fresh marks, deeper tones and new creative possibilities.

Graphite Pencils…our usual starting point

For most beginners, graphite pencils are the perfect place to start. You don’t need a full set, in fact, buying individual pencils is often more cost effective, as large sets frequently include grades you rarely use.

A simple starter selection:

  • HB or 2B - for light sketching and initial outlines

  • 4B or 5B - for mid tones and stronger shadows

  • 7B or 8B - for deep shadows and rich dark areas

Why are there different grades?

Graphite pencils range from hard (H grades) - which make lighter, sharper lines, often used to create diagrams…to soft (B grades) - ideal for artists, who want to create a variety of shades, from light and delicate, to darker, richer ones. The higher the ‘B’ number the softer and darker the graphite will be.

Using a range of grades allows you to build tone and contrast effectively, without the need to press too heavily into the surface of the paper. When we apply too much pressure with a low number B pencil to achieve a dark tone, it’s often more difficult to remove, if we’ve made a mistake.

So people avoid adding the darks they see, because of this fear of not being able to remove it…but without the dark tones we’re limiting what we can achieve. Dark areas make the light areas work better, and it’s those dark tones that create the depth, weight, and realism we need in a drawing, which is essential for making our objects appear ‘real’ and three dimensional.

It’s good to get to know the tools you’ll be working with, so simple exercises like the one shown here will not only introduce you to how the pencils feel, but will also provide you with an opportunity to practice the pressure you apply…creating a sample to refer back to in the process.

Exercise: gather together all your pencils, (even if different brands) and create a small sample chart as shown in your sketchbook. I’ve used diagonal marks here, but it really doesn’t matter what mark you make, it’s more about focusing on the pressure you apply, and taking control of it:

Start on the left hand side making a very light mark, then gradually increase the pressure you apply as you move the marks to the right. You’ll notice that with higher number (grade) pencils you’ll achieve darker marks much sooner and with less pressure. Note which pencil you’ve used.

Pens - for lines, confidence and commitment

Pens are one of the most direct and expressive tools you can draw with. Unlike pencils they can't be softened or erased, so drawing with a pen asks for a more confident and deliberate way of working.

Every line you make stays on the page, which can feel quite daunting at first, but it's also what makes pen work feel so lively and fun to use.

Working with a pen really helps improve your observational skills, because you have to develop a certain level of accuracy with the lines you draw when creating the initial shape of your object…and then rely on the variety of marks you need to build the depth of shade and tone.

  • pros: consistent line width, reliable ink flow, great for detail and control, available in different nib sizes, encourages confident decision making

  • cons: limited variation in line, can feel a bit rigid or mechanical, can’t erase or soften lines

  • best for: clean line work, sketching, pen and wash with watercolour as it won’t bleed

Ballpoint Pens (Biros)

  • pros: widely available, cheap, variety of colours, surprisingly versatile, tone can be added by altering pressure, and built up through layering and cross hatching

  • cons: can feel scratchy, less predictable ink flow, a build up of residue can accumulate on the nib

  • Best for: sketching, shading practice, learning pressure control, easy to take out for en plein air sketching

Pen drawing rewards patients and curiosity. It may feel unforgiving at first, but overtime it encourages boldness and clarity in your work. The key is to experiment… Try different pens, make lots of marks, and allow yourself to learn through doing rather than aiming for perfect results.

  • pros: expressive, beautiful line variation, encourages flowing, confident marks, rich ink application, refillable

  • cons: can be messy, needs practice to control ink flow, can smudge, ink quality varies

  • Best for: expressive drawing, calligraphic lines, experimenting with style, sketching, fluid line work

Drawing with a pen can be a little challenging, especially if you’re using a permanent pen…there's little room for correction if something goes wrong, so you have to be inventive to cover up the mistake, or if this isn’t possible, be prepared to start again.

So it’s easy to feel pressure to get it right, and this tension can make your lines feel too tight and forced, or hesitant. Learning to embrace small mistakes as part of the process is an important step when working in pen…or of course there’s nothing stopping you drawing a light pencil outline first, as a guide, then work on top of it with the pen. This will give you a template and allow you to play with the pen more confidently.

Permanent Fineliners

  • pros: can be blended with water for adding tone, lines can be softened and shadows created, very versatile

  • cons: easy to accidentally smudge, lines can be lost with too much water, colour from the pen bleed can muddy paint colours, less predictable results

  • Best for: pen and wash work, combining drawing and painting techniques, ideal for quick expressive sketching, so ideal for en plein air

Fountain & Dip Pens

Soluble Pens

A Simple Recommendation for Beginners

…if you’re just starting, a few graphite pencils, a good eraser, a sketchbook…and maybe a fine liner pen or two is more than enough. As your confidence grows, you might introduce charcoal for bolder tonal work or coloured pencils for a new dimension.

Coloured Pencils - controlled colour

Coloured pencils are accessible, clean and easy to control. You don’t need a huge set. Even using a single colour can give a sketch a completely different mood and character.

You can also buy themed sets, such as portrait or landscape selections, with a limited but practical colour range.

Benefits

  • portable and tidy

  • excellent for detail

  • layerable and buildable

Considerations

  • building strong colour can take time

  • can encourage overworking if not careful

Charcoal… Bold and expressive

Charcoal is a more dramatic, expressive media than graphite and is wonderful for exploring tone and learning not to be afraid of bold shadows

Types of charcoal:

  • Charcoal pencils – light, medium or dark…more controlled and less messy

  • Willow charcoal - very soft and loose, great for expressive sketching

  • Compressed charcoal - darker and denser, stronger marks

Cons

Can be messy

Smudges easily

Requires a fixing spray to preserve finished work

Pros

Beautiful deep blacks

Excellent for strong tonal contrast

Encourages looser, more confident marks

Watercolour; Inktense & Pastel Pencils…where drawing meets painting

These materials bridge the gap between drawing and painting. These are excellent for artists ready to experiment beyond traditional graphite

Watercolour pencils

  • used dry like normal pencils

  • activated with water for soft washes

  • great introduction to paint without committing to a full watercolour

Inktense pencils

  • ink-based rather than pigment based

  • once wet and dry, the colour becomes permanent

  • very vibrant and bold

Pastel pencils

  • soft, velvety texture

  • rich colour and blend ability

  • less dusty than soft pastel blocks but still slightly messy

A Simple Recommendation for Beginners

…if you’re just starting, a few graphite pencils, a good eraser, a sketchbook…and maybe a fine liner pen or two is more than enough. As your confidence grows, you might introduce charcoal for bolder tonal work or coloured pencils for a new dimension.