Drawing is one of the simplest and easiest media in which most artists begin. Basic supplies for drawing include a portable sketchboard or easel, both of which can be transported to different locations for drawing in a seated or standing position. Drawing paper comes in many different types, from recycled newsprint for rough sketching to high quality, acid-free stock for fine drawing. Artist quality pencils come in varying hardnesses for light to dark line quality, as do charcoal sticks and pencils.
An artist interested in drawing and sketching should also invest in good quality kneaded erasers and blending sticks, along with sandpaper for sharpening charcoal and pencils. Fixative spray will keep drawings from smudging when finished. More advanced drawing artists may wish to expand into colored pencil work which utilizes most of the same basic supplies.
Watercolor is a simple medium which requires minimum supplies in order to begin painting. Watercolor block is special paper stretched so as not to buckle and warp when water medium is applied; otherwise, watercolor paper can be purchased loose and stretched on a drawing board or other hard surface for work. Watercolor paint comes in tube and pan formats, and brushes typically used for watercolor are soft synthetic or sable hair. Other supplies useful for watercolor painting are small buckets for clean and dirty brush water, sponges for texture effects, and paper towels for cleanup. Watercolor is typically painted flat, so an easel is not required, only a tabletop or portable sketchboard.
Oil painting is a traditional medium of art but it also requires a large array of supplies. Oil paint can be applied on prepared canvas, wood panel, Masonite or other surfaces as long as they have been sealed and primed using materials such as gesso and rabbit skin glue. Oil paint is sold in tubes or jars ready to be used, and painting media including linseed oil or alkyd gels are utilized to control fluidity and drying time. Oil painting brushes are made from various materials, but typically bristle brushes are used for heavy, opaque painting and sable or synthetic brushes for fine detail work. Varnish may be added to the painting medium or used on the final painting to seal it from pollutants and create an even, glossy surface. Other supplies used for oil painting include odorless mineral spirits or turpentine for cleaning brushes, palette knives for mixing paint and wooden or glass palettes. A maulstick is useful to keep your hands from smudging wet surfaces when working with oil paint, and small jars can be utilized for storing premixed medium or glazes for later use.
Pastel is a challenging medium for artists yet also one requiring only limited supplies. Pastel sticks come in a range of colors and are made simply with pigment and binding gum. Pastels require paper or other surfaces with a strong tooth to which the pigment can stick. An easel or sketchboard is recommended for pastel work, and fixative spray is useful before transport or framing in order to protect the delicate pastel surface.
Acrylics have become popular with artists who wish to avoid the solvents and chemicals needed for oil painting yet wish to achieve similar artistic effects. Many of the same basic supplies are used in both oil and acrylic painting, except water is the only medium necessary for both painting and brush cleaning. Otherwise supplies are similar to those for oil painting, although varnish and gesso are typically formulated differently for oil versus acrylic paintings. Special painting media are available for acrylics to achieve unique effects, such as adding texture, slower drying time, cracked surfaces and extra gloss.