Discover the Four Essentials You’ll Need To Start Drawing Today

Drawing is a satisfying creative outlet. Whether you just like doodling or enjoy creating portraits, there is something for everyone. But if you are new to drawing, you might wonder what tools you'll need to start. Luckily, My Modern Met writer Margherita Cole is also a talented illustrator, and she's here to help. In her online drawing course, Drawing 101: Learn the Building Blocks of Sketching, she not only demonstrates how to draw a wide variety of subjects, but she also shares what tools work best.

Luckily, you don't have to invest a lot to get started. Cole's basic supply kit includes a pencil (either wooden or mechanical), pens (fine liner or brush pens if possible), a good-quality eraser, and quality paper. Bristol and Strathmore are failsafe options, but there are a wide variety of options available depending on the type of drawing you are creating. Having a ruler handy is also a good idea, but not required. With these simple tools, you'll have everything you need to get started on your drawing adventure.

Once you've purchased your essential drawing supplies, you are ready to get started. While there are plenty of good books to learn how to draw, if you prefer guided instruction, why not try Cole's class with My Modern Met Academy? Designed to give you a solid foundation for sketching, you'll come away feeling confident that you can tackle any subject. If you want to get more specific into portrait drawing or architectural drawing, My Modern Met Academy has classes for that as well.

And if you want more drawing tips, you can also sign up for our monthly Drawing Club newsletter. Curated by Cole, it comes out each month and is filled with tips, tricks, and inspiration to keep you drawing all year long.

Want to start drawing but aren't sure what you need? A pen, pencil, eraser, and paper are all the tools you'll require.

Essential Drawing Supplies

Illustrator Margherita Cole explains all this and more in her basic drawing class for My Modern Met Academy.

In Drawing 101: Learn the Building Blocks of Sketching, she demonstrates how to draw a wide variety of subjects.

Essential Drawing Supplies

If you're looking for more specific drawing instruction My Modern Met Academy also has wonderful portrait drawing and architecture drawing classes.

Best of all, it's all online. So you can start anytime and watch at your leisure.

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Jessica Stewart

Jessica Stewart is a Staff Editor and Digital Media Specialist for My Modern Met, as well as a curator and art historian. Since 2020, she is also one of the co-hosts of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. She earned her MA in Renaissance Studies from University College London and now lives in Rome, Italy. She cultivated expertise in street art which led to the purchase of her photographic archive by the Treccani Italian Encyclopedia in 2014. When she’s not spending time with her three dogs, she also manages the studio of a successful street artist. In 2013, she authored the book "Street Art Stories Roma" and most recently contributed to "Crossroads: A Glimpse Into the Life of Alice Pasquini." You can follow her adventures online at @romephotoblog.
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