How to create a basic art kit for your child?
I invite you to consider another quite useful to-go kit — we call it “The Basic Artist Kit”: When Inspiration Strikes, You Are Ready to Create …
Homeschooling families who participate in our Art History in the Park workshops are all invited to create their own basic artist kit to bring to each meet-up.
Everyone interprets this a little differently and that is wonderful — there is no right or wrong way to create a basic artist kit.
Your kit should reflect your family’s size, interests, needs, preferences, budget and space allowance.
Soooo for some — this may be a medium zipper pouch and for others, it may be a medium crate filled with materials.
Still, here are some general guidelines on what each artist kit should include per artist (and that includes kids and adults — remember that art is for everyone) :
pencils/erasers/sharpener
colored pencils/pastels/markers/watercolors
paper on a clipboard or a sketchbook
scissors and glue stick/glue
A set of natural canvas zipper bags such as these, can house materials for each member of your family. Have fun with them! You can stamp, embroider or print each person’s name to create custom, easily identifiable bags.
5Below is a great place to visit for budget-friendly, quality art supplies. If you are looking to invest in higher quality materials, here are some of our favorites:
1. For drawing and coloring pencils, LYRA or Prismacolor are wonderful. I recommend those in tins for ease of storage and travel. Here are a few specific names to search:
2. For little hands, I recommend beeswax crayons instead of colors or markers. These are my absolute favorite — they are vibrant, spread easily and produce beautiful results. They are an investment but well worth it. Here is a name to search:
3. If your child loves paint like my little one — try watercolors. These are durable, come in a metal case and are oh-so vibrant. Here is a name to search:
4. Sketchbooks are a very personal thing. My advice is to visit 5Below or BlickArts to choose your own preferred sketchbook style.
There is nothing like touching and holding a sketchbook to know if it is right for you.
Keep in mind — younger children tend to prefer to draw on large paper so I suggest looking at larger sketchbooks even if you can’t fit it all in one zipper bag.
For a no to low cost option, we’d suggest filling a regular clipboard with printer paper OR to invest in a clipboard with a compartment so the paper is protected inside.
For older children or adults, a simple hardcover small sketchbook should suffice.
