A Brief Overview Of Artist Supplies

There are many different kinds of artist supplies, each with a wide variety of its own. Certain types of art supplies are regularly used by many artists and are easily available. Prices are usually reasonable due to the high volume. Some particularly prestigious brands or rarer items can cost quite a bit more.

Artists new to painting, as well as many others, often use acrylic paints. They are usually made with water, acrylic powder, and tint. While especially popular with amateur artists, it is also used by many professional artists. Acrylics carry three main advantages. First, they are water soluble, which makes for easy thinning and cleanup. Second, the paint dries quickly and can be painted over easily. Finally, acrylics can be used directly or with a number of mediums to produce a large array of textures and three dimensional effects.

Many people think of oil paints in conjunction with fine art and working artists. Classical painters predominantly worked in oil paints. Oil evaporates much more slowly than water. This causes oil paintings to take long periods of time to completely dry. Experienced painters use this quality to subtly mix and blend colors directly on the canvas to create a unique look.

Canvas is a need for any painter. It is typically purchased as fabric is stretched over a frame and primed. Both flat and traditional frames are available in a wide variety of sizes. Flat frames are based on a sturdy thick piece of card stock style cardboard. The canvas is held in place by high strength glue. They are particularly popular for their ease of portability and low cost. Traditional frames are the classic wooden frame with the fabric stapled into place. They are considered more professional. Many artists regard them as providing a superior painting surface.

Brushes are an essential item in an artist's toolbox. They come in quite the variety of shapes, sizes, and fiber densities. Quality brushes usually use sable hair, but less expensive synthetic fiber options are easily available. A wide variety of brushes are desired to allow the artist maximum flexibility in creating their work.

Sculpting with clay is a long practiced art. The earliest civilizations left remnants of pottery and carved figurines. Ancient people used the clay and mud available in their specific region. We today have a wide variety of clays available, made from both synthetic and natural materials. Artists have many choices of tiny, texture, and firmness when purchasing clay. Some clay may cure with air drying, but many clays require "firing". Firing is baking the clay in an oven or kiln to cure and harden the sculpture.

Artists also put quite a number of tools to work in their pursuits. Palettes are a stock item for any painter. Sculpting knives and molds are standard supplies for most sculptors. Molds are usually used to imprint a general shape, while the knives are used to carve in fine details. Painting also puts its own knives to use. Matte knives are used for mixing and applying paint. Both flat and shaped edges can be used to create a distinctive look.

Online purchasing is quickly becoming a primary source for artist supplies. Craft stores used to carry a wider variety of art supplies. They are no longer a good choice for an artist's needs. Specialty and university stores are best brick and mortar choices for purchasing paints and other art items. They are likely to have an excellent selection at reasonable prices.
Don't shy away from an enjoyable experience because of the cost of art supplies online. It is true, most art supplies can be pretty pricey. Do your own research and follow expert guidance for getting artist supplies. This is a good idea to do when you are looking for artist easels, canvas, and other items online.