Materials

[Balian]

I'm really starting to get into the groove of drawing again, and I'm wondering what materials I'll need to do it seriously; pencils, lead, erasers, paper, rulers, etc.
I'd like to know brand names I should buy, thanks.

[howyadoin]

It really depends on what specifically you wanna do. Even if you're just talking pencils, there's a pretty huge variety. Comic artists tend to favour harder pencils because they can be inked without turning them into a smudgy mess, but unless that specific criteria is a priority, I think hard pencils are garbage. They're certainly nowhere near as versatile as a 6B pencil or charcoal, for instance.

[elheffe]

Ebony pencils are pretty awesome for doing jet black to really soft shading. But my favorite is the Koh-I-Noor Technigraph (we called 'em 'Lead Holders' in art school) with some HB lead. Nothing more versatile.

[howyadoin]

As for paper, again, it's a matter of what you're trying to do. For comics the standard is Bristol board, but that's probably just 'cause it's cheap. Hot press artboard would certainly be better.

Now if you're talking about inkwash, watercolour, acrylics, gouache, or oils, there's a ton more to talk about with regards to paper.

[Balian]

Yeah, it'll be for comics, so Bristol board for sketches and hot press for art I'll take my time over?
I'm going to get the Koh-I-noor pencil holder.
I'm also going to need something for inking, suggestions anyone?

[Balian]

By the way, is there a site or something that shows what pencils and paper, etc the professional comic artists use?

[Balian]

Yet another question, 5mm or 7mm lead... what do the professionals use?