Ever stare at a wall of colorful paints and wonder which tube will unlock your next masterpiece? That feeling of excitement mixed with total confusion is something every artist knows well. Choosing art supplies can feel like navigating a secret language. You want the best tools for your vision, but the sheer volume of brands, mediums, and price points can quickly become overwhelming.
The wrong supplies can lead to frustration, wasted money, and artwork that doesn’t match what you pictured in your head. We have all bought that expensive set of pencils only to find they crumble too easily, or that paint that just won’t blend right. It stops the creative flow dead in its tracks.
This post cuts through the noise. We will break down the essentials, explain what makes a good brush, and tell you which materials are worth the splurge and which you can safely skip. Get ready to build a supply kit that truly supports your talent.
Top Art Supplies Recommendations
- 【Professional Complete Artist Drawing Supplies Sketching Kit】Professional and Complete drawing set comes with a 100 Sheets 3-Color sketch pad, you can start drawing and sketching as soon as you open this deluxe drawing kit! This is All-in-one 176-piece drawing and sketch supplies kit for artists of all skill levels. The art set has 76-piece art tools and accessories plus a 100 sheets 3-color sketchbook, total 176 pieces!
- 【All in one Art Kit】The Premium drawing pencils set includes 12 graphite pencils, 12 colored pencils，12 watercolor Pencils, 12 charcoal Pencils，3 white charcoal pencils, 12 metallic pencils, 3 blending paper stumps, refillable water brush pen, travel Case and more! Each pencil is marked with color name & number, and pre-sharpened. 76pcs art tools accessories plus a 100 sheets sketchpad, total 176 pcs! Perfect for drawing, sketching, shading, blending.
- 【Extra Large Art Sketch Kit Drawing Set】These Professional art kits also include 1 sandpaper block, 1 pencil extender，1 paint brush, 1 sharpener, 1 eraser pencil, 3 blending paper stumps, 1 refillable water brush pen, 1 vinyl eraser, 1 colored pencils tutorial etc. The 12 premium graphite pencils are 2H、3H、4H、5H 、HB、B、2B、3B、4B、5B、6B、8B, the sketching pencils ranging in size from the thickest 8B to the finest 5H for exact drawing lines. This drawing set will be the perfect choice for you to start your art.
- 【Premium Drawing Kit with Unique 100 Sheets 3-Color Drawing Book】The sketch pad is 6"x9", spiral bound, 100GSM, 100 Sheets (72 Sheets white, 14 Sheets toned tan, 14 Sheets black), the 3 colors sketch paper in one sketchbook will meet your needs for different colors of sketch paper. makes your drawings pop and vibrant, this professional art drawing kit is sure to become your one-stop solution for all your drawing and sketching needs.
- 【With Portable Travel Size Case】: Lightweight travel-friendly carrying case keeps all the artist supplies and drawing stuff well organized and not taking up much space, which is convenient for you to do sketching, drawing anytime and anywhere. This sketch art pencils set is great art supplies for adults.
- 【Unlock Your Creativity with 175 Essential Tools】 The Deluxe art set is packed with everything you need to explore a wide range of techniques. It includes 60 crayons, 24 acrylic paints, 24 oil pastels, 24 colored pencils, 24 watercolor cakes, 8 brushes, 3x8-well palettes, 2 drawing pencils, a sharpener, a sandpaper block, an art eraser, a 50-page drawing pad, a 24-page acrylic pad, all neatly housed in a durable wooden case
- 【Unique Design & Premium Quality】All gorgeous colors and tools are neatly organized in a sturdy, rich mahogany pine wood case with a smooth-finish surface. Its innovative removable drawer glides effortlessly, providing secure and dedicated storage for frequently used items, while the robust construction reliably protects every piece and keeps your workspace perfectly organized—making it ideal for creating art anywhere
- 【Perfect for All Skill Levels】This versatile art set is the ideal creative companion for students, hobbyists, and even professional artists working on crafts, construction paper projects, detailed sketching, or advanced techniques. Whether for classroom projects, home crafting, studio work, or as a thoughtful gift, this complete set reliably supports every artistic journey from inspiration to finished creation
- 【Safe, Eco-Friendly & Ideal for Gifting】 Housed in a single elegant wooden case, every art tool—including all crayons, pencils, and pastels—is certified non-toxic and safe for artists of any age. This comprehensive Color More art set is thoughtfully designed, making it an ideal and impressive gift for adults, students, professional artists, and all creative enthusiasts on any occasion
- 【Quality Assurance】We meticulously craft each Color More art set with premium materials for durability and reliable performance in all your creative projects. Your satisfaction is our priority. Should any question arise, our responsive customer service team is readily available to ensure a positive experience with your purchase
- ❤Muchcute 12 Black Drawing Pens: The professional micro pen kit contains assorted types of pen tips from 0.2mm to 3.0mm, plus a brush tip. No Bleed, No Smear and Waterproof. Perfect for drawing and writing. One set of pens for all your art creation needs. Whether you are an artist or a beginner, you can easily use it. Line Width & Cap Size: 0.2mm (005), 0.25mm (01), 0.3mm (02), 0.35mm (03), 0.40mm (04), 0.45mm (05), 0.50mm (08), 0.55mm (1.0), 1.0mm (1), 2.0mm (2), 3.0mm (3), Brush (BR)
- ❤Waterproof Archival Pigment Ink: Don't let bleed and smudges ruin your artwork. Our archival grade ink are no bleed through, no smear, waterproof, fade resistant, quick drying, water-resistant, sun proof, photo safe, non bleeding, acid free, non-toxic, odorless and last long. Environmental friendly and conforms to ASTM D-4236 & EN71-3 certificate. (Note: The ink will resist water when it's totally dry. This process usually takes a few seconds)
- ❤Smooth & Skip-Free Nylon Nib: Our nib is made of high quality nylon. The premium different tip sizes (needle medium thick & bursh) makes your writing extremely smooth and skip-free on journal, watercolor, trace, vellum or any other paper. (Note: To protect the extra fine point, do not press down the tips too hard while using)
- ❤Wide Use: Compatible with pencil, watercolor paint, alcohol marker and highlighter, etc. Perfect for artists, designers, writers, architects, illustrators & calligraphers. Great for bullet journaling, bible underlining, manga, sketch, anime, writing, zentangle, technical, doodle, planner, drafting, notebook, note taking, painting, coloring, lineart, graphic, design, illustration, architecture, lettering, marking, slick lining, tracing, scrapbooking, stippling, bujo, outliner, calligraphy, comic
- ❤Ideal Gift: The exquisite plastic packaging is also a storage case. Best gift for family, neighbors, friends. For using in home, school, office and travel. Great stationary, super pro craft pack, planner or journaling supplies, Birthday, Party, Anniversary, or any special Holiday
- CRAYOLA AIR DRY CLAY: Includes 5 pounds of Crayola Sculpting Clay in a re-sealable bucket.
- BULK TEACHER SUPPLIES: Stock up on teacher classroom must haves, including Crayola bulk packs of crayons, markers, and more. Great for kindergarten, preschool, elementary school, art rooms, and group projects.
- DIY CLAY PROJECTS: Crayola Air Dry Clay lets you use traditional clay sculpting techniques such as coil, slab, pinch, and score-and-weld. Add water to make the clay softer for ease of use!
- HANDS ON LEARNING: Perfect for classrooms and group activities, this 5lb bucket of bulk clay is a great resource for teachers looking to facilitate hands-on learning.
- USE WITH PAINT: Crayola Project Paints & Acrylic Paints work well for adding details to your air dry clay creations.
- 【Professional And Complete Drawing Sketching Set】: 76 Pack Art Pencil Set Include 3 White Charcoal Pencils, 7 Black Charcoal Pencils, 2 Colored Charcoal Pencils,12 Watercolor Pencils,12 Oil Based Colored Pencils, 15 Wooden Graphite Sketching Pencils, 12 Metallic Coloring Pencils, 1 Woodless Graphite Pencil 6B, Each pencil is marked with color name and model, Perfect for drawing, sketching, shading, layering, blending, and more
- 【Extra Drawing Sketching Supplies Kit 】: Along with 1 Refillable Water Brush Pen, 1 Vinyl Eraser, 1 Kneaded Eraser, 1 Sandpaper Pencil Pointer, 3 Paper Blending Stumps, 1 Travel Case,1 Paintbrush, All the basics drawing set in a portable zip-up case to ensure all drawing tools in organized and easy carrying. You can find the sketch kit you need at any time without clutter
- 【Premium Drawing Kit with Unique 3-Color Sketch Pad】 6 x 9", SPIRAL BOUND, 100GSM, 50 Pages (30 pages white, 10 pages toned tan, 10 pages black), Different colors of sketch paper are suitable for different styles of drawing, one sketchbook can meet your needs for different colors of sketch paper, no need to spend more money to buy different colors of sketchbooks
- 【Drawing Supplies Pencils kit with 7-step drawing tutorial on “how to draw”】, give you a uniquely comprehensive guide to getting you started with your first steps in the art world, start creating your artwork NOW and taking your art to the next level
- 【High Quality Drawing Set】 Non-toxic and eco-friendly, conform to strict ASTM D-4236 and EN71 standards, art pencils set are made of natural and environmentally friendly material, The special process makes the lead core extra smooth, durable, and break resistant, easy to sharpen and erase, ideal for the graphic designer, draft, and realistic sketches, perfect for details, shading, and layering, you can easily move from thick blending to fine, detailed illustrations to deep shading
- BULK CONSTRUCTION PAPER: The 480-count of Crayola Construction Paper features 48 pages (10 unique colors) per pack.
- BACK TO SCHOOL TEACHER SUPPLIES: Crayola school supplies are trusted by teachers and loved by students—perfect for classrooms, homeschool, and creative learning. Includes crayons, markers, and more for everyday back to school use.
- CLASSROOM ARTS & CRAFTS: This bulk set is ideal for school projects and classroom crafts.
- HEAVY DUTY: Sturdy art paper that's both thick and malleable is conveniently bound into a pad for easy accessibility.
- CRAYOLA COLORS: Featured colors include Pink, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, Brown, Black, and White.
- 🎁 [ Ideal Gift for Kids and Adults ] - Yangmei rainbow pencils are the best gifts for kids. Ideal gift selection for Valentines Day Gifts for Kids, Easter Basket Stuffers for Teens, Christmas, Children's Day, Thanksgiving and Halloween, Stocking Stuffers for Kids Teens. Children will love drawing with Yangmei colored pencils. They always create amazing works of art with colored pencils.
- 🎨[ Unique Color Effect ] - The pencil cores have more than three different colors mixed, and the random colors seem to keep your drawing with a sense of surprise at all times, you can easily switch between the shades to create beautiful gradients and shading effects, enhancing your Drawing colorful.
- 🎨[ 12 Rainbow Colors ] - There are 12 pencils of different colors in box, they are pretty combination colors that match a variety of colors at the same time, makes your creation more convenient. Perfect for craft and DIY projects. All colors are extremely pigmented, vibrant and long-lasting.
- 🎨[ Widely Used ] - These coloring pens can be used for coloring your book, design work, color sketching, doodling, creative drawing, marking on the book and many other purposes. We can draw anything we want with it. The pens are versatile in color and twist the tip to get a different color!
- 🎨[ Safe and Durable ] - The rainbow color pencil made of high quality black wood and premium pigments, and will not break easily, the pencil core is much thicker, diameter 0.5cm, very durable! The black wooden exterior of these pencils gives them a sleek and professional look, while the pre-sharpened tips ensure they are ready to use straight out of the box.
- VERSATILE ART ERASER: Perfect kneaded eraser for artists when correcting and lightening charcoal, graphite and pastel drawings. Art Eraser is ideal for cleaning acetate films, slides and layouts and great for students studying drawing and sketching
- CLEAN ART ERASING: Kneaded erasers for artists leave no residue behind when correcting and touching up artwork. A kneaded eraser is often referred to as a putty eraser or gum eraser due to its plasticity and how it collects residue
- KNEADABLE ERASER: The kneadable art eraser is soft and pliable and changes shape for comfortable holding and erasing. Keep whole for large surfaces or pull apart, pinching off small amounts for precise erasing. After erasing, roll back together again
- ART ERASER STORAGE: Art erasers come packaged in a sturdy, plastic storage case that is reusable. The opaque case for kneaded erasers has an easy snap closure that is ideal for organizing and essential for artists on-the-go
- PREMIUM ART SUPPLIES: Since 1761, Faber-Castell has created premium quality tools for creatives of all skill levels. Faber-Castell products, including Kneaded Erasers, provide unsurpassed quality and performance for any artist
The Essential Art Supply Buying Guide: Find Your Perfect Tools
Starting your art journey or looking to upgrade your supplies? Choosing the right materials makes a huge difference in your final artwork. This guide helps you navigate the world of art supplies so you can buy with confidence.
Key Features to Look For
When you pick up any art material, check these main features first. They tell you a lot about how the product will perform.
1. Pigment Quality and Concentration
- Artist Grade vs. Student Grade: Artist-grade supplies use more pure pigment. This means brighter colors and better lightfastness (the color won’t fade quickly when exposed to light). Student grade is cheaper but uses more fillers.
- Color Saturation: How strong is the color? Highly saturated colors let you mix vibrant new shades easily.
2. Consistency and Texture
This matters a lot for paint, pastels, and even pencils. You want a smooth, even application. Lumpy paint or scratchy pencil leads will frustrate you.
3. Permanence and Lightfastness
If you plan to sell or display your work, permanence is crucial. Good quality paints and inks are rated for lightfastness. Look for ASTM ratings (like I for Excellent permanence).
Important Materials Breakdown
Different art forms require different basic materials. Here is what you need to know about the core items:
Pencils and Drawing Tools
- Graphite Pencils: They are graded by hardness (H for hard, B for black/soft). H pencils make light lines for sketching. B pencils make dark, rich lines perfect for shading.
- Charcoal: Vine charcoal is soft and easy to erase. Compressed charcoal is denser and creates deep blacks.
Paints
- Watercolor: Look for tube or pan sets. Tubes are good for mixing large washes. Pans are portable.
- Acrylics: These dry fast and are very versatile. Check the body—thicker acrylics hold brush strokes better.
- Oils: These dry slowly, allowing for more blending time. They require solvents for cleanup.
Surfaces (Paper and Canvas)
The surface you use affects how the medium behaves. Watercolor paper should be heavy (140 lb or more) and often textured (cold press is common). Canvas should be properly primed (gessoed) so the paint doesn’t soak through.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
Quality isn’t just about price. Certain ingredients significantly impact performance.
Improving Quality:
- Binder Content: Higher-quality paints use more binder (like linseed oil for oils or gum arabic for watercolors). This makes the color richer and smoother.
- Tooth (for Paper): Paper with a good “tooth” (texture) grabs the pigment better, especially for pastels and dry media.
Reducing Quality:
- Fillers: Cheap paints often contain chalk or clay as fillers. These dilute the color and weaken the texture.
- Poor Adhesion: If a pencil lead snaps constantly, or paint cracks when dry, the quality of the formula is low.
User Experience and Use Cases
Think about how you plan to create art. This dictates the best purchase.
For Beginners and Quick Sketching:
You need affordable, easy-to-use supplies. Student-grade acrylics or a good set of basic colored pencils are perfect. Don’t buy the biggest set; buy a few quality tubes of primary colors instead.
For Detailed Illustrations:
Fine-tipped pens (like archival ink pens) and smooth paper are necessary. You need tools that offer precision without bleeding or feathering.
For Large Paintings and Studios:
You will need larger quantities of paint and sturdy surfaces like stretched canvas. Investing in artist-grade materials here saves money long-term because you use less paint to achieve stronger results.
Art Supplies Buying Guide FAQ
Q: What is the difference between student grade and artist grade paint?
A: Artist grade paint uses more pure pigment, which makes the colors brighter and last longer without fading. Student grade paint uses more fillers, so the colors are less intense.
Q: How do I know if my watercolor paper is good?
A: Look at the weight. Good watercolor paper should be at least 140 lb (300 gsm). Heavier paper resists buckling when it gets wet.
Q: What does “lightfastness” mean for my artwork?
A: Lightfastness tells you how well the color resists fading when the finished artwork is exposed to light over time. High lightfastness means your art stays vibrant.
Q: Are oil paints hard for beginners to use?
A: Oil paints take longer to dry, which lets you blend colors for a long time. However, they require special solvents to clean brushes, which can be tricky for beginners.
Q: Should I buy acrylics in tubes or jars?
A: Tubes are usually better for controlling how much paint you use and keeping the paint fresh. Jars are good if you use a lot of one color quickly.
Q: What is ‘gesso’ and why do I need it?
A: Gesso is a primer that you brush onto surfaces like canvas or wood. It seals the surface so the paint doesn’t soak in, and it gives the paint a better surface to stick to.
Q: What are the best pencils for shading?
A: Look for pencils labeled with higher ‘B’ numbers (like 4B, 6B, or 8B). These have softer lead and create darker, richer black marks.
Q: Can I use cheap brushes for oil painting?
A: You can start with cheaper synthetic brushes, but natural hair brushes (like hog bristle) move oil paint much better and give you smoother results.
Q: Do I need special paper for ink pens?
A: Yes. You need paper that is smooth and heavy enough that the ink does not bleed through to the next page or feather out into fuzzy lines.
Q: How can I store my pastels to keep them safe?
A: Pastels are fragile. Store them in flat trays or boxes with dividers. Avoid stacking them directly on top of each other to prevent colors from smearing.