My Tools & Materials

These are my favourite pencils for getting the tiny fur strokes in my graphite pet portraits. They're all I used for years!

It's a pencil with a rubber inside.. what an invention! Great for adding highlights. 

https://amzn.to/3CldlJv

I love these little sillicone tools for blending graphite, it's a much smoother blend than a paper stump.

https://amzn.to/34jG0U0

My all time favourite paper for pastels and coloured pencils. I wouldn't use anything else for pastels. Dark grey and sand are my favourite tones.

Pack of 5 sheets: https://amzn.to/3AEmQnU

larger single sheets: Clairefontaine Pastelmat : Pastel Board : 50x70cm : Sand | Jackson's Art Supplies (jacksonsart.com)

Really lovely pencils. The whites and pastel highlights colours are essential for me, but I buy them in singles as they're the most expensive.

Search results for: 'caran dache pastel pencils' | Jackson's Art Supplies (jacksonsart.com)

These are my favourite coloured pencils, but also the most expensive. Really buttery smooth with a lovely range of natural colours for animal art.

https://amzn.to/32EfAvw

I use these cheap synthetic brushes with the zest-it pencil blend to blend coloured pencils.

​https://amzn.to/3KSwNCD

I've tried a lot of brands of pencils, and these have always remained my favourites.

My favourite paper for human portraits. Really smooth with a nice slight cream tone to it. Acid-free & archival.

https://amzn.to/3GihwtI

I have plenty of metal sharpeners for my graphite pencils, but I always reach for this one the most. Lasts a long time.

https://amzn.to/340ChuG

The main workhorse of my pastel pencil collection. Thoroughly recommend as a first pastels set, cheaper than the other options too!

https://amzn.to/3uhbdlo

I love these pencils for bright colours. They're really soft and vibrant.

https://amzn.to/3INtuLe

Workhorse of the coloured pencil collection. The first ones I used before I started adding to my collection.

https://amzn.to/3Ga73ON

I recently got the 120 set of these pencils and they're wonderful, perfect balance between the caran dache and the polychromos in qualities.

https://amzn.to/3rWGrvG

Life saver pens for adding those tiny high.ights to both coloured and black and white portraits. 3 different thicknesses.

I came across this paper by chance as it was the only one I could find in a larger size for a commission. I found out I LOVE it! Slightly more tooth than the Strathmore, but still very smooth. It's bright white, too.

https://amzn.to/3rbLSrs

This is THE BEST sharpener ever for coloured pencils. Works great for pastel pencils too, but pastels blunt the blades really fast. 

Sharpener: https://amzn.to/3KVbwsj

Replacement blades: Swordfish Ikon and Ebony Replacement Blade | 40908 (officepad.co.uk)

The first pastel pencil set I ever used, great all rounder pencils. 

​https://amzn.to/3oaa4Z4

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MUST HAVE for the carbothello pastel pencils. Such sharp point for such a cheap price. This also works with the Faber Castell pastel pencils nicely.

Stabilo Carbothello : Pastel Pencil Sharpener | Jackson's Art Supplies (jacksonsart.com)

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I love this to blend coloured pencil layers together!

https://amzn.to/3AECgs6