Drawing

As you go through your RMCAD classes, you may have questions or concerns about how to do an assignment. The tutors in the Student Learning Center (SLC) have been through your class and understand what is expected of you. In addition, they can help you with staying organized and managing your time.  

What is the Student Learning Center (SLC)?

College can sometimes feel overwhelming.  The SLC is a place for both on campus and online students to go for one-on-one help with any of their assignments. That can be a writing assignment, software or studio class like this one. 

The SLC works in conjunction with your instructor to make sure that you have a place to go to get your questions answered!  At the SLC you will find peer tutors who have been through your class and understand what you are going through as well as Academic Mentors who can help with learning strategies like time management. 

 If you feel like you need help, please reach out! 

To schedule a tutoring appointment for this or any other class, you can call the Student Learning Center at 303.225.8605, email us at learning@rmcad.edu or self-schedule at https://rmcad.mywconline.com/.

The following supplies are required for Drawing 1. At the end of the list, there are a few recommended but optional supplies. All of the supplies are available at art supply stores, and most are available at craft stores. For clarification on the use of these supplies, view the presentation on Basic Drawing Materials.

Please purchase all the supplies, even those that seem duplicated, such as the number of different kinds of erasers. It is essential to become familiar with the various standard types of drawing supplies to see what their qualities are and which you prefer.

DRAWING BOARD 20” x 26” with bull clips and rubber band – the clips hold the paper in place at the top, and the rubber band holds the paper in place at the bottom. White artists tape can also be used to keep the paper in place at the bottom.

PAPER
18” x 24” good quality drawing paper pad (80lb) medium texture surface 
9” x 12” Sketch Pad for thumbnails and preliminary work – at least 

DRAWING MEDIA 
Dry Media:
2H, HB, 2B, 4B, and 6B graphite pencils or a set with a similar variety 
Vine charcoal: 1 pack soft, one pack medium 
Charcoal pencils: 2B and 6B 
Compressed charcoal sticks: medium and soft 

Pens: at least three of the following:
Black ballpoint 
Prismacolor black marker-double tip 
Sharpie 
Micron or Faber Castell or other art permanent artist felt tip marker 
Pen and nib and ink 
Brush and ink 

SHARPENERS 
Manual pencil Sharpeners like a handheld canister or hand twist metal blade. 
Xacto knife and cutting board 
Sandpaper block or emery board 
Emery board 

ERASERS 
Vinyl 
Rubber 
Kneaded eraser 
Chamois – about 6” x 6” 

BLENDERS 
Tortillons 
Blending Stumps 
Q-tips 
Tissues 
Clean white soft t-shirt – about 6” x 6” 
Chamois 
Kneaded eraser 

LAMPS
Two clip-on lamps with soft white 60 or 75 watt bulbs – you will need these for several reasons: to light subjects that you are drawing, possibly to light your drawing pad when drawing and when you want to photograph your work you will need two equal lamps that are movable so that you can evenly light your drawings on a vertical surface (wall). 

OTHER TOOLS
18” or larger ruler 
9” triangle 
White artist tape – multipurpose: add to the corners to keep the paper from getting wrinkled, protect Xacto blade, wrap around charcoal sticks, etc. 

OPTIONAL RECOMMENDED SUPPLIES
PORTFOLIO large enough to fit your largest size paper flat
Art supply STORAGE CONTAINER – large enough to hold your supplies
18” x 24” newsprint pad (more economical than drawing paper for sketching and preliminary work) 
Mechanical (Electronic) pencil sharpener 
Retractable stick eraser 
Pencil extender for lengthening a stub of a pencil 
Workable spray fixative 
Viewfinder 
Artist leaning bridge or mahlstick 
Cork-backed ruler 
T-square 
12” x 16” Tracing paper pad for refining rough drawings 
12” x 16” graphite transfer paper for transferring drawings 
Draftsman duster for dusting off eraser crumbs 

Scissors - multipurpose