Art is an expensive hobby, but sometimes the best products don’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. Here are some of my favorite art supplies that will both last you a long time and won’t break the bank!
STRATHMORE MIXED MEDIA SKETCHBOOK
Starting off with a basic! Strathmore is a good brand that’s definitely a bang for your buck. This sketchbook retails for about $25, but Michaels sells it typically around $20. It is the perfect catch-all, whether you’re just doodling, whipping out the colored pencils, or even getting out the paintbrushes, the cotton paper does an excellent job of holding up to pretty much any medium you throw at it. Buckling paper is a real epidemic, you know. I’ve been using this sketchbook exclusively for about a year now, and I am absolutely devoted to it, and have been since day one.
BIC xtra life pens
Or, just any cheap pens basically. These are super helpful for sketching! I’ve found that I make my best work when I’m not worrying too much on perfecting the details, and using pens for sketching rather than pencils have for sure helped in that regard. Not only does it help loosen up your own restrictions whilst drawing, but it also doesn’t smudge in your sketchbook like graphite! Wins all around! Besides, they last you forever. You can pick up a pack of twelve Xtra Life pens for $2. That’s a great deal, if you ask me.
KOI WATERCOLOR SET
This watercolor palette is one of my favorite sets I’ve ever bought. I got my own about a year and a half ago, and it’s still got a long way to go! A 24-set palette is about $30, which was definitely an investment at the time, but the formula of the actual paint itself is so rich, you would think you’d have to spend at least fifty bucks. Not to mention how long it lasts you! It is beginner friendly, but it’s so high quality that it feels like you’ve already mastered the art of watercolor. Also, they come in a variety of sizes! They have a large set with 72 colors, and even a little field kit with 12 colors for $15. It’s so cute!
HIMI GOUACHE SET
Personally, I have never been a big fan of acrylic, and watercolor was always my chosen medium. I first tried out gouache a little over a year ago from Himi, and I fell in love with it instantly. It’s opaque just like acrylic (but much better to work with in my opinion) and can be watered down into something akin to watercolor. Much like the Koi palette, Himi has a 24 color set for $30. But the palette is huge, so don’t even worry about running out anytime soon. Along with the 24 set, they have a 56 color set for a whole range of prices wherever you go, but Amazon has it for about $40, which is a huge steal! Also like the Koi set, it is very beginner friendly. Himi was my first ever time working with gouache, and it’s definitely helped me enter a whole new world to art and painting.