What makes good art supplies? It’s such a loaded question. Good on what level?
Price?
Ease of use?
Archival quality?
Accessibility?
Figuring out what art supplies are best can be a bit of a minefield, especially for beginners!
A bit of googling and you will most likely collect multiple opinions probably contradicting each other. So ignore other people’s opinions and let’s figure out which art supplies are going to be best for you.
By the way, if you would like a free class all about the best watercolour supplies for beginners click here!
Its a bit like Goldilocks - those art supplies need to be not too good, but not too bad either..
This inspired me to write a fractured fairy tale to make my point. Fancy reading that?
Find out if you can relate to the artistic struggles of poor old Goldilocks by clicking here…
When good art supplies are too good
If you splash out and get yourself something pricey to work with I think your experience really depends on your own mindset.
If you can tell yourself that you are giving yourself the best chance of success by being properly equipped - then, great - go you! You are a delightful creative soul and of course you deserve these wondrous supplies.
This is true for all of us because we are all deserving and delightful creative souls, but what if you have a hard time believing that?
So many of us do. Then those expensive supplies sit untouched like a grand prize.
😬 You don’t want to ‘waste’ them.
😬 You worry that you are not good enough to be using such things yet.
😬 You are saving them up to use on some Important Project. (Such a project may never arise.)
😳 Or if you do decide to open them, a mighty burden of expectation crushes your fragile creative spirit.
This is not a happy place from which to create.
When bad art supplies are too bad
Bad supplies? Surely there is no such thing.
What I really mean is cheap art supplies. Except I don't.
Bad art supplies are the ones that make your life difficult, that reduce the joy of creating anything. This includes extremely expensive and intimidating professional supplies we were just talking about but also includes the ones that are poor quality.
✏️ Scratchy coloured pencils that leave a wishy washy suggestion of colour instead of a vibrant intense mark.
✏️ Paper that pills and buckles.
✏️ Paint brushes that don’t keep their pointed tip.
✏️ Gel pens that clog and won’t write or nibs that disappear into the pen at the slightest pressure.
Now price is not an automatic indication of these things. Some of my favourite user friendly supplies are in the least expensive category eg Crayola watercolour paint!
So what does a beginner really need?
Only two things, in my opinion:
Something to make a mark with
Something to make a mark on
It needn’t be more complicated than that.
So often when an experienced artist/illustrator or other talented person gives a class or workshop, the very first question people rush to ask is
‘What pen do you use?’
The implied hope is that all we need is that specific pen and we will be able to draw just like them too. In reality that artist will probably be able to make a similarly good drawing using just about any pen.
It's not the pen that makes the artist, it’s the bravery to make a mark.
So go out and make marks.
Or stay in and make marks.
Just make sure you actually make the marks.
The best art supplies for a beginner are the ones they will actually use.
Choose the supplies that feel good to you. They don’t need to be expensive, but they can be if that is what makes your heart happy.
A doodle on the back of the gas bill with that ballpoint pen that lost its lid in the bottom of your handbag is perfectly wonderful. So is splashing professional grade paint across a thick sheet of unctuous, premium watercolour paper.
And no, it doesn’t make a blind bit of difference how ‘good’ you are at art - that is entirely subjective anyway.
Use whichever supplies call to you and do it with gusto. Like a 4 year old would.
It’s your creative life. So do it your way.
By the way, are you interested in trying your hand at loose, expressive watercolor painting or wanting to rediscover it?
I have a whole class on watercolour supplies that will guide you through all the things you will want to look for in your supplies and save you wasting time and expense on the things that are not necessary.
It’s completely free and you can sign up here.
The Beginner’s Guide to Watercolour Supplies
Are you on your own painting journey?
One of these might be useful…
Keep on reading…
