Art Beginner’s Starter Kit

Starting your art journey? You’re in the right place!
This guide lists the exact materials I personally use for graphite and coloured pencil drawing. I haven’t tried every brand out there — these are just what I’ve bought, tested, and found useful as an artist.

Each item is linked to a blog post (or will be soon), so you can learn how to use it and whether it’s right for you.

Graphite Drawing – Beginner Picks

These are the materials I started with (and still use!):

1. Derwent Graphite Pencils – A basic set of 6 is enough
   (You can also try Faber-Castell or Staedtler)
2. Mono Zero Eraser – Great for tiny highlights
3. Blending Stumps – For soft shading ( read how I use them )
4. Mechanical Pencil – I use Faber-Castell 0.5mm 2B lead
5. Paper – I mostly use Strathmore Bristol Vellum, but Bristol Smooth works well too As a beginner, the Strathmore 300 series is a good start

Later Add-Ons (Optional but Useful)

• Kneaded Eraser – Great for lifting highlights gently
• Electric Eraser – Faster and more precise
• Faber-Castell Pitt Graphite Matt Pencils – Dark tones without shine

Coloured Pencil Drawing – Beginner Picks

Here’s what I use for coloured pencil artwork:

1. Faber-Castell Polychromos – Oil-based, great for fur and details If you’re a total beginner or on a budget, their student-grade pencils are fine too
2. Prismacolor Premier – Wax-based, very soft and blendable, but the tips can break easily
3. Caran d’Ache Luminance – Wax-based, smooth and lightfast
4. Solvent (I use Zest-It) – Helps blend colours like paint Not recommended for kids
5. Paper –
   • For fur and texture: Strathmore Bristol Smooth 300 Series
   • For portraits: Bristol Vellum (still experimenting to find my favourite)

Later Add-Ons (Optional but Useful)

• White Gel Pen – For adding tiny highlights like in eyes or jewelry

🛒 Where I Buy These

Most of the supplies listed here are what I personally buy and use, and I usually order them from:

Amazon

Sakura Sri Lanka – If you’re in Sri Lanka, they offer a great selection of authentic art materials (including many of the ones mentioned above).
→ Check out their online store: sakura.lk

💡 Final Tip

You don’t need everything at once! Start with a few basics and build your kit as you grow.
When you’re ready, you can explore more tools in my blog — or ask me directly anytime 💬