Are you a beginner and want to get started with painting? Do you struggle with what supplies to buy because there are many options and you are on a budget? In this post, I’ll share what I wish I had known when I began painting.

You can overthink about what supplies to use, or you can paint

I enjoy walking among all the paint isles at the art store but all those brands can be overwhelming. You can watch your favorite artist or take a class and obsess over the supply recommendations. Yet every artist will tell you to use what you have. Every artist has their favorite brands. The one rule I wish I had known when I was starting out is that you just need to pick up the brush and paint. There is only make. If I am not making art, I’m not myself.

Begin with three primaries or just your favorite color

To make art you do need supplies. So, what supplies do you begin with? Buying one tube or three is much cheaper than buying every color of the rainbow and its secondary colors. There are many greens and blues that I like using when I paint leaves. I can mix these greens instead of buying them. Here is a post on how I mix colors. Oh, here is an EttaVee post I often reference. You will also need a titanium white. Titanium white is a must for mixing colors like pink, peach, and pistachio green.

Get your paint on sale

I recently purchased a Liquitex Quinacridone Magenta 4oz. Tube for $20. The actual price is over $30. I justify the price because it was a birthday splurge and I use this color to mix all of my colors. My local art store is Blick. I go when I run out of something I need to restock. I load up on paper and colors when they have their huge sales.

Yes, you can paint with Crayola paint

Crayola paint is sold at Target, Walmart, and even at the art store. Crayola makes student-grade paint that is great for exploring and doing what you were born to do, paint! The proof is that I used the three primaries to mix up gorgeous colors and paint these flowers. If you are on a budget Crayola Tempera paint is a great option. You can find small tubes at Dollar Tree. The only problem with this paint is that it dries a little chalky.

The biggest lesson that I wish I had known when I started my collection is that I didn’t need to go through the isles and buy every color that caught my eye and heart. Then I would come home and hoard the paint. I didn’t want to waste it. Sounds crazy because that is what paint is for. Tools are fun but painting is the most important. Now that you have your supplies, what will you paint? I’d love to see it!

With Love. Mireya