art materials

My Favourite Art Materials

When I first started my art journey, I was always searching for the best art materials I could find within my budget. I know how overwhelming it can feel when you want to make thoughtful choices and avoid spending money on supplies that don’t work well or go unused.

That said, I truly believe you don’t need expensive materials to begin creating. A simple pencil and paper are more than enough to get started. Even the best art supplies won’t improve your skills on their own — regular drawing, painting, and experimentation are what really help you grow as an artist.

Below you’ll find a selection of the materials I currently use and genuinely enjoy in my own art practice:

Sketchbooks

  • Art Creation by Royal Talens (for mixed media and general sketching)
  • Moleskine Watercolour Album (for watercolours)
  • Strathmore – Toned Tan 400 Series (for drawing)

Watercolour

Paper

  • Fabriano Watercolour 300gsm 140lb NOT sheets (archival cellulose paper)
  • Fabriano Artistico 100% cotton 300gsm 140lb NOT sheets

Paints and mediums

  • Jackson’s Artist Watercolour (tubes made by Sennelier)
  • Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolour (tubes)
  • Schminke Horadam Watercolour (half pans)
  • Roman Szmal Aquarius Watercolours (12 half pans in a metal box)
  • Winsor & Newton Cotman Sketchers Pocket Box (12 half pans)
  • Dr.Ph.Martin’s Bleed Proof White (for white details at the end)
  • Winsor and Newton masking fluid
  • Winsor and Newton granulation fluid

Brushes

  • Escoda Barcelona David Taylor set, sizes: 8, 12 and 18
  • Jackson’s Art Raven size 2
  • Jackson’s Art Quil 3×0
  • Hake 2” brush by ProArte
  • Round, flat and rigger brushes by Pro Arte

Palletes

  • Plastic leak-proof by Mijello
  • Metal palettes by Meeden
  • Portable Painter Micro (ultra-light but only 6 wells)

Oils

Paints and mediums

  • Artist Cobra water-soluble oil by Royal Talens
  • Cobra quick drying medium 093 (for the base layer)
  • Cobra painting medium 091 (for second layer)
  • Cobra painting paste 087 (for details with palette knife)

Brushses

  • Rosemary & Co ivory range brushes (flats, filberts, round and rigger)
  • Jackson’s Art Procryl Flat Brush 10
  • Unbranded set of palette knives

Other Materials

  • Graphgear 1000 Pentel mechanical pencil HB
  • KOH-I-NOOR Versatile mechanical pencil 5900
  • SARASANANO 0.3 pen
  • KURETAKE Zig Clean Colour Real Brush Watercolour Markers
  • Polychromos Colouring Pencils by Faber-Castell
  • CaranD’Ache Neocolor II Aquarelle Crayons
  • Winsor and Newton Designer Gouache