Art supply buying guides
32 guides, grouped by what you make. Each one explains the specs that matter, names a pick for each kind of buyer, and says plainly that it is research-based rather than hands-on tested.
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I use this13 reviews
Hands-on reviews
Things I own and use, with my own photos and videos.
How I reviewAcrylic markers
Paper and journals
Digital drawing
I use this7 write-ups
Research write-ups: in my kit, notes coming
From my kit, but not in my own words yet: each page gives the maker's specs and claims, marked as theirs.
How I pick
01 · Markers & paint pens
Markers & paint pens
Alcohol markers, acrylic paint pens and how to choose between them.
Selling well on Amazon right now
Paint Pens & Markers
POSCA PC-5M 8-pack
#10 in Paint Pens & Markers
$19.97 Save 31% List Price: $29.00
as of Nov 3, 2026, 11:23 UTC Details
Acrylic Marker Christmas Cards and Ornaments: Easy Ideas From My Kit
Six easy acrylic marker Christmas card and ornament ideas with plain steps, the marker set from my kit that suits each, and tips for black card and wood.
Acrylic vs Alcohol Markers: Which Should You Buy?
Acrylic markers vs alcohol markers: how coverage, blending, paper, surfaces and smell differ, which suits your art, and a set of each, two from my desk.
Best Acrylic Paint Pens and Acrylic Markers for Rocks, Wood, Canvas and Fabric
Three researched paint pen sets plus the six acrylic marker and gel pen sets I own, compared on tips, paint system and colors, with advice by surface.
Best Alcohol Markers for Beginners: How to Choose a First Set
Brush or chisel, how many colors, which paper, refillable or not: what matters in a first alcohol marker set, and the set I would point a beginner to.
POSCA Alternatives: Value Paint Pen Sets Compared With the Original
What you gain and what you give up when you swap POSCA for a big value set of acrylic paint pens, and when the original is still worth buying.
02 · Painting
Painting
Acrylic, watercolor and gouache sets for beginners, gouache vs acrylic, and the easel to hold the work.
Selling well on Amazon right now
Art Paints
Shuttle Art acrylic 36
#5 in Art Paints
$25.99 Save 19% List Price: $31.99
as of Nov 3, 2026, 11:23 UTC Details
Cotman 20-tube watercolor set
#21 in Art Paints
$34.33 Save 31% List Price: $49.49
as of Nov 3, 2026, 11:23 UTC Details
Cotman Sketchers' Pocket Set
#21 in Art Paints
$24.17 Save 37% List Price: $38.49
as of Nov 3, 2026, 11:42 UTC Details
Best Acrylic Paint Set for Beginners: What to Buy and What to Skip
Craft vs artist acrylic, bottles vs tubes, heavy vs soft body, what to pair with a first set, the set I'd start with, and gifting it for Christmas.
Best Brushes for Gouache: LOBEO Art Brushes and 3 Picks
The LOBEO ART brushes I paint gouache with on camera, researched sets from Princeton, Silver Brush and Winsor & Newton, and the shapes you need.
Best Easel for Painting: Studio and Plein Air Types Explained
Tabletop, A-frame, H-frame, French box and field easels compared: researched picks from MEEDEN, U.S. Art Supply and Mabef, and the tabletop easel I use.
Best Gouache Paint for Beginners: Jelly vs Tube
The 48-color HIMI jelly gouache I paint with, two researched starter sets, jelly vs tube, how to start, and a gouache starter kit as a Christmas gift.
Best Tabletop Easels for Painting at a Desk
The MEEDEN H-frame tabletop easel on my desk, plus three researched picks: a sketchbox with storage, a 40-inch hardwood easel and a bamboo desk stand.
Best Travel Watercolor Sets for Sketching Outdoors
Four travel watercolor sets: the Fuumuui sketchbook kit and languo mini set in my kit, plus researched pocket boxes from Winsor & Newton and Sakura Koi.
Best Watercolor Paint Set for Beginners: Tubes, Pans and What Actually Matters
Pans vs tubes, student vs artist grade, why paper matters more than paint, a researched beginner set, the three I use, and Christmas gift sets.
Ceramic vs Plastic Watercolor Palette: Which to Buy?
Ceramic vs plastic watercolor palette: staining, beading, weight and wells compared, with the 14-well ceramic palette I use and a plastic one for travel.
Ghibli Gouache Painting: My Studio Ghibli Fan Art
My Studio Ghibli gouache fan art in one place: Spirited Away, Only Yesterday and Totoro scenes, each with its paint-along Short and supplies on my desk.
Gouache and Watercolor Christmas Cards: Easy Ideas to Paint
Five easy gouache and watercolor Christmas card ideas with plain steps, from snowy pines to holly, plus the paint, paper and palette on my desk.
Gouache vs Acrylic: Which Paint Should You Buy?
Gouache vs acrylic for beginners: how finish, coverage, drying, layering and surfaces differ, which paint suits your projects, and a starter set for each.
Gouache vs Watercolor: Which Paint Should You Buy?
Gouache vs watercolor for beginners: transparency, white, layering, paper and paint care compared, where opaque watercolor fits, and a starter set each.
How to Use Jelly Gouache: A Beginner's Guide
How to use jelly gouache step by step, from misting the cups to the last details, as my HIMI painting Shorts show it, plus research tips and box care.
03 · Drawing & digital
Drawing & digital
Colored and sketching pencils, oil pastels, sketchbooks, tracing light pads and pen displays.
Selling well on Amazon right now
Computer Graphics Tablets
HUION Kamvas 13 (Gen 3)
#7 in Computer Graphics Tablets
$229.00 Save 15% List Price: $269.00
as of Nov 3, 2026, 11:26 UTC Details
Best Colored Pencils for Adults: Coloring Books vs Fine Art
Soft wax cores, budget sets and the paper under them: how to choose colored pencils for adult coloring or for layered, realistic drawing.
Best Drawing Tablet With a Screen for Beginners (2026)
Five researched drawing tablets with a screen for beginners, from a budget 12-inch pen display to one with no PC, plus the paper smart notebook I draw in.
Best Light Box for Tracing and Drawing: Size, Brightness and Power Explained
What a tracing light pad does, how to choose size, brightness and power, how to trace through thick paper, and the A4 pad I would start with.
Best Oil Pastels for Beginners: Sets and Blending Tips
How oil pastels differ from soft pastels and crayons, how many colors you need, the paper and tools to pair them with, and two beginner oil pastel sets.
Best Sketchbook for Your Medium: Paper Weight, Tooth and Binding Explained
Which paper suits graphite, colored pencil, markers, paint pens and watercolor, gsm vs pounds, an everyday sketchbook, and sketchbooks as Christmas gifts.
Best Sketching Pencils for Beginners, by Grade
How graphite grades from 2H to 8B work, which five a beginner needs, what to pair them with, two sketching pencil sets, and gifting one for Christmas.
04 · Kits, crafts & gifts
Kits, crafts & gifts
Gift ideas, kids' art kits, diamond painting and Cricut machines.
Selling well on Amazon right now
Advent Calendars
Art Advent Calendars 2026: MEEDEN, Ohuhu, Grabie & More
MEEDEN's 24-day art advent calendar and five 2026 alternatives (Ohuhu, Grabie, DIYDEC, ArtSkills, Mini Brands) compared, with where each is in stock.
Art Supply Deals and Discount Codes (Black Friday 2026)
My discount codes for MEEDEN, Ohuhu, FUUMUUI and LOBEO, what I own from each brand and where each code works. Black Friday 2026 sale dates as announced.
Art Kits for Kids by Age: What to Buy From 3 to 12 and Up
Art kits for kids by age, 4–6, 6–8, 8–10, 12 and teens: what each age can use, how to read safety labels like the AP seal, and eight Christmas gift picks.
Best Cricut Machine for Beginners: Joy, Explore 5 or Maker?
Cricut's Joy, Explore and Maker lines compared on cutting width, materials and tools, what the bundles include, and which one most beginners should buy.
Best Diamond Painting Kits for Adults, Plus the Tools Worth Buying
Round vs square drills, full vs partial coverage, canvas size and project length, the tools worth adding, and a small first kit to try the hobby.
Christmas Gifts for Artists: Ideas by Medium and Budget
Christmas gifts for artists by medium and budget: watercolor, gouache and marker picks, ceramic desk upgrades from my kit, and small Secret Santa ideas.
MEEDEN Advent Calendar 2026: What's Inside, Is It Worth It?
What's inside MEEDEN's 2026 art advent calendar (BM-0105), how its daily QR tutorials work, who should skip it, and where to buy it in your country.
Stocking Stuffers for Artists: Small Gifts From My Kit
Small Christmas gifts for artists, art lovers and kids: pieces from my own kit, plus researched stocking stuffers that artists actually use up.