Main Idea for Parents
Students do not need expensive materials on the first day. The best material list depends on the student’s level. Beginners need simple drawing tools, intermediate students need watercolor and drawing pens, advanced students need wider pencil and color ranges, and adults can use more professional-quality supplies.
Which Material Needed for Chitran Drawing Classes?
Parents often ask what materials are needed before joining Chitran International Online Art Classes. The answer depends on the student’s age, level, and class goal. A five-year-old beginner does not need the same supplies as an advanced teen or adult learner. Buying too many materials too early can confuse children and waste money. Buying too few materials for an advanced student can limit finishing quality.
This guide gives a clear level-wise material list: beginner, intermediate, advanced, and adults. Parents can start with the essential list first and upgrade slowly as the student improves.
Beginner Level Material List
Beginner students need simple, clean, easy-to-use materials. The goal is line control, basic shapes, simple coloring, neatness, and confidence. At this stage, children should not feel that art depends on expensive tools. They need practice more than professional supplies.
Beginner Essentials
- Drawing book or sketchbook with plain white pages.
- HB pencil for basic outlines and light sketching.
- 2B pencil for slightly darker lines and simple shading.
- 6B pencil for darker outlines when needed.
- Minimum 12-color pencil box; 24-color pencil box is recommended.
- Soft eraser that does not tear the paper.
- Pencil sharpener with a clean blade.
- Simple folder to keep finished drawings safely.
For beginners, the most important materials are a sketchbook, pencils, eraser, sharpener, and color pencils. A 24-color pencil box is better than 12 colors because children can choose more natural colors for sky, grass, flowers, animals, fruits, and scenery. But if a parent already has 12 colors, the child can start with that.
Intermediate Level Material List
Intermediate students are ready for more control. They may work on scenery, animals, flowers, human figures, watercolor practice, and cleaner outlines. At this stage, students benefit from better color range and water-based practice.
Intermediate Essentials
- All beginner materials: sketchbook, HB, 2B, 6B, eraser, sharpener, and color pencils.
- Watercolor set for live watercolor lessons and creative color practice.
- Watercolor paper or mixed-media paper for lessons using water.
- Drawing pen or black fineliner for clean outlines.
- Extra 6B pencil for strong outlines and darker finishing.
- Round brushes in small and medium sizes for watercolor work.
- Palette or small plate for mixing colors.
- Water cup and tissue or cloth for cleaning brushes.
Intermediate students should not use regular thin notebook paper for watercolor because it can bend, tear, and become messy. Watercolor paper or mixed-media paper gives better results. A black drawing pen is useful for outline work, cartoon-style drawings, and clean final finishing.
Advanced Level Material List
Advanced students need more control, deeper shading, richer colors, and better finishing. They may work on portraits, realistic drawing, advanced scenery, watercolor, ink work, and competition-style artworks. This level needs a wider material range, but parents can still buy step by step.
Advanced Essentials
- All beginner and intermediate materials.
- 8B and 10B pencils for very dark values and advanced shading.
- 48-color pencil box for better color layering and realistic color choice.
- Scale/ruler for borders, perspective, architecture, and design measurement.
- Blending stump, cotton bud, or tissue for smooth graphite shading.
- Kneaded eraser if available for highlights and portrait correction.
- Good-quality drawing pad, mixed-media pad, and watercolor paper.
- Fine liner pens in different nib sizes for detailed line work.
- Brush set with round and flat brushes for watercolor backgrounds and details.
- Masking tape or paper tape to hold watercolor paper while painting.
Advanced students need better paper because heavy shading, erasing, water, and layering can damage low-quality pages. A 48-color pencil set gives more natural color choices for skin tone, flowers, birds, trees, landscapes, and detailed compositions. 8B and 10B pencils are useful when the student needs very dark shadows, but they should be used carefully because very soft pencils can smudge.
Adult Level Material List
Adult learners often want more serious practice, better finishing, portrait work, watercolor, acrylic, realistic sketching, or portfolio-style drawing. Adults can start simple, but if they want higher-quality results, better materials will support their progress.
Adult / Higher-Level Essentials
- Professional sketchbook or drawing pad in A4 or A3 size.
- Complete graphite pencil range such as 2H, H, HB, 2B, 4B, 6B, 8B, and 10B.
- High-quality eraser, kneaded eraser, and precision eraser if available.
- Blending stumps in multiple sizes for portrait and realistic shading.
- Artist-grade or good student-grade colored pencils with 48 or more colors.
- Watercolor set with quality pigments and watercolor paper.
- Brushes: round, flat, and detail brushes in multiple sizes.
- Fine liner pens, brush pen, or waterproof ink pen for line-art practice.
- Scale, compass, masking tape, clips, drawing board, and portfolio folder.
- Optional acrylic colors, canvas board, charcoal, pastel, or marker set depending on the course topic.
Quick Material Comparison Table
| Level | Must-Have Materials | Recommended Upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | Sketchbook, HB, 2B, 6B, 12-color pencils, eraser, sharpener | 24-color pencil box |
| Intermediate | Beginner materials, watercolor, drawing pen, watercolor/mixed-media paper | Brush set, palette, extra 6B, better paper |
| Advanced | Previous materials, 8B, 10B, 48-color pencil box, scale, fineliners | Blending stump, kneaded eraser, masking tape, quality pads |
| Adults | Full graphite range, professional paper, watercolor, fineliners, erasers | A3 pad, acrylic, canvas board, charcoal, pastel, portfolio tools |
What Parents Should Buy First
If your child is starting class for the first time, buy only the beginner essentials first. After the teacher understands the child’s level, you can add watercolor, drawing pen, 48-color pencils, or advanced tools. This saves money and keeps learning simple.
Final Recommendation
Materials help, but they do not replace practice. A child with simple tools and regular live guidance can improve beautifully. Start with the correct level-wise essentials, keep the supplies organized, and upgrade slowly as the student grows.
Frequently Asked Questions
What materials does a beginner need?
A beginner needs a drawing book or sketchbook, HB, 2B, 6B pencil, color pencils, eraser, and sharpener.
Does an intermediate student need watercolor?
Yes, intermediate students should keep watercolor, watercolor or mixed-media paper, brushes, and a drawing pen when lessons include painting.
What should advanced students add?
Advanced students should add 8B, 10B, 48-color pencils, scale, fineliners, blending tools, kneaded eraser, and better paper.
Start a Live Drawing Class with Chitran
Chitran International Online Art Classes helps children learn drawing step by step through live guidance, correction, confidence-building, and regular creative practice.
Book a Free Demo Class View Class OptionsChitran International Online Art Classes, LLC learning guide. Last reviewed June 9, 2026. This article is for general educational information for parents and students.