Drawing Supplies NZ — Sketchbooks, Pencils, Drawing Pens & Markers Buyer's Guide

Drawing is the most accessible art form — a pencil, paper, and a quiet 20 minutes. This guide covers exactly what to buy depending on what you want to draw, using the Mont Marte drawing range we ship NZ-wide from our Auckland warehouse.

The seven things every drawing beginner needs

1. A sketchbook you'll actually carry — A5 or A4. Spiral-bound lays flat. 100+ pages so you don't ration. 110gsm+ paper if you'll add ink or wet media.
2. A pencil set — 2H to 6B — One pencil per hardness covers light underdrawing through dark shading. Skip the 24-pencil set; you'll never use the rare ones.
3. An eraser — White vinyl for clean correction, kneaded for lifting graphite without trace.
4. A pencil sharpener — Long-point sharpeners give you the control point most beginners are missing.
5. A drawing pen / fineliner — 0.3mm or 0.5mm waterproof. Our Mont Marte drawing pens cover the everyday range.
6. A blending stump (tortillon) — Tightly wound paper for smooth shading. Cheap, transformative.
7. A pencil case that closes — Don't dump pencils in a bag; broken tips ruin your day.

Sketchbook — the most important choice you'll make

The wrong sketchbook turns drawing into a chore. Here's how to pick:

• Size — A5 for travel and daily practice, A4 for studio work, A3 for finished pieces. Most beginners should start A5.
• Paper weight — 80gsm is too thin (pencil shows through, ink bleeds). 110gsm is the sweet spot. 200gsm+ if you want watercolour wash.
• Tooth (surface texture) — Smooth (hot press) for pen and fine detail. Toothy (cold press) for pencil, charcoal, pastel.
• Binding — Spiral lays flat, hardcover is more durable, perfect-bound looks nicer on a shelf.
• Pages — 100+ minimum. You want to be drawing daily, not rationing.

The Mont Marte sketchbook range covers A5 through A3 in spiral and hardcover.

Drawing pencil grades — what they actually mean

• 9H to 2H — Hard pencils for very light underdrawing, technical drawing.
• HB — Standard everyday pencil.
• B to 4B — Soft enough for shading, dark enough for contrast.
• 5B to 8B — Very soft, very dark. Smudges easily. For dramatic shadow work.
• 9B — Almost charcoal. Powerful but messy.

Beginner set: 2H, HB, 2B, 4B, 6B. Five pencils, full range. That's it. The Mont Marte Signature pencil sets cover this range.

Drawing pens / fineliners

• 0.05mm — Ultra-fine detail.
• 0.1mm – 0.3mm — Everyday detail.
• 0.5mm — Main lines.
• 0.8mm – 1.0mm — Bold outlines, fills.

Buy waterproof ('archival') if you'll add watercolour over the top — the Mont Marte drawing pen range covers the full size sweep.

Charcoal — when you're ready

Once you've worked through pencil for 1–2 months, charcoal opens up dramatic tonal range:

• Vine charcoal — Soft, easy to erase, perfect for warm-up sketches.
• Compressed charcoal — Darker, denser, hard to erase. For finishing strokes.
• Charcoal pencil — The bridge between graphite and stick charcoal.
• Fixative spray — Set the work before transport.

Step up gear (when you've drawn 50+ pages)

• Move up to A3 sketchbook — Bigger format for finished pieces.
• Mont Marte coloured pencils — Add colour to your drawing practice.
• Lightbox / tracing pad — For transferring sketches, animation work, comic inking.
• Mannequin / figure reference — Wooden articulated figure for pose reference.
• Studio easel — For working larger and longer sessions.

Pairs well with

Most drawing beginners also pick up canvas for moving sketches into paintings, acrylic paint for adding colour, and a table easel for working at a steeper angle.

Frequently asked questions

What's the best sketchbook for beginners in NZ?

A5 spiral-bound, 110gsm paper, 100+ pages. The Mont Marte beginner sketchbook range ticks all of these. Pick a size you'll actually carry.

What pencils should I start drawing with?

Five pencils: 2H, HB, 2B, 4B, 6B. That covers your full range from light underdrawing to dark shading. Skip 24-pencil sets — you'll never use most of them.

Are Mont Marte drawing supplies any good for beginners?

Yes — Mont Marte hits the price/quality balance for student-grade drawing supplies. Pencils are graded accurately, sketchbooks are well-bound, and pen lines stay consistent. Plenty of NCEA Level 1–2 art folio work is done on Mont Marte gear.

What's the difference between graphite and charcoal?

Graphite is harder, smoother, and gives finer detail but limited darkness. Charcoal is softer, much darker, but smudges easily and needs fixative. Use graphite for technical work, charcoal for dramatic tonal work.

Where can I buy drawing supplies in NZ?

At Handy Mandy. We ship the full Mont Marte drawing range — pencils, sketchbooks, drawing pens, charcoal and accessories — NZ-wide from our Auckland warehouse, free shipping over $75 NZD.

How often should a beginner practise drawing?

20–30 minutes daily beats 3 hours once a week. Consistency builds muscle memory; long sessions exhaust beginners.