• Pencils - I use a variety of pencils. Just about any brand will be fine. When you really want top-quality pencils, I recommend Derwent. Simply put, they are the best. They come in sets of 12 in a nice tin box. A little pricey, but worth it.
  

You may have heard the tems "HB, 2B, or 6H" pencils before. For the longest time I couldn't figure out what they meant. But one day I finally discovered it, and now explain I will it to you:

When you look at a writing pencil, you will probably see "2B" or "HB." That is the grade of the "pencil lead." The "pencil lead" is actually a combination of graphite and clay. "B" stands for soft, meaning there's more graphite than clay. So the higher the number beside it gets, the softer the pencil is, and the darker line the line is.

When you see an "H" instead of a B, it stands for hard. The higher the number beside the H gets, the harder the pencil is, and lighter the line becomes.

An "HB" or "F" is right in between the soft and hard.

• Erasers - Most of the time we use the ones that come already on the pencil, or a nice big pink pearl eraser. These are good for writing, but after so much erasing, your paper will begin to wear thin. They create lots of "crumbs" and have to be brushed away frequently while we're working, which can also create unwelcome smudges.

So what is there to use?

The Kneaded Eraser! This eraser is fantastic at clearing away mistakes, both graphite and colored pencil. They are economical and can be found at most craft stores.

Their texture feels like a cross between Silly Putty and Sculpey clay. You can shape then into any form you need them - from a small point or a broad side. The  more you use it, the more graphite it collects. It gets darker and darker until it starts leaving marks behind, so you eventually have to throw it away.

• Where to keep your things - I keep my supplies, as well as my pencils, in a variety of places. Most of the time I keep my pens and pencils in a ceramic mug. The erasers and pencil sharpener are kept in a candy tin.

I have an art box filled with miscellaneous things like sand paper for sharpening pencils, old pencil stubs, tortillions, tape, ruler, bottles of ink for calligraphy, ink nibs, and inspiring art work cut out of old books. (A tortillion is paper rolled into a stump that you can use for smudging lines or shading.)

When traveling, a small box or eyeglass case holds the bare necessities very well.

• Fixative - Mostly in a aerosol can, it is sprayed over your finished work to prevent accidental smudging. Especially nice for a sketch book when the artwork is frequently rubbing up against other paper. Just remember to always use it in a well-ventilated area and follow the directions on the back. You can find it at Wal-Mart and craft stores.