Art Materials

Human beings are extraordinarily creative. We have banded together to create societies, rules, law and a host of other things enabling us to live and co-exist (at times more harmoniously than others). Expressions of creativity emerge through a variety of mediums. Art is one of these mediums, and today we’re going to talk about the common art materials necessary to turn you into the next Picasso, Jackson Pollack, or simply someone to impress your partner or kids.

We’d need a forum as long as Don Quixote to run through all of the art supplies available on the market today. But most traditional artists do agree that any budding (or current) artist needs to have a handful of staples at their fingertips. First up are graphite pencils. If you are drawing something in still-life (a person or thing) or inventing something, you will likely sketch before you paint. A good graphite pencil is key, and for general sketching a 2B pencil is the best bet, while for creating dark shadows, a 6B pencil is required.

Next up is a kneaded eraser. We all make mistakes, mainly because we’re human. A good eraser will change all that. An errantly drawn line here or there can suddenly vanish, as if it never occurred! The cool thing about kneaded erasers is they’re pliable and soft. They can be shaped into anything you want, and best yet, no annoying crumbs left behind. Having a graphite pencil and a kneaded eraser is great, but what are you going to draw on? The answer is a high quality drawing pad, the kind that is acid free block paper, preferably 9 inches x 12 inches. This block pad is where all that creativity will be poured. Treat it well, and don’t loose it!

A palette is where you’ll house those precious paints, watercolors or acrylics. The good news with palettes is they’re relatively inexpensive. As opposed to designer graphite pencils or pricey block pads, it really doesn’t matter if you only drop $10 on a palette. In terms of brushes, this is a big category to tackle. If you’re painting with acrylics, for example, there are three brushes you should consider. The first is a filbert brush. This is for painting, in general, and a size 6 is ideal for medium size paintings. Next is a flat wash brush. You’ll use this brush to paint backgrounds, and a 1-inch is a good choice. And lastly is a small liner brush. This will be your brush for fine details. If you’re painting with watercolors, there are another three brushes to consider. The first is a large or even medium sized flat brush. The second is a round brush, anywhere from size 8 up to 14. This is for general painting, while the third brush, a liner brush, is for smaller details. Look for a size 6 in this category.

Lastly, to round this post out we need the paint. But of course, the paint! We won’t dive into brands, types, etc. Acrylics, oils and watercolors are all different. But it’s the colors you should focus on. The basics are cadmium red, phthalo green, phthalo blue, alizarin crimson, burnt umber and gamboge yellow. Funny names, but the colors afterward are your guide. Any major art store (physical or online) will have all of these materials. Onwards and upwards, Picasso!