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Art supplies selection guide: Choosing best right
Art Tips & Techniques
By Happy Hands Studio
May 21, 2024

Art supplies selection guide: Choosing best right

Welcome to our pottery and art blog! If you’re passionate about art, you know that selecting the right supplies is crucial. Today, we’re here to assist you in choosing suitable tools, from pens and colors to paper. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, this guide will provide valuable insights to enhance your skills and artistic experience.

And remember, if you’re looking to dive deeper into art, we offer a variety of courses, events, and workshops at our studio. Some essential supplies are even provided for free, giving you a hassle-free start to your artistic journey.

Pens

1. Brush Pens

Brush pens combine the flexibility of a brush with the convenience of a pen, offering excellent control for various strokes. They’re perfect for both calligraphy and painting.

  • Tombow Dual Brush Pens: These feature dual tips (a flexible brush and a fine tip), making them versatile for broad strokes and detailed work. The water-based ink blends easily for beautiful color gradients.
  • Pentel Pocket Brush Pen: Known for its soft brush tip and waterproof ink, it’s ideal for creating detailed and refined illustrations.

2. Technical Pens

Technical pens are essential for detailed and precise drawings, commonly used in technical and architectural sketches.

  • Sakura Pigma Micron: Renowned for its archival-quality ink that doesn’t fade or smear, making it perfect for detailed and lasting drawings.
  • Staedtler Pigment Liners: These offer high durability and waterproof qualities, ensuring your drawings remain pristine under various conditions.

3. Markers

Markers are favored for their vibrant colors and quick coverage, making them a staple for illustrators, designers, and graffiti artists.

  • Copic Markers: Known for their superior quality, Copic markers offer blendable ink and refillable options, saving you money in the long run.
  • Prismacolor Premier: With soft brush tips and vivid colors, these markers are excellent for creating colorful and intricate artworks.

Colors

1. Watercolors

Watercolors provide a transparent, fluid feel to your artwork, ideal for blending and layering techniques.

  • Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolors: These offer high pigment strength and permanence, ensuring your artwork remains vibrant and long-lasting.
  • Schmincke Horadam Aquarell: With over 140 colors, Schmincke offers top-quality watercolors with excellent opacity and transparency.

2. Acrylic Paints

Acrylic paints are versatile, adhering well to various surfaces and drying quickly.

  • Golden Heavy Body Acrylics: With their thick consistency and rich colors, Golden acrylics are a top choice for textured and vibrant artworks.
  • Liquitex Basics Acrylics: Affordable and reliable, these are perfect for beginners looking to explore acrylic painting.

3. Oil Paints

Oil paints are known for their thick texture, excellent blending capabilities, and long drying times, allowing for detailed and refined artwork.

  • Winsor & Newton Artists’ Oil Colors: Featuring high pigment quality and durability, these are ideal for professional artists.
  • Gamblin 1980 Oil Colors: Offering quality oil paints at a reasonable price, Gamblin is great for artists wanting to experiment with oils.

Papers

1. Watercolor Paper

Watercolor paper needs to be thick and textured to absorb the water and colors effectively.

  • Arches Watercolor Paper: Made from 100% cotton, Arches paper offers excellent durability and absorption.
  • Canson Montval Watercolor Paper: More affordable yet high quality, suitable for beginners.

2. Technical Drawing Paper

Technical drawing paper should be smooth to ensure clean, precise lines.

  • Strathmore 400 Series Bristol Board: This thick, smooth paper is ideal for technical pens and markers.
  • Fabriano Artistico Hot Pressed Paper: With an ultra-smooth surface, it’s perfect for detailed and delicate drawings.

3. Sketch Paper

Sketch paper is generally thinner but must be durable enough for various pencils and pens.

  • Moleskine Sketchbook: Known for its quality paper and portability, Moleskine is perfect for sketching anywhere, anytime.
  • Strathmore 400 Series Sketch Paper: Affordable and high quality, suitable for artists of all levels.

Explore Courses and Workshops

In addition to this guide, Happy Hands Pottery and Art offers a variety of courses, events, and workshops designed to deepen your artistic skills. Whether you’re interested in pottery, painting, or drawing, we have something for everyone. Plus, many essential supplies are provided for free in our classes, allowing you to focus entirely on honing your craft without worrying about material costs.

Conclusion

Choosing the right art supplies is a crucial step in developing your artistic abilities and expressing your creativity. Whether you’re just starting or are a seasoned artist, understanding the different types of pens, colors, and papers will help you create beautiful and meaningful works of art.

Take the time to experiment and find the tools that best suit your style and needs. Investing in quality products not only makes the creative process more enjoyable but also enhances the value of your artwork.

If you have any questions or want to share your experiences, feel free to leave a comment below. We look forward to hearing from you and are always here to support your artistic journey!

Happy creating, and may you always find joy in your art!

Happy Hands Pottery And Art Studio Brampton
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One comment on "Art supplies selection guide: Choosing best right"

Natt 9 months ago

Nice! Thank you for this useful blog.

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