Drawing Skills - My Favourite Drawing Kit

Staedtler Tradition 110 2B graphite pencils
These pencils are wonderful for sketching, layouts and getting ideas together. I used these pencils for the step-by-step drawings in the book, Draw New Zealand Birds.

Staedtler double hole pencil sharpener
Also available in a single hole version. These sharpeners keep the pencils sharp and have a container to catch the pencil shavings. Ideal for drawing in class or on location, when a rubbish bin isn't handy.

Faber-Castell eraser
To remove a area of the drawing that is not wanted.

Faber-Castell kneadable eraser
Ideal for lifting areas of a drawing, to lighten a line or tone, and then continue drawing.

30cm plastic ruler
For measuring and checking the drawing area.

Sheets of A4 photocopy paper
I use photocopy paper under my drawing hand to protect the completed areas of the drawing, from being smudged and getting dirty.

Zeta layout paper
(available in A1 sheets or A4, A3, A2 and A1 pads) Zeta paper is a semi transparent layout paper. It has a coating on the top side, so drawings using spirit based markers won't bleed through to the next sheet.

I use pencil and coloured pencil on Zeta layout
paper, with great success. Also if a drawing is not working, tear it off the pad and place underneath the next sheet. The original drawing can be seen through the top sheet. So you can redraw and correct the drawing as you go.

I spray the drawings with fixative
and keep them in a folder, or flap the work to protect it.

More information on the Techniques page (page 6 & 7) of the book Draw New Zealand Birds.