Essential art tools every artist should have

Behind every great piece of art, there are some essential art tools every artist uses to achieve the result they envisioned. Of course, practice is essential, but so is having the right supplies to work with a particular technique.

For example, if you try to paint with watercolors, regular drawing paper won’t be able to absorb as much water; as a result, the paper (and the image) might warp and affect how the pigment works. This might result in frustration if you are beginning to experiment with this technique. To avoid this kind of scenario, we have created this list of essential art tools and supplies every artist should have.

We have created this list of essential art tools and supplies every artist should have in their studio to make the best out of their practice.

Basic art tools for artists

If you are starting your path as an artist and want to make sure you have the right art tools, or you already have some experience and are ready to update or upgrade your art supplies, check this list of essential art tools.

From brushes to canvas, every artist needs the right set of art tools to bring their ideas to life.

Pencils

Pencils are the ultimate essential in your art tool kit. Why? They are your go-to tool for sketching, filling your art journal with ideas that might grow into an art piece, and of course, they might be the main tool if you want to do a pencil drawing.

What kind do you need? You can choose between traditional and mechanical pencils with different hardness: 9H (lightest) to 9B (darkest). The name tells you the type of line and effect you can achieve: hard and bold, light and soft, smearable or blendable, and even if it’s easy to erase or draw over it. 

If you are just getting started, you might want to get the basics: an HB pencil for sketching, a 2B for drawing details and contrast, a 6B for shading, and a 9B for darker tones and blending.

If sustainability matters to you, look for pencils with recycled-paper or cardboard barrels instead of wood. Pair them with non-toxic cores for a lower-impact option. Refillable mechanical pencils are another good choice, since you only replace the lead.

Brushes

There is such a wide variety of brushes that finding the right set (or building up your own) can be a bit overwhelming. The first thing is to choose the type of bristle, from natural (made from animal hair) to synthetic. A soft bristle provides a soft and smooth stroke, while brushes with a harsher bristle create rough and thick layers of paint.

The second step is choosing the right brush shape for the type of stroke, line, and texture you want to create. There are the essential brushes you need in your art toolset:

• Flat brushes: very versatile; they can help cover large areas with flat strokes and also (when using the edges) create fine lines.
• Round brushes: provide a smooth stroke. They are available with both blunt and pointed tips; these last ones are ideal for creating details and thin lines.
• Filberts: this is a bit of a mix; it is a flat brush with a rounded tip offering a wide variety of marks and lines. 
• Fan: are you looking to create a particular texture? This is your tool! A flat brush with splayed bristles and a round tip. This type of brush is helpful for softening edges, blending, and creating effects.
• Wash brushes: these flat and wide brushes are ideal for covering large surfaces, because they can hold a lot of paint. Perfect for big format paintings. 

Always remember to clean them properly to maintain brush quality. Eco-friendly brush soaps are a good lower-impact alternative to solvent-based cleaners. They work especially well if you paint with oils.

Mixing colors on a palette is one of the first steps in bringing a painting to life. The right size, shape, and material of the palette depends on what is comfortable for you to hold and manipulate as you work.

Paint

Acrylic, oil, gouache, graffiti, watercolors. When it comes to the type of paint, artists have many options to choose from depending on what you want to create and the medium you’ll use.

Truth is, every artist has their favorite type and brand; each paint has different pigments and properties. If you are starting out, acrylic paint is always good. You can go for medium-quality paint to experiment, and then start discovering new materials and investing in them.

You don’t need all the paint tubes available: think about a few basics for your color palette and how you can mix them to achieve different hues. 

If you like oil paint but want to avoid heavy solvents, try water-mixable oils. They clean up with water but still handle like traditional oils. Refillable paint tubes and pouches are also becoming easier to find, and there are eco-friendly plant-based pigment acrylics in the market.

Paper

Before asking yourself “What should I paint?”, first you need something to paint on. Paper is perfect, whether you’re getting started or a seasoned pro. When choosing paper, you can go with either pads or journals. Acid-free sheets are preferred by many artists because they prevent deterioration and discoloration. 

You should also take the weight of the paper into account. This refers to its thickness. Lighter paper is thinner and might not resist wet media or using an eraser. Paper’s texture is given by its “teeth”, the little bumps you might find on its surface, which have more or less capacity to hold the pigments.

Here are different types of paper every artist should have in their studio:

• Drawing paper: the preferred option for finished art pieces, and a bit more expensive than other pads. Drawing paper is thicker (100lb/163g) with a medium tooth, and it’s ideal for dry media like pencils.
• Sketch paper: as its name implies, this thinner version of drawing paper is used for practicing and outlining future creations.
• Watercolor paper: this paper has cotton intertwined in its fibers, which allows it to absorb more water. It’s thicker than drawing paper (140lb/300g) and has a bit of texture.
• Mixed-media: this type of paper was created to provide a surface that could withstand a variety of media techniques, from watercolors to markers and inks! 
• Print-making: this paper is very versatile and ideal for works that require a great number of inks, like high-quality prints. Its surface is coated, preventing the pigments from sinking down to its fibers; this enables you to create reproductions of your design with bright colors.

Palette knives help artists mix and apply paint with texture and precision.

Palette

A palette is the surface artists use to hold and mix their paints. Palettes come in different sizes, shapes, and materials, from plastic to glass, metal, and ceramic. This tool should be light and easy to hold, making it easier to work without constant interruptions.

The palette should have enough space to put all the colors you are going to use, plus extra space for mixing and trying colors. 

There is no need to make a great investment in a palette, but think about something that was made to last. Reusable silicone palettes are a newer option worth trying. Dried paint peels right off, which makes cleanup easy. If you paint in acrylics, a stay-wet palette can help too. It keeps paint workable longer between sessions and cuts down on waste.

Palette knife

Palette knives are used to mix paints in a palette to create different shades and hues. They can also be used to apply paint directly on the paper. A palette knife provides a thicker and textured stroke, and works well with acrylics.

Varnish and finishing mediums

Once a piece is finished, varnish protects it from dust, UV light, and moisture. It also evens out the sheen across different paint layers. Acrylic and oil paintings need different types of varnish, so always check that it matches your medium before applying.

Removable varnishes are a good choice if you might restore the piece later. They can be removed without damaging the paint underneath. Spray varnish gives an even coat and is the easiest option for beginners. Brush-on varnish offers more control for thicker or textured areas.

 Digital art tools like ArtPlacer’s Room Mockups are now essential for artists for both the creation and presentation of their artwork.

New art supplies: apps and digital tools for artists

Today, tools for artists go beyond the traditional pencil and sketchbook. Digital tools don’t just redefine what we understand as essential tools for artists, but also provide different solutions and opportunities for creators. 

For example, graphic or image editors are now a key part of an artist’s work. They allow creators to edit the image, add new layers to the design, and play around with the value and brightness. There are many alternatives available, depending on what your goals are and how much you want to spend.

Drawing tablets are the new canvas for many creators. Its pressure sensitivity allows you to draw in detail with a pen tab, giving you the feel of a traditional sketchbook but with all the available tools of drawing software.

Tools to share and sell your finished art

Once your artwork is ready to be shared with the world, digital art tools like ArtPlacer come in handy. Showcasing your art, connecting with an audience, and closing sales become a lot easier when you have these available.

For example, you can display your pieces in styled rooms to show how they fit a space with Room Mockups. Just upload your artworks and “drag and drop” them into a digital mockup of a room. Choose or create your own frame, then adjust the brightness and shadow to create a wall art mockup that’s ready for your professional website or your social media profiles. You can even build a gallery wall for several pieces at once, or generate a Room Mockup video that’s perfect for socials and catches collector attention.

A great way of sharing your body of work is putting together a professional portfolio. With ArtPlacer Presentations, you can create polished PDF portfolios that include your selected artworks, titles, descriptions, prices, and artist bio. It’s perfect for sharing with collectors, galleries, or as a self-contained visual archive of your work, whether you’re preparing for an exhibition, applying for a residency, or following up after a studio visit.

To go a step further, you can also let visitors see your art on a wall before they commit to buying, right from your own website. ArtPlacer’s Website Integrations work as art visualizers on your product page. Add the Augmented Reality Widget to take it further: collectors can point their phone camera at a wall and see the artwork at true scale, in real time, directly where they’re standing.

Now that you have a list of essential tools for artists, it is time to get your first toolkit ready or upgrade the one you already have and start creating.