Other Materials

Desired but not required materials, if you are drawing or painting from life.

Drawing Boards
You can use a drawing board with a table top easel or prop the board up against a table in your lap.

A commercial drawing board
OR Masonite Panel
OR Foam Core

Preferred size: slightly larger than your paper size or sketchbook or sketch pad

How & Why to Use
Article: 10 Reasons to Use a Drawing Board
Video: How to Use

Attach Paper to Board

“bulldog” clips
OR 1 roll of “Artist’s Tape”

Table Top Easels
Any simple table top easel will do. You don't have to spend a lot of money on one but the one made of wood usually outlast the ones made of aluminum.

You will need a board or something to put behind your paper.

Drawing Aids & Tools for Beginners

Desired, not required but great to have handy if you can afford them.

MIIRA fabulous tools for measuring angles and proportions. Note they also have an app that is great!

They also have an inexpensive app for your phone that can be used to measure angles on a picture of your subject.

Miira Measuring Tool

The View Catcher is a mid gray 3.5×3.5" ABS plastic tool with a small circular opening that helps you to see "True" color. It opens vertically or horizontally to help you find the right composition. It allows you to view your subjects without the distraction of surrounding elements. With it you'll be able to create stronger compositions, choose accurate color values and provide a clear vision of warm and cool color choices. Keep one in your painting gear. The View Catcher is simple to use, easy to learn and pocket size.

View Catcher

Glasses with red lenses will help beginners to see value regardless of hue or chroma.
Preferred Brand: Any

Picture Perfect Viewfinder (3 in 1) - helping artists create better paintings with less guesswork