This art supply list took over 30 years to make.

Here are all of the ArtSquish supplies in one place. I have worked on this list for years, and have tried to make it as inexpensive an endeavor as possible, as well as alleviate the big problem of materials frustration. Artists don’t always understand that they are having difficulty with a technique simply because they’re using brushes that aren’t suitable, or paint that’s not thick enough right out of the tube. If you’re a teacher, you’ll recognize how this set works together and may already use a lot of what we refer to in our lessons. If you’re a novice, then listen closely.

For instance, we use translucent student grade acrylics in 9 traditional pigment colors. They’re selected to give you the widest range of colors from the fewest tubes, but there’s a lot more to our selection than that. You can use these to make fantastic watercolors without spending more on another set of paints, and the pigments are far better than what you get in dry cakes in tiny little tins.

We use one large sketch pad, instead of a small one plus a large cheap newsprint pad which has rough, un-saveable paper. Our one pad allows students to keep work they’ve done on large paper, and we use portions of the page for smaller drawings. The spiral bound version doesn’t fall apart, so it saves money compared to the initially cheaper taped version.

Instead of going the traditional route with 3 kinds of charcoal, we think compressed is the most versatile so we only use that. There is a reason (or several reasons) for every single item in our list.

We don’t actually sell any of these supplies. Yes, there is a commission for us if you click these links and get them at Dick Blick online. I don’t think you’ll find better prices anywhere, but feel free to go find temporary deals and use coupons. Many stores will have a daily coupon you can access via your phone on their website. Just be very, very careful. Many times using a 40% off coupon will still cost more than what Blick sells it for. Also, read the next line.

Please do not substitute supplies with other products. Bad things will happen!

I have had a lot of experience with supplies, as well as my fair share of sticker shock. I’ve used pretty much everything out there and tested it extensively in my studio and at Firstlight. The supplies on this list work better than anything I can find, and are tailored tightly to the lessons.

If you get a medium yellow (pretty color) instead of light yellow (not as pretty), or if you get a light yellow that is extended with white to make it cheaper, it will be impossible to follow our directions for color journals and most of our projects. It won’t create a watercolor like we show you. Some ink is waterproof and some is not. You need the waterproof kind.

I could go on about every single item listed below. Trust me on this one. What is listed is perfect for what you need to  learn art in a constructive way. We don’t care where you get it, just get the right thing.

Student Supplies

S K E T C H P A D 14″ x 17″ sketch pads – spiral bound It’s important to have a large enough pad that you can do several small sketches with notes, and also large works when needed. One pad is cheaper than having a small sketch pad and a large newsprint pad, and then if you draw something large that you like, it’s on good enough paper that you can save it. Strathmore 300 Series Sketch Pads Strathmore 300 Series Sketch Pads

C A N V A S – P A D 12 X 16 – real gessoed canvas sheets, not canvas paper. Do not be fooled by canvas pads that are simply thick paper with texture. Fredrix Canvas Pads Fredrix Canvas Pads

W AT E R C O L O R P A D 11″ X 15″ – It’s hard to find anything better than this for students! Strathmore 200 Series Watercolor Paper Student Pad Strathmore 200 Series Watercolor Paper Student Pad

P A L E T T E P A D 12″ X 16″- disposable pad of plastic coated sheets. You can also use plastic plates or trays.

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B R U S H E S A set of 4 is enough to get started, but these packs of 12 are less expensive than 4 single brushes! Make sure to get long handles and round ends with pointy tips. Stanislaus Brush Sets, Round White Nylon, LONG Handle, Set of 12 Stanislaus Brush Sets, Mixed White Nylon, Short Handle, Set of 12

W A T E R P R O O F – I N D I A I N K Make sure it says waterproof! Higgins Waterproof Black Ink Higgins Waterproof Black Ink

P E N – N I B – H O L D E R plastic

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A R T I S T N I B S Get a small but rounded tip. A sharp nib like crow quill will tear up the paper.

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2 B D R A W I N G – P E N C I L General’s Kimberly Drawing Pencils General's Kimberly Drawing Pencils

 

4 B D R A W I N G – P E N C I L

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E B O N Y – P E N C I L very dark/soft graphite pencil with a large lead. Prismacolor Ebony Pencil Prismacolor Ebony Pencil

 

W H I T E – S O F T – E R A S E R You can cut these in half and they work just as long before kids destroy them. Staedtler Mars Plastic Eraser Staedtler Mars Plastic Eraser

 

K N E A D E D – E R A S E R You can save money by purchasing the largest size and dividing it into halves or thirds. Prismacolor Kneaded Rubber Erasers Prismacolor Kneaded Rubber Erasers

B L E N D I N G – S T U M P S Solid rolled paper blending sticks will clean up nicely using a sandpaper board. Tortillions can be peeled to clean, but don’t last as long or hold up as well. Pro Art Blending Paper Stumps Pro Art Blending Paper Stumps

O I L – P A S T E L – S E T 25 Sticks Sakura Cray-Pas Expressionist Oil Pastel Sets, Set of 25 Sakura Cray-Pas Expressionist Oil Pastel Sets, Set of 25

C A N V A S – B O A R D S- 11″ X 14″ Optional but very nice for special projects.

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S O F T – C O M P R E S S E D – C H A R C O A L Sticks, not pencil form. Snap in half for economy and more versatility too.

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P R I S M A C O L O R – C O L O R E D – P E N C I L Any dark grey color. We use this as a canvas pencil. Prismacolor Colored Pencils, Warm Grey Prismacolor Colored Pencils, Black

S A N D P A P E R – B L O C K Used to clean stumps and sharpen pencils on occasion. Sandpaper Block, Sandpaper Block Sandpaper Block, Sandpaper Block

P A L E T T E – K N I F E – S E T Cheap plastic knives come 3 to a pack and can be split up.

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A R T I S T – T A P E We use the blue painters tape. Several students can share. Scotch-Blue Painter’s Tape for Delicate Surfaces Scotch-Blue Painter's Tape for Delicate Surfaces

D R A W I N G – B O A R D

We like the large boards with 2 metal clips on the end. You can put two of these facing each other and the clips will work together to create a space so that wet paintings aren’t touching, as long as they are leaning against the wall in a vertical position. Richeson Drawing Clip Board Richeson Drawing Clip Board

P A I N T S

Acrylic paints, student grade except for white. Do not use student grade white in any brand. You have to use a lot more of it to get poor results, and so it’s frustrating but not less expensive. These specific colors will create decent student-grade watercolors if mixed well with water. The pigments must not contain white or they won’t work for glazes and watercolors. We like the Amsterdam brand because it’s the heaviest body of all the student grade paint, in the easiest to open tubes.

Single pigment colors:

Raw Sienna Burnt Umber Ultramarine Blue Violet (quinacridone and/or dioxazine violet) Cyan Blue (cerulean is ok too, but cyan is more versatile) Light Yellow (arylide, arylamide, or hansa yellow. Intense yellow with no white or red pigments added at all) Warm Red (pyrrol red is good and so is napthol – emulating cadmium red light) Magenta (quinacridone is by far the best pigment) Amsterdam Standard Series Acrylics, 504 Ultramarine, 120 ml Amsterdam Standard Series Acrylics, 504 Ultramarine, 120 ml

Phthalo Green (blue shade, if noted). Unfortunately, Amsterdam does not make Phthalo Green. Probably because it’s so hard to pronounce. Winsor & Newton Galeria Flow Acrylics, 522 Phthalo Green, 60 ml Winsor & Newton Galeria Flow Acrylics, 522 Phthalo Green, 60 ml

Professional White (larger tubes are economical) Liquitex Heavy Body Artist Acrylics, 432 Titanium White, 7 oz Liquitex Heavy Body Artist Acrylics, 432 Titanium White, 7 oz

 Classroom Supplies

 

 

there are several lessons that use modeling clay. Plastilina is the best brand but we also like this brand

plasticlay