Hi Everyone
A simple pencil is still the most useful tool for an artist. Pencils never run out. Pencils don't get clogged with ink. Pencils don't get stolen off your desk by family members (they steal the felt-tips every time!)
My next favourite tool is a graphics tablet. I have to do a lot of computer work and the PC mouse is not a good tool for drawing with. A few years ago I bought a graphics tablet and my computer drawings got so much better.
A graphics tablet is a tool that lets you draw on a board using a special pen (called a stylus) but the picture appears on the screen rather than the drawing board. This is good because you can sketch ideas straight into the computer (helps save the trees because you don't need paper).
It also allows you to work faster and more accurately than with a mouse, and your drawings will suddenly get a whole lot better looking. I know that mine did.

A graphics tablet is used just like a pencil. If you know how to use one of those then you will love drawing with a graphics tablet.
I use and am totally delighted with the Wacom
Graphire4 Classic A6 Tablet & Pen USB Mac & Win
but there are plenty of others out there. They all work with painting programs
like Photoshop
Elements 4
or Corel
Paint Shop Pro X (PC)
I also recently got this good book about getting the most out of a graphics
tablet by Cher Threinen-Pendarvis. It is called The Photoshop Painting and Tablet Book
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