Here’s something I am frequently asked: “Is it truly important for kids to use quality art supplies?” Yes, I firmly believe so, which is why I dedicated an entire chapter in my book to this topic. Below are the key highlights: For children to have enriching art experiences, it is important that they have access to quality art supplies. A lack of art supplies and accessibility may hinder their artistic development.
Why It’s Important To Buy Quality Art Supplies
Skill building and experimentation would never take place without quality art mediums. Friends and family often marvel at how well my kids draw, expressing their own desires for improved drawing skills for themselves or their children. The key reason my kids excel in drawing and painting is that they have always had access to quality art supplies from a very young age.
I always provide sketchbooks, drawing pencils, colored pencils and a creative space for my kids and art students. From very young ages they have always had their own sketchbooks and quality drawing supplies. When they were toddlers their art supplies, of course, were age-appropriate to their development. Crayons were their first drawing medium, with larger paper to doodle on and appropriate art and craft supplies. As they matured and got fine motor control, I changed out their supplies to actual artist supplies. 2016 © Spramani Elaun
Quality Does Not Mean To Buy Expensive
There’s a common misconception that acquiring high-quality art supplies equates to spending a lot of money; however, that’s not my stance at all. Investing in quality art materials can significantly impact skill development and ignite a newfound passion for creating art. Let’s consider basic drawing and sketching as an example.
Many children enjoy doodling and drawing, often excelling at it between the ages of 9 to 12. Suppose you have a child who loves drawing, and you’re curious about the potential cost of these materials. Here’s the breakdown of expenses for a basic drawing setup suitable for beginners.
Common Cost Of Art Supplies
A high-quality sketch pencil typically costs around $3.00, while a professional artist’s kneading eraser ranges from $3.00 to $5.00. A quality 9 x 12 sketchbook is priced between $5.00 and $10.00. Your total expense for professional-grade sketching supplies amounts to less than $20.00 annually, without factoring in coupons or budget shopping. With roughly $20.00, you can acquire a professional drawing setup that can last from months to a year, depending on your child’s drawing frequency. Explore this premium drawing set for more details.
My children’s sketchbooks lasted quite a while. Interestingly, the better they became at drawing, the longer their art supplies lasted. As their skills improved, their work became more detailed, resulting in reduced consumption of art materials. It’s unnecessary to stockpile an array of costly art supplies to achieve quality; a select few can suffice. For the best list of drawing supplies, refer to my Elementary Art Guide.
Buy Only A Few Art Supplies
Most kids really like one kind of art, and it can take a while to get good at it. It’s good for kids to try a new art style or topic every two to three months. I think it’s best to only get three to four nice art supplies each school year. This way, you can have good stuff to make art without spending too much. When you use just one type of supply, you can create lots of different things, not just the same thing over and over.
Try drawing different things but keep using the same supply. This is how artists get better – they draw many different things using the same paint for a long time. Some artists who use watercolors only stick with that because they love it. So, you don’t have to buy expensive stuff for art; just get a few good supplies now and then to figure out what you enjoy making.
What quality art supplies to order for kids:
- kids safe acrylic paint set
- drawing paper
- watercolor paper
- crayons
- color pencils
- watercolor pencils
- small watercolor kit
- Sketch Books
- paint brushes
- Drawing Graphite Pencil Set
- DRY Opaque (Gouache) Paint Set
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