Artist Starter Kit - The Artist Life

For those of you who are beginning to paint as a hobby and are looking to find the right materials, tools, and tips to get you started on your journey, look no further. In this post, I’ll provide you with a comprehensive starter kit so that you can begin your artistic journey with confidence and enthusiasm. I’ll explain the types of supplies and tools you need, discuss the best techniques for getting started, and provide helpful tips for honing your craft and developing your creative skills. I hope that you find this helpful in your painting journey.

Supplies and Tools

I like to use a basic palette of colors. Finding a red, yellow, blue, and green that you like is important when mixing your colors. Adding a few extras like a magenta and brown are nice as well. I personally use Golden Paints and buy them through Blick. When you buy quality paints, it is easier to get the colors you are going for and you end up using less paint. I know many people use lower grade paints and create great art. Personally, I used to use lower quality and could never achieve the level of vivid color I do now with the Golden paints.

You also need to decide what type of paint you want to work with. I use fluid paints. they mix easily and glide on the surface giving the painting a nice finish. If you are looking for more texture, then a heavy body is the way to go.

When it comes to brushes, find yourself some cheap flat or round brushes. It is better to throw them away as they get worn out then to hang onto them because you spent so much money.

My surfaces that I paint on vary, but my favorite is wood panels. Canvas is nice, but the smooth even surface of wood gives me the best look. I can buy a piece of birch plywood from Home Depot, have them cuz it into several smaller pieces, and have lots of surfaces to paint on compared to canvas.

Exploring Different Mediums & Methods

The only medium I use is matte medium. It allows me to thin my paints and gives me a nice finish as well.

Spend time mixing colors and discovering how to create different hues and tones. Making a color chart is also helpful. You don’t want to recreate a mixture each time you want to make that perfect purple or green. Have formulas to get you there faster.

Setting Yourself Up for Success

My biggest advice to improving your skills is to just keep painting. Take some classes in the style you are hoping to achieve and keep painting as many as you can. The more you do in a particular style, the faster you will improve. If you just from one style to another, you will never improve at a decent rate.

As far as organizing your supplies, I use a lovely caddy to carry my paints. For mixing, I use plastic palettes that I can peel the paint off of once they have a few layers on. They are cheap so I can have several around if I need to keep going and my paint isn't dry yet.

Having a smock and a tarp are a must. A table can work well to paint smaller paintings, but bigger ones really need an easel. Bending and reaching over a long distant is horrible on the back.

Resources & Courses to Maximize Your Potential

I highly recommend Ali Kay and her Fresh Paint membership. Her style is my favorite, she has lots of lessons and she lets you sell anything you make, because it will be your own interpretation of her work. She uses unsplash.com for many of her reference photos. I do as well. I can find some many subjects to use for my paintings on unsplash.

How to Showcase Your Work

Once you have completed your work, make sure you get even, well-lit photos of your work. You will want to varnish if you are selling and possibly find some good frames to display the work in.  

Conclusion

Crafting art is an exhilarating experience, and having the right materials and knowledge will help you make the most of the journey. By building your own artist starter kit, you’ll have all the supplies and skills you need to explore and develop your creativity. With the right tools and tips, you’ll have the confidence and knowledge to create stunning work and share it with the world.

Now that you have the tools and knowledge to get started, it’s time to take the next step. Craft your own starter kit and begin exploring the endless possibilities of artistic expression. I would love to see what you create. Join my Collector’s Club below and send me some pictures to see how you are progressing!