Build Your Art Material Stash

If you've been wanting to be more creative, but don't know where to start in terms of art materials, check out the list below for some ideas on building a small collection of good materials that can be used for low-stress art making.

If you're in one of our When We Create workshops, the minimum necessary materials are ONE of each items from the "You Will Need" list below: (1) art journal, (1) pencil, (1) line marker, (1) watercolor set, (1) gesso. You can expand your collection with items from “Good to Have” list and “Extra” list. Many of the Extras you can even find around your house.

Needed for Virtual

1. Art Journal - you only need ONE - either mix media pad or a sketchbook (see below - mix media pad will be able to withstand heavier use of medium and paint, unlike a sketchbook). Think of the size of the journal you’d like and the thickness of the paper.

Mix Media Paper Pad (good for light paint work, collage, and pastels, and ok for pens and markers)

• Canson XL Mix Media Paper Pad, 98 Pound, 7 x 10 Inch, 60 Sheets

• Canson Artist Series Mix Media Paper Pad, Dual Surface, 138 Pound, 5.5 x 8.5 Inch, 30 Sheets

• XL Series Mix Paper Pad, Heavyweight, Fine Texture, 98 Pound, 5.5 x 8.5 in, 60 Sheets, 5.5"X8.5"

Sketchbook

• Soft Cover Spiral Notebook 2-Pack, 50 Sheets, 7.5 inch x 5.1 inch

• (this one is at Walmart, not Amazon) Pen + Gear Sketch Diary, 70 Sheets, 5.5" x 8.5"

• (this one is at Walmart, not Amazon) Pen + Gear Create A Cover Sketch Diary, 70 Sheets, 8.5" X 11"

2. Graphite Pencil (any pencil is fine, if you have 2B or HB, that’s good, I like sketching with Paper Mate Sharpwriters)

3. Line Marker

• Winsor & Newton Fineliner, Single, 0.5 mm

• Sakura Pigma Micron, Single, 0.5mm, Black

• Mr. Pen- Black Fineliner Pens, 12 Pack

• Mr. Pen, Felt Tip Pens, Black, Pack of 6

• Sharpie Pen Fine Point Pen, 4 Black Pens

4. Watercolor Set (with waterbrushes - a brush you can fill with water)

• Jerry Q Art 18 Assorted Water Colors Travel Pocket Set- Quality Refillable Water Brush with Sponge

• Derwent Inktense Paint 12 Pan Palette #1

• Kuretake GANSAI TAMBI Watercolor, Portable 14 Colors Set

• (not on Amazon, but is a big sale item on Jerry’s Art Supply) Marie's Sketch And Go 18 Watercolor Half Pan Set

5. Gesso (a primer, prepares surfaces for painting, strengthens thin pages so media doesn’t seep through, mutes colors)

• Liquitex BAICS Gesso Surface Prep Medium, 16-oz, White

Good to Have

Colored Pencils

• Raffine Colored Pencil Sets (Jerry’s Art Supply has a sale -sets of 12, 24, 36)

• Sargent Art Premium Coloring Pencils, 50 different assorted colors, Writing, Drawing, Illustration, Non-Toxic

• Artlicious Colored Pencils - Pack of 50 Distinct Colors

Brayer (a roller for applying gesso or color, but you can also apply Gesso with a BABY WIPE!)

• 4-Inch Rubber Brayer Roller for Printmaking

Bristol Paper (vellum is good for pencil, pastel, crayon, charcoal; smooth is good for marker, pen, ink).

• Strathmore 300 Series Visual Bristol Journal, 9"x12" Vellum, Wire Bound, 24 Sheets

• Strathmore 300 Series Bristol Smooth Pad, 9"x12" Tape Bound, 20 Sheets

• Canson XL Series Bristol Pad, Heavyweight, Smooth Finish, 100 Pound, 9 x 12 Inch, Bright White, 25 Sheets

• Canson XL Series Recycled Bristol Paper Pad, Dual Sided 96 Pound, 9 x 12 In, White, 25 Sheets (smooth and vellum surfaces)

Large Watercolor Brush

• Princeton Good Mop, Brushes for Watercolor Series 2850, Natural Goat Hair Bristle, Round Size 1 inch

Gel Medium (works as a glue or sealant, a fancier version of Mod Podge - won’t turn yellow)

• Liquitex 5321 Professional Matte Gel Medium, 8-oz, 8 oz, Clear

Extra

• Washi tape

• Stapler

• Spray bottle

• Exacto knife

• Stencils

• Stamps

• Glue or Mod Podge

• Makeup sponge (for gesso)

• Magazines

• Scissors

• Construction Paper

• Glue (if you get the gel medium, you don’t need additional glue)

• Paint knife

• Paint brushes in different sizes

• Pastels or Crayons

• Acrylic Paints

• Palette