Many of these tools may not be considered traditional “art supplies”, but they will make life as an artist easier, no matter what type of artist the person may be.
Lighting for Artists
Good lighting is a must for any artist. Northern light is said to be the best to paint with. This is because light coming through a north facing window is consistent and makes colors look their correct value.
Good lighting, though, can be achieved with artificial light. Many artists combine different types of bulbs for good lighting. This is done by using incandescent bulbs that emit warm light and florescent that emits cool light. Artists can also buy full-spectrum light bulbs. These type bulbs mimic natural sunlight.
Viewfinder for Landscape Drawing
Cropping a landscape or still-life for an interesting composition is an important step to any drawing or painting. One way an artist can crop an image visually is by using a viewfinder. To learn more about making and using a viewfinder read: How to Make and Use a Viewfinder.
Pencils for Drawing and Sketching
No matter what type of art the artist creates, a pencil usually comes into play. Sketching has been used for centuries by master painters to plan their finished works. Drawings done directly on canvas guide the painter in laying down strokes. Of course, many artists use finished drawings as stand-alone works of art. Each of these takes knowledge of what pencil to use to get the best results. For a list of pencil types and their uses see: How to Pick a Pencil for Drawing.
Sketchbook
As mentioned above, artists use sketchbooks to plan their finished art pieces. Sketchbooks are also important for practicing drawing skills, trying new techniques, deciding on compositions and recording ideas.
Sketchbooks are simply books of blank paper with a cover. This important art supply comes hardbound or spiral bound and with different paper textures, thicknesses and sizes. To learn more about using a sketchbook to enhance your skills as an artist read: How to Start and Keep a Sketchbook.
Mahl Stick
No matter what the medium, every artist has smudged their work with their hands at least once. Holding the painting or drawing hand off of the canvas or paper is difficult, especially after several hours of creating. The answer is using a Mahl stick to rest a hand on. A Mahl stick is a dowel with a ball at each end that keeps the stick raised. The Mahl stick is set on the work surface, with the balls resting on a safe area. To learn how to make your own Mahl stick, please see: How to Make a Mahl Stick.
These inexpensive art supplies are important to any artist’s work and should be kept in any serious artist’s studio.
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