What Art Supplies Does My Child Really Need?

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Walk into an art supply store with your child and suddenly, you’re surrounded by everything. Thirty-six shades of blue. Glitter in seventeen different varieties. Papers that is needed for different mediums. Brushes of every shape and size. And, of course, the very expensive marker set your child insists they absolutely cannot live without. Before you know it, you’ve spent $100… only to discover that your child still prefers the humble pencil. The good news? You really don’t need that much to get started. For simple art-making at home, a small collection of basic materials is more than enough. In fact, having fewer choices can sometimes encourage children to be more creative with what they have.

Here are our top 5 basic art supplies we recommend having at home.

1. Drawing Pencils

The humble pencil is probably the best place to start. A few pencils in different grades, such as HB, 2B and 4B, are enough for children to explore basic drawing, shading and line work. With just one pencil, a child can create light lines, dark shadows, textures and all sorts of marks. It’s also a wonderful way to develop observation skills because there’s nowhere for the drawing to hide! And don’t worry if the first few drawings look a little… abstract. That’s part of the fun.

2. Coloured Pencils

Once your child is comfortable drawing, coloured pencils are an easy way to introduce colour. You don’t need the biggest box available. A basic set of 12–24 colours is plenty to begin with. Coloured pencils are relatively clean, easy to control and great for practising blending, layering and colour mixing. More importantly, they allow children to add their own personality to their drawings. A purple tree? A green elephant? Why not?

3. Watercolour Paints

A small set of children's watercolours can open up a whole new world of experimentation. Watercolour is especially lovely because children quickly learn that water changes everything. Too much water creates a soft, watery effect. Less water gives stronger colour. Two colours can meet and create something completely unexpected. And sometimes those happy accidents become the best part of the artwork. Pair the paints with a few simple small, medium and large brushes.

4. Good Drawing Paper

This might sound like the least exciting item on the list, but good paper makes a difference. Keep a supply of plain drawing or mixed-media paper at home. And yes, that stack of 85gsm printing paper sitting in your printer? It works too! For simple drawing and experimenting, there’s no need to reach for fancy art paper straight away. If your child enjoys painting, choose paper that can handle a little water without becoming completely soggy. And please don't save the paper for the "good drawings." Let your child use it. Let them scribble. Let them experiment. Let them make something terrible and then make something wonderful five minutes later.

The process is often more valuable than the finished artwork.

5. A Black Marker or Fineliner

One simple black marker or fineliner can be incredibly useful. Children can use it for outlining, adding details, creating patterns, doodling or combining drawing with watercolour. Try a simple activity: draw something with a black pen first, then add colour afterwards. Suddenly, an ordinary drawing can feel like an illustration. It’s also a great way for children to become more confident with their lines — because once the marker touches the paper, there’s no erasing!

So… Do You Really Need Everything?

Not at all. If you're starting from scratch, pencils + coloured pencils + paper are already enough for hours of creative exploration. You can slowly add watercolours and markers as your child becomes more interested in experimenting with different materials.

At Artz Graine, we believe that creativity doesn't come from having more art supplies. It comes from learning how to look, experiment, make mistakes and try again. And one last thing parents, don’t feel that you need to be an artist to guide your child through the process. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is simply sit beside them, ask questions, encourage them to try something new and, most importantly, enjoy the process together.

Put the screens aside for a little while. Get your hands messy. Draw something silly. Paint something that doesn’t quite turn out the way you imagined. Because at the end of the day, it isn’t really about creating the perfect artwork. It’s about creating a little space for curiosity, creativity and connection — and perhaps enjoying a lovely bit of parent-child bonding along the way.

And that, my dear parents, might just be the best art supply of all <3