Art Material Recommendations
If you’re looking to purchase some drawing and painting materials, I’ve collected my favourite recommendations here. Includes paints, brushes, paper, palettes etc for watercolour, acrylics, pencils, inks and oils. I always try to recommend decent quality at good prices. I know how expensive a painting hobby can be! Everything here is tried and tested in terms of the brand but prices fluctuate on Amazon, so there might be better deals on different weeks!
(Please note, the links on this page are affiliate links and I do receive a few pence if you buy anything, but it doesn’t affect the cost to you.)
Pencil Drawing Materials
I believe drawing is mainly about techniques and not about having any fancy sketching pencils! Pretty much anything can be drawn with only and HB pencil, rubber and piece of paper. However, different types of pencils are there to make your life easier, and you may find one you like better, depending on what you’re creating. This is mainly personal preference.
If you would like to order some new pencils or paper, I’d recommend these:
- Pencils
- Eraser
- Cartridge Paper
- Putty rubber
- Blending sticks
- Sketchbook
Charcoal Drawing Materials
There are 2 types of charcoal, but I believe the best one to start with is willow charcoal. It allows for mistakes and is great practice in learning pressure, blending and shading techniques.
- Willow Charcoal
- Cartridge Paper
- Eraser
- Blending sticks
- Putty rubber
- Compressed charcoal
Watercolour Painting Materials
For Watercolour, I have a little palette I tend to use and you can create pretty much every colour from it! The great thing about watercolours is they’re super compact.
- Watercolour paint palette
- Watercolour round paintbrushes
- Watercolour square paintbrushes
- Watercolour squirrel hair mop brushes (slightly fancier)
- Cold-pressed watercolour paper
- Masking fluid
- Mixing palette
- Masking tape
Acrylic Painting Materials
For Acrylics classes, everyone is likely to have different sets or brands. This is completely fine. Only thing to bear in mind is ‘Ready Mix’ paint doesn’t count as acrylic. It’s much more watery and doesn’t have the same coverage/consistency as acrylic paint. Here are a few things I think you’d like:
- Acrylic Paints
- Acrylic Brushes (smooth)
- Acrylic Brushes (rough)
- Acrylic Paper
- Tear off palette
- Palette Knife
- Masking tape
Ink Materials
Pen & Wash uses black waterproof ink and an either watercolours or colour inks. However, by just using inks in different ways from the simple pen outline, there’s loads of scope for bold pigmented colour. Permanent but worth it! Below are the inks I use and some of the materials I enjoy using with them.
- Black Indian Ink (waterproof)
- Colour inks
- ‘Hot-pressed’ or ‘smooth’ watercolour paper
- Dip pen and nibs
- Watercolour paint palette
- Watercolour round paintbrushes
- Watercolour square paintbrushes
- Mixing palette
- Pipette
- Masking tape
Oil Painting Materials
This list is for traditional oils, but I’ve linked some water-based oils at the bottom too. Here are a few things I think you’d like:
- Oil Paints
- Oil Brushes (smooth)
- Oil Brushes (rough)
- Oil Paper
- Gesso Primer (when your surface is not pre-primed)
- Linseed oil (not necessary, but helpful)
- Zest-It (the best white spirit alternative)
- Tear off palette (although a plate/something flat does just fine! Baking paper is an alternative)
- Palette Knives
- Masking tape
If you’re worried about the ‘toxicity’ of oil paints, the clean up of oils or don’t have the ability to ventilate the space well enough, water-based oils are a great alternative. They have pretty much the same finish as normal oils and feel pretty similar to use, but rather than Zest-it or Linseed oil, you can use water to help mix, blend and clean your brushes.