This video is part 1 in a Drawing Curriculum designed for self-taught artists. (Watch Part 2 & Part 3)
This discussion provides an insight into the immense range and types of drawing media: charcoal, colored pencils, graphite, erasers, pastels, pens, markers, scratchboard, inks, drawing surfaces, drawing accessories, smudging tools, surfaces, and sketchbooks.
Discussion led by Art Prof Clara Lieu and Teaching Artists Lauryn Welch and Cat Huang.
Video Walkthrough
- It’s easy to be suspicious of “new” art supplies on the market, but keep an open mind!
- There is a lot more to graphite supplies than you think, see all the different forms graphite comes in.
- Charcoal is really great for loosening up your drawing style.
- Some supplies you can skip, or buy in a very cheap version.
- Work with an “army of erasers.” Each eraser has it’s own special talent, unique to itself.
- Working with the wrong paper can sometimes get in the way of having a good experience with a medium.
- Drawing with markers is a great entry point for painting.
- Working with a drawing material you can’t erase can get you to really deal with your drawing.
- Other supplies are worth paying for if you can.
- Soft pastels, oil pastels, crayons, and colored pencils vary tremendously from brand to brand.
- Get recommendations from other artists on what specific brands are like.
- There is no brand that is “the best,” it comes down to personal preferences.
Art Supplies
Charcoal & Conté Crayon
Graphite
Markers
- Molotow markers
- Sharpie paint markers
- Copic sketch markers
- Tombow Dual Brush Pens
- Tombow ABT PRO brush pens
- Faber-Castell Pitt Brush Pens, multicolor
Scratchboard Tools
- Ampersand wire brush
- Ampersand Scratchbord Tool Kit
- Ampersand Scratch Knife
- Etching Needle
- Sandpaper, fine grit
Crayon & Colored Pencil
- Caran d’ache Necolor I Crayons
- Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer Watercolor Pencils
- Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer Magnus Watercolour Pencils
- Crayola Crayons
Erasers
- Staedtler white plastic eraser
- Faber-Castell Dust-Free Eraser
- Kneaded eraser
- General Factis Pen Style Eraser
Paper for Wet Media
Drawing Paper
Inks, & Pens
- Water Brush Pen
- Bic Ballpoint pen
- W&N Fineliner Fine Tip Pens
- Rapidograph pen
- Plastic Dropper
- Rapidograph pen refill
- Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pens, black
- Tombow MONO Drawing Pen, 01
- Sakura Gelly Roll Pen, White
- Zebra Comic Pen, G Nib
- Tachikawa Comic Pen Nib Holder
- Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bombay India Ink
- Sketchmarker Alcohol Inks
Soft & Oil Pastels
- Rembrandt Soft Pastels
- Caran D’ache Neopastel Oil Pastels
- Terry Ludwig Pastels Basics Set
- Prismacolor NuPastel Set of 24
- Diane Townsend Pastel Set
Accessories & Knives
- Drawing board
- Permanent Spray Fixative
- Razor blades
- Utility Knife
- Cotton rag
- Pencil Extender
- Artist Chamois
Sketchbooks
Printmaking Paper
Pastel Surfaces
Boards
- Black mat board
- Illustration board
- Unprimed basswood
- Ampersand Scratchbord
- Ampersand Claybord
- Bristol board
Transparent Surfaces
Full Curriculum
Artists Mentioned
- Chris Ofili
- Alan Lee
- Julie Mehretu
- Frank Auerbach
- David Alfaro Siqueiros
- Hokusai
- Francisco Goya
- Daniel Zeller
- Casey Roonan
- Shahzia Sikander
- Toba Khedoori
- William Kentridge
- Jacopo da Pontormo
- Edgar Degas
- Huguette Despault May
- Rembrandt
- Song Kang
- Alberto Giacometti
- Kathleen Speranza
- John Singer Sargent
- Odilon Redon
- Tony Janello
- Hong Zhang
- Hilary Brace
- Albrecht Dürer
- Bill Watterson
- Marlene Dumas
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