10 Great Items & Supplies for Artists to Own
Calling all artists and artists in the making. I have done some research and taken into account the products I love when it comes to art. I have compiled a list of products and their locations to purchase these ten must-have items and supplies for all things art. If you are an arts and crafts person, you know how expensive it can be, especially when starting out. Luckily, I have compared prices and found the best quality for your buck. If you are looking to upgrade your supplies or just getting started, then be sure to check out my list of 10 great items and supplies for artists to own.
1. 101 Caliart Alcohol Art Markers
If you are a fan of alcohol-based markers, you know one of the most popular alcohol markers is Copic. Copic is a great brand; they blend well, the color payoff is good, but the downside to the Copics is their hefty price tag. If you are just getting started with alcohol markers or are looking to expand or try something different. The Caliart markers are great. I have purchased both the brush and chisel nibbed markers and the small nib and chisel markers. They blend well, there is a great color variety, and they are a nice dupe if you are looking to save money. Amazon sells the Caliart markers for $50.00 for 101 markers versus Copics that will run you anywhere between $400.00 to $1,000.00 depending on how many markers you purchase. If you were to grab 101 Copics, expect to pay no less than $1,200 from DickBlick.com, or if you chose to grab one set of 72 markers, you would pay $574 at Michaels. These prices are well worth their product quality, but it is quite a pretty penny to get these markers. Still, you would not have all the Copic markers available to you. With the Caliart markers, you are given enough markers to do a great gradation without breaking the bank. The set comes with a bag to carry all your markers as needed. So if you are looking to substitute the Copic brand, the 101 Caliart Alcohol Based Art Markers are a steal. If you want the fine and broad tip Caliart Alcohol Based Art Markers instead of the brush and chisel nibbed ends, click here.
2. Prismacolor Watercolor Pencils
If you enjoy watercolor painting and drawing, you will love these pencils. You can use the pencils wet or dry and in combination, for example. If you use the pencils and draw or color in a piece, you can then use a wet brush to spread the color, or you can wet the tips of the pencil and spread the color. After the paint dries, you can then color over the painted section with a water-colored pencil to add detail. How you create your art is up to you, but the versatility with the Prismacolor Water Color Pencils is a great bang for your buck. You can purchase a set of 24 colors from Walmart for a great price. Walmart has been selling these high-end Prismacolor products for a while now and makes them accessible if you have a hard time finding their items at local arts and crafts stores.
3. Water Brush Pens
If you use watercolor or have any other needs to use water with your arts and crafts, these pens are a great idea. This company happens to sell 7 different water brush pens together. Each end of the brush has a different size and thickness of bristles. To use the brush pens, you simply fill the brushes with water and squeeze as needed. A small amount of water is released through the bristles, and you can use this to pick up color from your palette or begin painting over color that was laid down with water-colored pencils. There are many applications for the brushes, depending on what you are doing for art or crafting. These are great water brush pens to add to your collection and are under $10.00. Check out the Ooku water brush pens today.
4. US Art Supply Aluminum Field Easel
There are a lot of easels on the market. Some easels are wooden, and some are aluminum. The appealing elements of this easel are that it is compact and easy to carry. It is perfect for traveling, and you can adjust the height for tabletop use, or you can use it for the floor. The versatility of the easel for the price makes this an excellent buy. The fact that you can fold up the easel to be compact makes it easy to store in your home or on the road. For under $20.00, this is a great buy. Check out the easel here.
5. Marbrasse Wooden Desk Organizer
Recently, I decided I needed to organize my art supplies. I have a surplus of alcohol markers, pens, pencils, water-based markers, and sharpies. However, it tends to get difficult when you search for colors in the middle of your work and realize that your room is limited when you have so many supplies to use. These shelves are easy to put together and help create the best storage solution for your art supplies. They can be stored on your desk as you draw and create. The shelves are lightweight and surprisingly sturdy, considering their size. I bought two different colors, black, and cherry. If you are looking for storage for your pens, pencils, markers, and so on or need to organize your desk where you work, this is a great choice. Small drawers pull open to store small items like paper clips, small papers, and so on. Get organized and start utilizing your space wisely, whether at home or in your dorm room. Check out the Marbrasse Wooden Organizer today. Below is a personal picture of the organizer. I have featured the two I purchased, and I used the organizer to hold a small canvas in the center as I painted an image on it. The markers featured in the image are Caliart and some Copics.
6. Clear Plastic Multi-Level Nail Polish Organizer
Yes, this organizer is for nail polish. However, I have repurposed this organizer to hold acrylic bottles of paint. It was effortless to put together. It holds a lot of the bottles and makes room on your desktop. It makes it easy to see what you have, grab the bottles with ease, fill up your palette, then put the bottles right back. It is perfect for organizing your desk. When you have a lot of art supplies, the organization of your items with ease is key. Try out this four-tier acrylic shelf for yourself.
7. Metal Wall Mounted Nail Polish Organizer Storage
Like the organizer above, this storage is made for nail polish. It comes in several sizes. Choose from 3 tier, 5 tier, 6 tier, or 8 tier organizers. There are different shapes as well. I like this organizer because it can be mounted on the wall or stored on a desktop. The organizer is metal and embellished with a heart shape on several designs or a curly design on the top. I have bought the 3 tier heart design in pink. I use the organizer to store my watercolor palettes and other paints. Some of my organizers also hold the paper on my desk. Repurposing these organizers help to keep your art supplies neat, organized, and easily accessible while you work. Be sure to check out these adorable metal organizers.
8. Flip Tite Food Storage Canisters
This is another repurpose idea that I have implemented for storage. I use Prismacolor pencils and other various pencils. I use a tall airtight canister to store my pencils. It is clear and makes it easy to see what you have, and prevents any dust or other particles from contaminating your items. While these canisters are shown used for food, you can use them to store any arts and crafts items such as buttons, glitter, beads, and clips. What is so great is that this set comes with various sizes of containers that are perfect for any storage needs and keeps your items free from loss or damage. Purchase the Better Homes & Gardens canisters here.
9. Gramercy Rolling Cart
This rolling cart is a great helpful art and crafts holder. I purchased one of these from Michaels several months ago when I began getting into Diamond painting and wanted to store my diamonds and my pictures safely. What is so great is that this cart rolls with ease. I can roll the cart from my carpeted bedroom to my wood floor livingroom without an issue. I also use the cart to store other art supplies such as paints and my picture projector. It is a nice holder for papers, bottles of paint, ribbons, and containers of supplies, and much more. Rolling the cart around makes it so easy to move it wherever you need more room or if you move from one room to another to do your projects. Choose from gray, white, black, red, or teal colors for your cart. Try out this Gramercy Rolling Cart by Simply Tidy at your local Michaels store today!
10. Coopay Yarn Totes
This tote is designed for yarn and needles. For those who sew, crochet, and do other crafts with yarn. This tote holds yarn and has a piece that unzippers to allow you to continue working on your project without taking out the whole yarn ball or project. You can store your knitting or crochet needles in another pocket that unzips. There is a mesh section to hold knitting rings, and the rest of the tote can hold looms, bowls, hooks, and scissors for all your sewing and yarn needs. The bags have adorable designs, including one that has yarn doodles drawn on it. If you are into more solid colors, those are available as well. You can carry the tote with two small handles or hang it over your shoulder as you travel. It is the perfect tool for the knitter and crocheter on the go! Check out this cute tote here.
If you are an artist or crafter, you will appreciate what makes your life easier. Be sure to check out some of the great items above and remember what Pablo Picasso said, “everything you can imagine is real.”
Featured Image Source: https://weheartit.com/entry/353473257
