Drawing the Figure with Charcoal & Dry Pastels Supply List

  • *24 or larger pastel set Nupastel or comparable quality pastel set
  • 10 sheets of pastel paper 18” x 24” or larger paper size
  • 5 or more sheets of colored pastel paper 18” x 24” or larger (optional)
  • 18” x 24” newsprint pad
  • Variety of paper blending stumps
  • Kneaded eraser
  • White plastic eraser (Staedtler erasers good brand)
  • Willow Charcoal
  • Compressed Charcoal (Alphacolor a good brand)
  • Chamois cloth
  • Roll of Bounty paper towels
  • Roll of acid free tape
  • Exacto knife or razor knife

See our list of art supply vendors

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.