Contents
Having an artistic talent and allowing it to come out and play can be one of the best things you can do for yourself. If you love to draw, sketch and play with paint, then it’s time to give your inner artist a chance. It doesn’t matter how old you are; you can be a student in elementary school or a person in their fifties or sixties.
If you feel like giving art a chance, and are new to this world, then you probably wonder what art supplies you need to begin your journey. First of all, you have to decide how you want to start. Are you feeling like trying painting with watercolours, or are you more into pencil work? And maybe you want to give both techniques a try? Here are some basic art products that will be of great help when you’re just getting started with painting or drawing.
Painting Surface – Find the Perfect Backdrop for Your Imagination
Unless you want to express your talent onto walls, or textile perhaps, then you will need a suitable surface where you can draw, sketch or paint. Not every surface is suitable for the medium you want to use. Here are some excellent options you can start with. The following surfaces are a good start when shopping for art products.
Sketchbooks
A sketchbook is a good start for drawing or sketching your art. This is great if you want t start with your typical paperwork. It’s affordable and you can find it almost in any art supply store. All your papers will be store there and the paper is specially designed for artistic purposes. An artist (even if you generally prefer other mediums such as oil or watercolours) should have one of these for all your sketches.
Watercolour Paper
This is a special paper made to welcome your artistic expression through watercolours. Even if you thought that watercolour can be used on any type of paper, that is not quite correct. This medium has different properties from other types of paint and this is why it requires a special paper. The watercolour paper comes from different types and pressures (most common are the hot-pressed watercolour papers, rough and cold-pressed).
Canvas
Most people link painting with a canvas. This is the surface where most painters stoke their brushes and make their art pieces. If you are a painter and want to explore this part of your artistic talent, then a canvas should find a place in your atelier. It’s not a hard time finding canvases since they can be bought just anywhere (in all sizes).
Easel – Slow and Steady to Success!
You will have to place the canvas on something, and for that purpose, you will need an easel to keep everything steady. This is an art tool that is practical and will help you keep the canvas straight so you can paint your masterpiece.
However, easels aren’t at an affordable price, so most artists choose to get one later in their career. if you’re a painter, investing in this piece should be a smart investment (get one made of quality materials that would last for a long time). Also, you have to have enough space for the easel in your atelier, so make sure that you get the right dimensions.
Pallete & Brushes – Make Precise Strokes and Avoid Mistakes
You’ll have to squeeze and mix paints in one place. A palette would be a wonderful tool where you can do this while holding it in your hand and use the exact colour right then and there. If you’re working with acrylic or oil paint, then a pallet is one of the must-have things.
Of course, you’ll have to transfer those paints onto the paper or canvas somehow, and for that matter, you’ll need suitable brushes. Paintbrushes are easy to find, and once you start painting you will realize that you will need more than one. Before you get your set of brushes, do your research on the type of brushes, the hair material, how to use them, which one is suitable for the certain lines you want to draw.
Natural and synthetic bristle brushes can be used for watercolour and acrylics. The Natural bristle brushes will show brush strokes, while synthetic bristles are famous for leaving smooth lines. If you aren’t sure which one is better for you, get both types and see which one works better.
Paint – Give Colour and Life to Your Art
Acrylic, ink, oils, and watercolour – paint that you will need to transfer your ideas onto the surface. No matter what you prefer, you can start with the basic colours that will allow you to mix the hues of the exact colour you want. You can start by buying red, blue, yellow and brown. These four colours mixed will give all other colours such as green, purple, orange, and darker hues.
So, practically you don’t have to buy all hues, but start simple. This is not only a more affordable way but also a good way to learn how to mix your colours and how to achieve the hue that you need and want. Once you get the hang of it, you can purchase more paints and even transfer your art to other surfaces, like for instance walls and create a wall mural that will make your space shine.