Home Art Steps to Choosing the Right Art Supplies

Steps to Choosing the Right Art Supplies

Let us guess. Like many others, you’ve decided to fill in your free time in quarantine with painting and drawing. Maybe you’ve wanted to do it for quite a while but just never had the chance to get round to it. So many things to do and so little time to do them. But now that you’ve got a little more time on your hands, you want to use it to create art. And honestly, we don’t blame you. We would do the same thing.

Paint Sets

Without a doubt, art is the ultimate form of self-expression and a vessel for your creativity to thrive. It’s a nice way to reduce stress, clear your head of all the negativity that the world is engulfed in right now and just focus on something positive. The artwork that you create doesn’t have to be perfect. After all, you don’t have to strive to be the next Da Vinci. Even the most basic scribbles, doodles and random lines are more than enough to get you going. What’s important is that you enjoy the creative process and have some fun along the way.

With that said, you’ll most definitely need the appropriate art supplies to make your artistic vision come to life in the right way. You might be wondering what kind of art supplies you need to start off with. And oh boy do we have the answer to that question. We’ve put together a list of all the essential art supplies you’ll need. You’re very welcome.

Lay Down the Foundation With the Right Painting Surface

Most of the time choosing a painting surface depends on the technique you’re planning on using. And it’s not really as blatantly obvious as you might think. The most popular painting surface options include canvas, wood and paper.

easel painting

Now here’s the trick, acrylics are quite versatile and you can use them to paint on literally anything with great ease. Oils can be a little more challenging since they don’t really absorb into linen canvases that well. You can use oils to paint on paper but make sure that the surface is properly sized and primed to prevent warping and degradation over time. And finally, watercolours work best on paper, or cold-pressed paper to be exact.

Canvases are the most durable and long-lasting painting surfaces so they seem like your best bet. Canvas boards are quite practical and convenient since they have an already stretched piece of cloth stitched or glued to a stiff panel. They’re quite sturdy when compared to regular canvases so they might provide the additional support beginners need to get started.

Mix It Up With the Right Paint Sets

Look, in most cases, you’ll just end up choosing different colours based on your individual preferences and sometimes randomly mixing them just to see what happens. And while there’s nothing wrong with this happy-go-lucky attitude, it’s actually good to know what you’re doing every now and then.

paint-brushes-with-palette_

When discussing colour combinations, there are a few basic ones you should know: analogous (greens and blues), complementary (greens and reds), primary colours (blue, red and yellow) and secondary colours (purple, green and orange). Choose paint sets with a wider range of colour choices which will give you the freedom to experiment more.

For additional vibrancy, you can use pigment for paint to really make those colours pop. Vibrant colours are instantly more eye-catching and playful which will definitely make your artwork stand out.

Use Different Paint Brushes and Palettes

Brushes come in different shapes and sizes and they all have different purposes too. Generally speaking, the bristles of the brush are the ones that determine what it’s best suited for. In terms of the material, there are synthetic and animal bristles. The latter are considered to be more expensive and higher quality but if you’re a beginner, you won’t really notice a difference.

When it comes to the form, round brushes have a pointed tip and are best used for adding details whereas flat brushes are mainly used for bold strokes and filling white spaces. However, filbert brushes are favourites for many due to their great versatility. They’re basically the best of both worlds since they’re a fine line between flat and round brushes and are great for general brushing and blending.

Another important tool is the palette. It’s basically the small curved board that you use to mix your colours with a brush before applying them. Most of them are made from either wood or plastic which makes them easy to clean and disposable.

Painting art

Additional Art Supplies

Now that we’ve covered the most basic art materials, let’s have a look at a few extra tools you might need for an even more enjoyable art experience.

Sketchbooks Can Come in Handy

The beauty of having a sketchbook is being able to quickly draw or doodle some designs or explore ideas before doing the actual artwork. This is the perfect way to train your creative muscles and let your imagination do its thing. Nothing is too crazy or far-fetched here, it’s a safe space where you can express yourself the most.

Masking Tape for Ease of Application

Adhesive artist’s tape can help tidy up the edges and make painting a breeze. Just cover up the area you don’t want the paint to cover and you won’t have to worry too much about keeping a steady hand. It can be even more difficult to do when you’re under pressure of getting the lines just right. Once you’re done, simply remove the tape and you’ll be left with the perfect lines.

tape painting designs

Added Stability With an Easel

An easel is either a wooden or a metal stand that can be used to prop up your painting surface for ease of application. You’ve probably seen artists in movies and TV shows use them all the time. They’re adjustable, highly functional and they allow you to back away and fully “take in” your work of art and bask in its glory. Using an easel when creating art is a much different experience than just painting on a flat surface.

So, what are you waiting for? Visit an arts and crafts store right now and get everything you need to start making art and having fun!