Throughout the years, artists have tended to buy different mediums and supplies to experiment with in order to find their own preferences. The old masters have also created their own colors out of natural pigments and helped establish a great foundation for premium, natural, handmade art supplies. I thought, why not share with you the art supplies I regret buying as well as alternatives to what you can purchase instead?

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Let’s start with the paper pads or sketchbooks I regret buying

1- Pure white paper sketchbooks

One of the top art supplies I regret buying will have to be pure white paper. Painting or sketching on white paper is good, but doing that on tan or any neutral-colored paper is great. It is the best way for advanced artists to build great color palettes and achieve a bright and balanced outcome, and it is a great way for beginners to practice values and value scales.

I have been getting this tan sketchbook for my practices, and it is so amazing.

2- Classic journals with normal paper

Since I started journaling, I’ve always used normal paper pads. However, since I discovered art journaling, I started getting watercolor journals or sketchbooks that could provide papers good enough for me to add doodles, stickers, little watercolor sketches, and more. For the year to come, I bought my watercolor journal from the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy.

My 2023 normal journal pages
The 2024 journal cover
2024 watercolor journal pages

But you can grab this amazing watercolor journal off of Amazon for much cheaper.

3- Buying huge sketchbooks

Another art supply I will not be buying again. Don’t get me wrong, big sketchbooks are cool and exciting, but I personally don’t get as much use out of them. They aren’t as convenient to take around, the pages are too wide and I am not the type to sketch multiple subjects into one page especially if it’s not a study of some sort, and although I’ll be using mine to watch colors and test new mediums, I just regret spending the money on bigger sketchbooks.

This one is the perfect sketchbook size to carry around and travel with.

Moving to the pencils and pens I regret buying

1- The very thin mechanical pencils

I recently bought a super thin point (0.1mm) mechanical pencil from Staedtler and it didn’t stop breaking with the slightest bit of pressure applied. The annoying part is that I actually have a gentle pencil grip and with very little pressure, the pencil wouldn’t stop breaking. So my tip for you is to start at the 0.7mm mark because anything lower will be a pain in the neck.

2- The pigment liners from Staedtler

All art supplies should be chosen based on personal preference. And for me, these pigment liners just do not serve the purpose. The ink is inconsistent and kind of dry, the tip is too rounded for my liking and the overall feel of the liner in my hand is not comfortable at all.

These pens from Pilot are by far the best I have ever tried for both writing and scribbling. They are as soft as butter and the ink dries super black while the points are very fine which gives the ability to build up lines and pressure. keep in mind that these aren’t waterproof so they are more likely to smudge with the use of water if that’s your medium.

Are you still not using a kneaded eraser?

I regret buying every rubber other than the kneaded erasers. Since I tried these, I couldn’t go back to normal ones. However, you need to buy the popular brands because so many end up being sticky and having a gum-like texture which is absolutely annoying to use.

The art paints I regret buying

I have two guides on how you can pick the best art paints for you, so make sure to check them out.

Best Art Paint for Beginners: Comparing the Different Options

Which Art Paint is best? Acrylics, Oils, encaustic…

1- Do not buy cheap paint

I know they could get crazy expensive, but the cheap paints are not worth your money or the stress that comes along with using them. Make sure you do your research properly, read reviews, and see what other artists are saying about the brands you’re planning on buying from before you make a final decision. Invest in great-quality paint because it really goes a long way.

2- I regret buying smaller tubes of heavily used colors

I always made the mistake of buying the same size tube of every primary color in my oil paint. However, I later realized that I use white more than any other color. So this is your reminder to stop buying packs of paint and shop for individual colors and sizes depending on your personal preference.

The brushes I absolutely regret buying

These are hands-down the most expensive art supplies on the planet. Brushes are a big investment, and they are very prone to degrade and shed as time passes. I have also shared a detailed guide about how to buy your brushes and how to take care of them. But if I were to sum it up for you in a sentence or two, it would be that I regret buying brushes with wood and metal handles to use with water-based paints, as they break and rust, ending with a shorter lifespan than a plastic handle. On the other hand, experiment with different hair types on your brush to decide if you prefer synthetic or natural bristles (make sure you check the guide for more insights).

I regret buying so many solvents and mediums for my oil paint

When I first started oil painting after years of painting in acrylics, I asked a friend of mine for recommendations, and she did a phenomenal job guiding me on the best art supplies to buy for my oil painting sessions. However, I should’ve known that for someone like me, it would be harmful to go heavy on chemicals while painting in a less ventilated area. With a bit of research, I realized that it was actually possible to oil paint with fewer chemical-based solvents, and I share everything about that with you in this article: How to paint in oils without using solvents? Is it even possible?

But if you are a beginner and want to know more about oil paint mediums and how they work, read this. How to pick your Oil Paint Mediums as a beginner? +Bonus Techniques

Now all those solvents and mediums I bought are chilling in my storage space, and I regret spending my money on them. So do not make the same mistake.

Conclusion

I hope this article comes in handy, and please keep in mind that you need to try art supplies for yourself to know about your preferences and decide for yourself what works best and what doesn’t. However, feel free to reach out to me if you have any confusion about a certain art supply. Enjoy creating <3