Art Supplies
Budget-friendly art supplies to make amazing drawings!
Colored Pencils
For most beginners, drawing with a notebook and pencil is a well-known staple, but, as the love for art flourishes one starts to move towards better paper and colored pencils. However, with prices rising and things getting more expensive it may be hard for most to get quality art supplies.
Therefore, as someone who can relate to the difficulty of buying expensive art materials, there are budget-friendly options out there. For over 10 decades I have used Crayola colored pencils. I cannot express just how amazing these pencils have been. In the beginning it was difficult for me to learn how to use them. I would constantly color in a drawing by applying too much pressure which would result in a glossy finish. Doing this for a long time would cause my wrists to hurt which is not ideal. Just like most I thought that buying better pencils would improve my art. That was not the case. I bought Prisma colored pencils once, and realized something important. Technique and color theory were more useful in developing my skills than the art material I was using.
Why Crayola?
As someone who has used Crayola for a long time now, I believe that these are a great art supply for those wanting to learn how to color.
The 100 or even 150 set have a multitude of colors to choose from which make it a great choice for variety. They are also inexpensive unlike other brands. Although, blending can be a tad difficult, with practice it is possible. Learning the other techniques can also take time to learn.
However, if you have a bit more money to spare they are other art supplies that help make blending your colored pencils easier.
Using Other Art Supplies
Alcohol Markers
Alcohol markers are a great way to make blending colors easier. Due to drying quickly after use they not only make coloring an entire page faster, but also once dried colored pencils can be applied on top without using to much of the pencil. Saving costs of buying more. They’re are different types of alcohol markers out there, but if your low on money buying semi-cheaper markers is the better option. Just maker sure to buy a marker with a brushed tip, as it can be used to blend markers together.
Paper
Colored pencils on there own are good, but having the right paper can make applying the pencil to paper much easier. If your just using colored pencil finding a smooth textured paper that isn’t to thin can make a difference. Because of its smooth texture the wax of colored pencils especially those of Crayola which don’t have much wax can make blending colors together feel seamlessly. On the contrary, using rough textured paper can make blending and applying colored pencils much harder. It also leaves a more grainy look afterwards which if you don’t like can use up more of your pencils quickly.
Although, if your using both alcohol markers and colored pencils together a rougher texture would be ideal, at least the back side of the page would. For example, I recently started using both alcohol markers and colored pencils together. The paper I use is meant for watercolor, but I found that the paper is thick enough for the alcohol marker to not leak or cause ripples. However, I only use the back side of the page due to the texture being smoother than the front. This difference in the texture allows me to use both art supplies fluidity.
Both markers and the paper you use can make a significant impact in your art. However, if your first starting out I would highly recommend just sticking with colored pencils and smooth paper. Practicing your technique skills and color theory first will not only improve your use of color, but it will also help you use different art supplies in the future.
Art Examples
Colored Pencil Only
Colored Pencil Only
With Alcohol Marker
