Disclaimer: This website contains affiliate links, and I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. With that said, I only promote products that I’ve bought with my own money and genuinely believe in.
Paper suitable for Wet Media &
Mixed Media Art
Watercolor paper is the best choice for any and all wet media.
There are 3 types: Cold Press (textured & most common),
Hot Press (smooooth, great for drawings that have lighter washes)
Rough (SUPER textured and hard to find, especially in journals).
My favorite go-to for Hot Press paper. Fab for high detail drawings and when I want hard edges and less water.
The Cadillac of watercolor paper. 100% Cotton, Heavy weight, very expensive and worth every penny on those special occasions!
This skinny hardback journal is what I use to swatch all of my watercolors in so I have them all in one place. SO handy, especially for travel!
I'm obsessed with this journal. I'm on my 8th one!!
Stocked with heavy-weight cold press watercolor paper, it can handle absolutely anything I throw at it!
Paper suitable for Dry Media
I'm not too picky about my drawing paper. HOWEVER, certain supplies ARE picky and NEED the right paper
to perform their best for you!
I find alcohol markers to be the TOP PICKIEST! They NEED a smooth, non-porous paper like Bristol to work properly. And using the WRONG paper (like watercolor paper) can even suck all of their ink (YIKES!) and prevent you from being able to blend them at all (FRUSTRATING). I hope this information helps you make art that's EASY so you can have more fun :)
High quality Bristol is widely available at your local craft store but it's much cheaper to purchase it online.
Great all purpose sketch pad. I love that it opens flat. NOT good with markers. Great for all other dry media.
My go-to for Toned Paper when I want to work on brown. Has a wonderful "tooth" to it (meaning texture) that I enjoy working on.
Paper and tools to help with transferring your designs and drawings.
Additional Drawing Aids I love.
Art Supplies in general I'm obsessed with.
Absolutely obsessed. Fab for so many things from lovely lashes to painterly details. Watersoluble to blend in with drawings and paintings.
OMG. Comes in a nail polish-like applicator. I make a mess with it. I can't stop painting white highlights over everything!!
Art Beek brush alcohol markers are the cheapest and best Copic alternative. At only 50 Cents a marker, you can afford a big set. Lots to choose from!
These are invaluable. I use these with every single Mixed Media project I create. You can wash and re-use them dozens of times.
Mixed Media Musts
I recommend NOT getting the Basics version but to treat yourself to this one. It is nice and thin, the perfect consistency. You are worth it!
Since I purchased these I stopped looking for more. The only set you'll ever need for acrylic painting.
Still working on your design but wish you could lock your dry layers in a little bit? A fixative is what you need. Need a STRONGER hold? Grab the sealer below.
An Acrylic Spray Sealer is awesome if you (1) need to LOCK in your layers to keep working and NOT smear (2) want to protect your artwork when you're done
Pitt Pen Portrait Set. If you can only afford one set of Pitt Pens, these are the ones to get if you enjoy making Mixed Media Portraits.
Pitt Pens. These bad boys are AMAZING over painted and sealed surfaces. You can quickly add details and shading without having to mess around with small brushes.
Gelatos - Best used in the Hamburger. NOTE: color names have changed over the years but these are all of them so this is the correct set.
Travel Niceties!
This is completely non-essential but I'm a sucker for real leather and it takes me back in time when I use it (so it's a must).
Obsessed with this. Adorable and fits everything I need. Available in 10 colors - the purple is my favorite.
Art Supplies I never leave home without.
Links to Supplies Shown Above
Copic White
Vanish Eraser
Mini Pencil Sharpener
Col-Erase Pencils
Ceramic Palette
Swatch Journal
Sea Sponge
Travel Pouch
Daniel Smith Watercolors I love.
Anthraquinoid Red
Quinacridone Lilac
Moonglow
Napthamide Maroon
Genuine Piemontite
Rose of Ultramarine
Imperial Purple
Serpentine Genuine
Sap Green
Ultramarine Turquoise
Idanthrone Blue
Mayan Blue Genuine
Quinacridone Deep Gold
Verona Gold Ochre
Ultramarine Turquoise
Burnt Umber
Phthalo Blue (Green Shade)
Sodalite Genuine
Carbazole Violet
Opera Pink
Cascade Green
For my FAVORITE watercolor supplies,
I also love...
These are BOLD and I'm loving them. They stain and are more opaque than typical watercolors. Cool product!
A student recently gifted this to me and it's brilliant. If you can only afford one watercolor brush, grab this one. Super affordable and perfect size for just about everything.
For my FAVORITE watercolor and ink brushes only Polina Brights for me!
Use Coupon Code KARENCAMPBELL to save 10% off your ENTIRE ORDER!
How about Acrylic Paint?
These are the best if you're on a budget and/or just starting out.
I really love the quality of Liquitex Basics (even as a Value Item!!!) and highly recommend.
When you find your favorite colors from the big set (at only $1 each) you can buy larger tubes individually.
I've been painting with Lukas Cryl paints since 2011. Great value in LOTS of super fun colors!
I teamed up with Jerry's Artarama to curate 3 different selections of fun colors for you!
This is my Fairy Faces Portraits Kit.
(available in U.S.)
Here is another color combination.
This is my Whimsical Animals Color Selection Kit!
(available in U.S.)