Materials
For my graphite drawings I use Faber-Castell Pitt Graphite Matt pencils. I find that these pencils don't create a shine on the paper and they offer grades from HB to 14B which allows me to create darker shades for a more realistic look.
The Derwent Lightfast 72 set were the first colour pencils I ever bought in 2021 and they really changed my life, opening me up to the world of colour. As an oil based pencil they allow me to build multiple layers on top of each other.
I purchased Caran D'Ache Luminance 100 set at the beginning of 2022 after researching the best pencils to use. They are a wax based pencil, which made me a little nervous at first because I had been informed that you couldn't create as many layers with wax based pencils as oil based pencils, however I have been blown away by these pencils and have found that, not only can you build the layers, they also work well along side the lightfast pencils.
There is such a wide variety of colours available, Caran D'Ache now do a 120 set too. These are my go to colour pencils now for my portraits.
Stonehenge Fine Art Paper is my preferred paper to use. This acid free paper is made from 100% cotton and it allows me to build up multiple layers without worry of overloading the paper. The quality of the grain in the paper also adds a nice effect to the portraits making human subjects skin more realistic.
You can buy this paper at www.jacksonsart.com
Derwent mechanical sharpener is great for use with the graphite pencils as it creates a nice sharp point without weakening the graphite.
This is available from www.derwentart.com
The Kum Masterpiece sharpener is an absolute game changer for use with colour pencils. I read about this sharpener on another artists blog and I put off buying for a long time as it's not cheap at £16.80 but I'm glad I did as this sharpener creates such an amazingly fine point on the pencils. It doesn't work too well with the graphite pencils as they are a thinner pencil but with the colour pencils being fatter this has to be a must for all artists.
This is available from www.jacksonsart.com
Other tools I use include, blending stumps and fine paint brushes for blending graphite, fine sand paper for cleaning the blending stumps, erasers (Steadtler are my go to), a putty eraser which is used to remove layers and can be kneaded into any shape, mechanical pencil extenders and Windsor & Newton fixative for protecting the drawings from smudging and dust when they are complete.
If you would like more information on where to purchase these items please contact me.