Embark on a Creative Journey: Tips for Choosing the Right Art and Craft Supplies

Art is a universal language and while many people think art is limited only to those with specific talents, the truth is that art is for everyone. Self-expression is an inseparable part of human nature and a base human desire that each one of us experiences in life. You don’t have to be a great artist, but you can try your hand at creating something through painting, drawing or sculpting, and you may be surprised to find out how much fun art can be.
Creative expression is a powerful activity that can be used to benefit your physical and mental health. It can help you lower stress levels, clear some headspace and discover your artistic skills. But developing your skills takes more than time. You will need quality artist equipment to support your creative process, so it’s important to choose the right art supplies and crafts if you want to progress faster.

All You Need to Know About Buying Art Supplies

Buying art supplies usually comes down to personal preferences because every artist has their style, habits and needs. Whether you are a beginner or a professional artist, it’s always a good idea to try out different materials and brands and explore your artistic skills. You can find a wide range of artist equipment and select the supplies you need for your artwork. To help you narrow down your choices, here are some of the basic art supplies you may need.

Sketchbook

This is an essential item for drawing preliminary sketches. You can use it to turn your ideas into rough sketches before putting your drawing on the actual painting surface. A sketchbook can be very helpful for improving your workflow and developing your skills. 

Graphite Pencils

A set of reliable graphite pencils is a must for any artistic project. You can use 2B for drawing sketches and shading, 4B for light shading and 6B for dark shading. 

Coloured Pencils

Coloured pencils are made in a similar way as graphite pencils, but they are available in many different colours and forms, including standard, thick- and thin-leaded and water-soluble. Some coloured pencils make sharp and definite lines, while others are softer. Layering colours can result in different shades and by using the same group of colours in different sequences you can find the best order for every shade.

Pens

There are many different pens available and choosing the right ones can be a daunting task sometimes. Technical pens can be used for fast sketches, while fountain or cartridge pens, specialist art pens, and ballpoint can be used for both sketches and detailed drawings. 

Sharpeners

Sharpeners come in many different forms and all of them allow you to sharpen the point of the medium you are using, whether you want it long, short, or angled, so it will suit the type of artwork you are doing. Just make sure the blade is always sharp before use.

Erasers

No artist workstation can be complete without an eraser. It’s an essential art tool that can remove graphite from most surfaces. Kneaded erasers don’t leave traces behind and can be shaped as you need them. 

Paint Set

Acrylics come in tubes, bottles and jars, they are versatile and vibrant and some of the most popular choices lately. Watercolours have been used for ages in a wide range of styles, and are available in tubes or dry cake versions. They are versatile and flexible. Pastels have rich, intense colours and artists love them because they require minimal supplies.

Brushes

You can choose from a variety of brushes, from small and medium to large. Depending on the paint you are using, you can select the type of brush you need. For acrylic, you can use a liner brush for fine details, a flat brush for painting the backgrounds or a filbert brush for smoothing out. For watercolour painting, you can opt for a size 6 liner brush for small details, 8 or 10 round brushes for general painting and a flat medium-sized brush for washes.

Painting Surface

After composing and sketching your ideas, it’s time to draw your final art piece on the painting surface. Depending on your selected medium, you can choose from different options and find what’s most suitable for your artistic needs. 
If you prefer using watercolours for your paintings, then you can choose pre-stretched pads, which are sheets of paper that have been stretched already, but if you like using acrylic, then you can choose either acrylic paper or canvas. 

Palette and Palette Knife

A palette is a surface upon which you mix the paints with a palette knife. Using a knife for mixing the paints is more convenient than using a brush as you won’t end up wasting the paint that’s stuck in the brush. Sometimes, the palette knife can be a very handy tool as it can help you scrape paint off a canvas.

Ink

Drawing inks are either water-soluble or waterproof, and they come in many different colours. Both inks can be blended with water to create tones, but waterproof inks dry fixed, while water-soluble inks can be rewetted and redone. 

Fixative

To prevent drawings made with soft-pigment materials from being smudged, you can use a fixative. It is a resin that has been dissolved in a colourless spirit solvent and when sprayed on the drawing, the solvent evaporates and a thin coating of resin is left behind. It binds the pigment dust to the support and it stays fixed. The best way to apply fixative is with the use of a CFC-free aerosol, but make sure you are following the guidelines as instructed on the product. 

Easel

There are a few different types of easels available. The easiest way to choose one is to bae your choice on how much space you have available.