As a parent or guardian, nurturing your teen’s creative passions is a wonderful way to encourage self-expression and personal growth. Providing them with quality art supplies is an essential step in fostering their artistic journey.
In this comprehensive guide, we will explore a wide range of art supplies that are perfect for creative teens.
Whether they enjoy painting, drawing, sculpting, or mixed media, we’ve got you covered. Let’s dive in and discover the ultimate list of art supplies that will ignite your teen’s creativity.
Introduction
Embarking on an artistic journey requires the right tools and materials. While this guide doesn’t cover every art supply available, it offers a comprehensive selection of over 120 items that are perfect for your teen’s creative endeavors.
Remember, your teen doesn’t need to acquire everything on this list at once. Gradually building their collection over time is a great way to support their artistic growth. Consider gifting them supplies for special occasions or encouraging family members to contribute to their art supply arsenal. Now, let’s explore the various art supplies your teen will love.
Substrates
Every artist needs a canvas to bring their imagination to life. Whether your teen prefers painting, drawing, or mixed media, providing them with high-quality substrates is crucial. Here are some excellent options:
- Art Alternatives Economy Artist White Canvas Super Value Pack-8 x 10 inches-Pack of 10
- US Art Supply 8 X 10 inch Professional Artist Quality Acid Free Canvas Panels 12-Pack (1 Full Case of 12 Single Canvas Panels)
- Strathmore STR-430-9 10 Sheet 400 Series Acrylic Paper Pad, 9 by 12
- Fabriano Studio Watercolor Pad 8X10 HP 300G
- Strathmore 360109 Cold Press 140-Pound 12-Sheet Strathmore Watercolor Paper Pad, 9 by 12-Inch
- Canson XL Mix Media Pad, 9
- Strathmore Series 400 Sketch Pads 9 in. x 12 in. – pad of 100
- Strathmore Smooth Drawing Spiral Paper Pad 9
- Dylusions Dyan Reaveley’s Creative Journal, 5 by 8-Inch
Drawing & Sketching Supplies
Drawing and sketching are fundamental skills for any artist. Equipping your teen with the right tools will help them refine their techniques and bring their ideas to life. Here are some essential drawing and sketching supplies for your creative teen:
- BIC Pencil Xtra Sparkle (colorful barrels), Medium Point (0.7 mm), 24-Count
- Faber-Castel 8-Piece Creative Studio Graphite Sketch Set, 2H, HB, B, 2B, 4B and 6B
- General Pencil 557BP Charcoal Pencil Kit with Eraser, 0.12
- General Pencil Co. 5 Pack of Pure Willow Vine Charcoal
- Compressed Charcoal Sticks 4/Pkg-Black – Soft Assorted
- Stabilo All Pencil – 8046 Black
- Prismacolor Premier Art Stix Woodless Colored Pencils, 24-Count
- Prismacolor Premier Colorless Blender Pencils, 2-Count
- Pentel Color Pen, Set of 36, Assorted (S360-36)
- Prismacolor Premier Double-Ended Art Markers, Fine and Chisel Tip, 12-Count
- Winsor & Newton BrushMarker 6 Skin Tones Set
- Sakura 30062 6-Piece Pigma Micron Ink Pen Set, Black
- Speedball 6-Nib Calligraphy Lettering Set
Painting Supplies
Painting is a versatile and expressive form of art. Encourage your teen to explore their creativity with a variety of painting supplies. Here are some essential tools to get them started:
- Acrylic Paint Set – Arteza Acrylic Paint Set, 24 Colors
- Oil Paint Set – Gamblin Artist’s Oil Colors Introductory Set
- Watercolor Paint Set – Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Sketchers’ Pocket Box
- Gouache Paint Set – Miya Gouache Paint Set, 18 Colors
- Palette Knife Set – Mont Marte Studio Palette Knife Set, 5-Piece
- Paint Brushes – Royal Brush Taklon Hair Classroom Value Pack, Assorted Sizes, Set of 30
- Paint Palette – US Art Supply 12 Well Rectangular Plastic Palette
- Artist Apron – VANTOO Artist Apron with Pockets and Adjustable Neck Strap
Watercolor Supplies
Watercolor painting offers a unique and transparent aesthetic that many artists love. Here are some essential watercolor supplies for your teen:
- Watercolor Paper – Strathmore 400 Series Watercolor Pad, 9″x12″, 12 Sheets
- Watercolor Paint Set – Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolors, 36 Colors
- Watercolor Brushes – Princeton Heritage Series 4050 Synthetic Sable Watercolor Brushes, Set of 4
- Watercolor Palette – Martin Mijello Airtight Watercolor 18-Well Palette
Oil Painting Supplies
Oil painting allows for rich colors and smooth blending. If your teen is interested in exploring this traditional medium, here are some essential oil painting supplies:
- Oil Paint Set – Winsor & Newton Winton Oil Colors Set, 10 Tubes
- Canvas Panels – Arteza 9×12″ Stretched White Blank Canvas Panels, Pack of 14
- Oil Paint Brushes – Mont Marte Art Paint Brushes Set, 15 Different Sizes
- Palette Knives – MEEDEN 5-Piece Painting Knife Set
Pastels and Gouache
Pastels and gouache offer unique and vibrant effects that can enhance your teen’s artwork. Here are some essential supplies for working with pastels and gouache:
- Soft Pastels – Rembrandt Soft Pastels, 30 Colors
- Oil Pastels – Sennelier Oil Pastel Set, 24 Colors
- Gouache Paint Set – ARTEZA Gouache Paint, Set of 60 Colors
Mixed Media and Collage Supplies
Mixed media and collage art allow for endless creativity and experimentation. Here are some essential supplies to inspire your teen’s mixed media creations:
- Collage Paper – Tim Holtz Idea-ology Collage Paper Rolls, Set of 3
- Mod Podge – Mod Podge Waterbase Sealer, Glue, and Finish
- Gel Medium – Liquitex Professional Gloss Gel Medium
- Decorative Tapes – MT Washi Masking Tapes, Set of 20
Sculpting Supplies
Sculpting provides a tactile and three-dimensional approach to art. If your teen is interested in sculpting, here are some essential supplies to get them started:
- Air-Dry Clay – DAS Air-Hardening Modeling Clay, 2.2 lb. Block
- Sculpting Tools – Sculpt Pro 11-Piece Pottery and Sculpting Tools Set
- Armature Wire – Caydo Aluminum Craft Wire, 3 Rolls
Printmaking Supplies
Printmaking allows artists to create multiple copies of their artwork. Here are some essential supplies for your teen to explore the world of printmaking:
- Linoleum Cutting Set – Speedball Linoleum Cutting Set, 5-Piece
- Printmaking Ink – Speedball Water-Soluble Block Printing Ink Set
- Brayer – Speedball Deluxe Soft Rubber Brayer, 4-Inch
Encaustic Wax Supplies
Encaustic wax painting offers a unique and textured approach to art. Here are some essential supplies for your teen to explore the world of encaustic wax:
- Encaustic Wax Set – R&F Handmade Paints Encaustic Starter Kit
- Encaustic Tools – Enkaustikos Wax Snaps, Set of 6
Additional Artist Tools
In addition to the supplies mentioned above, there are a few extra artist tools that your teen may find useful:
- Easel – US Art Supply Tabletop Easel
- Art Storage – ArtBin Super Satchel Double Deep with Removable Dividers
- Sketchbooks – Canson XL Series Mix Media Paper Pad, 9″x12″, 60 Sheets
- Artist Mannequin – US Art Supply Wood Artist Drawing Manikin
- Art Markers – Ohuhu Dual Tip Art Markers, Set of 120 Colors
- Art Portfolio – Prestige PRO Art Portfolio, 24″x36″
Remember, this list is not exhaustive, and your teen may have their own preferences and artistic style. Encourage them to experiment, explore, and discover their unique artistic voice. By providing them with quality art supplies, you are supporting their creative journey and helping them unlock their full artistic potential.
Conclusion
Nurturing your teen’s artistic passions is a precious gift that will stay with them throughout their lives. By equipping them with the right art supplies, you are empowering them to express themselves and explore their creativity.
From substrates to painting supplies, drawing tools to sculpting materials, this guide has covered a wide range of art supplies for your creative teen.
Encourage them to experiment, practice, and most importantly, enjoy the process. Remember, art is not just about the end result but also the joy and growth that come from the creative journey. Happy creating!