I recommend paper cut or torn to 5 × 7 inches (13 × 18 cm) in size to keep the painting area manageable. You can buy pads this size or buy larger sheets and cut them to size.

Student Grade (more affordable)

Canson XL Series Bristol pad

Strathmore 400 drawing paper

Artist Grade

Strathmore 500 mixed media paper

Stonehenge drawing paper (comes in many colors, including kraft, and in 5 × 7-inch, or 13 × 18 cm, pads)

If you only want one pencil, buy an HB, also known as a no. 2 pencil. My favorite drugstore brand is Dixon Ticonderoga. Artist Andrew Wyeth used only no. 2 pencils he brought at a hardware store. Different types of pencils are fun, useful, and can make our job easier, but they are not necessary.

Graphite Pencils

Caran d’Ache Grafwood

Faber-Castell 9000

Staedler Mars Lumograph

Colored Pencils, Student Grade

Arteza

Crayola

Faber-Castell Premium

Colored Pencils, Professional Grade

Caran d’Ache Luminance

Derwent

Faber-Castell Polychromos

Fineliner Pens

Copic Multiliners

Sakura Pigma micron

Sharpie

Water-soluble Markers

Arteza brush tip

Crayola Super Tips

Waterproof Markers (India Ink)

Faber-Castell Pitt Artist pens

Metallic gel pens

Pilot G2

Uni-ball Signo

Uni-ball Signo broad-point gel pen (white gel pen)