Observing the world one painting at a time.

Favorite Art Supplies (updated March 2025)

I often get asked what art supplies I use so here is a list of the materials that I find myself using over and over. Please use this list as a guide and don't worry if you have something different. I am a huge advocate of using what you have.

I am not affiliated nor sponsored by the brands of the products I list below. They are merely materials that I enjoy using. I have not posted links to products as these are available to purchase at all good local and online art suppliers and larger retailers.

Paints & Crayons

I paint with both watercolor and gouache. Both of these paints are water-soluble however gouache is opaque compared to the translucency of watercolor.

Watercolors are available in tubes or pans. The watercolors I use are from VanGogh and Winsor & Newton.

I use M. Graham and Holbein Artists gouache. Artist's gouache is different from acryla gouache in that it can be rewet and reworked just like regular watercolor. Acryla gouache is permanent once dry. Gouache does come in tubes and pans so get the type that works for you.

Watersoluble crayons (not to be confused with the box of crayons from your childhood) are a great addition to your art box. The creamy sticks of concentrated color can be used like an oil pastel or watercolor paint. I like to use them over a layer of watercolor to add texture to my paintings. My favorites are Caran d'Ache Neocolor IIs. A small set can be mixed to create loads of new colors. If you have a set of these and want to know how to get the most from them, check out my Watercolor Crayons eBook. It has lots of tips and step-by-step projects to get you started.

Pencils

When I first started my art adventures, I was a botanical artist and I used pencils for all my work. Fast forward many years and I still love pencils! They are great for fast sketches, detailed work, and layering over watercolor and gouache.

My favorites are:

A 0.5 HB mechanical pencil - used for preliminary sketches
Derwent Watercolour Pencils*
Derwent Graphitint Pencils
Derwent Pastel Pencils

* The watercolor pencils are so versatile because I can use them dry or wet and that means I only have to carry 1 set of pencils when I sketch outdoors.

Brushes

My favorite brushes are made of synthetic fibers that can hold a large amount of water and paint. Round brushes are a great all-around brush but if you want to paint larger areas or experiment with a looser style, a quill or mop brush is wonderful.

Because I paint with watercolor and gouache, I have two sets of brushes.

My go to watercolor brushes are the Princeton Umbria rounds (size 0 through 10) and the Princeton Select 1/4" dagger striper.

My go to gouache brushes are a mix of Princeton Velvetouch and KingArt rounds and flats. I have a mix of sizes depending on the size of the painting I am working on.

Paper

I have experimented with so many papers, that I have lost count on the number of brands I have tried. What I have found is that I can use the same good quality watercolor paper for pencils, watercolor, and gouache.

When purchasing watercolor paper look for ones that are labeled as 140 lbs or 300 gsm. The heavier the paper is the more water it will be able to hold without warping/cockling. Warping occurs because paper fibers expand when wet. Personally, I don't have a problem if this happens because the paper can be flattened once the painting is dry. My go to watercolor papers are:

Bee Paper Aquabee 100% cotton watercolor sheets
Bee Paper Bee Creative spiral watercolor sketchbooks with 100% cotton paper
Hahnemühle Collection 100 Percent Cotton Watercolor Pad
Stillman & Birn Nova series beige paper - sketchbook or sheets (technically this is mixed media paper, but it works wonderfully when you want a toned background)

Fineliners & White Pens

Fineliners

I use fineliners to add textural marks and outlines to my work. The pens come in a variety of point sizes from 0.05 mm to 1.0 mm. The most versatile size for me is the 0.3 mm. I can create both thick and thin lines depending on the amount of pressure I put on the pen.

My favorites are the Staedtler Pigment Liners - they have a range of 12 colors usually split into a regular and light-colored set.

White Pens

I think it is safe to say that I have tried a lot of white pens. The ones that work best for me are:

Artistro Extra Fine Tip 0.7 mm
Uni-Ball Posca PC-1MR 0.7 mm Marker Pen
Sharpie SAN35574 Extra Fine Point Poster Paint Marker (extremely hard to find but if you can it is worth it)

Although not a pen, white gouache can be thinned with a little water and applied with a small brush to mimic a white pen. The more water you use the less opaque the results are so experiment on scrap paper first.

I hope you've found this list useful. I would like to emphasize that you don't need lots of colors, expensive papers, or every size of brush. Start small, keep experimenting, and use what you already have. Embrace mistakes and happy accidents, they are what make art so much fun!

Happy Painting!

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Kelli McNichols Art