The lead in these pencils vary in hardness, which affects how light or dark your lines and shading will be.

*Very Soft Lead: 7B and 8B

*Soft Lead: B, 2B, 3B, 4B, 5B, 6B

*Medium Lead: F, HB

*Hard Lead: H, 2H, 3H, 4H, 5H, 6H, 7H

*Very Hard Lead: 8H, 9H

The harder lead produces a lighter tone and the softer lead a darker tone.

Use the softer pencils for areas where you need very dark shading.

A combination of 2B, 6B and 6H pencils will get you started nicely.

*Drawing paper:

Bristol Board is my all time favorite paper to draw dog portraits on.

It is heavier than regular drawing paper. Almost card board-like.

Bristol Board comes in several different sizes and textures.

I really like the Smooth and Vellum surfaces.

Shading and Blending are both easy with Bristol Board.

*Blending Tortillions:

My favorite of all art supplies. These little beauties are worth their weight in gold. All they really are is tightly wound paper.

Shading and blending are much easier with these. Their pointed tip allows you to shade those tight spots.

*Kneaded Eraser:

These erasers work great for adding highlights to your dog portrait.

You actually add highlights by removing graphite with the eraser.

Roll the corner into a point or pinch the side into a sharp edge.

Dick Blick Art Materials  is the one stop place to get all the art supplies you need to draw your dog portraits.

*Sharp Edged Eraser:

The kind that is half ink and half pencil eraser.

You will use it to add highlights or dirty it up with graphite to add details to the hair and fur.

*Brush Just a cheap paint brush that you can get at any hardware store.

Use it to brush away eraser crumbs off your dog portrait. Never use the side of your hand and Never, Ever blow on your dog portrait!

*Template For Drawing Circles:

Use this template to make sure that the iris and pupil of your dog is perfectly round.

You can also get these templates to draw ellipses (ovals).

When a dog is viewed from the side or a three quarter angle, the pupil and iris will appear slightly oval in shape.

*Emery Cloth: When using your sharp edged eraser, use the emery cloth to keep the edge sharp.

Very fine grit sand paper can also be used.

*Clear, Plastic Report Cover: The kind we used to put our reports in when we were in school.

You will need this when you make your grid.(More on this later)

Get them at any department/drug store.

*Lamp:

A quality light source is very important. You can't draw it if you can't see it.

*Clip Board:

Are you drawing your dog portrait at the dining room table? Then you need one of these.

If the bottom of your dog portrait is hanging off the edge of the table, and you lean on it, it will make a crease in your paper.

Avoid this by clipping your dog portrait to this clip board.

*Drawing Table:

Eventually, if you are serious about drawing, you should have one of these.

Recently, many of you have asked me where to purchase quality supplies, such as pencils, Bristol Board, tortillions, etc. I get all of my supplies at Dick Blick Art Materials .They will have everything you need to get started.

Please check out my How To Draw Books for much more drawing instruction.

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