This is so individual, but here is a starting place for your art-loving kids or yourself. See what interests them. Let them take a class or watch YouTube videos explaining a new medium. Let them practice and encourage them with their efforts without badgering or guilting. They might dive deep into a new medium for a week and then let it sit for months while another concept or medium interests them. You can remind them of what they have available and have it visible and accessible to them. As I mentioned in the last few posts, the best ways to help your children grow in art is to provide:
Practice drawing realistically and creatively.
Exposure to good artwork.
Exploration of many art mediums.
These age-related art supply lists will help facilitate the third point.
For Toddlers
Materials do not need to be high quality as this stage is mainly about sensory exploration and fine motor skills. Just be careful nothing goes into their mouth that should not.
Construction paper to paint with plain water or tear or cut with scissors
Plain paper (a large paper is great for their larger stokes on the floor or an easel)
Different size brushes
Plastic scissors and cardstock from your recycling bin
Play dough and cookie cutters and rolling pins
Stamps
Washable markers
Large hole beads to string on pipe cleaners or cord
Chalk and chalkboard and sidewalk chalk
Pan watercolors (pre-load each color with a puddle of water for them rather than a bowl of water they can dump on the paper;))
Stickers
Glue sticks
Favorite Brands: Crayola, Store Brands, Play-Doh, Melissa & Doug
Where to purchase: Box Stores, Amazon, Yard-sales
For Elementary Kids
Aim to get a little higher quality supplies for your elementary kids than your toddlers. They should be able to enjoy the experience of their supplies and not be frustrated that a brush splits, their paints are not bright or thick enough, or their scissors cut how they should. That way they can concentrate on their making, not their supplies. I will list favorite brands after the item listed if applicable.
Spiral bound sketchbooks: Strathmore
Drawing Pencils and Colored Pencils: Design, Derwent, Faber-Castell, Prismacolor
Watercolor or multimedia paper (thicker to prevent warping with wet media): Strathmore or Canson
Different size brushes, including fine point brushes and large 2-3 in brushes
Acrylic or tempra paint: Blickrylic
Canvases or wood panels
Pan watercolors: Prang or Masllutn
Kid scissor with metal blades
Play dough, air-dry clay, plastilina, oven-baked clay (Sculpty), ceramic clay for toy pottery or hand-building
Stencils and stamps
Thick and fineline markers: Crayola, Faber-Castell, Prismacolor
Yarn, looms, large needles, embroidery hoops, buttons
Glue sticks, liquid glue, Cool (for kids) hot glue gun
Cardboard for sculpting, pumpkin carving tools for cutting, dress-makers wheels for scoring, tape and glue
Favorite Brands: Listed after each item above.
Where to purchase: Box Stores, Amazon, Yard-sales, Craft Stores like Hobby Lobby or Michaels, Art Supply Stores Dick Block and Jerry’s Artarama
For Teens and Adults
Aim to get middle to high quality, student to professional, or middle priced or higher. Hobby Lobby, Walmart, and other box stores will have nice middle to high quality art supplies. Dick Blick, Jerry’s Artarama, and local art supply stores will have higher and professional quality supplies.
Spiral bound sketchbooks: Strathmore
Drawing Pencils and Colored Pencils: Design, Derwent, Faber-Castell, Prismacolor
Watercolor paper: Canson, Arches, Strathmore
multimedia sketchbooks (thicker to prevent warping with wet media): Canson, Strathmore
Different size brushes with different points: Look for ones that come to a clean edge if flat or a point if round. They should keep their shape when wet. Kolinsky or other natural bristle brushes will last the longest and keep their shape the best, but there are many nice synthetic brushes available. : Loew-Cornell, Silver Brush, Escoda, Winsor & Newton, Craft or Art store brands
Acrylic paint: Matisse Structure
Oil paint: Utrecht, Gamblin
Canvases or wood panels: Paramount Pro
Tube watercolors: Daniel Smith Premium artist grade, Winsor & Newton professional, M. Graham, Schmincke
scissor and exacto blades
air-dry clay, plastilina, ceramic clay for wheel throwing or hand-building
Stencils and stamps
Thick and fineline markers
Yarn, looms, large needles, embroidery hoops, buttons
Glue sticks, liquid glue, hot glue gun
Favorite Brands: Listed after each item above. These suggestions are not exhaustive. They are ones I have used personally and liked.
Where to purchase: Box Stores, Amazon, Yard-sales, Craft Stores like Hobby Lobby or Michaels, Art Supply Stores Dick Block and Jerry’s Artarama
Have fun making art yourself or with your children and sharing your love of art with the people you love. I’d love to hear of your or your children’s favorite art supplies! Drop a comment below. Of course if you have any questions, feel free to contact me.