When I first started making art, the supplies that I used were just things that I had at my disposal. A cheap pen and lined college-ruled paper did the job just fine. Fast forward 10 years into my art journey and the quality of art supplies have changed, most importantly the paper itself. My go-to paper now would be Strathmore’s Bristol Paper, this type of paper is smooth with a slight thickness to it. It's perfect for scratchy lines, filling in negative space with a heavy marker without the ink bleeding through too much or almost not at all!
Though recently I have just started to get into watercolors. I was always intimidated by watercolors, mainly because I struggled with the medium itself. After many trials, most of which had failed, I ended up taking a break from it for a few years. After being around artists who use watercolors, I realized that the paper I was using just was not compatible with the watercolors! Now, I was using watercolor paper, just not the best quality. Again, I would use any materials I could find but I didn’t realize that the quality of the paper plays a huge role in the art-making process! I went to Blicks in Santa Monica and invested in a pad of Arches Watercolor Paper. I have always heard of this paper and I always wanted to try it out, I will say, it definitely lives up to the hype! I noticed a huge difference in my water coloring, the paper is smooth and takes in the water well. The paper doesn’t buckle so fast or as much as the cheaper grade paper out there. The Arches paper now is on my list of must-haves for art supplies!
So, if you’re just starting out, using what you have is just fine. However, along the way try to invest in the best quality supplies you are able to obtain. I am aware that not everyone has access to an art supplies store or funds to purchase these supplies. My dream is to one day be able to help fund young creatives and give them the opportunities to explore their creativity without the burden of paying so much money on supplies. Because the truth is, the world needs creative people.
