Beginning Art Supplies

[Amanda_Jo]

I'm feeling really overwhelmed when looking at art supplies. We're about to begin formal art instruction with my Ker. I using Drawing with Children for the majority of instruction- with some How to Teach Art to Children thrown in. What supplies do you recommend? I'm quite overwhelmed by the amount of choices at dickblick.com!
Also in your experience are the prices better at dickblick.com or Hobby Lobby or AC Moore? (if you have those stores) I can get to one of the craft stores, but want to make my initial purchase all in one trip-so I'm wondering if buying online would be my best way to go.

Thanks!!

[newbie]

I know where you are coming from. My girls had private art lessons for ten years. The art school supplied everything. The art teacher is moving, so got great idea to do on my own.

Set up mini studio, and got all stuff from Dick Blick. But you are right too much. I am still ordering supplies, because I keep forgetting what we need. I just got, drawing tables and easel, oil paint supplies, and pencils. Next is pastel and watercolors. But everything costs an arm and a leg. It was so much cheaper going to class. When we have everything I hope it balances out.

Jeannette, mom of budding fashion designer and cartoonist.

[Amanda_Jo]

Good to know I'm not the only one!

I also forgot to add that I have zero art experience or ability myself so I'm learning along with her.

[In The Great White North]

DickBlick had the best prices for what we needed (drawing pads and watercolor).

We had also gotten colored pencils (Lyra) and watercolor paint (Stockmar) from the local Waldorf school.

The whole thing is very tempting though. We also ended up with clay (to make a Grecian urn that didn't happen) and mosaic stones (for a mosaic that didn't happen either) Oh well, it will give us something to do over the summer.

[newbie]

I have been sitting in their class for ten yrs. watching.Finally last yr. I picked up a brush and painted. Very spiritual things. Lots of Angels. Mind you I only draw stick figures. I get great feedback. But the true artists are both my girls. They are gifted.

I think its like music, you have it or you dont. But, painting is the only meditation I can do. Tried yoga, excercise, alcohol, the list goes on. The only thing that I can truly shut off my brain is painting. Mind you my daughters cant stand anything I paint. But thats okay I love it.

Weird,
Jeannette

[Mamabegood]

For us:
Good quality colored pencils, sculpey, high quality crayons, watercolor pencils, watercolor paints, watercolor paper, sketchbooks, and if you can afford it, some artist quality markers (I think these are ridiculously expensive, but my kids love 'em).

Some Dover coloring books are nice, especially if you can get subjects that go along with what you are studying. Also, art books for project ideas, instructions, etc. (You can preview library books to see if there are any you'd like to own).

As for shopping, Dick Blick has good prices, but so does Rainbow Resource, and sometimes RR is less, so I always check both places.

If I can think of anything else, I'll post later.

[Amanda_Jo]

See that's what is so confusing. There are a million different choices under "colored pencils", "markers", "paper". Should I really get prismacolor for a 5 year old? I know I probably shouldn't get crayola. Is there a middle road? Or somethings that are okay cheap, and others that need to be high end?

Thanks again!

[In The Great White North]

The problem with cheap colored pencils is:

1. - They break more easily, up inside the wood, so you sharpen it and the lead falls out. Irritating.

2. - They are usually hard and scratchy, like scraping fingernails on a blackboard. Irritating.

3. - The color doesn't come off as well so the child has to press harder to get darker colors, so the pencil breaks. Irritating.

I really got spoiled by the Lyra Gaint Ferbies (the triangular ones). None of them have broken and three children used them for 10 years.

[Mamabegood]

My personal opinion is that higher quality supplies are easier to use--you don't have to press as hard, the colors are deeper and richer, and the whole thing is just more satisfying, which of course makes the kids want to do more.

IF you can afford it, I do think it's better to spend the money on brands like Prismacolor and Lyra. If you can't, then I suggest you go with the best that you can comfortably afford.

Just my .02! :tongue_smilie:

[kls126s]

I'm not much help on the best things to buy, but I thought I would pass along that Oriental Trading Co. is selling art supplies now and their prices are pretty good. I just spent $60 and got a whole bunch of art stuff that will last us for quite a while, keeping in mind that I have youngers, so tempera paint in bottles is just fine for now.

You check out their offerings online here (http://www.orientaltrading.com/application?namespace=browse&origin=catalogCategory.jsp&event=catalog&categoryId=382160&tabId=artSupplies&cm_re=TOP-_-AS-_-AS).

[Amanda_Jo]

Thanks! I'll check out orential trading too!
I got some of the basics from AC Moore yesterday- paper, colored pencils, erasers and a sharpener.

Now specific questions on things I couldn't figure out while there-
What type of "drawing pen" should I get? Does the size of the tip matter?
What type of pencil for drawing/skeching? They had graphite, charcoal, and sketching-but I couldn't figure out the difference.
Any specific name brand on markers? I could only find prismacolor-way too much $ for my beginning five year old! And they of course had crayola. Is there a better brand than crayola that I should look for online that is much cheaper than prismacolor?

Thanks so much. You are such a big help!

[newbie]

HI,
I was shopping again yesterday, the art teacher suggested jerrysartarama.com, they dont have as much as Dick Blick, but I think they are cheaper.

Oriental trading is a great idea, I use them for everything.

Jeannette

[Amanda_Jo]

I will be placing an order for oriental trading for sure- they've free shipping and a coupon right now. I'm excited to get some art clipboards from them to save my kitchen table! Still need help making a decision on what type of art pen, markers, and drawing pencil! Thanks!

[Kareni]

I really got spoiled by the Lyra Giant Ferbies (the triangular ones). None of them have broken and three children used them for 10 years.

We've had our set for six years, they're going strong, and they're still the favorites of my 17yod.

You can purchase them singly at many art supply stores, or you could buy a set at:

http://www.bellalunatoys.com/artsupplies/items/drawing/colorgiants.htm
or
http://www.rosiehippo.com/productdetail.asp?groupnumber=S200
(this is the set we started with; we've added pencils over time as stocking stuffers or as new school year gifts)

Regards,
Kareni

[Tina in WA]

I would really encourage you to take some time and look around Barb's Harmony Art Mom (http://harmonyartmom.blogspot.com/) blog. She has video's, listed of suggested materials, and so much more. There is a wealth of information there.

[harmonyartmom]

I actually have a whole webpage of suggestions for art supplies for children.

Here you go:
Art Supplies for Kids (http://www.squidoo.com/artsuppliesforkids)

And you could also try the supplies on my Drawing with Children page:
Drawing With Children (http://www.squidoo.com/drawingwithchildrennature)
Make sure to scroll down through the page to see all the suggestions. Most all of the supplies would be available at any art supply store like Michael's or Hobby Lobby.

I personally like to go into a store to purchase art supplies just because I love to look at everything on the shelves but DickBlick and Cheap Joes are really good if you want to shop online.

Hope that helps.
Barb-Harmony Art Mom

[Amanda_Jo]

I actually have a whole webpage of suggestions for art supplies for children.

Here you go:
Art Supplies for Kids (http://www.squidoo.com/artsuppliesforkids)

And you could also try the supplies on my Drawing with Children page:
Drawing With Children (http://www.squidoo.com/drawingwithchildrennature)
Make sure to scroll down through the page to see all the suggestions. Most all of the supplies would be available at any art supply store like Michael's or Hobby Lobby.

I personally like to go into a store to purchase art supplies just because I love to look at everything on the shelves but DickBlick and Cheap Joes are really good if you want to shop online.

Hope that helps.
Barb-Harmony Art Mom

Thank you, thank you! I actually just printed off your lesson plans for using Drawing with Children as a nature journal. I know dd is going to love doing that this year. I didn't think to look for a list of supplies on your site! I'm going to the link now. Thanks again!

[Reya]

Just as an FYI--you can get teacher discounts at most art stores as a HS-er!

[kristavws]

Barb,

Is there a certain brand of Acrylic Paint that you prefer? What about glaze?

TIA,
Krista

[harmonyartmom]

Dear Krista,

Honestly, we have not worked a lot with acrylics in our family. We have worked with oils but so far not too much with acrylics except fooling around. I am planning a whole unit on acrylics as part of the HFA appreciation plan for 12th grade but it is not pulled together yet.

I will update my Squidoo page after we work the paints a bit and see what works best for us.

Barb-Harmony ARt Mom