My Favorite Art Supplies
Recently I shared my favorite art supplies for kids. Today I’m sharing my favorite art supplies for teens and adults. If something made it on this list it’s because I’ve used and loved it. While I mostly work in watercolor, you’ll find supplies in other mediums as well. I hope this list helps you with art supply overwhelm. It’s a thing, I swear.
Just like my kid’s art supply post, I have broken down the supplies based on art personality. Just for funsies.
Click on the item name or the picture to be taken to the Amazon link.
*Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links that at NO additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission. Thank you!
The Fast Finisher
This artist loves to make a ton of art. Before they are done on a piece they are already dreaming up their next one. This list of supplies are good quality but affordable, making the art practice not something that’s going to break the bank.
This paper is great for beginners and holds up really well. This is the paper that I personally use for my work a majority of the time. It has some texture but is smoother than other watercolor paper out there making it easy to add pen and other supplies to it.
I have found that Canson paper sometimes runs out of stock so another good option is the Strathmore 300 series. It has more texture than the Canson but it’s still thick and does a great job holding up to water. You can find that brand here.
This is one of my favorite watercolor brands for beginners and those that want to get right to creating because it comes in a wide variety of colors. Since mixing your own colors can take time and practice, having a set that probably has the color you want to use already mixed is great! These are tube watercolors which means you will need to add a tiny amount of paint and some water to a palette before you use it. It’s not intended to be used straight out of the tube. If you want even more colors, they have a set of 60 colors as well.
The good thing about these brushes is that they hold a decent amount of water and paint. For the price, your artist can explore a variety of brush sizes and shapes.
The Careful Creator
This artist likes to take their time on their work and also craves more professional quality supplies.
This paper is king when it comes to professional watercolor paper. It’s made of 100% cotton making it an excellent choice for layering colors, creating smooth transitions and gradients. While it definitely comes with a higher price tag, I have really enjoyed using it for pieces that I know will need many layers. Arches also come in a rough texture but I prefer the cold pressed. You can also find them in blocks instead of a pad which comes in handy if you’re creating something that has a lot of water and you don’t want to worry about your paper curling while you paint.
This is a great choice if you’re looking for something a bit more affordable than Arches but that is still a good quality cotton rag paper. It won’t deliver quite the same results as Arches but it does a great job nonetheless.
Hands down my favorite watercolors. The pigment is vibrant and beautiful. There aren’t any thickening agents so these tubes can last quite a long time because you’re getting straight color without the filler. They are also lightfast meaning they won’t easily fade if they are in the sun or UV light.
This is the first professional brand of watercolor that I bought and I loved the results. This is my second choice just because I love Mijello so much. The great thing about Daniel Smith is their huge variety of colors. I especially love their neutrals and their Payne’s Grey is a staple in my art. You can find just about any color you want from Daniel Smith.
Princeton is an awesome brand. I have loved all my brushes I have gotten from them. The Select Artiste series is their student grade brush and holds paint and water well. This set gives your artist a good variety of sizes.
The Plein Air Artist
This creator wants to take their art on the go. They like to nature journal and capture things in the moment.
This journal measures at 5.5 x 8 inches, making it the PERFECT size to travel with. The spiral binding keeps the paper in place without tearing and the quality is good. I have filled these journals with smaller illustrations on both the front and back of the paper with good results.
If you’re looking for something without a spiral bind, you might like this watercolor journal. I like the smooth spine and the elastic that holds everything closed. I personally have the 5.5 x 5.5 inch square, but they also make this in a rectangle 8.25 x 5.5.
This watercolor set is perfect for traveling. The colors in this set are a good mix for capturing things in nature. Although it’s not as vibrant as some of the other tube paints on this list, it still does a good job. The set is small enough to take with you pretty much anywhere and comes with mixing wells that pull out under the colors. You can also replace the colors easily from the pan.
I really like these brushes because they offer a variety of sizes. These are awesome for painting on the go because you just fill up the pen with water instead of dipping into a water cup. I’ve also used these for line art by filling the brush with ink instead.
Just for Fun
The rest of these products are ones that I have used and loved!
These work great with watercolor. I love that they don’t stain like plastic palettes, making it much easier to see the true colors you’re mixing without the distraction of a stained palette. I also love that the paint doesn’t bead up with this type of palette.
These are just beautiful. I have added them as details to my work and they add a subtle touch of pretty. You’ll have to activate them with enough water to really get them to shine.
This is great for detailed work and is also waterproof. I love my micron and you can get them in a variety of sizes.
Primsacolor are so vibrant, buttery smooth and lightfast. They really are the best colored pencils and are excellent for shading and creating transitions. If you get some I would highly recommend getting their pencil sharpener which is gentler than other pencil sharpeners, preventing unwanted breaking when sharpening. You can find that sharpener here.
If you prefer to draw first, then transfer the image onto watercolor paper this can come in handy. Much easier than using a window if you ask me.
These erasers are THE best for removing pencil lines from watercolor paper without ripping the paper. Bonus- kids really enjoy turning their eraser into a fun shape since these are the consistency of pliable rubber. I HIGHLY recommend buying one with a case like the one here so it can stay clean.
Ohuhu brand- this alcohol based marker is vibrant and great for artists looking to add a higher quality marker to their supplies. They are double sided with one side having a fine tip and the other with a chisel tip.
Posca Brand- this high quality acrylic paint pen is great for adding detail over watercolor or other mediums. They aren’t really great for layering a ton of color but I like them to add details to my work.
My favorite tool for inking so far, I love the brush tip of these pens. I can get some beautiful line variety with this and the ink is nice and dark.
When I am using a traditional brush and ink or filling my waterbrush with ink, this is the brand that I go to. It’s waterproof, super dark and does an excellent job.
These watercolors are great for wet on wet illustrations. They aren’t lightfast but they are really vibrant and fun.
One of my most beloved supplies! I love this because you can add it over the sop of watercolor for some pops of white. You can also mix some with your watercolor to make an opaque color. It’s perfect for adding details.
That’s a wrap!
Creating art is funner with good-quality, versatile, long-lasting supplies, trust me! These are my art supplies I go to again and again for my girls, myself and my classes. Did you find this list helpful? If so, let me know in the comments.
Sign up below to get access to your freebie! You will get all 3 phone wallpapers as a digital download sent directly to your email. By signing up you'll have access to future treats, insider news and discount codes. Thanks for joining my community!
