Guide To Essential Art Supplies

The creation of art is for everyone, regardless of their level of ability. Not only does it permit expression of the self, but art also heals. Participation in art supports mental and emotional wellbeing. Of course, every artist needs art supplies to get started.

Art supplies do not make the artist, though they do help. By buying the best supplies your budget allows, you will save time and money in your artistic ventures. There are so many supplies out there, such as art pads, a plastic palette, and even vintage art supplies. Of course, there are a few essential items you need when you want to make some art. Once you have this list, you will be visiting your local art shop or searching online for the supplies before you know it!

Sketchbook Or Painting Pad

Sketchbooks are essential supplies for anyone learning to draw! Whether you are learning independently or planning on attending a drawing class, a sketchbook or painting pad should be the first item on your list. You can use these handy tools for shape practice, working on composition, honing your shading, and improving your overall art skills. A sketchbook usually comes before a painting pad. This is because, even if your main focus is painting, you can plan your painting on a sketchbook before letting it take shape with other materials. A nine by twelve-inch sketchbook is a good starting point, with paper that is fifty to sixty pounds in weight.

Many artists use acrylic paints on painting pads. You should select a thick and textured pad that is designed not to buckle or wrinkle even when bearing several layers of paint. A poly-coated and durable paper will even permit the use of oils! Be aware of the type of medium you will be using, and select a suitable pad for that medium.

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Graphite Drawing Pencils

Now that you have a surface on which to create your art, you need some graphite drawing pencils! You can create everything from simple shading projects to fully rendered black and white photorealistic works with a good set of these drawing pencils. Sketching graphite pencils are available in an array of grades ordered from 9B to 9H. These grades describe the line tone produced by each pencil. B stands for black while H stands for hard. Harder pencils leave less graphite on the paper, resulting in lighter marks.

In contrast, B pencils are softer, leaving much more graphite on the paper, leading to black marks! For each type, the higher the pencil's number, the blacker or harder it is. HB pencils are also available, which fall right in the middle on the scale. They can be used for writing as well as drawing. F pencils, firm pencils, are also available. Choose the right pencil rather than pressing too hard on the paper.

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Paintbrushes And Paint

You will want at least a set of three basic paintbrushes if you are starting with acrylic paint. These are a size six filbert brush for medium-sized paintings, a flat wash brush of one inch for background painting, and a smaller liner brush for fine details. Filberts are used for general painting as well as smoothing out details. If you are using watercolors, you will also need three brushes. These are a medium or large flat brush used generally for washes, a size eight, ten, or fourteen round brush for general painting, and a size six liner brush for smaller details.

Whether you go with oils, acrylics, or watercolors, you need to acquire some basic paint colors. Obtain at least one red, blue, and yellow! A good starting palette from which you can derive many other colors can feature phthalo blue, cadmium red, and cadmium yellow. These three colors can be mixed to create quite a few others. You can expand your collection of paints as needed.

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Pencil Sharpener Or Brush Cleaner

Some art supplies need accessories, such as a pencil sharpener or brush cleaner, to keep them useful! You can choose an electric or manual sharpener for your graphite pencils. A quality electric sharpener is gentler on your favorite pencils. Such machines are excellent for a quick sharpen, but are only suitable for standard graphite pencils. Colored pencils have leads with a waxy binder capable of ruining a device. Brand new artists may prefer a manual pencil sharpener. This common choice is offered by a variety of brands. A metal, hand-held sharpener is cheap, simple to use, and portable. It is also capable of managing colored pencils.

Brush cleaners are vital for painters who do not want to go through a costly string of paintbrushes. You should get some linseed oil, artist-grade poppyseed oil, or safflower oil to dip the tip of your brushes in once you have wiped down the excess paint. Rest them on a rack to dry.

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Palette And Easel

Finally, you need a palette and easel if you are going to be painting. The ideal palette, especially for oil paints, is a flat piece of oiled wood. There are palettes designed for both left-handed and right-handed users, and you can tell which is which according to where the thumb hole is placed. Take your time choosing the right palette, as you want to be comfortable holding it for hours at a time. Test palettes by inserting your thumb in the hole, curling your fingers to rest around their notch, and rest the palette itself on your forearm. You need the right size, as a palette that is too small will not give you little room to blend colors, while one that is too large can wear you out more quickly because of its weight.

An easel is another must-have. Thankfully, you have choices here as well. Studio easels take up a significant amount of space, though you can have desktop or tabletop easels for confined spaces. You may even choose an outdoor easel!