Your Essential Coloured Pencil Supplies: A Beginner's Guide

Hello there! Are you excited to dive into the wonderfully vibrant world of coloured pencils?

That's fantastic! Getting started can feel a little confusing with so many supplies available, but don't worry. The secret is that you really don't need a mountain of gear to begin creating beautiful art.

This guide focuses on the essential supplies – the core items that will get you drawing and learning effectively without breaking the bank or causing overwhelm.

I've chosen items that are readily available here in the UK and offer a great balance of quality and value specifically for beginners like you.

Let's get you kitted out!

Your First Pencils: What You Really Need

Coloured pencils have come a long way since the ones we used in school! Modern pencils are capable art tools, but which ones should you start with? Here’s the lowdown:

Student vs. Artist Grade Pencils

You'll often hear pencils described as either 'Student' or 'Artist' grade. What's the difference?

• Artist Grade: These are professional quality. They generally contain more pigment (the stuff that makes the colour!), meaning richer, more vibrant results. They also tend to have better lightfastness (meaning the colours resist fading over time) and smoother, stronger cores that layer and blend beautifully. As you'd expect, they cost more.
• Student Grade: These are designed with learners and budget in mind. They are more affordable, making them perfect for practicing techniques without worrying about using expensive materials. The quality can vary, but good student ranges offer a great introduction.

My Recommendation: For starting out, I strongly suggest getting a good quality Student Grade set.

Focus on learning the core techniques – layering, blending, pressure control – without the pressure of using pricey pencils.

If you fall in love with the medium (which I hope you do!), you can always treat yourself to an Artist Grade set later for their enhanced performance and longevity.

Wax vs. Oil Based Pencils

You might also hear about pencils being wax-based or oil-based. This refers to the binder that holds the pigment together in the pencil core, and it affects how they feel:

• Wax-Based: Often feel softer, creamier, and cover the paper easily. They can be lovely for blending. Sometimes, with very heavy application, they might develop 'wax bloom' (a harmless whitish haze – less common with modern UK/European brands and easily wiped off). Examples include many popular Derwent ranges and Prismacolor Premier.
• Oil-Based: Often feel a little firmer and less 'waxy'. They are fantastic for layering, hold a sharp point well for details, and don't cause wax bloom. Faber-Castell Polychromos are a classic example.

Which is best for beginners? Honestly, both are excellent, and much comes down to personal preference!

Don't stress too much about this for your first set.

Many find the slightly firmer feel of oil-based pencils helps with control when learning layering. The key is choosing a reputable brand within your chosen grade.

How Many Colours?

t's tempting to buy the biggest set possible, but you really don't need to!

• A set of 24 to 36 colours gives you a fantastic range to start with. Learning to mix colours by layering is a crucial skill, and a smaller set encourages this.
• Later on, most good ranges allow you to buy individual pencils, known as 'Open Stock' (often around £2+ each for artist grade). This is perfect for replacing your most-used colours without buying a whole new set.

Try Before You Buy? (A Smart Tip!)

Pencils feel different to different people. If you have an artist friend, ask if you could just have a quick scribble with their pencils!

Alternatively, consider buying just two or three individual 'open stock' pencils from a brand or range that interests you (most UK art suppliers sell them singly). It's a small investment to see if you like the feel before committing to a full set.

My Specific UK Recommendations for Beginners

• Best Student Starter Set: For a reliable and affordable start, readily available in the UK, I recommend the Derwent Academy Coloured Pencils (Set of 24 or 36). They offer good quality for the price and are a great way to learn the ropes with a trusted UK brand. 
• Your First Artist Grade Upgrade (Optional): When you feel ready to invest in professional quality for richer colours and better lightfastness, a fantastic choice easily found in the UK is the Faber-Castell Polychromos (Set of 24). These oil-based pencils are beloved by artists worldwide for their superb layering and blending capabilities. 

A Note on Buying from Abroad:

Be cautious if considering ordering pencils directly from US websites.

While prices sometimes look lower initially, you can often face significant VAT, import duty, and high shipping costs upon arrival in the UK, making them much more expensive.

Plus, dealing with returns or issues is usually much easier with a UK-based retailer.

Choosing Your First Paper: Getting the Surface Right

You've got your pencils sorted, but what will you draw on?

Choosing the right paper makes a huge difference with coloured pencils!

Unlike regular printer paper (which is generally too thin and smooth), you need a surface sturdy enough to handle multiple layers and techniques like blending or erasing without falling apart or damaging easily.

Getting this right helps avoid frustration and lets your beautiful pencil colours truly shine.

Here’s what to consider:

Paper Weight (Thickness)

How thick and sturdy the paper is matters! This is usually measured in GSM (Grams per Square Metre) here in the UK. A higher GSM number means thicker, more robust paper.

• Recommendation: For coloured pencils, where you'll likely be applying multiple layers, aim for something that won't easily buckle or tear. Generally, paper between 150gsm and 250gsm (or even slightly heavier) is a great starting range. Standard copier paper is usually only 80-90gsm and just won't cope well.

Paper Surface (Texture or 'Tooth')

The texture of the paper, often called its 'tooth', is crucial for coloured pencils. Think of it as tiny hills and valleys on the surface that grip the pigment as you draw.

• You need enough tooth to hold several layers of pencil, allowing you to build up rich colour and blend effectively.
• However, a very rough surface (like traditional 'Rough' watercolour paper) can make fine details difficult and tends to eat through your pencils quickly!
• Common finishes suitable for coloured pencils include 'Hot Press' (HP) watercolour paper, which is very smooth, or papers with a 'Vellum' surface or medium-textured Cartridge paper, which offer a bit more grip.

My Specific UK Recommendations for Beginners:

So, where to start? Here are two excellent, readily available options in the UK that work beautifully for beginners, offering slightly different experiences:

For a Smooth Finish: Derwent Watercolour Paper Pad (Hot Pressed, 300gsm)

Don't let the 'watercolour' name confuse you for dry pencil work! 'Hot Pressed' simply means it has a lovely smooth surface, which is fantastic for achieving fine details in your drawings.

Because it's designed for water, it's also nice and sturdy (usually 300gsm), easily handling plenty of pencil layers and erasing without damage.

Bonus: If you decide to explore the Watercolour Pencils section later, you'll already have suitable paper!

For Affordability & Layering Practice: Daler Rowney Heavyweight Cartridge Pad (e.g., 200-220gsm)

This is a classic choice in the UK and often more budget-friendly.

Heavyweight cartridge paper typically has more tooth (a bit more texture) than Hot Press paper. Many beginners find this slight texture really helpful for gripping the pencil pigment as they learn to build up layers effectively.

Ensure you get the 'Heavyweight' version (look for 200gsm or higher).

Which to Choose? If you think you'll enjoy focusing on very fine details right away, the smooth Derwent HP might appeal more. If you want a reliable, slightly more textured surface that's great for practising layering and often kinder on the wallet, the Daler Rowney Heavyweight Cartridge is a fantastic option. Both are excellent starting points!

Paper colour

• For learning, I strongly recommend starting with White or Off-White paper. It makes seeing your colours accurately and understanding values much more straightforward. You can explore toned papers later on!

Future Exploration: There are many other wonderful papers out there! When you feel ready to experiment further, you can check out our 'Best Paper Guide' in Resources for a more in-depth look at different options.

Essential Tools: Keeping Sharp and Making Changes

Beyond pencils and paper, a few basic tools will make your drawing process much smoother.

A Good Sharpener

Keeping your pencils sharp is important for coloured pencil work!

A good point gives you control for fine details and helps greatly when applying light layers.

While any basic sharpener will work to start, coloured pencil cores (especially the softer ones) can be prone to breaking in less forgiving sharpeners. Investing just a little in a good quality manual sharpener often gives better results and less frustration.

• Recommendation: Look for brands known for quality blades, such as Kum or M&R (Mobius + Ruppert), often found at specialist art suppliers. Models like the Kum Long Point Sharpener allow you to shape the wood differently, and many quality sharpeners have replaceable blades, offering great long-term value.
• Learn How: Getting the sharpening technique right helps prevent breakage too! Find out more here: How to Sharpen Your Coloured Pencils

Erasers for Lifting & Refining

You generally can't erase coloured pencil completely like you can graphite, especially once colours are layered heavily. Instead, think of erasers as tools for lifting pigment or creating highlights. Two types are incredibly useful:

• Kneaded Eraser: These soft, grey, putty-like erasers (the Faber-Castell Kneaded Eraser is excellent and widely available) are essential. You warm them in your hand, knead them to get a clean surface, and can shape them to a point or edge. Use them to gently dab or roll over areas to lift layers of colour without damaging the paper surface.
• Precision Eraser: For getting into tiny spaces or creating sharp highlights (like whiskers or glints in eyes), a pen-style precision eraser is fantastic. The Tombow Mono Zero Eraser is a popular choice, available with fine round or rectangular tips, and refills last well.
• Top Tip: Don't forget simple sticky tack (like Blu-Tack)! It's surprisingly effective at lifting layers of coloured pencil pigment – just press it down firmly and peel away.

Blending Tools (Introduction)

As you progress, you'll see artists using various tools to blend colours smoothly for a 'painterly' effect.

Common options include paper stumps, colourless blender pencils, and even special solvents. Each gives a different result and has its own techniques. You don't need these right away, but it's good to know they exist!

• Learn How: Did you know you can blend with a simple roll of paper? 

Useful Extras (Nice-to-Haves Later!)

ou really don't need anything else to make a fantastic start. However, down the line as you build your kit, you might find these couple of items handy:

• Pencil Extender: A simple holder that grips onto the end of your pencils when they get too short to hold comfortably. It lets you use every last centimetre – great for getting value from your pencils!
• Soft Dusting Brush: A large, very soft brush (an inexpensive, large makeup brush works perfectly!) is useful for gently sweeping away pencil or eraser crumbs without smudging your precious drawing. Much better than using your hand!

Where to Buy Your Supplies in the UK

Your local independent art shop is always a wonderful place to start – the staff are often knowledgeable, and you can see the supplies firsthand.

For online shopping, or if you don't have a local store, there are many excellent UK-based online art suppliers known for good service and selection. I'm compilng a list to help you find them and will add the link here when it is ready.

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