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Art Supplies for Beginners
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items I've put together this collection of art supplies especially for beginners.
It can be really confusing to know what to buy and what’s actually worth the price. These are my picks for good-quality products that can help you get started making art with...
Some links on this page may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them — at no extra cost to you. I only share products I genuinely use or recommend.
Some links on this page may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them — at no extra cost to you. I only share products I genuinely use or recommend.
Acrylic paint starter set
Liquitex Basics Acrylic Paints - Set of 8, Color Mixing, 75 ml
Good quality brushes that keep their shape and don't shed
Princeton Real Value Brush Set - 9155, White Taklon, Long Handle, Set of 5
Disposable paper palette. Easy clean-up.
Paint Palette Paper Pad - 9" x 12", 50 Sheets
Canvas panels to paint on. These are sturdy and ready to paint on. The finished artwork can be framed, hung on the wall using a stick-on picture hanger, or simply propped on a bookshelf!
Blick Studio Cotton Canvas Panels - 8" x 10", Pkg of 5
Paint pens that can write on many surfaces. Great for using in a sketchbook. I've also seen people using them to draw on glass and ceramic. Also painting designs on sneakers.
Posca Paint Markers - Set of 8, Basic Colors, Medium Tip, 2.5 mm
These colored pencils make lines that are like confetti. Makes a great gift for a young artist or someone who likes adult coloring books
Koh-I-Noor : Sets of Jumbo Triangular Colored Pencils
Good quality paper with a slight texture. Perfect for pencil sketches, ink drawings, charcoal, and collage. Holds up well to erasing
Blick Studio Hardbound Sketchbook - 8-1/2" x 11"
Good quality paper even if you erase or smudge pencil sketches. I use mostly for pencil drawings. But it holds up to ink drawings and collage. A bit of mixed media. The spiral binding allows you to open it all the way flat
Blick Wirebound Sketchbook - 12" x 9", Wire Bound, 80 Sheets
Pencil drawing is a great place to start. This set includes a wide range of hardnesses so you can achieve dark shadows and light details and everything in between.
Blick Studio Drawing Pencils - Set of 12
If you spend a lot of time drawing or painting, you need to prop your paper up just for ergonomics. This device is like a small drafting table that sits on top of your desk or other table. It's portable and has a handle to make it easy to take with you. Fits medium sized drawing pads
Blick Portable Drafting and Drawing Table
Spiral Bound drawing paper. This is 18x24 80lb paper with a medium tooth. Suitable for pencil, charcoal, dry media, and ink.
Blick Studio Drawing Pad - 18" x 24", 70 Sheets
Canvas panels are a good type of canvas for beginners. Also, it's easy to pop into a frame (just remove the glass and frame like normal)
Blick Studio Cotton Canvas Panels - 8" x 10", Pkg of 5
Set of 3 brushes. This set has the basic shapes you need to get started and they're long-handled too. Long-handled brushes are good for acrylic painting
Princeton Snap! White Taklon Brush Set - Long Handle, Set of 3
Set of 4 Liquitex Brushes. Anything by Liquitex is a go-to for me. This set has a basic set of brush shapes and sizes to get started. Plus one size 8 flat brush that's a bit larger. great for filling in larger areas of color
Liquitex Basics Synthetic Brushes - Set of 4
A classic architect's lamp (also called a drafting lamp or clamp-on lamp). These lamps attach to the edge of a table or desk and have a long arm to go above your work space.
Studio Designs Swing Arm Lamp
Prismacolors were my first professional art supply. These are not regular colored pencils – they have much more pigment so you can get vivid colors
Prismacolor® Premier® Soft Core Colored Pencil Set