The following resources have been carefully selected to provide more information and inspiration as you explore artful family living around the year.
My Art and Craft Supply Picks
Poster Paint
Colorations Simply Washable Tempera Paint (Discount School Supply) for its quality, color, and price. BioColor paint and activity paints (Discount School Supply) for their quality, color, and ability to adhere to a multitude of surfaces without cracking.
Acrylic Paint and Sealer
Reeves Acrylic Paint, Liquitex Basics Acrylic Paint, and Krylon Crystal Clear Acrylic Coating (art supply stores or Amazon.com).
Watercolor Cakes
Lyra, FineTec, or Jolly (Stubby Pencil Studio); Faber-Castell (The Art Pantry); Crayola (drugstore or art supply store).
Liquid Watercolors
Colorations Liquid Watercolor Paint and plastic droppers (Discount School Supply).
Finger Paints
Colorations Washable Finger Paint (Discount School Supply), Crayola Washable Finger Paints (drugstores or art supply stores), or homemade finger paints (see my recipe in The Artful Parent or any number of recipes online).
Crayons
Beeswax Crayons, Prang Crayons (made with soy), and Jolly push-up crayons (Stubby Pencil Studio), as well as Crayola Washable Crayons—jumbo for toddlers, thin for older children (drugstores or art supply stores). We also love the novelty of Crayon Rocks (Stubby Pencil Studio) and shaped crayons (Earth Grown Crayons).
Colorations Outstanding Oil Pastels (Discount School Supply), Crayola Oil Pastels (art supply stores or Discount School Supply), and Crayola Twistables Slick Stix (art supply stores and drugstores).
Chalk
Melissa and Doug Jumbo Triangular Chalk Sticks (toy stores and art supply stores) for indoor chalkboard use, and Crayola Sidewalk Chalk (drugstores or Target) for outdoor use.
Colored Pencils
Alpino Tri Colored Pencils and Alpino Trimax (chunkier), both with triangular barrels (Stubby Pencil Studio). Art Grip EcoPencils by Faber-Castell are good for older children (Stubby Pencil Studio or Amazon), as are Prismacolor Scholar Colored Pencils (art supply stores).
Markers
Crayola Washable Markers and Crayola Pip-Squeaks Washable Markers (drugstores or art supply stores), and Colorations Washable Markers (Discount School Supply). For permanent markers, we love Sharpie Markers and Sharpie Metallic Markers (drugstores and art supply stores).
Paper for Drawing, Painting, and Collage
Heavyweight white sulphite paper (Discount School Supply), poster board (Target or drugstores), mat board (some frame shops let you take remnants for free), Tru-Ray Sulfite Construction Paper (Discount School Supply), and Mala Paper, assorted colors (Ikea).
Paper for Watercolor Painting
For basic-quality watercolor paper, Canson XL Watercolor Paper (art supply stores), Real Watercolor Paper (Discount School Supply), Strathmore 200 Series Watercolor Pad and Strathmore Kids Paint Pad (art supply stores and Amazon.com).
Easel Paper Roll (Discount School Supply) and Mala drawing paper roll (Ikea).
Paper for Working Big
Brown Contractor’s Paper, also known as builder’s paper and as paper drop cloth (available at home development stores such as Lowes and Home Depot, near the lumber section) or butcher paper (Discount School Supply or other art supply stores).
Canvas
Stretched canvas and canvas panels come in a wide range of sizes (art supply stores).
Colored Tissue Paper
Colorations Premium Art Tissue Paper—Colorfast (Discount School Supply) or any colored tissue paper (art supply stores, drugstores) and Colorations Premium Art Tissue Paper—Bleeding (Discount School Supply).
Glue
Elmer’s Washable School Glue and Elmer’s Glue Sticks (drugstores, art supply stores, stationery stores), glue guns (art supply stores), and Mod Podge (art supply stores).
Tape
Colored Masking Tape (Discount School Supply), Blue Painter’s Tape (home development stores), and washi tape (CuteTape.com and art supply stores).
Modeling and Sculpture Materials
Playdough (see my recipe on page 16), potter’s clay (pottery studios or Discount School Supply), Crayola Model Magic (art supply stores), Sargent Art Sculpt-It Air Dry Clay (art supply stores), wood craft sticks, plaster of Paris (art supply stores), and pipe cleaners (art supply stores).
For toddlers, Stubby Chubby Paint Brushes (Discount School Supply) or Melissa and Doug Jumbo Paint Brushes (toy stores or art supply stores). For older children, a variety of sizes and brands found at art supply stores.
Paint and Water Cups
Melissa and Doug Spill-Proof Paint Cups (toy stores or art supply stores) for younger children. Colorations Double-Dip Divided Paint Cups (Discount School Supply), which hold two colors each, for older children who need more color options. Also the smaller 6 Paint Cups in a Base (Discount School Supply) for liquid watercolors.
Art Smock
Make your own from large T-shirts (see instructions in The Artful Parent) or just use an old T-shirt.
Art Trays
Use Brawny Tough Large Plastic Art Trays (Discount School Supply) or an old rimmed cookie sheet or plastic serving tray to contain messes. Inexpensive plastic place mats also work well to protect work surfaces.
Glitter
Any glitter from art supply stores; Colorations Glitter Glue and Colorations Washable Glitter Paint (Discount School Supply).
Fabric Crayons, Markers, and Paint
Pentel Fabric Fun Pastel Dye Sticks (Amazon and Dick Blick), Colorations Fabric Markers (Discount School Supply), Jacquard Textile Color (Dharma Trading Company or art supply stores), and BioColor paint mixed with BioColor Fabric Medium (Discount School Supply).
Printing Supplies
Speedball Water-Based Printing Ink, hard rubber brayer, and acrylic box frame—these inexpensive picture frames work well for printmaking (art supply stores).
Liquid Watercolor Paper Leaves (Discount School Supply), Texas Snowflakes (Discount School Supply), paper doilies (art supply stores), embroidery floss and needles (fabric store or craft supply store), pom-poms (craft supply stores), plastic pony beads (Discount School Supply or other craft supply stores), Shrink-It Sheets (Discount School Supply), and translucent colored plastic index dividers (stationery store, drugstore, or Amazon.com).
Places to Buy Art and Craft Supplies (Brick and Mortar)
A. C. Moore (almost everything related to arts and crafts)
Drugstores, including superstores such as Target and Walmart (Crayola, Prang, and other art supplies, including crayons, markers, scissors, glue, poster board, construction paper, and sketchbooks)
Grocery stores (pasta, beans, flour, salt, cornstarch, contact paper, aluminum foil, wax paper, coffee filters, food coloring)
Hardware stores (contractor’s paper; wire; wing nuts, bolts, and other items that can be used for collage and sculpture; wood; plaster of Paris)
Ikea (some children’s art supplies)
Independent art supply stores (often oriented more toward adults or college students)
Michael’s (almost everything related to arts and crafts)
Office supply stores (pens, pencils, stickers, address labels, circle stickers)
School supply stores (more teacher oriented; bulk supplies)
Thrift stores (dishes for paint and art supplies, fabrics, collage trays, old warming trays, salad spinners, muffin tins)
Toy stores (some basic art supplies, such as easels, paint cups, stickers, brushes; many carry Melissa and Doug or Alex brand art supplies)
Online Places to Buy Art and Craft Supplies
Amazon (books as well as many arts and crafts supplies): www.amazon.com
The Art Pantry (children’s art supplies): www.theartpantry.com
Artterro (eco-art kits, art journals): www.artterro.com
Bare Books (blank books, puzzles, and games): www.barebooks.com
Cutetape (washi tape): www.cutetape.com
Discount School Supply (almost everything related to arts and crafts, including Colorations brand items, BioColor paints, liquid watercolors, papers, brushes, oil pastels): www.discountschoolsupply.com
Earth Grown Crayons (soy crayons in fun shapes): www.earthgrowncrayons.com
For Small Hands (art supplies, child-size tools and kitchen gear): www.forsmallhands.com
Grasshopper Store (select art supplies and art kits): www.grasshopperstore.com
Imagine Childhood (select art supplies): www.imaginechildhood.com
Stubby Pencil Studio (eco-art supplies, including colored pencils, sketchbooks, markers): www.stubbypencilstudio.com