With all of the options available, it can be difficult to know what beginner art supplies to purchase. No need to look any further with these five organized lists of basic art supplies.
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Starting your artist journey is extremely exciting and if you are anything like me, you are doing all the research possible to know what beginner art supplies to get. As an artist myself, I am giving you what to by depending on what medium you want to use.
You are going to get lists of beginner art supplies, watercolor supplies, oil pastel supplies, acrylic paint supplies, drawing supplies, and more!
After learning about all of these beginner art supplies you will know what exactly you need to start your art career!
5 Lists of Beginner Art Supplies
Product images were provided by Amazon.
1. Watercolor Supplies
Watercolor is so fun to do and it can create stunning artwork. Like other art mediums, it can take some time to get used to it but it is totally worth the effort!
Pros:
- Super easy and quick clean-up
- Not messy
- Can do it while you travel or on vacation
- Doesn’t take a long time to dry
- You can learn how to use your new watercolor supplies on this website with over 10 lessons!
Cons:
- It takes practice to know how much water vs paint to use
- Paper warps
Watercolor Pans
These Pelikan Watercolor Pans are what I personally use and I love them! It comes with the paints, a tray to mix the colors, and water containers that all fit nicely together.
This is a pricier set than others but the quality is definitely noticeable in your artwork. If you can, I highly suggest splurging for it. You and your watercolor paintings will thank you later.
Raphaël Watercolor Travel Pan Set
This watercolor set can be your travel pan or just your regular pan. It comes with a brush, which has a convenient and safe place to store it and has a mixing tray.
If you are on a tight budget this one is less expensive than the watercolor set above and still has great ratings.
Arches Watercolor Pad
The type of paper you use for watercolor is so important. You can use the really cheap stuff you find at Walmart and still make good looking paintings, but when you are ready to step up your game Arches Watercolor paper is the way to go.
This pad is one of their cheaper options because it doesn’t have the built-in glue to hold the paper down while you paint. This just means you will need to tape it down while painting, no big deal. The really nice thing about Arches paper is that you can use both sides. So essentially you get 24 sheets instead of 12.
Watercolor Brush Set
Getting watercolor-specific brushes is a must because they are designed to hold onto the water. This watercolor brush set gives you a good deal with a variety of brushes.
If you want to simplify and just use one brush (which is what I do) I like the Princton Snap round brush size 12. Even though it is the same brand, it is a bit more expensive than this brush set.
Watercolor Postcards
If painting an entire page seems too intimidating or you don’t have time, try these watercolor postcards. They are perfect for small masterpieces that you can share with family and friends.
Watercolor Pencils
Not sold on the watercolor paint sets and brushes but still want to try watercolor? Try these watercolor pencils that have great reviews!
It is different from traditional watercolor, but still very fun to do! My niece loves her pencils. And it is even more simple because all you do is dip them in water to start painting.
Get 50 Simple Watercolor Painting Ideas for your new watercolor supplies.
2. Oil Pastel Supplies
Pros:
- Easy to learn how to use
- Bright colors create stunning paintings
- If a mistake is made it can be easily mixed
- No dry time required
- Doesn’t require anything other than oil pastels and paper
- Learn how to use them on this very website with over 5 lessons to choose from.
Cons:
- Gets messy
- Requires a sealant and glass to protect the painting
- Can be difficult to blend small areas with fingers
Prismacolor Premier NuPastel Color Sticks
These Prismacolor oil pastel sticks are what I personally use and I love them. The colors are bold and bright, they are easy to blend to make any color you want, and the rectangular shape creates a variety of edges to use.
They are reasonably priced for the high quality that you get. When they are on sale it’s a steal!
Pastel Paper
You can use any paper for oil pastels, but paper specifically for pastels works best.
Pastel Pencils
If you aren’t a fan of the mess that oil pastel sticks come with, try out these pastel pencils. Use them like colored pencils for smaller oil pastel paintings.
Check out 16 Essential Oil Pastel Techniques to learn ways to blend without using your fingers.
Senneilier Pastel Fixative
To protect your oil pastel masterpiece you will need a sealant or fixative. I use Sennelier fixative and it is amazing. After a handful of coats, you can touch the pastels without them coming off at all.
Learn how to use your new oil pastel supplies here: How to Paint an Oil Pastel Day and Night Drawing Easy.
3. Acrylic Paint Supplies
Pros:
- Fast drying time
- Supplies are affordable
- Paints are water-soluble making clean-up easy
- No need for harsh, toxic material paint thinners
- Can be used on virtually any surface
Cons:
- If you don’t want the paint to dry quickly you need to buy special paint or additives to slow drying time
- Storing acrylic paint supplies can take up a lot of space
Acrylic Assorted Brush Set
Quality brushes are essential for creating a quality painting. This assorted brush set is a great deal for how many brushes you get. If you do not like to clean the brushes between colors this option would be great for you.
Palette Knife Set
Palette knives are fun to use because you can do some creative strokes with them. Using these is how many artists get textured 3D-looking paintings.
Acrylic Paint
I use these acrylic paints and they work very well.
Getting a limited amount of colors can be more freeing because you will learn how to mix the colors to get the one you want instead of relying on premixed colors that aren’t quite right. Having only six tubes of acrylic paint is also a lot easier to store than 20.
Small canvases are usually pretty cheap, but they are even cheaper when you buy them in bulk. If you are someone who likes to save money (like me) and is planning on doing a lot of painting the 18-pack of canvas board is perfect for you.
If you don’t have a lot of storage space or need a specific size of canvas buying them one at a time is a good option. The stretched canvas 4-pack is a great product and a good price. You also get a more professional look with the wooden frame.
Paint Palette
A paint palette comes in very handy while painting. This round paint palette is very inexpensive yet has plenty of wells to hold paint and an area to mix your acrylic paint. With the lid, you can keep the paint fresher for longer saving you paint and money.
Get ideas on what to do with your new acrylic paint supplies here: What to Paint on a Black Canvas: 5 Dazzling Paintings.
4. Drawing Supplies
Pros:
- Easy to do wherever you want
- Drawing supplies can last a very long time before they go bad
- No drying time needed (depending on pen type)
- There are loads of resources to learn from, including right here on MHF Paints
Cons:
- Can take a long time to produce a drawing by hand
Micron Pens Set
Pens can add the extra flare that your drawing needs to complete it. These micron pens can help you do just that. The thin tips make it easy to get the thin lines that are needed.
Drawing Paper Pad
This spiral drawing paper pad is perfect for large and small drawings. You get a good deal for money and has amazing reviews.
Kalour Colored Pencils
If you want to make your drawings pop with color try out these Kalour colored pencils. With 120 different colors, it is perfect for beginners to find any color they want. And the container is easy to store.
Drawing Set
This drawing set is great for beginners. It has every pencil you could ever need, which means you have a lot of learning to do.
Learn how to use your new set of drawing pencils on 5+ Pencil Shading Art: A Beginner’s Guide.
Kneaded Eraser
A kneaded eraser is essential when you are drawing. If you have never used one before it will change your life. They don’t produce any flakes so you don’t smear your drawing when wiping them away. But not all erasers are created equal. The Prismacolor kneaded eraser is the one I swear by. Plus it is cheap and will last you forever.
Blending Stump
Blending stumps make shading your drawing much easier and less messy. This set is great because it has six different sizes to get large and small areas.
Cute Art Journal
Use a creative and cute art journal as your sketchbook. The hard cover protects your drawings.
Composition View Finder
The composition viewfinder is mainly used for still life artwork. You can easily find the size of paper/canvas/etc. that you are using and adjust the subject accordingly. I like this one because it has a value scale, color complements, a side ruler, the Golden Ratio, and the Fibonacci Spiral on it to reference.
Learn how to use your drawing supplies with a Beginners Guide: Easy Cute Animal Drawings.
Electric Pencil Sharpener
This battery-powered electric pencil sharpener is perfect for artists! Not only can you sharpen your drawing pencils but if you have watercolor, colored, or pastel pencils you can sharpen those too. Clean-up is easy with a removable tray that collects the pencil shards. Never let a dull pencil get in the way of your artwork again.
5. Miscellaneous Art Supplies
These art supplies are things that you can make do without, but they will make your art life easier and more organized.
Brush Case
I use this paintbrush case for my acrylic, oil, watercolor brushes, and palette knives.
Artist Apron
With messy mediums like acrylic paint and oil pastels an apron is a must. This apron is stylish and has convenient pockets that you can use. I like that the neck comes up high to protect your clothing.
Frames
To make your painting look professional and finished put it in a frame. There are endless sizes and colors to choose from. Just make sure to double-check the size of your painting before buying one.
This post is all about beginner art supplies.
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