From Sketch to Masterpiece: Top Drawing Tools and Materials

 Art allows us to present our purest thoughts, feelings & ideas in honest, interpretive means. It allows usto transcend the concepts of simply surviving or living, to make a statement & leave our mark in the world.

This can take many forms of course including painting, sculpting, illustration, card-making & sketching. But, if you’re looking to upgrade your art, it’s best to invest & buy high quality art products.

Focusing on sketching, if you want to take your basic sketches & produce some masterpieces, have aread below for our recommended list of materials.

Paper

Whether you prefer loose-leaf, pads, or sketchbooks, paper is an important aspect of your work. Afterall, if you buy high-quality art products & apply them to an unsuitable surface, it simply won’t come out right.

Some aspects such as weight or texture are largely determined by your preferred techniques orapplications. For instance, smooth sheets are great for fine detailed sketches, whereas textured sheetswork for bold strokes & interesting finishes.

To ensure your work is long-lasting, always opt for acid-free (or archival) options, as these will activelyhelp to prevent damage, yellowing or fading in your work over time.

Graphic Pencils

Of course, if you’re looking to buy high quality products, then it makes no sense to skimp on theb fundamentals. Choosing professional-grade pencils provides a vast range of grades, finishes & possibilities not found in more conservatively-priced materials.

 Graphite pencils are available in a variety of hardness levels (or “grades”), which range between Hard -Soft along a spectrum. These are separated by letters such as H or B, with varying numbers that indicate the hardness or grade of each pencil.

To keep it simple, just remember:

- Soft: B, 2B, 3B etc are ideal for bold, dark lines or shading

- Hard: H, 2H, 3H etc produce lighter, less visible lines

Colored Pencils

Whether you’re working on portraiture, illustrations or landscape pieces, adding levels of depth, shading, colour, details & character to your work is even easier with the right coloured pencils.

Able to cater for personal preference, there are countless options available including Pastel, Watercolour, Oil-Based & more.

If you’re looking for coloured pencils with versatility, Faber-Castell have several high-quality rangesavailable both individually & in sets including Polychromos, Albrecht Durer & PITT Pastel.

Kneaded Eraser

As anyone will tell you, no artist's collection is complete without an eraser. We don’t like to admit it, but mistakes are always going to happen & it’s best to be prepared.

Kneaded (or “putty”) erasers have a gum-like consistency, making them incredibly flexible. This means they can be broken down into small pieces, rolled into various shapes & re-used again & again.

Able to remove pencil marks without smudging, their slightly tacky surface also makes them perfect forpicking up any messy pieces of graphite & other dry media such as charcoal or soft pastels.

As with anything, the above are the basics to get you started on your way to professional work. Anysketching journey begins with only 4 materials; a pencil, eraser, sharpener & paper.

The key to improvement (and not just in the art world) is Consistency, so take your time & be sure topractice your technique whenever possible. If you’re looking to create professionally, then be sure toinvest in yourself & buy high quality art products.