Art Students Materials List

Art materials influence how artists make their work and how viewers perceive it

For everything we do in art, we need the right tools. If we use any paper other than it was designed for, or if the canvas or brushes we use are the wrong kind, the painting won’t turn out as well as it could.

The materials listed here are for the introduction lessons. To keep the cost down for art materials before you have settled into a specific medium, I am recommending minimum supplies without jeopardising decent results. For instance, Vermilion Red is a more cost-effective option than Cadmium Red when purchasing oil paints. It is similar enough to produce a comparable result, although the Cadmium Red is much brighter. Once you know your direction, you can add Cadmium Red to your collection of oil paints, as it has a much higher in pigments and chroma content.

Material List for Drawing with Graphite

You will need the following materials when starting with drawing:
A set of graphite pencils with a minimum of 5 pencils ranging from 2h - 6b. Any brand is fine, but avoid very cheap ones such as Mont Marte. 
Putty eraser also called kneadable eraser and a normal eraser. 
Optional: An Erasing Shield.
A Quill Sketchpad or any other smooth, drawing paper. No Mont Marte  or copy paper paper please, it will only frustrate you. 
The best pencil sharpener is the Derwent Superpoint Metal Pencil Sharpener, which is quite inexpensive when compared to others of its kind.

Coloured Pencil Material List

To get the right coloured pencil materials is not that straightforward because it depends on the method of appliance you prefer.

If you want to create strong colours and a more painterly feel, then you should opt for Prismacolor, Polychromos or Faber Castell Albrecht Durer. If you like to work smaller and finer and more subtle colours than the Derwent Artist or Studio pencils are best. The only brand that works for all techniques is the Caran D’Ache Luminescence and Holbein or the cheaper brand Crayola Signature (50 colours) available at Officeworks .
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Paper likewise is a delicate issue that depends on your preference. 
You will need:
A set of coloured pencils, at least 36, but the more the better. If you’re unsure, read the article on coloured pencils to find out which brand to buy first.
 
If you need to save, the Crayola Signature is one of the best cheaper options. They are available at Officeworks and you pay for 50 pencils less than $50 (2023). 
A good long tip sharpener with a barrel, as well as the best option if you sharpen a lot is the Derwent Super point Metal Sharpener. It is also the best value for money.
If you work on white paper you should get a darker col-erase and for dark paper a white one. As the name suggests the col-erase can be easily erased, which is great for an initial drawing. 
Both the Derwent and Prismacolor blender help you blend colours easily. The Derwent Burnisher is useless. It creates uneven blends. I would not buy them.
Also get a single white Faber Castell Coloured Pencil. Aside from the unrivalled Holbein, it is one of the whitest colour pencils now in use.  Holbein pencils are now available on the Gold Coast at Musgrave Art.

Basic Oil Painting Materials List

I will once more suggest the least expensive options of materials for the beginner to oil painting. The Canvas must be from the brand I suggest, whereas the oil paint brand is up to you. If you plan to stay with oil, you can upgrade to superior supplies later. ​

Oil Paints
For the initial oil painting exercises, the brand of oil paints doesn't matter. ​

You will need the double primary colours and white as follows:
  • Lemon Yellow
  • Mid- or Spectrum Yellow (cheaper than Cadmium Yellow)
  • Vermillion Red (cheaper than Cadmium Red depending on brand)
  • Crimson Red
  • Ultramarine Blue (French Ultramarine is dearer)
  • Phthalo Blue
  • Titanium White

Brushes
Brushes are important and unfortunately cheaper ones just won't do. I rather have fewer brushes, but those that work. It is critical that the hair is not too hard, nor too soft. ​

The minimum number of brushes you will need for the first 5 weeks are:
  • Neef 95 Bright Size 6  (Stiff Synthetic)
  • Neef 95 Filbert Size 2 (Stiff Synthetic)
  • Neef 95 Bright Size 0 (Stiff Synthetic)
  • Neef 95 Bright Size 8 (Optional)
An extra brush set from Mont Marte is not necessary, but it is convenient and reasonably priced. They can be found in practically all dollar stores and are wonderful for soft mixing. 
  • A set of 4 to five brushes, which must have mostly flat brushes and one round brush. 

Canvas Paper & Canvas Boards
For the method of oil painting introduction we start with, you need a canvas that we can easily manipulate. That implies you can add oil paint and remove it easily if required.

​If you find that a canvas is sticking to the oil paint, don’t get it unless you want to spend the time applying multiple Gesso layers.
For the first 5 weeks, all you need is:
  • One Sheet of an A4 Fredrix Oil Paper. You can buy them in a pad. Do not ever use Mont Marte, that oil paper is a nightmare. 
  • If I have the paper at hand, I sell one piece for $2 which is what I have paid for it. ​​
  • One rectangular Fredrix canvas board a bit larger than A3 up to A2. 

Brush Cleaner
Since I want to retain my brushes for as long as possible, I hardly ever clean them with turpentine. Brush cleaners give a moisturising layer of protection, but turpentine affects the natural oil in brushes. 

Further, turps smell bad and are toxic. Therefore, it is not a smart idea, especially if you work from home. Brush cleaners are brilliant, as they not only clean your brushes better than turpentine but also protect them from the elements and from deforming. I only purchase high-grade brushes since their quality is very crucial. 
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  • Both brush cleaner that are mentioned here are suitable. One is a fluid and you need only a few drops each time, and the other is a harder soap type. The fluid is from Chroma "Incredible Brush Cleaner" and the other from The Masters Brush Cleaner and Preserver.

Palette
I usually don't buy Mont Marte products, but the palette is excellent. It is inexpensive and effortless to clean. 

You can also use a paper palette which you don't need to clean afterwards, just throw it in the bin when done with painting. I have palettes at the studio for those you are not sure yet, if they want to continue painting. However, you must clean them up afterwards. 

Painting Rags
Old Rags are essential when painting with oil. As much as we add paint to the canvas, we need to manipulate the paint easily to control it. We must be able remove paint also, especially for the first monochromatic layer.
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You can use any old cloths as long as the fabric is soft. Bunnings offers 1.5 packages for around $8-$9. 

Palette Knife
A standard mid size No 10 palette knife is the best. ​

​We have some in the studio you can lend, if you can't get one immediately, but you will need one for yourself at home. 
And last you will need baby wipes. They remove paint from furniture, hands and clothing. A must when working in oil. 

Comparison Chart for Schmincke Oil Paints
If someone asks me which oil paints I prefer personally, I have to say Schmincke Mussini. ​

They are for sure not the only brilliant option, but some are so pricey that many can't afford them.
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Both Schmincke Mussini and Norma are high-quality oil paints. Mussini, however, is Schmincke’s top line and offers a wider variety of colours and greater level of quality. It has an amazing consistency, is very creamy and incredibly easy to apply.
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The images are downloadable PDFs with colour charts and information.