This supply list contains some of the items I use in my art every day. I have compiled this list for you to use at your convenience and will add to this list as I try out new supplies.

Note: some of the links on this supply list are affiliate links to Amazon, which means if you use the link I will get a small commission. This, of course, is at no additional cost to you. Using these links allows me to keep this website running. Thank you so much for supporting a fellow artist.

Oil Painting Supply List:

If you paint in water-soluble oils or acrylics, you should be able to find similar colors in a brand you enjoy. At this time I use a lot of Gamblin oil colors, but I have also use other brands as well.

Limited Palette Essential Pigments (Zorn):

This is the very basic four colors you will need to get started painting.

• Yellow ochre
• Ivory black
• Cadmium red light
• Titanium white

Additional Pigments I Use:

• Burnt umber
• Cad yellow light
• Warm white
• Lead white is a more transparent white. Lead white can be expensive, so budget accordingly. Also, protect your hands with gloves when using this pigment.
• Alizarin crimson perm – This alizarin and the one below are non-fugitive versions of alizarin meaning they don’t fade as easily.
• Lukas alizarin crimson
• Quinacridone Rose
• Cobalt teal
• Ultramarine blue
• Gamblin Artist Oil Set – This is a great set especially when you find it on sale. It has all of the basic colors you need along with a tube of gel medium and a panel to paint on.

Mediums, Mineral Spirits & Solvents:

• Gamsol odorless mineral spirits  used for thinning paint and cleaning brushes.
• Linseed oil
• Liquin is a nice alternative medium that helps speed drying time of oil paint.
• Liquin Fine Detail is great for glazing and blending.
• Liquin Impasto is a great medium for adding body to your paint.

Canvas & Other Helpful Tools:

• Linen panel – This panel can be used for acrylic or oil painting as it is acrylic primed.
• Vine charcoal for drawing on canvas.
• Kneaded eraser – This is used for cleaning up charcoal lines.
• Gesso – I use this to help smooth surface if using regular cotton canvas.
• Palette knife – This is for mixing paint and can also be a tool for painting.
• Glass palette with neutral grey background – This is similar to what I use.
• Palette keeper with airtight lid – The glass palette above can be used in this keeper as can a paper palette that is the right size.
• Paper disposable palette – These are handy and I’ve used some form of these for many years before I got a glass palette.

• Murphy Oil Soap – I use this to soak my brushes to help clean them
• The Masters brush cleaner – It helps with the dirty brushed.
• Greyscale and value finder
• Greyscale finder with color wheel
• Mahl stick – I use one for steadying my hand on the easel.
• Scraper – I use this for scraping paint off my glass palette.
• Nitril gloves
• Viva paper towels – This is a great paper towel that is lint free.
• Oily waste can – Use this or something like it to dispose of your used towels for wiping brushes safely.

 

Colored Pencil Drawing Supplies:

Paper:

You can draw on just about any kind of paper with colored pencils, but the paper may not be able to hold up against multiple layers. You get much better results with the papers listed below.

New York Central 100% Cotton Watercolor Paper Blocks – Hot Press Acid-Free 9×12

Fabriano Artistico 100% Cotton Extra White 140 lb. Hot Press 20 Sheet Block 9×12″

Colored Pencils:

I’m listing sets of colored pencils, but you can buy them individually as well.

Budget friendly starter pencils: Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils, Soft Core. These colored pencils are wax based and may leave a wax bloom when applying layers.

Derwent Studio Colored Pencils set: A wax-based sturdy pencil that sharpens to a fine point and doesn’t crumble easily. These pencils create a crisp, precise line and are perfect for detail work. These can be purchased in different sized sets or individually. If lightfastness is important to you, research these pencils before purchasing. They don’t all have a high lightfast rating.

Derwent Round Drawing Pencil Ivory Black: It’s worth it to get this pencil on it’s own. It has a very dark black which is hard to beat.

Faber-Castell Polychromos Artists’ Color Pencils – Tin of 120 Colors. A set of 36 Faber-Castell Polychromos is great to start with. You can always add individual pencils to expand your collection. These are an oil based pencil that are vibrant and blend smoothly. They also have a high lightfast rating.

Caran D’ache Luminance Colored Pencil Set of 40: These pencils are expensive, but a dream to work with. They are extremely lightfast which is great if you are selling your work. If the sticker price on a set of Luminance is too much for your budget, you can always buy them individually.

Caran d’Ache Museum Aquarelle set of 12 colors. These are gorgeous watercolor pencils. They are vibrant on their own but when water is applied, they explode with color. If you are feeling like spending money, you can also get a set of 76. These also have a high lightfast rating.

Caran d’Ache Neocolor II Watercolor White Crayon: I’m adding this as I like being able to dip a fine tip brush into water, dab on the crayon and add a bit of white to my work if it needs it. I primarily do this when working with watercolor pencils. I don’t know how well this would work with oil-based pencils.

Erasers:

There are many erasers to choose from, so if you have one already don’t feel like you need to get new ones. I would, however, highly recommend getting an electric eraser. It makes erasing so much easier.

Faber-Castell Kneaded Eraser with Case

Derwent Plastic Eraser

Faber-Castell Dust-Free Vinyl Eraser

AFMAT Electric Eraser Kit

Miscellaneous Colored Pencil Supplies:

Slice 10548 Craft Knife, Finger-Friendly Edge: perfect for scraping away or adding texture like fur.

X-ACTO Pencil Sharpener: this pencil sharpener is on my wish list. It saves so much time and is heavy duty.

Wax Free Transfer Paper

 

Digital Painting Supplies:

iPad Pro 12.9″ (Wi-fi, 256 GB)

Authentic Apple Pencil 2nd Generation

Budget friendly iPad pencil which has a selection of colors. (Black, pink, purple, red & white)

FREE Painting Tutorials:

Below are some of the painting tutorials I’ve done using many of the supplies on this list.