Favorite Art Supplies
Whether you're new to art journaling or have had a creative practice for years, having the right supplies can make all the difference! Your supplies are what can make your creative process more enjoyable and more effective and when you’re enjoying something you’re more likely to continue doing it. They can be what make or break your decision to start or continue with your creative practice.
Over the years, I've tested countless supplies, and have found a few favorites that I tend to use over and over in my own personal art journal practice. From my favorite journal type to watercolors that are bold yet affordable, these are the essentials I recommend for anyone looking to dive deeper into their creative practice.
Each item on this list is something I personally use in my own art journaling, and I believe they can help you express yourself fully—whether you're drawing, painting, or collaging your way to self-discovery or inner peace.
Explore the categories below to find the perfect supplies for your next creative session! And feel free to reach out with any questions you have about the supplies listed below.
Paints
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PRANG Watercolor Paints
I love these watercolor paints. They are vibrant and perfect for beginners! You can even pop out the colors from the pans and replace them when you need new ones.
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Artist's Loft Watercolor Paints
I LOVE this set of watercolors because it has such a variety of colors. You can use them for painting backgrounds or adding paint to collages. This set has 36 colors to choose from and they are budget friendly.
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Golden High Flow Acrylics
These paints are amazing! I love them for creating dreamy looking backgrounds. I only have 6-7 colors and recommend getting the basics and then mixing them up. So maybe a green, blue, yellow, pink/red, white and a few fun ones.
Drawing Supplies
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Sakura Identi-Pen Dual-Point Marking Pen
This is hands down my favorite pen to use when I'm drawing starting points are writing words over images (this and the Micron pens next to it). This pen has 2 tips and the ink is permanent so you can use it and paint over it.
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Sakura Pigma Micron Pens - Set of 6, Black, Fine and Bold Sizes
These Micron pens are great for fine lines and mindful drawing. They are permanent just like the Identi-Pen so you can use them before painting. I love them for drawing over paints as well!
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Staedtler Triplus Fineliner Pen - Assorted Colors, Set of 20
If you haven't noticed by now, I love having a variety of colors for my art journal practice, which is why I love these fineliners! The tips are small and the colors are fabulous. They aren't permanent like the Microns so I only use them to draw over paints or by themselves.
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Uni-Ball Gel Impact Roller Ball Pen - Gold
This gold pen is ✨chef's kiss!✨ I love it so much and use it over my paints & drawings. The grip is soft and the ink comes out smoothly.
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Uni-ball Signo UM-153 White Gel Pen
This is essentially the same pen as the gold one. I love it and use it mostly for embellishments.
Coloring & Embellishing
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Crayola Super Tips Washable Marker Set - Assorted Colors, Fine Line, Set of 50
This is a set of 50 markers. So many color choices. I like to use these mostly to embellish things I've already made. I love the assortment of colors and also like the tips because you can use them with just the point for dots or you can turn them on the side and make thicker lines.
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Prismacolor Watercolor Pencil Set - Assorted Colors, Set of 36
These are watercolor pencils so you can draw with them and then wet them to move the color around. I don't use them often but I like them. This set has 36 color options to choose from!
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Crayola Fine Line Markers
These markers are also great for adding embellishments to your work. The tips on these are finer than the super tips and the colors are a little more vibrant.
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Sakura Cray-Pas Junior Artist Oil Pastels - Set of 50 Assorted Colors
I love this set of oil pastels because they're budget friendly, last forever and of course comes with SO MANY colors! The oil pastels are smaller than regular oil pastels but for the purpose of art journaling they're perfect.
Miscellaneous Supplies
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Canson® XL® Mix Media Pad 9x12 inches
I personally love using mixed media paper pads for my art journal practice because you can use wet and dry materials and the surface is smooth unlike watercolor paper. The size is the only thing I would recommend looking at. I love the 9x12 because I do a lot of collage, but a smaller one may be better if you're doing more watercolor and pen work.
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Blick Black Cat Waterproof India Ink - 1 1/4 oz
This is a very small jar of India ink, but it will last a long time. It's also perfect for the string art process because you can dip the string straight into the jar.
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Everyday Cotton™ Yarn by Loops & Threads®
I use the cotton yarn for the string painting process. Cotton yarn works better than synthetic yarn because it holds the ink better. Any brand will work but I like this one.
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Necessities™ Brown Synthetic Watercolor Brushes By Artist's Loft™
This is a great watercolor brush set because it comes with a variety of sizes and works well for beginners,
Want video demos on how to use the supplies as well as how to get started with your own art journal practice?
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