Essential Acrylic Painting Art Supplies for Outdoor and Studio Use.
Artist supplies that save you time and money.
Recently, I had the chance to paint outdoors and wanted to bring only the essentials. You might be surprised by my list.
My studio is filled with everything I need and more, but when I paint outdoors, I have to make choices.
Naturally, paints, brushes, and canvases topped the list. But what other tools are absolutely necessary?
We can’t paint faster, but we can equip ourselves to make painting sessions more efficient and enjoyable.
To make it on this list, each item had to enhance the efficiency, enjoyment, and maximize the creative time of my painting sessions.
These 7 tools have become indispensable for me, whether I’m in the studio or on the go. They help make my painting sessions not only more efficient but also more enjoyable and seamless.
Disposable Paper Palette
The disposable paper palette is extremely convenient and a real time-saver.
At the end of the session, you just toss the used sheet without needing to clean anything. It’s also more environmentally friendly than rinsing a plastic palette, as it prevents paint residue from polluting water sources.
- Buy in Canada: https://amzn.to/4axfzqT
- Buy from Winsor Newton: https://amzn.to/400gTjK
- For my friends in France:https://amzn.to/3YmYeh1
Airtight Palette Box for Acrylic Paint
Acrylic paint dries very quickly, but not in this box!
You can even save your colors until your next painting session. An airtight box preserves your paint mixtures during and between sessions, preventing paint waste. This saves money and lets you pick up where you left off.
Benefits of the palette box:
- Keep your paint from drying too fast: Slows paint drying time, conserving it for longer and reducing waste.
- Keeps your mixes fresh, so you don’t have to recreate them.
- Ease of Transport: Allows you to carry paint mixtures without spilling. Handy for outdoor artists.
- Order in Canada: https://amzn.to/3Uf1SYc
- Order in France: https://amzn.to/4eJCQbm
Further Reading: How to Keep Your Acrylics Fresh Longer
Essential Artist's Notebook for Painters
This book is indispensable for me, as it serves as a quick reference for my color mixes. It saves me time and prevents paint waste due to incorrect mixes.
I log my color mixes and all necessary information to easily continue my work. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been grateful to have noted these details.
Available Internationally:
Brush Cleaning Pot
This pot is one of my favorites because it makes cleaning brushes between colors much easier.
The separate compartments keep clean and dirty water apart, helping the clean water last longer, and textures at the bottom help remove paint quickly from the brush.
- Order in Canada: https://amzn.to/4eKmTlo
- Order in France: https://amzn.to/3NlNuJr
Painting Knives
A palette knife is used not only for mixing colors but also for applying, spreading, scraping, and texturing paint on the canvas. It’s suitable for both oil and acrylic painting.
Using a brush to mix colors can damage the bristles, making them frizzy, and the brush tip loses precision. I use a 4 cm knife for mixing, just the right size to avoid crowding the colour palette.
- Order in Canada: https://amzn.to/4cIPVAE
- Order in France: https://amzn.to/4f3y0Fx
Watercolor Pencils
I never leave without my watercolor pencils. They’re perfect for sketching directly on canvas before painting. Unlike graphite, watercolor pencil marks erase more easily, saving time.
Before you start painting, use the grid method to create a proportional sketch of your model.
This technique is very helpful for those who aren’t comfortable with drawing and prefer to avoid calculations.
I generally use a blue pencil for grid lines and other colors to draw my subject. Once satisfied, I erase the guide lines with a damp cloth.
A simple way to enlarge all your drawings without any math.
- Order in Canada: https://amzn.to/4f5CMTb
- Order in France: https://amzn.to/4dJeAF6
7. T-Square Ruler
When I have extra space, I bring my T-square. It’s especially helpful for creating grid-based method sketches or drawing straight lines like horizons or building edges.
- Order in Canada: https://amzn.to/3Sd5s3F
- Order in France: https://amzn.to/4f5MLrH
Conclusion
These 7 tools have become essential for me, whether I’m in the studio or on the go. They enhance both the efficiency and enjoyment of my painting sessions.
I highly recommend investing in these items if you’re looking to optimize your creative process!
What are your must-haves for outdoor painting? Share them in the comments!
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