If you’ve ever found yourself staring at shelves (or webpages) full of pencils thinking “Where on earth do I even start?” you’re not alone.

I get asked this almost daily – and it made me think… if I were starting again today, knowing everything I’ve learned over the last ten years, what would I actually buy?

So in my recent youtube video, I walk you through it properly. I show you exactly what supplies I’d choose, what I’d skip, and how I’d build a simple, confidence-boosting starter set without wasting money.

Start With the Right Surface

If you’re new, I’d recommend a hot press watercolour paper.

It’s smooth enough not to feel scratchy and frustrating, but it still takes layers beautifully. That balance is important when you’re learning – you want the paper working with you, not against you.

What Pencils Would I Choose?

If budget allows, I love Faber-Castell Polychromos. They’re reliable, layer beautifully, and have excellent greys and browns (especially if you love drawing animals).

But you do not need the full 120 set to begin.

If you’re on a budget, buy singles and curate your own small collection.

At minimum, I’d include:

• Dark Sepia
  
• Payne’s Grey
  
• Black
  
• A warm grey
  
• A cool grey
  

Then add a few earthy browns, a couple of oranges and yellows, one or two reds, and a small range of blues. That’s more than enough to start building confidence and learning layering properly.

Remember – coloured pencil is about layering colours together. Not finding the “perfect” pencil.

A Few Simple Supply Tools

You don’t need much.

• A precision eraser (like a Tombow Mono) for highlights and texture
  
• A kneadable eraser
  
• A soft brush to sweep away pigment
  
• And optionally a slice tool for fine texture (once you’ve learned pencil control first)
  

That’s it.

This Isn’t About Buying Everything

It’s about starting wisely.

When you simplify your materials, you reduce overwhelm. When you reduce overwhelm, you build confidence. And confidence is what actually improves your drawings.

If you’d like to see everything properly laid out and explained, watch the full video above.And if you’d like a complete list of my go-to supplies, along with the exact links to where I get them, just  click here to take a look