Canvas & Mind Starter Kit
Some participants may receive a starter kit depending on funding and programme arrangements.
The starter kit includes:
- Faber-Castell Pitt Graphite Matt pencils (HB, 2B, and 4B)
- Dust-free eraser
- Metal sharpener
- 30 cm ruler
- Three ergonomic pencil grips
- Clear A4 zip wallet for storage
Faber-Castell Pitt Graphite Matt pencils were chosen because they reduce glare, offer greater control, and make tonal relationships easier to see. Their matte finish allows participants to judge light and shadow more clearly, while their predictable handling helps reduce overwhelm.
The included pencil grips offer additional comfort and support for participants who experience hand fatigue or benefit from a more ergonomic grip.
The clear zip wallet keeps materials together and makes it easy to transport and organise your drawing tools.
This kit was carefully selected to provide reliable, high-quality materials that support a calm and accessible learning experience.
Additional Recommended Materials
The following materials are not essential, but many participants find them helpful as their practice develops:
- A4 cartridge paper or sketchbook
- Kneaded eraser
- Drawing board and clips
- Blending stumps
Blending Stumps
Blending stumps are not used extensively within the Canvas & Mind programme. This is a deliberate teaching choice. When learning to draw, it is important to develop form and tone through careful observation and controlled mark-making rather than relying on blending to smooth over inaccuracies. If the underlying structure is not correct, blending will not resolve the issue. In some cases, excessive blending can flatten tonal relationships and reduce the sense of depth and three-dimensional form. Within Canvas & Mind, blending stumps are used sparingly and only when appropriate. They may occasionally be used to soften a specific edge so that adjacent sharper edges appear more defined by contrast. This approach encourages participants to focus on observation, structure, and clear tonal relationships rather than on over-blending.
For many participants, it is helpful to keep drawings and printed materials together in one place. We recommend using a Q-Connect A4 Presentation Book, 40 Pockets to store your work. Keeping your drawings together allows you to reflect on your development and build a visual record of your progress over time.
Keeping Your Work Organised
Advanced Materials Note
As participants progress through the Advanced course, traditional graphite pencils such as 6B and 8B may be introduced to achieve deeper dark values and a broader tonal range.
This progression allows learners to build confidence with structured observation before exploring the richer tonal possibilities of softer graphite.