Basic Drawing Supply List
Instructor Shirley Bird Wright

Students should bring these Basic Supplies to the first class: If you have trouble finding supplies I bring some with me for sale

• A table cover - I suggest a white plastic table cloth or large garbage sack
• Pencils: 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.
• Sketch pad or loose paper to draw on (9 X 12 or 11x14) - Please be sure to have good quality drawing paper - Canson Biggie Jumbo Sketch Pads is smooth best for the portrait class - 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
• Kneadable eraser - kneads into any shape; idea for highlighting
• White vinyl eraser - not a Pink pearl eraser
• Mini Dusting Brush or 2" new paint brush for brushing off eraser dust (Important!!)
• A pencil sharpener
  

Additional Materials you might want - will be discussed in the first class.

• A 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 them.
• A "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.
• Soft cloth or chamois -for blending or shading
• paper towels (Viva is best)
• Tortillions to use for smoothing and blending - Cotton Swabs
• Portable pencil sharpener or e-xacto knife (best for soft/medium pencils)
• Sandpaper pad - pointer to sharpen drawing pencils
• graphite transfer paper - can make your own - I will show you how
• tracing paper
• Roller ball pen or a stylus
• A small battery powered eraser - Probably your most expensive tool but well worth it. You can use them to create textures and to erase very small details and highlights.
• Masking tape
• Ruler
• Clear Acrylic Triangles w/Straight Edge
• a variety of papers
• Workable fixative spray can (odorless if possible)
• Your own resource material - preferably you own photographs

Optional:

• chalks, charcoal, and pastels
• White charcoal pencil (General's brand)
• Ball point and felt tip pens
• I highly recommend a drawing board. If you don't want to invest in a professional quality drawing board at this time any sturdy board will do (such as ½" foam board or masonite.) It should be slightly larger than your largest paper with clips or masking tape to hold the paper.
  

Other Items:

• Art Bin for holding all materials
• Portfolio for holding drawings and paper
• Small Mirror
• Spray re-workable fixative (Protects drawing from smudging or smearing) (SPRAYING MUST BE DONE OUTSIDE)
• Drawing board - (light-weight masonite works best)
• Bull dog clamps or similar to attach pad to board