The Purpose of Art: How to Choose the Right Art Supplies

Art is a universal language, and while many people think that art’s limited to those with specific talents, the truth is that art is for everyone. Self-expression is an inseparable part of human nature and it’s a base human desire that everyone experiences in their life. You don’t have to be the next Van Gogh, Picasso or Monet, but you can always try your hand at creating something with painting, drawing or sculpting or you can have fun by recreating art. You may be surprised to find out how many benefits there are that are associated with creating art.

Art and creative expression are powerful tools that can be used to benefit your physical and mental health. Living in these stressful times, every one of us needs to find a way to reduce stress, clear some headspace and focus on the good things in life. Regularly creating art is a good way to consistently lower stress levels, which can lead to overall physical and mental health improvements.

Having the right art stuff at your disposal can help you bring out the artistic vision within you. There is a selection of art supplies that can set you in a great position of creating your art pieces.

most essential art stuff

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What Supplies Do You Need for Art?

Visiting an art store is a true enjoyment, but if you’re new to creating right, it may get a bit overwhelming. You can find the most essential art stuff that every artist needs to get started with their art journey. To make things easier, here is a list that can help you choose what’s most suitable for your artistic needs and desires.

Graphite Pencils

A set of high-quality pencils is a must-have for any artistic work. Even if you’re only doing painting, it’s necessary to draw the subject before you start. Graphite pencils can be used to draw anything, from simple sketches to a highly detailed drawing. Make sure you always have a quality and varied selection at hand, including 2B for drawing sketches and shading, 4H for light shading and 6B for dark shading.

Erasers

Same as pencils, your art work station can’t be complete without erasers. They’re essential as they can remove graphite from most surfaces. You’re going to need a kneaded and a white eraser. The kneaded eraser doesn’t leave traces behind and can be shaped into different shapes, so you can use it to erase a small area when creating a light shading.

Sketchbook

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Sketchbook

This is essential for drawing preliminary sketches. It’s very handy when you need to create a new ide by creating rough sketches before putting your idea on the actual painting surface. A sketchbook is an art tool and can meet your requirements, whether you’re working on a piece for your design portfolio or creating a new logo design.

Painting Surface

After composing your ideas and drawing them in your sketchbook, you’ll need to draw your piece of art on your painting surface. You can choose from many different options, depending on your selected medium. If you prefer painting with acrylics, you can choose acrylic paper or canvas, but if you like painting with watercolours, then you should opt for pre-stretched pads. They’re sheets of paper that have been stretched already, allowing you to paint right away.

Palette and Palette Knife

Whether using acrylic or watercolours, you’ll need a palette. It’s a surface upon which you mix the paints with a palette knife. It’s easier than mixing paints with a brush as you won’t end up wasting the paint that remains stuck in the brush. Also, you can use the palette knife in case something goes wrong, to scrape paint off a canvas as long as it hasn’t dried.

Paint Brushes

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Brushes

You’ll need different brush sizes for your painting work, from large to medium and small. You can choose from different types of brushes as well, depending on the paint you’ll be using, acrylic or watercolour. It’s important to clean them regularly if you want to keep them longer.

Paint Set

To make beautiful art, you need to understand the purpose of colour first. Make sure you get quality paint sets, so whether you prefer acrylics, watercolours, or maybe oils, the basic colours can help you create great artworks even if your start with a small palette and mix a large variety of new ones.

Inks

Inks are a great art tool to have as part of your collection. They can help you add colour and can be used for glazing if your artwork requires dramatic colours.

Easel

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Easel

Easels can be found in various designs, so you can choose based on your budget and how much space you have available. If you’re working in a small space, a top-table version might be a good choice for you, but if you have enough space to place a floor-standing easel, then you should definitely go for a floor-standing one and enjoy your painting time.

Colour Wheel

This is a very helpful tool as it explains some basic facts about colours and shows how to mix them if you want to create a new colour for your project. Not to mention it’s a lot of fun!

Once you have the basic art and craft supplies, you can begin your creative journey. You don’t need to rush into anything too big or unfamiliar, instead, you can start small, and practice, repetition and willingness to try out new things can help enjoy every step of the way. And most importantly, don’t give up and keep trying to improve yourself day by day.