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10 Surprising Art tools that I can't work without!





Even if you are not an "artist," you probably know the basic materials you would normally use: Canvas or watercolor paper, brushes, acrylic paints, or watercolor paints. The basic stuff that artists have is in abundance.


Did you know, however, that there are a lot of items tucked in the supply closets that we (meaning me and more than likely others) wouldn't be without?


Here's my list, in no particular order.


You need a kneaded eraser. 😂



  • Approx size 1-3/4" x 1-1/4" x 1/4"

  • This little guy is my lifesaver.

  • I make mistakes. I do.

  • I can't be without this.

I have used this little item since my undergrad days as an art major. I don't know who invented this rubbery eraser, but it sure does the trick for the oops, the pencil lines that don't belong, or the charcoal smudges that were not intentional.



A kneaded eraser is an essential artist's tool for erasing, yes, but also for blurring edges, highlighting, and using other subtractive drawing techniques. It is made of a flexible gummy material that you can mold to any form or take a small piece to access hard-to-reach areas. Artists often use a press-and-lift technique with kneaded erasers rather than rubbing them across surfaces. This method leaves paint undisturbed and does not damage even soft paper. Kneaded erasers are versatile and absorb graphite, charcoal, pastel, and chalk on contact.

My kneaded eraser ➡️

You can stretch it into any shape; the dark marks picked up can be smooshed into itself and disappear. I have used an eraser to its death when it's just time for a new one.


This Faber-Castell kneaded eraser comes in a small case, which keeps it from drying out.








 

Yes. I can draw a pretty good straight line, sometimes a decent circle. However, when I am doing an art piece for sale, I want sections of my image to be perfectly formed.





These are my go-to tools when doing details on my pen and ink drawings.



 







You can find them at your local dollar stores (pictured from my local CVS store), Amazon, or most retail stores.

What do I use these for? I never know when they can come in handy. I use them to lightly spray a section of the paper I want to paint. I can also use thinned tempera paints for special effects like snow, rain, or a speckled background.



 

4. An Old Toothbrush

You don't need to throw that old brush away. The stiffer, the better. It's another great technique for splattering paint.



clip from Makani Art (on YouTube)

 

5. Stumps & Tortillions


Yes. I know. These are not just lying around the house. If you love charcoal drawing (like I do), these are in good supply. These are so easy to use, and once you have tried them, you realize that these paper stumps have a lot of uses.




Charcoal pencils and sticks (similar to this one)


Charcoal drawings are not common, but when I do them, these tools are amazing at giving me control of softening and shading areas of my images. I used them on the vintage Christmas images for this season; one is shown here:


 






6. Mr. Clean - Magic Erasers


Yes. We're back to something that you might have around the house. These are amazing for household cleanup and marks on the wall. They are also equally brilliant in taking care of issues with watercolor paint. When I have dropped paint where it was not intended, I clip a small piece of a large pad. Then I wet it lightly, squeezed any extra water off, and patted the errant paint. Violá! A light touch and the paint is gone.


Mr. Clean bars to cut up for clean up.



 

7. Artist Tape

I know artists use painter's tape to mask off sections where they don't want to paint. I do use Painter's tape, and it works pretty well. However, using too much watercolor paint along the edge removes some of the paper.


Recently, I discovered Artists' Tape, which I ordered on Amazon. I like this tape because it has a more linen feel and sticks nicely on watercolor paper. Best feature: It DOES NOT pull off any paper when removed. I bought the three-pack, and the other painter's tape will wind up in my husband's work area.


Artist Tape available on Amazon

 

8. Glue

Artists use many different types of adhesives, but here are two basics that every studio should have.

ARTnews Recommends (PVA): Lineco Neutral PH Adhesive



PH is neutral, water-soluble, and dries clear, which is important to the artist. It’s perfect for woodworking, bookbinding, handicrafts, and wallpapering. It’s also useful for sizing a porous medium such as canvas or wood or sealing a finished collage—just covering the surface in a polyvinyl acetate layer.


The Hinging Tape is essential for framing my artwork.











 

9. Cutting Tools

Goodness, I would be lost without my cutting tools.

A utility knife is handy for so many tasks:

Cutting mats, quick trim on paper, the box that arrived with new watercolor paper, and carefully trimming down your colored pencils when they are too short for the sharpener.














10. The Tool Box to Fit You!

This is my "toolbox"! It has the items that I am constantly pulling out. It might contain what you need and give you ideas to add to your "box" for your hobby, craft project, or artwork.



My


  1. PROFESSIONAL Scott 75130 Shop Towels low lint strand cleans glass in my frames.

  2. Tools Claw Hammer, 60-014, 8 Ounce Similar to one shown which I have had for YEARS.

  3. X-Acto® Knife Blades, No. 11 Blade With Safety Dispenser, Pack Of 15 and cutter blades.

  4. Cabinet tip screwdriver. I use this for hard to get to places when I am cutting mats.

  5. Long Nose Pliers. Handy when I am attaching a wire to the framed artworks.

  6. Staedtler Pencil Sharpener. Two hold dials accommodate different sizes.

  7. Shop Towels, 14"x12", 50 Pack You can bet I use these in my art studio.

  8. Uni Kuru Toga Mechanical Pencil. My FAVORITE. Rotates the lead refills.

  9. Cotton Swabs. Lots of use. Dab with paint for little circles. Cleans up small spots.

  10. I can't live without items YOU use for your art, photography, crafts, knitting, candlemaking, or other hobby tools. (Scroll down at the end of this post for comments).



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Create a Seamless Pattern with Photoshop








My background in art involved paintbrushes, paper, pencils, paint of various sorts, and something to paint. As I began a major in Graphic Arts I moved into the realm of photography, copy, advertising, layouts, fonts, and the technology which existed in the late 1960s. Would you believe that in order to "justify" the print in those days, I had to type my copy on a keyboard that kicked out a roll of tape with a pattern of holes? The tape was then fed into a linotype machine.


The holes matched the copy that had been typed on a keyboard. The copy could then be set to align to right, centered, left, or justified.

Can you imagine? I am typing this now and all I have to do is look to the top and pick out my desired alignment.


Point of note: in 1967 when I was a graphic arts student at Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) I was allowed to do the copy process whatever we were working on...but I was NOT allowed to work the printing press because that was a "man's job."


Whaaaatttt!!!!!







My next art experience was when I transferred to Westfield State University to continue my education. My major was then "fine arts" so I was back to using paints, and paper, and added potter's clay, weaving, sculpture, and art history.


Back to the point. I LOVE ART. I say it often and now, in retirement, I paint almost every day. I also have a mantra that may seem cliché: Learn something new every day.


I have written here in this space, however, that digital art is a whole other animal. One of my principals at one of the schools where I taught elementary art proposed that there be a computer at every grade level, and he mandated that at least one teacher in each level learn how to use it. This was around 1976, and the computer was still elusive in the classroom. Most teachers cringed. I couldn't wait.


When I started using watercolors again after my retirement, my daughter gave me a phone case from Society6 with a small bird. We began to check the site, and she said, "Mom, you should upload your work to this platform." I didn't know what "upload" meant; I had to learn about pixels and assets and edit my artwork for print.


I've come a long way since then. I can resize, HTML, embed, change the hue, rotate, and transform with the best of them (well. maybe not with the best). My daughter has been impressed with how well I can navigate in Photoshop. It has been a slow process but I love learning.


I have subscribed to SKILLSHARE. This is where I really took off in learning how to make Seamless Patterns from my artwork. I joined my favorite artist-friend, Cat Coquillette https://www.skillshare.com/user/catcoq You can read my earlier Meet the Artist - Cat Coq to get to know her better.








 


Here we go. Start with the more traditional plan: watercolor image. You want one dominant form, then some middle-sized elements, and finally small "pieces" of the floral designs.



Cat's sample

My dogwood painting


 


Next, we remove the background.



Cat's class: Removing the background



Removed my background in Photoshop

 



Next, we isolate the pieces into separate layers:



Cat's class: each element on its own layer



My isolated layers

 



Next, arrange the block with the elements:



Cat moves each element, flips vertical, or transforms.


My pieces scattered.

 

Finally, the finished pattern:

Cat's finished pattern.


MY DOGWOOD PATTERN!!!!!


YAY! I LOVE learning new things !!


I confess that I had to watch the video four times before the whole thing was down. That's the way we learn.



Samples of my patterns after taking the Skillshare

class with Cat Coquillette

Yep. I got the hang of it, eventually.







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You're an artist. What's in your studio?





YOU are an ARTIST. What's in your studio? What's in your head? Do the supplies and objects surrounding you inspire you? In an earlier post, I featured what inspires me: There is inspiration everywhere. One can be inspired, however, but the studio has to have the tools for you to bring that inspiration from brain to paper, canvas, clay, jewelry, mosaic tile, or simple sketch.


Now that I am settled into our new home, I love being in my studio almost daily. If you consider adding items to your home as a crafter, hobby, maker, or painter, here are my suggestions. I post those that I use frequently in my business, but I include supplies others have told me they had used, which assured me that the purchase was a good decision.





Many artists today are using digital art as their process so I will start with some devices, some of which I use even though the bulk of my artwork is traditional, ie, painting and drawing with brushes or pen. If you are younger than me (lucky you) you might choose an apple pen over paper or canvas. (Don't worry will cover the traditional items for you in this post).


5. Epson Perfection V600 (This is my scanner)

Now, let's take care of the basic art supplies:






STORAGE




Furniture






Paint to Music, Video your artwork, and Post to Social Media


 

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