The Best Art Supplies for Beginners (That Won’t Break the Bank)

You don’t need a $200 supply haul to make beautiful art. In fact, the best starter kits are simple and affordable. Whether you’re just beginning your creative journey or returning to art after a break, the right tools can inspire you without draining your wallet.

If you’re interested in any of these products, just click the name to visit their Amazon page. I’ve personally used each one in my own art practice and in the classroom for years, so consider them teacher-approved! Please note: these are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you decide to purchase—at no extra cost to you.

Drawing and Sketch Pads

• Canson XL Mixed Media Pad – Affordable, durable, and versatile for sketching, watercolor, or markers.

• Strathmore Sketch Pad – A solid budget choice for pencil and ink drawings.

💡 Tip: Don’t overthink it—printer paper works fine when you’re just getting started.

Pencil/Drawing Kits

• Amazon Basics Sketching and Drawing Art Pencil Kit– Affordable variety pack that's a great way to introduce multiple drawing tools for a low price! This kit includes graphite & charcoal pencils, a standard & kneaded eraser, blender/smudge stick, 2 barrel pencil sharpener, 2 compressed conte sticks and 2 charcoal sketch sticks.

• MARKART Professional Drawing Pencil Kit - Only pencils (ranged 12B - 4H) for those looking to dive deeper into their shading practice. Professional quality for a good price.

• Zenacolor Watercolor Pencils - Draw like a colored pencil, then add water and blend/paint like a watercolor! This is a 72 pack and great for beginners and professionals.

💡 Tip: Start with a variety kit. They introduce a variety of tools designed to be used together, in one purchase.

Paints

• Prang Watercolors – Bright colors, inexpensive, and perfect for beginners.

• Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint Set – A small starter set with strong pigments at a fair price.

💡 Tip: Even children’s paints can be a fun way to practice techniques without pressure.

Brushes

• Royal & Langnickel Crafter's Choice Brush Set – A variety pack that gives you options without a big cost.

• Princeton 9000 series Brushes – A step up in quality while still affordable.

💡 Tip: Wash and store your brushes carefully—good care makes even budget brushes last longer.

Markers & Pens

• Crayola Markers: Supertips – A surprisingly versatile option for sketching, lettering, and coloring.

• Micron Pens – A little pricier, but worth it if you want clean, archival-quality lines.

• ARTISTRO Acrylic Paint Markers (regular colors) - That's right - paint without the mess & works like a marker!

• ARTISTRO Metalic Acrylic Paint Markers - Yep, same thing, just shiny metallics.

💡 Tip: Ballpoint pens or gel pens from around your house work just as well for doodling and line practice.

Oil Pastels

• Crayola Oil Pastels – Great value beginner set for kids and adults.

• Artecho Oil Pastels – The adult upgrade version of Crayola - a 48 piece set.

💡 Tip: Oil pastels are made with oils; they do not wash out of fabrics easily. Try using nylon gloves if you find the texture distracting.

Soft Pastels

• Artecho Soft Pastels – 48 colors + 2 free extras (1 black & 1 white for blending/shading)

• Faber-Castell Soft Pastels – Less variety per pack, but a name-brand quality upgrade. (I used these in college.)

💡 Tip: Soft Pastels = Think really vibrant, fancy chalk. Great for blending but dusty & smears easily.

Charcoal

• Compressed Stick - Soft, medium, & hard variety pack. Perfect for rich, high contrast, moody works.

• Winsor & Newton Variety Willow Sticks - Put simply: charcoal willow twigs that you can draw with... but they add really unique textures and character to an artwork, if you want to explore charcoal further.

💡 Tip: The same erasers and blending tools that come in graphite pencil kits work on this too! BUT, charcoal is much richer of a pigment and is harder to get out. Always start off with light pressure & build to dark.

Tabletop Easel

• U.S. Art Supply Simple Table Easel - Simple. Sturdy. Affordable. Small storage space. 'Nuff said.

• LUCKYAZ Art Tabletop Easel - Easel + paint & brush storage. Compact. Pricier, but a nice upgrade.

💡 Tip: You do not need an easel, however, it can be very helpful to see the artwork in a more upright position so you get more accurate proportions when sketching and color values when painting/coloring. (If you have a recipe book holder... that works too!)

Extras

• Artist Masking Tape – Great for clean paint edges or taping down your paper.

• Plastic Palette or Paper Plate – No need for fancy mixing trays.

💡 Tip: Look around your house—cups, jars, old brushes, and recycled containers often double as great art tools.

Art doesn’t require expensive tools—it requires creativity and a willingness to start. Build your supply kit slowly, use what you already have, and let yourself enjoy the process.

✨ Want a little extra help? Download my free “7 Days of Scriptures & Sketchbooks” Jumpstart and I’ll show you how to use these supplies in ways that combine faith, creativity, and encouragement.

Photo by Taylor Heery on Unsplash