How to Choose the Right Art Supplies (for YOU) and an Exciting Opportunity
I love art supplies. Learning about them, shopping for them, trying new materials — it’s so much fun.
I’ve written about art supplies here on my blog, talked about them on YouTube and also shared ideas about which supplies to use in my classes, and there’s always more to say.
I definitely have my favorites, those I return to again and again, but exploring new materials is fun and energizing for me. Playing, experimenting and trying new things is one of the best parts of my sketchbook practice. Whenever another artist shares about her favorite supplies or shows a new art material she’s exploring, I immediately want to try it, too.
I’m fascinated by the process of not only using art supplies, but also by how they’re created. The Art Supplies volume of the UPPERCASE Encyclopedia of Inspiration is filled with interesting behind-the-scenes details that make me want to dive into something new. And it could be easy to get lost watching art supply production videos, like this one from Sennelier or this one from Schmincke.
I’ve imagined it would be fun to design my own art supplies. And it looks like that dream may become a reality.
But I’m going to need your help.
More on that in a bit.
First I want to chat about choosing the right supplies.
When I was first learning how to make art, I used to think discovering the right supplies would suddenly make me a better artist.
It can be easy to think the right supplies will make all the difference in the art you make. To a degree, they will. Painting with watercolor on cheap paper or paper not designed to be used with watercolor will be frustrating, especially if you aren’t already skilled at painting. Getting deep beautiful colors from very cheap watercolor can be nearly impossible.
But trying something new can be frustrating even when you’re using the best supplies. Sometimes my initial reaction when I try something unfamiliar is, “I don’t like this.”
I’ve learned that it’s important to take a step back and ask myself if I really dislike it or simply dislike my lack of skill with it.
I recently filled up a sketchbook I’d been working on for over 7 1/2 years. I have quite a few sketchbooks in progress and although I go through ebbs and flows working in them, 7 1/2 years is a long time!
One of the reasons I didn’t work in this sketchbook as much as others was that I didn’t like the paper. Markers, colored pencils, micron pens… none of them worked the way I wanted on its pages.
Even knowing I didn’t like the paper, looking at my sketchbook now, I have such a fondness for it. And I’m grateful that disliking the paper inspired me to choose different ways of working. Sometimes I taped or glued pieces created on separate paper onto its pages. Sometimes I used it for collage or with acrylic paint.
The paper’s shortcomings also helped me to loosen up.
Even the wrong sketchbook can be right when we change our perspective.
I get a lot of questions from people about art supplies and last week someone asked me, again, how to choose a sketchbook. I still agree with what I shared about choosing a sketchbook in this blog post when I said:
“I used to believe in ‘The Perfect Sketchbook’ and was on a quest to find it. These days I believe the perfect sketchbook (no capital letters needed) is the one you want to work in. It doesn’t have to look pretty, but it does need to feel good.”
Art-making — no matter what it is — needs to feel good.
I’ve been making art for about 14 years and over that time I’ve developed my skills and my voice and also my tastes. Tastes change! Which is part of the fun of our creative practices. We can’t forget to give ourselves time and space for this.
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned over the years is to approach everything with an open mind, with curiosity and with patience.
Patience with myself and with the process.
If you’re looking for the right (for you) supplies, don’t be overwhelmed by the many possibilities. Don’t stress about choosing the perfect (capitalized or not) materials. It’s a fun process to play and experiment and try new things. Savor it.
One of the beautiful things about art-making is that you don’t have to limit yourself to just one thing. Nothing needs to be perfect.
The right supplies are the ones you’ll want to use and enjoy using, even when what you create with them falls short of your vision.
The only way you’ll learn what materials are right for you is by spending a lot of time working with them. So be patient!
Art supply preferences are very personal. Every artist has her favorites. Many artists also love trying new things. If you already have favorites, great! If you’re still looking, enjoy the process.
Here are a few more ideas if you need more help.
Where to find art supply recommendations:
YouTube “art hauls” and reviews, especially when the artist demonstrates the supplies. You might enjoy watching Sandi Hester, Laura Horn, Ohn Mar Win, Marie-Noëlle Wurm , Natasha Newton or Melanie Chadwick.
Art classes and art class supply lists. I’ve learned about so many great supplies from other Skillshare teachers and in Creativebug classes (available through many libraries). Patreon and in-person classes are also great places to discover new materials.
Online events like this year’s Sketchbook Revival which focused on favorite supplies (there’s still one more week of free access to this year’s workshop) are another great way to hear from many different artists in one place.
Art books. I always need books! Some books recommend specific brands, others have more general suggestions. Two books I’m enjoying from the library right now are: Keeping a Creative Sketchbook by Emma Block and Creative Wanderlust by Kasia Avery.
Artist websites — checking their FAQs is a good place to start. A few artists who list their favorites on their sites: Rebecca Green, Lori Roberts and Laly Mille.
Artist blogs and newsletters. Sometimes artists will share reviews of new supplies or roundups of their favorites. Recently Dylan Mierzwinski shared her favorite sketchbooks in her newsletter.
Reviews in online shops — even if you’re planning on visiting a brick-and-mortar art supply shop, online reviews can be helpful (but take them with a grain of salt).
What to do if you end up with supplies you don’t love:
Give them time. Don’t rush the process of getting to know a new-to-you material.
Look for demonstrations on blogs or YouTube or take a class.
Release yourself from trying to make something “good” and just play. (My new sketchbook class is focused on loosening up like this).
Try using them in a different way. For example, I don’t generally like to use water with my Neocolor II water-soluble crayons, but I love using them dry.
Share them with someone else. If they’re truly not for you, pass them on — give to a friend, look for a local art supply swap or donate your supplies to a second-hand shop, school or library.
What are your favorite supplies?
I’m always curious to hear about others’ relationships with art-making. We can all be inspired by one another.
Do you like trying new materials? How do you discover new supplies? Are there materials you dislike? Have you ever changed your mind about an art supply you didn’t like?
Finally, I need your help making an art supply dream a reality!
Craftamo recently invited me to design a set of custom brushes with them.
Craftamo creates cruelty-free, eco-friendly, sustainable art supplies. They partner with artists from around the world to design custom products including brush sets. Maybe you’re familiar with Sarah Burns or Emma Jane Lefebrve? Both have shared the process of working with Craftamo on their YouTube channels. Lindsay Weirich of the Frugal Crafter has, too, and there are many more.
If this project goes ahead, I’ll decide how many and what types and sizes of brushes to include in my set. I’ll have complete control over the design, even what color the handles will be! And I’ll create art for the beautiful box, too.
Although I haven’t yet thought much about the brushes I’d want in my set, I do know one brush I’ll definitely include. I’m very excited to design the perfect, tiny chisel blender for lifting out veins and highlights in my watercolor paintings — I haven’t been able to find one that’s just right.
I’m also excited to take you along on this journey with me. We’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the process and be able to create something beautiful together.
Before Craftamo goes ahead with investing in a project like this, they need to gauge interest. Here’s how you can help.
If you’d like to see this project come to life, please let Craftamo know by signing up for their campaign.
Edit: the campaign has now finished. We didn’t get quite enough sign-ups to bring my custom brush collection to life. Thanks so much to everyone who signed up. It was a fun experience for me and I’m grateful to have been invited to contemplate the possibilities.
And as always, I’m grateful to you for your continued support and encouragement.
I wouldn’t be here doing what I do without my blog readers, students and customers. Thank you!