Supplies by Budget
You can complete the entire curriculum with the budget tier. The mid-range and professional tiers add quality, not capability.
Pencils
- Staedtler Mars Lumograph set (HB, 2B, 4B, 2H)
- Faber-Castell 9000 set (same grades)
- Any branded HB as daily workhorse
Paper
- A4 80gsm printer paper for practice (daily exercises)
- Daler-Rowney Smooth Cartridge Pad A4
- Any sketchbook for gesture practice
Erasers & Tools
- Faber-Castell kneaded eraser
- Staedtler Mars plastic vinyl eraser
- Pencil sharpener (small blade type)
- Ruler (30cm, for perspective)
Pencils
- Caran d'Ache Grafwood set (6H–6B)
- Palomino Blackwing for expressive gesture
- Mechanical pencil 0.5mm HB for precision
Paper
- Strathmore 400 Series Bristol Smooth (for finished work)
- Strathmore 300 Vellum for textured mark-making
- A3 cartridge pad for figure studies
Blending & Tools
- Blending stump set (tortillons, sizes 1–6)
- Tombow Mono Zero eraser pen
- Workable fixative spray (Krylon)
- Drawing board A3
Pencils & Charcoal
- Generals Charcoal Pencils for figure work
- Conte crayon sticks for broad tone
- Full Faber-Castell Pitt Graphite set
Inking (Phase 6)
- Copic Multiliner SP fineliners (0.1, 0.3, 0.5)
- Pentel Pocket Brush Pen for variable line
- Winsor & Newton inks for wash
- Arches Smooth hot-press for ink and wash
Recommended Channels
Proko
The definitive resource for figure drawing and anatomy. Stan Prokopenko's Figure Drawing Fundamentals series is the best free figure education available. Essential for Phase 5.
Watch on YouTube →Ctrl+Paint
Matt Kohr's free painting and drawing theory library. His value, edges, and shape design videos apply directly to Phases 3–6.
Watch on YouTube →Marc Brunet
Clear, structured tutorials on anatomy, character drawing, and composition. Excellent for Phases 5 and 6 professional practice.
Watch on YouTube →Peter Draws
Meditative, exploratory mark-making and texture work. Ideal for Phase 1 mark-making vocabulary and Phase 6 personal style development.
Watch on YouTube →Draw with Jazza
Accessible, energetic tutorials covering construction, character, and compositional thinking. Good Phase 2 and 6 companion.
Watch on YouTube →Line of Action
Free timed gesture pose reference tool. Use for all of Phase 5 daily gesture sessions: hands, figures, animals, faces. Set to 30 seconds for warm-ups.
Gesture Practice Resources →Essential Books
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain
The classic text on perceptual drawing: negative space, contour drawing, sighting, and the psychology of symbol vs. observation. Read before Phase 4.
Figure Drawing for All It's Worth
The foundational text for the Loomis head method and figure proportion. Essential companion to Phase 5. Available free online in many regions.
Keys to Drawing
Practical exercises for observational accuracy, texture, and drawing from life. Excellent for Phase 4 alongside the sighting modules.
Fun with a Pencil
Loomis's accessible entry into character and face construction. Lighter in tone than the full figure books and a good Phase 5 warm-up text.
The Natural Way to Draw
A 24-week structured program of gesture drawing exercises. Its gesture approach directly informs Phase 5 rapid drawing practice.
Framed Ink
Composition, lighting, and visual storytelling for the working artist. The best Phase 6 companion for the Narrative Masterpiece capstone project.
Practice & Reference Websites
Line of Action
Timed pose references: figures, hands, animals, faces. Free. The standard for Phase 5 daily gesture sessions.
Find tutorials →SenshiStock
Massive DeviantArt library of free-to-use pose references for figure drawing practice. High quality, diverse poses.
Find tutorials →Sketch Daily References
Reddit community (r/SketchDaily) with daily themed references covering everything from objects to portraits to landscapes.
Find tutorials →Pinterest / Reference boards
Build a personal reference board for each phase: anatomy, textures, perspectives, compositions. Visual reference is essential for self-directed practice.
Find tutorials →