The best art supplies in 2022, from sketchbooks to pastels

Strathmore makes excellent sketchbooks with all kinds of paper, including drawing, watercolor, pastel, charcoal, and more.

Pros: Sturdy sketchbooks, great paper quality, paper types for different media, affordable

Cons: Larger sizes cost more, specialty papers have fewer pages

I've used Strathmore sketchbooks for years. I typically buy the ones with recycled paper, but I've also used the pastel, charcoal, and watercolor pads for when I need a different texture. No matter which media you choose, these sketchbooks can handle it. 

The standard paper will warp if you use watercolors on it, but for any kind of pen, pencil, marker, or another drawing implement, it will do the job — it's a good thickness and weight. 

When it comes to Strathmore's watercolor paper, it's sturdy and strong enough to stand up to lots of water. The charcoal and pastel paper notebooks both have a wonderful texture to them that really works for the softer media and good blending. Strathmore's prices are fairly reasonable, too, so you can sketch away.

Here are other Strathmore products we recommend:

Strathmore 400 Series Watercolor Pad (9 x 12, white bound)

$10.27 FROM AMAZON

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Strathmore 300 Series Charcoal Pad (11 x 17, wire bound)

$17.72 FROM AMAZON

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Strathmore 400 Series Pastel Pad

$22.99 FROM AMAZON

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The Staedtler Pencil Mars Lumograph 12-Piece Set comes with all the graphite pencils you need to draw like a pro.

Pros: Bold graphite pencils, 8B to 6H range, affordable, long-lasting

Cons: None

If you draw with graphite pencils, you know that not all graphite is the same. This Staedtler set comes with 12 pencils in different hardnesses from 8B to 6H. For the uninitiated, the higher the number in front of the B, the softer the lead. Conversely, the higher the number in front of the H, the harder the lead.

Most people will use 2B, HB, and B the most, but if you need deep dark blacks that blend well, you'll need 4B and up. For hard, light lines, H pencils are perfect. 

The pencils come in a tin for safekeeping, and they're easy to sharpen and comfortable to hold — even when you draw for hours on end. I've used dozens of graphite pencils, but Staedtler's are the best for the price.

General 33-Piece Classic Charcoal Drawing Set has every kind of charcoal you need to create beautiful work.

Pros: Big set with many pieces, includes white and black charcoal; comes with an eraser, charcoal sticks, and pencils; affordable

Cons: None

If you're just getting started with charcoal or you want to try a new medium, this General charcoal set has everything you need, including 18 pencils, 12 sticks, a sharpener, an eraser, and a drawing pad.

Each pencil is labeled with its hardness level, and the set has white charcoal pencils for highlights, too. The kneaded eraser is a great blending tool, but it can also erase any mistakes fairly well. The charcoal sticks come in various thicknesses, so you can work big or small.

The only charcoal types that are missing are powder and vine charcoal, but those are specific tools that most people won't need right away. I've used General charcoal pencils for years, and they can produce some great sketches, even though they're relatively affordable.

The Prismacolor Quality Art Set includes 48 colored pencils that are rich in color.

Pros: Bold colors, lots of variety, long-lasting, eraser and sharpener included, affordable

Cons: None

The Prismacolor Quality Art Set comes with 48 colored pencils in beautiful, bright shades. You'll also get a sharpener and a Latex-Free Scholar Eraser in the set. 

These colored pencils aren't like the basic Crayola ones you used in elementary school. — they're high-quality, soft lead pencils with rich colors. You can create extraordinary drawings with these Prismacolor pencils or color in an adult coloring book to make a black and white design come to life.

The Prismacolor Premier Kneaded, ArtGum, and Plastic Erasers will erase any mistake you make.

Pros: Three types of erasers, affordable

Cons: None

To err is human, and here to fix your mistakes are Prismacolor's erasers. This three-pack gives you a kneaded rubber eraser, an artist gum eraser, and a latex-free plastic eraser.

I personally only use kneaded erasers, because they work with all media and don't shed eraser bits everywhere, but the ArtGum eraser is great for stubborn graphite and the plastic eraser doesn't shed, either.

Since this set gives you all three, you can pick and choose which one you need based on the medium you're working with.

Sennelier makes the absolute best oil and soft pastels, but Van Gogh, Koh-i-noor, and Prismacolor are fine alternatives.

Pros: Beautiful oil and soft pastels, good variety of colors, strong pigments

Cons: Sennelier's pastels are expensive

One of my favorite mediums is pastel. The rich, bold colors and easy blending make for the perfect drawing experience. Of all the pastels I've used, Sennelier's are the best. Its oil pastels, in particular, are stunning. The richness of the colors is unparalleled and you can feel the oiliness of the pastel. I lust over them every time I got to the art store. 

However, Sennelier pastels are very expensive, because they are among the highest quality ones you can buy. Since not everyone can spend hundreds on them — myself included, alas — Van Gogh makes great oil pastels for much less, Koh-i-noor sells wonderful soft pastel pencils, and Prismacolor makes great soft pastels for an affordable price.

I mostly use soft pastel pencils, because the fine tip gives you more control over your drawing and fine detail. However, when you're working big and you need to blend, Prismacolor's pastels are perfect. Van Gogh's oil pastels are nearly as pigmented and rich as Sennelier's and they blend very well. You can even thin them with linseed oil, just like you would for oil paint if you want a painterly look.

Here are the best pastels we recommend:

Sennelier Oil Pastel Portrait (24-set)

$44.95 FROM AMAZON

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Sennelier Pastel Half Stick (40-pack)

$53.45 FROM AMAZON

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Van Gogh Oil Pastels (24-count)

$24.95 FROM AMAZON

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Koh-I-Noor Gioconda Soft Pastel Pencil (set of 12)

$63.99 FROM BLICK ART MATERIALS

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Prismacolor Premier NuPastel Firm Pastel Color Sticks (24-count)

$24.99 FROM BLICK ART MATERIALS

Originally $45.20 | Save 45%

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Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Color (set of 12)

$36.88 FROM AMAZON

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Winsor & Newton makes wonderful watercolor paints and sets, while Derwent makes excellent watercolor pencils.

Pros: Bright colors, good variety in the sets, sturdy pencils

Cons: High-end tubes are pricey

While you may think about those plastic sets from elementary school, the best watercolors come in tubes like acrylic and oil paint. You can get good sets in plastic, of course, and there are wonderful watercolor pencils, too. We've got picks for all three.

The Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Color 12-Tube Set is best for the serious watercolor artist who wants a nice set of colors, while the Sketcher's Pocket Box is great for anyone on the go who want a travel-friendly plastic set. Both provide rich, lovely color.

My favorite watercolor pencils are Derwent's because you can get a nice variety of colors without paying too much. The watercolor pencils give you more control over fine details in your paintings, so they may be a fun addition to your supplies.

Here are the best watercolor art supplies we recommend:

Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Color (set of 12)

$36.88 FROM AMAZON

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Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Color Paint Sketchers' Pocket Box

$16.59 FROM AMAZON

Originally $31.79 | Save 48%

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Derwent Water Color Pencils (12-count)

$19.77 FROM AMAZON

Originally $27.49 | Save 28%

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Liquitex BASICS Acrylic Paint Tube 12-Piece Set and the Winsor & Newton 2190517 Galeria Acrylic Paint 10 Tube Set are great starter kits for painting.

Pros: Strong colors, affordable options, high-quality options, sets offer good value

Cons: Small tubes, can get expensive

My first set of acrylic paints was the BASICS set by Liquitex. The set comes with 12 colors that you can mix to your heart's content to create more shades. You really only need these basic colors to create every shade of the rainbow.

Of course, this budget set isn't that high-end, so if you're looking for something a bit better, the Winsor & Newton 10-tube set is a great option. You'll pay more for higher-quality paint and strong pigments. You can't go wrong with either one, really.

Here are the best acrylic paint sets we recommend:

Liquitex BASICS Acrylic Paint Tube (set of 12)

$23.79 FROM AMAZON

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Winsor & Newton 2190517 Galeria Acrylic Paint (set of 10)

$30.38 FROM AMAZON

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Winsor & Newton, Gamblin, and Williamsburg Handmade oil paints represent very different price points to satisfy any budget.

Pros: Strong colors, affordable options, high-quality options, sets offer good value

Cons: Small tubes, can get expensive if you go with the high-end paint

The most expensive art form you can get into is oil painting, but it's also one of the most flexible. Oil paint is richer than acrylic and it stays wet longer for better mixing, blending, and use over the course of long-term projects.

Winsor & Newton make a good oil paint that's suitable for beginners or artists on a budget. Gamblin falls in the middle, while Williamsburg's handmade oils are considered among the best. They're sold by tubes and not by sets, so you can pick the colors you need.

The differences are in the richness of the pigments, the oils used to make the paints, and the process by which the paint is made. You can spend hundreds on small tubes of the best oils, but these three options will serve you well until you become as famous as Picasso.

Here are the best oil paints we recommend:

Winsor & Newton Winton Oil Colors Set (set of 10)

$19.98 FROM MICHAEL'S

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Gamblin Artist's Oil Colors

$88.50 FROM BLICK ART MATERIALS

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Williamsburg Handmade Oil Colors

$10.28 FROM BLICK ART MATERIALS

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Da Vinci makes great brushes for watercolor, acrylic, and oil painting.

Pros: Brushes for all media, relatively affordable, no shedding, sets offer good value

Cons: Real hair and bristle cost more

The main advice we have on brushes is don't get cheap terrible ones that shed all over your canvas.

No matter what medium you paint in, da Vinci Brushes has the brush you need. There are more brushes out there than can be put in a simple guide like this, but da Vinci's wares are relatively affordable and long-lasting, so we've included them here.

Some of the brushes are synthetic, but others are made from real animal hair and bristle. There's a lot of argument over what materials are best, but we've included a mix at different price points.

Here are the best da Vinci brushes we recommend:

da Vinci Brushes Student Series 3502 Beginner Paint Brush Set

$10.64 FROM AMAZON

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da Vinci Brushes 5359 Artist Brushes

$53.95 FROM AMAZON

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da Vinci Brushes Oil & Acrylic Series 4240 Maestro Oil Brush

$8.06 FROM BLICK ART MATERIALS

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Fredrix makes good canvas, and it's almost always cheaper to stretch your own canvas than to buy pre-made ones.

Pros: Canvas is cheaper when you make your own; good quality canvas material, available in primed or unprimed

Cons: Canvas is expensive and time-consuming to make

If you're working in oil or acrylic, it's tempting to buy pre-stretched canvases and have it done. However, you can save loads of money — especially if you paint on huge canvases — if you make your own canvases. 

To do it yourself, you'll need wood for the frame, canvas, a staple gun, and canvas pliers to stretch it properly. I've made canvases before, and it may be hard work, but it's worth it. 

Fredrix sells canvas in many forms and sizes. You can get it primed or unprimed if you prefer to do it yourself with a giant bucket of gesso or if you just want a raw canvas.

Here are the canvases and accessories we recommend:

Fredrix Red Lion Polyflax Primed Canvas (58 inches x 6 yards)

$111.01 FROM BLICK ART MATERIALS

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Fredrix Tara Unprimed Cotton Canvas (52 inches x 6 yards)

$57.85 FROM AMAZON

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Fredrix Canvas Pliers

$18.67 FROM AMAZON

Originally $27.12 | Save 31%

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P&L ART. DIY Solid Wood Canvas Frame Kit

$36.99 FROM AMAZON

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What are the most essential art supplies?

While our list covers a range of art supplies, one of the most versatile is the Strathmore sketchbook, which works with a wide range of mediums — from pencils to pastels.

As for what you actually draw with, pencils are great because you can use them to create stand-alone art or outline a piece before you use paint or pastels.

What art supplies should I get as a beginner?

According to our guide on drawing for beginners, all you need to really get started is a sketchbook, eraser, and some pencils — you don't even necessarily need a whole set or even colored pencils.