love art
supplieS?
me too!
I've loved art materials since my very first sketchbook. Over the years, I've tested a lot of supplies! So I gathered my very favorites here for you in case you want to try them too. Scroll down for my recommendations with notes, or head straight to Amazon to browse everything.
JUmP TO YOur INTereSTS
FOr The IPaD
+ Procreate arTIST
what I'd recommend
If you're looking to make an investment in digital painting, I think the iPad Pro and Procreate App are the way to go. This medium is incredibly versatile, portable, and just so fun.
I have a couple of iPad Pros, but I work predominantly on the 12.9-inch iPad Pro (4th generation) with the Apple Pencil (2nd generation). That said, I've also created artwork on earlier iPad Pro models, too, with the Apple Pencil (1st generation), and they work beautifully as well.
Overall, I don't think you can go wrong with this setup. Many artists consider it a true game-changer, and I would wholeheartedly agree.
for the beginner:
If you're a complete beginner, I'd suggest starting low-cost. There's no need to break the bank on your first iPad. You'll want to make sure you enjoy the process first! With some iPad models, you can even use the Apple Pencil, which is great news for beginners. Here's what I would recommend if you're just getting started.
for the Intermediate or professional artist:
If you're an intermediate or professional artist looking to get into Procreate, I typically recommend an iPad Pro (12.9-inch), 4th generation or later. I personally use an older 12.9-inch iPad Pro (4th generation) with the Apple Pencil (2nd generation), and it still works great for my art. Since that exact model isn't always available new, I've included my current recommendations below that are easiest to purchase today. You can also browse the Apple Store to see the latest options. At the end of the day, all iPad Pros are excellent tools. I think you'll really enjoy the large working area, and the Pro model is especially nice for professional use. I'd recommend choosing a model with more storage, so you don't have to worry about running out of space later. You'll also want a compatible Apple Pencil that supports pressure sensitivity for the best drawing and painting experience.
If I were to buy a new iPad Pro today, here's what I'd get. Click for links:
things to consider:
Budget: Determine how much you're willing to spend. iPads and iPad Pros can vary greatly in price, and your budget will help narrow down your options.
Size: Consider the size. A larger screen can provide more workspace for your art. (I love this!) But consider what's best for you and how you typically like to work.
Storage: Consider how much storage you need. Art files can be large, so having lots of storage is crucial. My daughter has a 64GB, and it maxed out quickly! I have 1TB and have not encountered storage issues. (I also use iCloud storage.)
Connectivity: Some iPads offer cellular capabilities, while others are Wi-Fi-only. Decide which is more suitable for your needs. I've tried both options and like both ways.
Compatibility: Always double-check that the Apple Pencil you choose is compatible with your specific iPad model. Not all pencils work with all iPads. For drawing and painting, you'll also want a Pencil that supports pressure sensitivity. Because of this, I recommend avoiding the Apple Pencil (USB-C) for art, since it does not support pressure sensitivity. Look for Apple Pencil (1st gen), (2nd gen), or Pencil Pro for the best drawing experience.
Don't Forget Procreate!
Once your iPad is set up, you'll also want to download the Procreate app from the App Store. It's the digital painting app I personally love to use and recommend. ✍️ If you'd like a few brushes to get started, grab my free Procreate brushes!
Here is one of my favorite resources (until I make a class!) for learning Procreate:
FOR THE
PENCIL ARTIST
Pencil is often one of the first mediums you may learn as an artist. Whether you're a beginner or a professional artist, you'll want some pencil tools in your toolbox. I like using mechanical pencils for a few reasons but the main one is, there's no need for a pencil sharpener!
Pencil is a great medium because it helps you easily capture ideas on the go with values. You can record the essence of a subject through the line work, while also capturing the light and shade- all with pencil alone. It's nice as well because it eliminates the complexities of color, making it an excellent choice for beginner artists. It's also one of the more affordable mediums. I love using them for more realistic pencil portraits and pencil character sketches too! I use the 0.3mm DraftLine mechanical pencil and a 0.5mm Staedtler mechanical pencil.
not all leads are created equal
Okay, maybe that sounds a little dramatic. But it's true! Have you ever used a pencil that just felt scratchy? I have, and it's not as fun! I don't know about you, but I want my art materials to be satisfying to work with! The best lead I've found which is soft and smooth is Pentel Lead. I've been using it for decades and will continue to.
In the yellow 0.3mm pencil, I put 3H Pentel lead. It's a harder lead and I like to use this pencil for lightly planning out my sketches. You can draw really faintly with this lead, which is part of why I love it. You can also draw really smooth skin with this 3H 0.3mm lead!
In the Staedtler pencil, I put 0.5 4B lead. This is a nice opposite to my other pencil becasue this one is softer and dark!! You can press hard with this lead and get some realllly dark values when you need them! I love this pencil for sketching dark eye liner on my characters, rhythmic bold lines, and dark shadows.
Now paper is one of those things that's quite personal and may take a bit of experimenting to find exactly what you like. But here are two I love when I'm working with my pencils!
leT'S Talk PaPer
Back in the day, when I made a lot of pencil portraits, this one (and the Canson Vellum) was my paper of choice! It has a little tooth and makes blending easier than the smooth version of this paper, imo. The paper has a heavy weight to it and feels *special*:) Cover art changes pretty often on these, but as long as it says 400 Series - you're good!
I looove this paper for so many things, including pencil character sketches. It's smooth and bright white and if they ever stop making it I don't know what I'll do. Because I use it for sketching with pencils, markers, even note-taking and making prints. It's the Cadillac of papers, but without a huge price tag and it's a must for me.
THE EXTRAS YOU'LL WANT
for erasing:
I like to have two types of erasers on hand when pencil drawing. I use the Pink Pearl for erasing biiig areas. Like if I want to completely resketch something, I'll grab for the Pink Pearl.
I use the grey Faber-Castell Kneaded Eraser for more subtle erasing techniques. This eraser can be used for adding textures, erasing to lighten a value, and more.
for blending:
It took me a few years of trial and error, but here are the blending tools I love the most, (believe it or not!)
For big patches of smooth value on portraits, like skin- I'll use Puffs tissues. They're super soft and work great.
For smaller blends, like around eye make up for example, I'll use Q-tips!
For even smaller areas, for example, around the lash line or in a pupil, I'll use stumps. Art Alternatives is a great brand and I like theirs!
for highlights:
I love my white gel pen and I use it all the time. I'll use it, especially for little dot highlights- like in the eyes, on the tip of the nose, and on the lips. They're so fun! Lots of brands work fine, but I like this Uni-ball Signo a lot!
FOr the marker loVer
i love markers.
Coloring with alcohol-based markers is so relaxing and fun!
I love Ohuhu markers. They're fantastic quality, affordable, easy to use, and the color variety is gorgeous. I give a breakdown of all the materials you should buy (based on your skill level) in this blog post: Which Ohuhu Markers Should I Get? Here are my absolute, all-time faves though.
here are my personal faves!
Ohuhu Sweetness and Blossoming
I love using pastel tints when I make my marker sketches. I just love pastel color harmonies. It's so easy to make colors harmonious when they're all in a higher key. And I just love the vibe of pastels. This is my favorite set. But there are tons of great ones. So check out here for more sets to fit your individual needs.
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I love this paper for so many things, I use it for pencil sketches, printing, and coloring my marker sketches. It's smooth and bright white and a great paper for marker coloring. The markers will bleed through, but I just keep a little stack under my main piece of paper while I work and it works well for me. Love this paper!
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White gel pens are a must for me in my marker art. I use them especially for little dot highlights- like in the eyes, on the tip of the nose, and on the lips. They're the perfect little addition to my toolbox to make my characters pop. Lots of brands work well enough, but I like the Uni-ball Signo white gel pen a lot.
Readthe BlOG
Want a more thorough look at which markers I recommend you purchase? Then jump over to the blog for a guide to choosing your first set:
watercolor supplies
Watercolor is such a gorgeous medium and I can't wait to explore it more myself. It's one of the newer mediums I've started to play around with. So far though, here are the materials I love! I can't wait to add more to my collection of watercolor tools.
watercolor faves
For paper, I love cold press watercolor paper. I think this texture is part of what makes watercolor so pretty, but hot press (smoother) varieties of paper are available too. I also enjoy using the Prima watercolor pans. I think they are so fun and portable too. When I'm painting at my desk though, I also enjoy using the Shinhan watercolors and I put them in a porcelain palette. I like using a variety of round brushes. These are perfect for flowers and leaves which are my favorites to paint, but are versatile too and can be used for lots of different subject matter. Lastly, you'll want paper towels and water cups on hand. For water cups, I just use whatever glass is around. But I heard a good tip- which was to have two mixing cups. One for warmer colors and one to clean off cool colors. Give it a shot!
even more favorites
(Did I mention I like a lot of mediums? 😂)
I love to explore art supplies, so here are more of my faves! I also just have some favorite life things/personal faves if you're interested. Also, if you'd like to see what I use for the production side of making art videos, I've included my filming and recording products.
Amazon links are affiliate links. Meaning if you purchase after clicking my link, I make a small commission on qualifying purchases. This helps fund my business and I appreciate your support by shopping through my links! :) These are all my absolute favorite tools and supplies!