Eager to Try Painting or Drawing? Here's What You Should Get Before Starting Out

There are very few things that can compare to the feeling of creating something with your own hands. 

It doesn't matter whether you're just starting out or have been doing it for a long time already, painting and drawing is something so fulfilling - it brings your imagination to life.

Don't get discouraged if you don't manage to create what you envisioned at first. You'll get better with time, and even if you don't - what matters is that you enjoy yourself!

Before you start out on your journey of drawing or painting, make sure to check out the list below for things that will help you along the way.

Art supplies

These are essential pieces of equipment when learning to paint or draw. Whether you're a novice or an expert, it's important to get the necessary items before beginning any sort of art project. If you don't, you'll find yourself in a bit of a pickle: either buy them at the last minute and pay more (possibly much more) than you should or miss out on the fun. Whether pencils, sketch pads, or gel pens which you can find more about them on this URL. You don't want to make the mistake of not getting your items ready, so below are some of the things you need (and their average price) before starting out:

1. A pencil. This is usually one of the first items artists purchase. It costs around $2 for an ordinary number two pencil with an eraser. If you buy a mechanical pencil, it costs a bit more at about $5.

2. An eraser. Just as a pencil is a good starting point for artists, so is an eraser. It costs around the same as a pencil -- perhaps just a few dollars. However, be sure to get one that won't smear your work.

3. A sketch pad. This is good for practicing on, and it's relatively inexpensive, costing about $4 to $5. You can also opt for a drawing tablet instead if you prefer a digital medium, which costs a bit more at around $15 to $20.

4. Watercolors. If you're interested in watercolor painting, you need watercolors. They're available in sets for about $15 to $20.

5. Oil paint. These paints are fun to use and create very vibrant works of art. To get a small tube of oil paint costs around $5, while a whole set will cost you around $35.

6. Acrylic paint. This is another type of water-based paint that's great for beginners and experts alike. It comes in a whole range of single colors with about $2 per bottle or as part of palette sets which cost around $8 to $10.

7. Brushes and palettes. If you're just starting out, you don't need the best brushes that money can buy. In fact, many artists use simple bristle brushes and make their own palettes. A new set of these will cost around $15 to $20.

A comfortable place to work

Now that you're ready to start learning this craft, what do you need before jumping into practicing? One thing is a comfortable place at which to work. When starting out, it's good if the place you're practicing can be your workstation. This doesn't necessarily mean that it has to look like an artist's studio, but it should at least have some space where you can place different painting utensils.

For example, if you want to draw, don't just sit on the couch for hours trying out different options. Instead, get a drawing table or even a board that you can balance on top of your lap. By having a space for yourself, it makes your practice sessions more effective and able to produce better results after time has passed by.

It also helps if the place is spacious enough to use for multiple purposes. If you want to paint or draw at night after you've come back from work, it might prove to be difficult (and definitely not very fun) if you're cramped up in a small space.

Reference materials to paint or draw

Reference materials to paint or draw are very important when learning to start painting or drawing. Reference materials for paintings and drawings come in handy because it's much easier to learn from them than just staring at a blank sheet of paper, imagining how the finished artwork would look like. This is why reference materials to paint or draw should be one of the first things that you'll get if you're planning on learning how to paint and draw.

Since there are a lot of painting and drawing tutorials available online, it's possible to find almost any kind of reference materials to paint or draw. However, get only the best quality reference materials to paint or draw because it's important that your references are accurate and up-to-date since you'll be using them as a guide for your artwork.