Graphite and charcoal for every drawing discipline.
This collection covers the dry drawing media most commonly required in art programs: graphite pencils across the full hardness scale, willow charcoal in stick and powder form, pierre noire, and sketching crayons in sanguine, bistre, sepia, white and black. Mechanical pencils and replacement leads complete the range for precision and technical work. Curated sets offer a practical starting point; individual grades and sticks allow for precise restocking as the program progresses.
Hardness, format and medium: what to know before you buy.
Graphite hardness directly affects line quality: soft grades (B to 12B) produce rich, dark marks suited to expressive and tonal work, while hard grades (H to 6H) are better for precise, light lines in technical drawing. Charcoal is faster to apply and easier to blend than graphite, making it the standard choice for life drawing and large-format work. Sanguine, bistre and sepia crayons are rooted in academic drawing tradition and add warm tonal range beyond what graphite offers. For the full drawing and illustration selection, visit Drawing & Illustration or browse all Back-to-School Essentials.
