The old saying, “an artist is only as good as their tools,” might be a slight stretch. There’s something to be said for the human vision, creativity, and passion that go into an artwork, regardless of the media and utensils an artist has on hand.
However, tools can significantly enhance your artwork—they can help you brainstorm your vision, render it in exquisite detail, subtract from it, alter it, fine-tune it, and preserve it. Could Da Vinci have created art with a stick and some mud? Probably. Could he have created evocative masterpieces? Maybe not.
To elevate your artwork to the stratosphere of the masters, here are 12 must-have supplies. You can find these essentials at a well-stocked online art store, such as Above Ground Art Supplies, in various brands and styles. For each supply below, we list a few brands to look for.
The Heart of Ideation: An Artist’s Sketchbook
There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes tinkering involved in creating a piece of art, and much of it happens before the artist touches the final canvas. A sketchbook is a critical tool in the artist’s arsenal because it gives you a “sandbox,” so to speak—somewhere to play, float ideas, try new methods, etc.
Brands to look for: Borden & Riley, Stillman & Birn, Strathmore, and Canson.
Pencils – Both Graphite and Charcoal
Pencils might be your finishing medium or your brainstorming medium. However you use them, they’re a crucial part of the process. For versatility in shading, sketching, and detail work, consider stocking both graphite and charcoal pencils.
Brands to look for: Derwent, General’s, Faber-Castell, and Cretacolor
Kneaded and Precision Erasers
Sometimes, subtraction makes the artwork.(Other times, you just slip up and need some help!).
Keep various erasers on hand for the drawing process, including highly customizable kneaded erasers and hyper-detailed precision erasers.
Brands to look for: Staedtler, Dixon, Derwent, and Faber-Castell
A Supportive Presence in Your Life: A Good Easel
Every artist needs a supportive presence in their life, whether it’s a benefactor, friend, colleague, or family member. They also need a literal supportive presence in a quality easel.
Brands to look for: Mabef, Craftech
A Variety of Quality Paint Brushes
Stocking various paintbrushes is vital since each brush achieves a separate effect. Having a wide variety at your disposal (Round, Flat, Filbert, Fan, Angular, Detail/Spot, etc.) allows you to render your vision in immaculately faithful detail, from the broadest strokes to the finest flourishes.
Brands to look for: Da Vinci, Escoda, Princeton, Winsor & Newton, and Liquitex
Paints in Your Preferred Medium: Acrylics, Watercolors, and Oil
You probably saw this one coming. Naturally, an artist needs to stock their medium of choice. If possible, choose the artist grade paints: They feature a level of brilliance, vibrancy, versatility, and staying power that you don’t quite get with student grade paints. (That said, please choose whatever fits your skill level, comfort level, and budget!).
Brands to look for: Gamblin, Winsor & Newton, Golden, Liquitex, Schmincke, Daniel Smith, and many more.
A Palette and Palette Knives for Mixing Things Up
For mixing colors and applying thicker layers of paint, consider a palette and palette knife. As a bonus, wielding a palette and knife just makes you feel like an artist. Is there a more quintessential icon of artistry than the palette? Maybe not.
Brands to look for: New Wave, Jack Richeson, RGM, and Gamblin
Your Blank Masterpiece: Canvas and Paper
You’ve brainstormed your drawings, built your easel, and mixed your paints—now, it’s showtime. One of the last truly essential tools an artist needs in their creative process is the blank slate itself, the canvas. Choose from canvas pads, canvas panels, stretched canvas, canvas rolls, etc.
Which you choose will ultimately depend on a) what kind of artwork you’re creating/medium you’re using, b) how comfortable you are with canvases, and c) the level of customizability you require. Read more about choosing the right canvas at the link.
Brands to look for: Studioworks, Winsor & Newton, Fredrix, and Old Holland
Fixative Spray for Finishing Touches
At last, you’ve created your masterpiece. The only final order of business is ensuring its longevity. Without fixative sprays, a piece of art is susceptible to damage and interference from dust, accidental smears, and UV damage. Thankfully, applying a fixative is probably the easiest part of the whole art-making process.
Brands to look for: Grumbacher, Winsor & Newton, and Golden
The sky is the limit when shopping for art supplies. You can be as comprehensive as you wish. However, the nine supplies above represent the essential toolkit for emerging and established artists to create something timeless and beautiful.