Supplies: The 4 Must-Have’s in My Art Studio

Ever found yourself staring at a blank canvas, ready to create, only to realize you’re missing the right supplies? Maybe your favorite paint is running low, or the palette knife you need has mysteriously disappeared. I’ve been there more times than I’d like to admit. And let’s be honest—nothing kills creativity faster than scrambling for materials when inspiration strikes.

Over the years, I’ve fine-tuned my art studio setup, keeping only the supplies on-hand that truly enhance my process—the paint colors I tend to paint the most with, the size palette knives and brushes I use the most, etc. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to upgrade your stash, here are the 3 must-have items I always keep on hand.

1. Canvas: Artist Loft 3-Professional Level from Michael’s

A good painting starts with a great canvas. I’ve tried many brands, but I keep coming back to the Artist Loft Professional series from Michaels. These canvases have a sturdy build, a nice texture for acrylics, and they hold up beautifully under layers of paint and texture. Plus, Michael’s has deals on them all the time making it perfect for stocking up without breaking the bank. Keep an eye out for their Buy One Get One, and Buy One Get Two deals! This is when I really go ham and stock up! PLUS, if you’re a Michael’s member (free membership) you can stack their coupons… yes, please!

2. Palette Knives: A Versatile Assortment

If you think palette knives are just for mixing paint, think again. I use them for creating texture, scraping back layers, and even applying paint straight to the canvas. Having a variety of shapes and sizes on hand allows for more expressive mark-making. If you haven’t experimented with them yet, I highly recommend giving it a go! I’ll be honest, I was hesitant at first to use a palette knife. I didn’t really understand everything that could be accomplished with it… but then I started experimenting, and OH. EM. GHEE. my head exploded with the marks I was making 🤯 In true Annie fashion, I needed to know more so I went to Skillshare to learn more about how to use palette knives, and today it’s my preferred painting method, rarely do I use brushes anymore.

3. Paints: The Essential Brands

Not all paints are created equal, and I like to mix and match brands based on color vibrancy, texture, and flow. Here are my go-to’s:

• Nova Color – Affordable and highly pigmented, these are my workhorse paints.

• Liquitex – Great for layering and mixing, with a smooth consistency.

• Golden – My top choice for buttery, thick, high-quality paint with intense color.

• Amsterdam – Perfect for bold, bright hues and glazing techniques.

I like to keep the paint colors that I gravitate to on hand at all times, these are the paints I buy the big ones of. I didn’t start out using these paints, or keeping my fav’s on hand though. I started out buying “Level 1” or “Level 2” paints because I wasn’t even sure if painting was “my thing”. Once I got comfortable painting and knew this was something that was going to stick I decided to purchase either a starter kit or small tubes of paint from each of the brands above (Nova Paint doesn’t have tubes, but they have a 4 oz. jar which is their smallest). This way I could test these brands out without breaking the bank if I didn’t end up liking them. Once I knew these were the paints for me it was game-on going big… LOL!

4. Cleaner: The Hidden Gem

I would be remiss if I gave you all that great information and didn’t let you in on my secret sauce… the cleaner I use by Speedball, Pink Soap. This soap is literally the power house behind everything I do. I have saved so many brushes and palette knives by using this soap. I have taken paint brushes that I forgot to clean and were rock-hard and soaked them for a bit in a water/pink soap mixture, then cleaned the bristles with a dab of Pink Soap in the palm of my hand and it’s like I had cleaned them right when I was done using them (I really need to get better and cleaning up after myself). Same with the palette knives, the picture above are my palette knives before cleaning them, but with a little bit of Pink Soap they’ll be shipshape in no time. This cleaner has been a game changer, and life saver for me!

By keeping these essentials in my studio, I never have to pause a creative flow to hunt down missing materials. If you’ve ever felt stuck because of limited supplies, try curating a setup that truly supports your process. Having the right tools on hand makes all the difference between frustration and flow.

What are your must-have art supplies? Let me know in the comments—I’m always up for discovering new favorites!

Happy creating!
🎨 Annie