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An array of different pencil levels:
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Having pencils with different levels of hardness will greatly
increase your capabilities. They range from very hard (the lightest
shade of lead) to very soft (much richer, darker lead). I'd recommend
having one pencil from the H series for your lightest work. Have
a standard number two pencil handy, a B, 3B, 5B, and 6B or 9B for your darkest
work. Buy all the pencils at an art store (the #2 school pencil can be bought anywhere) to ensure the best quality. They'll each cost
from $.50 to $1.50, which is steep for a pencil, but it's well worth the
money and will last a good amount of time. I swear by the Sanford Turquoise series.
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Erasers:
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Make sure and have a kneadable eraser; I use Design
Kneaded Rubber Eraser. These are as moldable as clay, are very gentle
on paper, don't leave any particles behind, and can be handy for reaching
tiny spots that big clumsy erasers can't get. They are an absolute
staple in my book and will knock you back about $.80. A Pink Pearl is good to have for larger areas or for when the graphite is harder to get off the paper.
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Tortillons and stumps:
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Tortillons are made of spiral wound, soft paper and are generally
used to blend pencil lead. Stumps are the same, but have a smoother texture. They come in different sizes. It's
incredibly helpful to have the smallest size in your possession.
They reach those tiny places you usually can't adequately blend.
All sizes run at a dollar something or less and can be found at art stores
or in art supply catalogs.
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Clean makeup brush:
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It's not a necessity, but it's sure nice. Erasers can leave tons of junk behind on your paper, and
brushing them away with your hand can lead to smudging, and blowing them
away can lead to spit marks on your paper. Oh yuck. A large
fluffy makeup brush or paintbrush will clear away all those pesky particles
really easily.
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Paper:
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I suppose the need for this is quite obvious. If you
want good quality paper (for more serious projects) that will last I'd
suggest Strathmore Bristol board or sheets. Two-ply or heavier.
I use the Bristol 400 series in smooth texture, and 300 series in smooth texture. Having drawing or sketch pads gives you a much cheaper alternative to Bristol's
two-ply, but is still way above the degraded line paper. So it's a good
trade off for less serious work.
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A Board:
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Having a board gives you a hard base and allows you to put
your artwork at a tilt. This is the best position for drawing.
You can use your table's edge as an easy place to prop the board.
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Good Lighting:
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Ever since I was 11 my mom (who is an artist as well) has nagged me to use good lighting
while I draw. I never did. Till lately, when I realized
the artist with 40 years of experience told me to get good light for a
reason. It allows you to see your drawing as it really is.
Bad lighting can give you a false idea of what your drawing looks like.
And when you do see it in the light you'll probably be disappointed.
I never draw without a bright light anymore.
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Cotton Swabs and Balls:
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And last, but so important (in my opinion): cotton
swabs and balls. What you thought was only used for cleaning
ears and taking off nail polish is the best weapon I have against harsh
pencil lines. Using these tools over graphite allows you a smooth
texture not even remotely attainable by pencil alone, nor the tortillon.
Once the tip of a swab is saturated enough with graphite, you can even
use it to "paint" graphite onto your paper.
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