Apart from paper and colour pencils there are a few essential tools I use to create my pet portraits. Here is a list of the ones I can’t do without with a link to where you can buy them. I hope this helps with anyone starting out in colour pencil drawing. Let me know if there are any you use and think should be on list too!

1. Faber-Castell Dusting Brush 1600

This is the best tool to keep your paper clean and avoid any smudge marks and fingerprints all over your beautiful artwork. Use it to brush away access pencil whilst you draw. I use mine every few minutes to ensure no extra material is left on my paper. Even a normal make up brush will do the job but the bristles on this brush a little harsher and better for getting of clusters of pencil. If you don’t have one already I would definitely suggest getting one. Follow the link below for amazon.co.uk or amazon .com to buy.

2. Papermania 3-Piece Embossing Tool

These indent tools are perfect for creating whiskers and stray hairs. Indenting the paper where your fine hairs are will prevent the colour pencil from entering these recessed areas. The come as a pack of three and have various sized indent shapes you can use for different sized intended areas you want to create. If you want to read more about how I draw whiskers then please follow this link to my blog post on whiskers!

Follow the link below for to buy.

3. Erasers

There are three main options fr erasers that I have found to be very helpful, not just for erasing mistakes but also creating effects.

Derwent Battery Operated Eraser

I absolutely love this Eraser! I haven’t found an eraser better than this one and I use it all the time. It is defiantly a must have tool for any type of pencil drawing. It is also really good at erasing through multiple layers of colour pencil. It can be harsh on super smooth paper so just be aware not to erase over the same place too many times. I really love the Derwent brand. They have some great tools to try out including a sharpener which I will get to next.

Follow the link below to buy.

4. Pencil Sharpeners

I have three different pencil sharpeners that I like to use for different pencils at different lengths. The Jakar Electric Pencil Sharpener was a Christmas present and I love it so much. It is a little pricey compared to the others but it sharpens the pencils really beautifully and automatically stops when the pencil is sharp. This type has a maximum pencil thickness it can sharpen which doesn’t include the Caran D’ache Luminance brand and the Derwent drawing pencils I like to use. It will sharpen any of the Faber Castell Polychromos pencils. You can get an adjustable version but this is more expensive.

Follow the link to buy.

Derwent Super Point Sharpener

The second pencil sharpener is the Derwent Super Point Desktop Pencil Sharpener which i have used since the start of becoming a pet portrait artist. It is incredibly useful and can sharpen pencils of any diameter. There is an attachment for the table but I don’t tend to use this.

Follow the link below for amazon.co.uk or amazon .com to buy.

Faber Castell Trio Sharpening Box

Lastly is the Faber Castell Trio Sharpening Box which I like to use when my pencils become too small to sharpen in the other two but are still useable. It has three different whole sizes to sharpen any brand of colour pencil you are using.

Let me know what you think of these and if you know of any other sharpeners that you like.

Follow the link to buy.

5. Zest It: Pencil Blend

I started using this pencil blend this year and I was pleasantly surprised by how well it works. I have found it really useful for my drawings of black cats where I like to build up layers of colour to create depth in the portrait. I would defiantly recommend using this if your pencil technique involves many layers on small tooth paper.

Follow the link to buy.

Thank you for reading this blog post and comment below if there are any essential tools you think should be included in this post for colour pencil portraits.

Go to my next blog on 5 Must Have Materials for Colour Pencil Artists.

I look forward to hearing from you!

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