Unit 4: Portraiture Art Supplies

In addition to a computer with internet connection, printer, digital camera and scanner, you need the following supplies:

Art Materials

HB, 2B, & 4B Pencils(same as in Unit 1 – They come in a twin pack)
Charcoal Pencils – HB & 2B (for fine details) PLUS a white charcoal pencil
Box of assorted willow charcoal sticks including 6mm, 9mm and 14mm
Stick of Conte White B – Comes in a twin pack
Gum Eraser
Automatic or click eraser or normal plastic eraserand craft knife to cut into a thin slither or chisel shape
Putty Eraser (or kneaded eraser)
See through Plastic Ruler with mm divisions on it
1 sheet of clear acetate or a plastic sleeve (to place over your final portrait photo and draw guide lines onto with a permanent marker
Fine tip permanent marker
Hand-Held Pencil Sharpener
Cotton buds (Q-tips) or paper stumps
Quality soft paper towel (from the Supermarket)
Fine sandpaper 320 grit (to prepare your pencils for shading) – Buy from Hardware Store
Medium to coarse sandpaper 80 grit (to prepare your willow charcoal) – Buy from Hardware Store
A4 bond paper to print out course notes – Buy from a Stationery Store
Drawing paper: There are many papers to choose from, however for the smooth shading technique you need a quality smooth, drawing paper or watercolour paper that is not too shiny or your graphite will not adhere to the surface. I suggest a
High Quality Smooth Drawing or Watercolour Paper (Hot Press – 250gsm) – Recommend the 9″ x 12″ pad so it will (nearly) fit on your scanner.
Special Papers: Canson Mi-Teintes Drawing Papers – suggest 25 pack of Flannel Gray (colour 122) 8.5″ x 11″.
Alternatively, if you are visiting an art supplies shop you can buy 2 large sheets and cut it into A4 sized sheets. You’ll need at least 8 A4 sized sheets for your practice work and project.
Soft, clean water colour brush (I recommend the 3/4″ size) or a new and clean make-up brush for gently removing eraser particles
Can of fixative to spray your charcoal sketches afterwards
Several sheets of Glassine (thin glossy paper to place over your charcoal artworks to prevent smudging between drawing sessions and prior to framing)