Good quality drawing pencils are an absolute must. A set is ideal, but at least a 4B, 2B, 2H and 4H.
Sharpener
A decent make will remain sharper longer. One which holds the shavings is well worth it as it can prevent getting graphite everywhere.
Rubbers
Cheap rubbers will smudge, so artist quality rubbers help a lot maintain a crisp finish. Putty rubbers are a great investment as they give you a lot more control.
Compass
A fixed wheel compass that holds itself in place is a great advantage. Likewise, choose a set which includes either/or both an ink nib, which is good for halos, or a pen holder, which means you can use a harder pencil rather than leads which tend to be soft and so lacking in precision.
A long armed compass, using a bar or an extension, is also useful when working on a large scale.
Miscellaneous
Circle templates
A useful little tool that can be a real help analysis icons, as well as for applying small halos.
Calibrated Set Square
Masking tape
Metal ruler
Papers
Bristol Board
A smooth, heavy card that is great for doing monochrome painting. Try to make sure you choose the smooth surface, not the slightly grained surface. A4 or A3 size.
Mixed Media
A heavy weight, mixed media pad is good for sketching, while strong enough for some light monochrome work, so a good compromise as a general note book where you can sketch, make notes and do monochrome work. A3 or larger is a good size if its for general work.
Tracing Paper
Decent quality tracing paper, either in a pad or on a roll, or drafting paper is useful for making sketches over a geometric template, giving you flexibility to repeat work if it goes wrong without having to start all over from the beginning.
Transparent Graph Paper
This is not easy to find, but it is a real bonus when doing lettering. If you can get it, do!
