Recently there has been an uptick in artists and crafters buying embroidery machines. With a plethora of options, and prices ranging from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, picking the right machine for you can be overwhelming. When making your decision there are a few things you should keep in mind: what the largest sewing field or hoop size is for the machine, how fast it can sew, and how many needles it has. Let’s break it down and look at some of the best options out there for custom tees, hats, bags, and more.

How we pick each product:
Our mission is to recommend the most appropriate artists’ tool or supply for your needs. Whether you are looking for top-of-the line equipment or beginners’ basics, we’ll make sure that you get good value for your money by doing the research for you. We scour the Internet for information on how art supplies are used and read customer reviews by real users; we ask experts for their advice; and of course, we rely on our own accumulated expertise as artists, teachers, and craftspeople.

Best for Beginners
The Brother SE600 is a good fit for the beginner sewist who is brand new to embroidery.  The 4”x4” embroidery hoop is small, but it is enough room for small projects. You will have no problem with onesies, logos on shirts and other small scale projects. This machine is a sewing and embroidery combination machine, making it great for those who also want to sew, but don’t have space for two machines. It has 80 built in embroidery designs, 103 sewing stitches, and 10 buttonhole styles. The SE600 can sew 400 stitches per minute when embroidering. This makes it a great starter embroidery machine, and you can have a lot of fun sewing with it too.

Buy: Brother SE600 Sewing and Embroidery Machine, 80 Designs, 103 Built-In Stitches, Computerized, 4″ x 4″ Hoop Area, 3.2″ LCD Touchscreen Display, 7 Included Feet $381.15

Best Overall
The Brother PE800 is one of the most recommended embroidery machines out there. It has a 5”x7” embroidery hoop that gives you a bit more space to work with. It has 138 preloaded designs making it very easy to jump right into embroidery. The PE800 can sew 650 stitches per minute, and has a USB port that allows for you to easily upload your unique designs. Like the SE600, the PE 800 only has one needle. This means if you stitch an embroidery with multiple colors, you have to be there to change the thread color. Unlike the SE600, this machine only does embroidery.

Buy: Brother Embroidery Machine PE800, 138 Built-in Designs, 5″ x 7″ Hoop Area, Large 3.2″ LCD Touchscreen, USB Port, 11 Font Styles $748.50

Best for Quilters
For quilters the Bernette B79 is the way to go. Like the Brother SE600, it can sew and embroider. It has a large 10.25”x5.11” embroidery hoop, more features, and an overall better sewing experience. This single needle machine has an automatic thread cutter, dual feed for a smoother experience, and an automatic back kick function that ties off your thread by kicking your heel back on the pedal. It can stitch 850 stitches per minute. The Bernette collection is the more affordable line of machines made by Bernina, giving you access to the Bernina support team. The Bernette machines can be bought online, but if you’re the type of person who learns better in person you can find a local dealer who offers classes and a personal support experience.

Best for Multi-Color Designs
A multi-needle machine allows you to thread more than one needle at a time and your machine will automatically switch colors while you do other things and stay productive. If you are looking to embroider designs with more than one color, and don’t have the time to change the thread for each color the Janome MB-4SE ($5,500) is a great fit for you. It has 4 needles and its largest hoop size is 9.46”x7.88”. It also has 50 built in designs, 10 different fonts, USB port, auto thread cutter, and can sew 800 stitches per minute.

Best Non-Commercial Machine
If you are looking for more needles and not quite ready for a commercial machine try the Janome MB-7 with 7 needles. It has all all the same great features as the MB-4SE, but with 3 more needles.

Best Commercial-Grade Machine
Schools, small businesses and artists looking to really ramp up production will need a commercial machine. The Melco Bravo has 16 needles, a 12.6”x10.25” sewing field, 1000 stitches per minute, patented auto-tensioning and laser alignment. The Bravo easily sews through leather, vinyl and denim. It can run all day long and is built to last. This machine has all the bells and whistles you could dream of, making your embroidery go faster, smoother, and more efficiently. (Pro Tip: Melco regularly offers deals and special financing. If you are looking to buy one of these machines, wait until they run a good deal.)

With a plastic or aluminum head and a sharp metal point, pushpins are essential to any studio, classroom, or office. The humble pushpin, precursor of the thumbtack, was invented and patented in 1900 by Edwin Moore of Newark, New Jersey. Moore’s original pins were made of glass and steel, and he referred to his creation as a “pin with a handle.” After making and selling his invention for several years, Moore founded the Moore Push-Pin company in 1904. Today’s pushpins are useful for affixing studies, bits of inspiration, or memos to a corkboard or wall. But they can be great assistants for specialized projects, too. You can use them to stretch canvases, elevate canvases for drip paintings, or use them as mini grips to hold while tilting a wet canvas. They’re helpful for stained glass projects as well, holding pieces in position prior to soldering. Or use them to secure paper stencils over clay for neat transfers. The perfect pushpins await you in our list of favorites below.

How we pick each product:
Our mission is to recommend the most appropriate artists’ tool or supply for your needs. Whether you are looking for top-of-the line equipment or beginners’ basics, we’ll make sure that you get good value for your money by doing the research for you. We scour the Internet for information on how art supplies are used and read customer reviews by real users; we ask experts for their advice; and of course, we rely on our own accumulated expertise as artists, teachers, and craftspeople.

ARTNEWS RECOMMENDS
Advantus GEM Aluminum Push Pins, Package of 100
You know those cheap, everyday pushpins with plastic heads that can snap off at the slightest provocation? Well, these cast pushpins with aluminum head and steel shank are a much tougher alternative. Sure, they look a bit dull with their silver-colored aluminum heads, but they have sharp ends and can take a beating. Literally—you can take a hammer to these pins to drive them into harder surfaces without bending the shafts or cracking the heads off. Since they’re solid metal, you can also use them for projects that require heating. Finally, we like that they are sold with shanks in three lengths: 3/8 inch, 1/2 inch, and 5/8 inch, which is longer than most pins on the market. The heads are both longer and narrower than than those of standard push pins: 3/16 inches in diameter and almost 3/4 inches long, as opposed to 1/2 inch for regular pins.

Advantus GEM Aluminum Push Pins, Package of 100

Price: $6.43

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WE ALSO LIKE
ArtMinds Clear Pushpins, 100 Count
If you’re looking for a simple, well-made, utilitarian pushpin, these plastic-headed ones are a great option. Since they are clear, they’re ideal if you need something unobtrusive. Each pack comes with 100 pins that are sharp for easy insertion and smooth for easy removal. The plastic heads are durable to avoid splitting, and the iron shafts are firmly embedded in the plastic to prevent breakage. They leave holes so small you will barely notice them.

ArtMinds Clear Pushpins, 100 Count

Price: $2.49

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ANOTHER GOOD CHOICE
U Brands Fashion Wood Push Pins, Assorted, 100/Pack
These pins are pretty unique. They have natural and dark wood finishes, and each is slightly textured. This rustic appearance can add subtle character to projects and is especially attractive against other wooden surfaces. Each pin is smooth and lightweight but strong enough to withstand the pressure of a robust thumb. The 3/8-inch sharp steel points are firmly attached at a perfectly straight angle for precise and neat pinning.

EDUCATORS’ CHOICE
Mr. Pen Push Pins
This budget-friendly bulk set delivers 640 pins in four bright, translucent colors, including yellow and purple. With sharp steel tips and sturdy plastic heads, they do everything you’d want a pushpin to do. They are lighter and less durable than more expensive pins, but unless you’re working on a heavy-duty project, we wouldn’t consider these flaws deal breakers. And with so many pins—at less than a penny each—you also won’t feel as if you have to hoard every one.

Buy: Mr. Pen- Push Pins, Thumb Tacks, Pack of 640 Pins, Tacks, Pin, Push Pins for Cork Board, Map Pins, Thumbtacks, Clear Colored Pushpins, Wall Tacks, Wall Pins, Stick Pins, Bulletin Board Pins, Map Tacks $4.99

TOP OF THE LINE
Stainless Steel Push Pins
These pins are a sturdier version of our top pick, making them a good choice if you need the strongest pins available. Like the Advantus pins, their heads are made of aluminum, and their shafts are made of stainless steel. They feature 1/2-inch shafts to provide a stronger hold than most pins, without being too long for thinner cork boards. But note that they are pricey, with 100 pins costing roughly $20.

Jacquard Stainless Steel Push Pins, Box of 100

Price: $21.99

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Watercolor sticks are a great tool for artists who want to add watercolor effects to sketches and drawings. They are somewhere between a watercolor and a pastel, with a good amount of variation among brands. Apply them in a range of ways: draw dry on dry and then wet your surface with a brush, dip the stick in water as you work, apply dry to wet paper, or even treat these sticks like watercolor pans, using a wet brush to take pigment from the stick and transfer it to paper. Watercolor sticks are sometimes priced better than traditional pans, and they’re highly portable: no palette or brush necessary. If you’re interested in using watercolor sticks for drawing or painting, find our list of recommended options, below.

How we pick each product:
Our mission is to recommend the most appropriate artists’ tool or supply for your needs. Whether you are looking for top-of-the line equipment or beginners’ basics, we’ll make sure that you get good value for your money by doing the research for you. We scour the Internet for information on how art supplies are used and read customer reviews by real users; we ask experts for their advice; and of course, we rely on our own accumulated expertise as artists, teachers, and craftspeople.

ARTNEWS RECOMMENDS
Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolor Sticks
Daniel Smith watercolor sticks are a favorite of traditional watercolor painters. The large, cylindrical sticks are made with the same ingredients as Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolor tubes and hold more pigment than the tubes. They’re easy to take on the go for travel or plein air painting; the only downside is that because of their purity, they can be very soft, especially in humidity, which makes them less useful as a drawing tool.

WE ALSO LIKE
Caran D’Ache Neocolor II Aquarelle Artists’ Pastels and Sets
Not watercolor sticks but pigment-rich, water-soluble pastels, Caran D’Ache’s buttery and bright Neocolor II crayons offer the option of wet or dry techniques (or a combination of the two), plus quick clean up with water and soap, making them ideal for kids. Use them alone or in combination with watercolor for luminous effects.

Caran d’Ache Neocolor II Pastels and Sets

Price: $1.58–$262.15

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EDUCATORS’ CHOICE
Faber-Castell Gel Sticks
Children delight in the magic of watercolor sticks and how they flow with the simple addition of water. This set contains 12 colors of easy-to-handle sticks encased in plastic for mess-free art projects at school or at home. When the business end gets too stubby, a twist of the base exposes more material. The “gel” of the paint stick glides well over paper and shows up creamy and vivid on the page. The kit includes a brush to turn scribbles into washes of color.

Buy: Faber-Castell Gel Sticks – 12 Twistable Watercolor Crayons for Kids with Brush – Watercolors for Kids $12.99

ANOTHER GOOD OPTION
Charvin Water-Soluble Pastel Painting Sticks
For a medium that leans more toward the pastel end of the spectrum, try Charvin’s set of 48 square sticks. These painting sticks are hard like pastels and can be used as such, but marks turn vibrant, glowy, and translucent once water is added. This genre-hopper is perfect for mixed-media projects.

Buy: Charvin Artist Colored Chalk Pastels (Set of 48) – Water Soluble, Assorted Pastel Color Sticks for Wet, & Dry Painting $18.99

A GREAT ALTERNATIVE
Derwent Inktense Blocks and Sets
Like true watercolor sticks, these implements are water-soluble and create luminous, flowing effects when combined with water. Unlike true watercolor sticks, they become permanent when dry. The permanence means certain effects that are difficult to achieve with watercolors, such as clearly distinct layers, are easy with this medium. The colors are opaque and intense and can even be used on fabric.

Derwent Inktense Blocks and Sets

Price: $1.95–$140.05

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Who puts together the best looks and is always fun to be around? A paper doll. A generations-old toy, dress-up paper dolls owe their origins to 18th-century France, where they had movable limbs and were akin to puppets. A London company produced the first commercially available paper doll in 1810, and the product appeared in America two years later. Over time, with the advent of ready-to-wear collections and the rise of celebrity culture, paper dolls grew in popularity, often bearing the faces of movie stars, book characters, and socialites. From 1930 to 1950, paper dolls experienced a golden era, as paper proved affordable during the Depression and remained available in World War II’s ration economy. Paper dolls remain popular today; they’re mess-free, portable, and encourage creativity. One can choose among retro dolls reminiscent of those from the 30s and 40s, fashion-focused dolls with expansive wardrobes, and anthropomorphized animals with better accessories than many humans. Browse our selection of the best paper dolls below.

How we pick each product:
Our mission is to recommend the most appropriate artists’ tool or supply for your needs. Whether you are looking for top-of-the line equipment or beginners’ basics, we’ll make sure that you get good value for your money by doing the research for you. We scour the Internet for information on how art supplies are used and read customer reviews by real users; we ask experts for their advice; and of course, we rely on our own accumulated expertise as artists, teachers, and craftspeople.

ARTnews RECOMMENDS
Ruth Carter Paper Doll Kit
From the costume designer for the Black Panther movies comes this high-quality paper doll set with outfits that are contemporary but inspired by African tribal wear. You get a paper doll, plus two perforated sheets of garments and accessories. We love that the doll isn’t static but has articulated limbs, which you can move by attaching mini brads (included) when assembling the doll. The designs are all hand-drawn and printed on durable heavy stock.

WE ALSO LIKE
Of Unusual Kind My Paper Dolls
From the same manufacturer, the My Paper Doll series focuses on dolls with a distinct personalities, from a cool rocker chick to a skater girl to a tranquil lover of the outdoors. It is whimsical and quirky, featuring a slew of beautifully hand-drawn figures and outfits, complete with holes for brads (included) to move the dolls’ limbs. The shapes are all perforated so you don’t have to fiddle with scissors. Unlike many paper doll sets, this one comes in black and white so users can color them in as they wish. The dolls are also quite large, measuring a foot tall.

ANOTHER GOOD OPTION
Great Fashion Designs of the Sixties
Dive into the outré world of 1960s couture, courtesy of Tom Tierney, author of hundreds of paper doll books. Tierney was a fashion illustrator, and his dolls, garments, and accessories celebrate fashion history with precision and style—they don’t look childish, which makes his work stand out from many paper dolls on the market today. This set comes with two dolls as well as 32 garments from mod designers like Saint Laurent, Balmain, Courrèges, Dior, and Givenchy. Each outfit is labeled with its year and designer comes complete with a hairstyle and shoes for a full look. Designs are beautifully printed on good-quality cardstock that cuts cleanly with a sharp pair of scissors and is sturdy enough to withstand hours of play.

Buy: Great Fashion Designs of the Sixties Paper Dolls: 32 Haute Couture Costumes by Courreges, Balmain, Saint-Laurent and Others (Dover Paper Dolls) $11.99

ECO-FRIENDLY
eeBoo Paper Dolls
(TEXT) This set of multicultural dolls feels ultra-fresh and contemporary, and it may encourage young ones to pursue creative careers, too! It comes with two dolls—a musician and an artist—to dress up with actually cool clothes, plus a two-sided paper room for them to stand against (one doll’s room even has a Noguchi lamp). The cardstock is made of 90% recycled materials and brightly printed with vegetable-based inks. This set also doesn’t require any cutting—the clothes are printed as electrostatic vinyl stickers, so you can continuously reapply them.

Buy: eeBoo: Musician and Artist Paper Doll Reusable Set, comes with a 2 Sided Stand-up Scene, Heavy Duty board, Perfect for Ages 5 and up $15.30

A GREAT ALTERNATIVE
Mudpuppy Cat Fashion Magnetic Figures
With this option, kids can quickly mix and match outfits without having to first remove them from a booklet. All parts, from outfits to figures, are magnetic, and therefore can be easily layered over the included metal surface. The designs are cute, and there are plenty of garments and accessories to combine. Because of the magnet design, these sets are perfect for taking on car trips, plane rides, or other adventures. You also get a tin to store everything as well.

Buy: Mudpuppy Cat Fashion Magnetic Figures, 6 x 8 x 1″, for 72 months to 120 months $15.62

ALSO CONSIDER
Dinosaurs on the Move
Dolls don’t always have to be people (or women)…they can also be dinosaurs! This set infuses the traditional paper-doll concept with the thrill of paleontology. The booklet is filled with dinosaur figures that children can cut out and assemble, using fasteners that make the critters’ joints articulated. Each species is printed twice—once in color so it’s almost ready for play, and once more as a line drawing to decorate without limit. The kit also comes with facts about each dino, making this a great hands-on learning experience.

Buy: Dinosaurs on the Move: Articulated Paper Dolls to Cut, Color, and Assemble, Second Edition $15.95

When it comes to customizing clothing, tote bags, and other textile objects, fabric markers are convenient tools that can produce good results with a quick turnaround. The paint can be applied like ink, allowing you to write, draw, and color with ease. After properly drying—and if required, ironing—the fabric to set your colorful artwork, these pigments are safe to run through the washing machine. Just note that not all are permanent and can experience fading even if used correctly. Most fabric markers work best on cotton and canvas, and can withstand use on a variety of textiles and umpteen laundry cycles. When choosing what works best for you, consider the marker’s tips: many feature brush tips, which are often better for thin or delicate fabrics, since they won’t pull as you write or draw. Your selection may also depend on whether you’re working on a small, one-off project or doling out markers during a crafting party. Fortunately, fabric markers come in a wide assortment of colors and tip shapes to suit any need.

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How we pick each product:
Our mission is to recommend the most appropriate artists’ tool or supply for your needs. Whether you are looking for top-of-the line equipment or beginners’ basics, we’ll make sure that you get good value for your money by doing the research for you. We scour the Internet for information on how art supplies are used and read customer reviews by real users; we ask experts for their advice; and of course, we rely on our own accumulated expertise as artists, teachers, and craftspeople.

ARTnews RECOMMENDS
Yasutomo FabricMate Dye Ink Markers 
Looking for the most convenient way to color your fabrics? FabricMate markers are loaded with a dye that does not require any heat setting, steaming or even soda ash to set. The resulting colors are incredibly rich and even permanent. You have 18 colors to choose from, and you can buy them individually or purchase special sets including fluorescents and pastels. Choose from either a brush or chisel tip, although the sets only contain brush tips. The dyes also blend beautifully, especially when you do so with the available blender marker.

Yasutomo FabricMate Dye Ink Markers

Price: $2.30–$16.50

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PROFESSIONALS’ CHOICE
Pebeo 7A Light Fabric Brush Markers and Sets
The pigments in these Japanese-made markers from the French brand Pebeo have been in production since the 1960s, when they were originally formulated for the textile industry experts. Today, the water-based paint is available in a handy chunky marker that is comfortable to use and delivers smooth, consistent lines. The valve-pump barrel dispenses paint without puddling, helping you maintain control over application. Featuring a 1mm brush nib ideal for detail work, the Light Fabric Brush marker is available individually in a range of colors, as well as in sets. Pebeo also offers markers featuring a thicker, 4mm bullet tip. Heat-set both with an iron, and the colors will hold even after washing. 

Pebeo 7A Light Fabric Brush Markers and Sets

Price: $6.15–$51.98

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EDUCATORS’ CHOICE
Crayola Fabric Markers 
Fabric markers can be pricey, and Crayola offers a reliable but cost-effective—and importantly, nontoxic—option that is perfectly suitable for casual crafts and class projects. These markers come in a pack of 10 bright colors or a set of 80 markers, divided into eight shareable sets of those 10 colors. They’re compatible with only cotton or polyester, but they leave clear lines with minimal drag. While they’re easy for young ones to handle and dispense (no pump-valve here!) they do contain less ink than higher-end competitors. Finished works will have to be heat-set in a dryer, so educators without easy access to one should be sure to send students home with clear instructions. 

ALSO CONSIDER
Jacquard Tee Juice Fabric Markers 
Jacquard, arguably the biggest name in quality fabric dyes, always delivers on pigment-rich products, and its fabric markers are no different. We love that these markers come in three nib sizes—fine, medium, and broad, the last of which is perfect for creating bold eye-catching designs or patterns. You can use it, for instance, to create a striking polkadot print in seconds. The large point also won’t catch on thin fabric and is great for filling in. The 16 available colors are vibrant, but they are rather juicy, so take care when working to prevent bleedthrough. 

Jacquard Tee Juice Fabric Markers

Price: $1.86–$6.09

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ANOTHER GOOD OPTION
Marvy Uchida DecoFabric Opaque Paint Markers and Sets
These markers feature brightly colored ink for dark and light fabrics that is dispensed with minimal pressure. Each is equipped with a 3mm bullet-point tip that’s versatile enough for detail work and broader lines, depending on how you angle it. The brand offers a handy range of colors, including some metallics, that are available individually or in sets. Be sure to heat-set before you wash to help the colors, marketed as acid-free and lightfast, cling to your fabrics. Lastly, we also like how the barrel feels in the hand, offering a thick and super-smooth grip. 

Marvy Uchida DecoFabric Opaque Paint Markers and Sets

Price: $3.79–$15.26

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To get the best results from a screen-printing press, you need a reliable ink that has consistent flow, low tack, and longevity. The type you buy will depend not only on what material you’re printing on, but also on how much time you want to spend prepping and curing the ink. You might even want to buy different kinds of ink depending on the project. Our picks below will help you find the best silkscreen ink available in a growing market.

How we pick each product:
Our mission is to recommend the most appropriate artists’ tool or supply for your needs. Whether you are looking for top-of-the line equipment or beginners’ basics, we’ll make sure that you get good value for your money by doing the research for you. We scour the Internet for information on how art supplies are used and read customer reviews by real users; we ask experts for their advice; and of course, we rely on our own accumulated expertise as artists, teachers, and craftspeople.

ARTnews RECOMMENDS
Speedball Professional Acrylic Screen Printing Ink
If you need to print on paper, wood, or cardboard, consider Speedball’s acrylic ink formula. These water-based inks offer amazing coverage in addition to smooth application and a fast drying time. Choose from about 30 colors, including fluorescent and glow-in-the-dark ones! Each can also be mixed with ease to create more colors. The ink spreads smoothly, presents vibrant tones, and showcases even consistency for solid and clean coverage. It also stays wet for a good amount of time and makes for easy cleanup.

Buy: Speedball Acrylic Screen Printing Ink, 32-Ounce, Fluorescent Blue $32.99

WE ALSO LIKE
Nazdar 5500 Series Flat Poster Screen Ink
If you’re making serious, professional-grade posters, consider using a solvent-based ink like Nazdar’s. Compared to water-based formulas, they are more durable and lightfast, and they’re also more resistant to external elements. Nazdar’s ink comes in brilliant, opaque colors that are best used on cardboard and paper stock. They dry in about 30 minutes to a velvety matte finish that looks sophisticated and clean. You can use it straight from the can or tweak the formula with Nazdar’s retarder, transparent base, or extender base. The ink comes in gallon cans—ideal for large-scale work or high-volume poster makers.

Nazdar 5500 Series Flat Poster Screen Ink

Price: $170.12

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STUDENTS’ CHOICE
Speedball Fabric Screen Printing Ink Starter Set
Beginners might consider purchasing this user-friendly set of inks from Speedball, which is ideal for printing on fabrics, particularly common light fibers like cotton, polyester, linen, and rayon. You get six basic colors in four-ounce jars—black, red, blue, white, green, and yellow—and each can be mixed with ease. Although less viscous than Jacquard’s product, these inks offer amazing coverage in addition to smooth application and a fast drying time. Once the ink is heat-set, it won’t bleed, peel, or flake off the base fabric even after it’s been washed. Cleanup is also a breeze with this water-based ink.

Buy: Speedball Fabric Screen Printing Ink Starter Set, 6-Colors, 4-Ounce for T-Shirt and Silkscreen Printmaking $27.99

TOP OF THE LINE
Jacquard Screen Printing Inks
Jacquard’s product is a professional-grade and archival-quality water-based ink that will look stunning whether you are printing on fabrics or paper. It’s sold in a set of six or as individual jars. The latter option is nice if you need to build a specific palette, and while the cost can start to add up, the top quality is immediately apparent. These buttery, pigment-rich inks have a longer open time than lesser products, allowing you to be more precise and careful with your process. They can take a while to get used to, as they are quite thick, so you might try experimenting with adding water or an extender to achieve your ideal viscosity. But they blend beautifully, dry with a slight sheen, and will help you produce consistent batches. Used on fabric, the results are safe to wash many times over once properly heat set and air cured for at least 72 hours.

ALSO CONSIDER
Ecotex Water-Based Standard Ink Kit
These bright and vivid inks from Ecotex can either be used alone or as discharge inks, with the addition of the brand’s discharge powder. Due to its thin formula, you can use it on high mesh counts to produce very fine image detail. You can achieve soft-hand printing or excellent coverage without a bulky finish. Easy to mix and compatible with natural fibers, ideally 100 percent cotton, this ink must be cured at 320 ˚F. Choose from 16 colors, available in 16-ounce containers.

Buy: Ecotex® Water Based Standard Ink Kit for Screen Printing 6 – 8oz Ink Bottles by Screen Print Direct $74.99

When deciding on the best paint brush for your project, it’s important to consider the brush-head material as well as its size and shape. A quality brush will hold a good amount of paint, facilitate a smooth stroke, and won’t shed or split. Natural bristle brushes are made with coarse animal hair and are intended for oil and acrylic paints. A high-quality paint brush will feature bristle tips that have flagged, or split, ends that hold their shape and help hold and distribute paint better. The metal band joining the bristles to the brush handle is called a ferrule and keeps the bristles in shape and maintains their flex. Brushes come in many different shapes: from fan to round, with the most versatile being the trusted flat-headed brush. To help you choose, we’ve rounded up the best bristle brushes below. 

ARTnews RECOMMENDS
Grumbacher Gainsborough Bright Oil and Acrylic Brush
These professional-grade brushes are handmade with a unique tapered design that causes the bristles to interlock, allowing them to hold more paint and helping the head to stay in its original shape. Made from high-quality Chungking hog’s hair, these brushes move paint around beautifully, whether you are glazing thin layers, blending, or scumbling. The hairs, which are securely set in a nickel ferrule, are pleasingly springy and maintain their structure. Each brush features an ergonomic handle that’s wider at the grip and thinner at the end to provide a nice balance. It’s also long-handled to accommodate loose gestures. Available in sizes between 1 and 14.

Buy: Grumbacher Gainsborough Bright Oil and Acrylic Brush, Hog Bristle, Size 10 (1271B.10) $13.54

WE ALSO LIKE
Da Vinci Maestro 2 Hog Bristle Brushes
The hand-shaped bristles of these hog-bristle brushes interlock for better pigment-holding ability and are double oiled for extra spring and endurance. The nickel-plated brass ferrules are rust-resistant and keep bristles from falling out or bending. Manufactured via certified green processes and constructed with extra-long sustainable wood handles, these brushes are not only artist grade but environmentally friendly.

Da Vinci Maestro 2 Brushes

Price: $7.41–$162.17

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ANOTHER GOOD OPTION
Silver Brush Silverstone Premium White Hog Bristle Brushes
All the brushes in this line are made with premium white Chungking hog bristles that hit all the marks: They hold a lot of pigment, don’t shed, and resist unwanted splaying. Their natural flags also help carry color and lay it down smoothly and evenly. These brushes are available in a variety of sizes and shapes, but we want to spotlight the extra-large filberts in particular in sizes 14, 16, 18, and 20. These are ideal for large-scale canvases or murals, allowing for sweeping, consistent gestures. We also appreciate the extra-long nickel-plated ferrules that make these brushes more durable.

Silver Brush Silverstone Brushes

Price: $6.96–$72.91

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STUDENTS’ CHOICE
Winsor & Newton Winton Long Handle Brush, 3 Pack
Featuring high-quality hog-hair bristles, these resilient brushes are well priced for those on a student budget. You get a set of three versatile brushes that cover all shape bases: a round 4, a filbert 6, and a flat 8. Each brush has a long handle and is made with bristles hand-set into corrosion-resistant ferrules for a secure hold. The coarse hairs have a natural curve and retain their shape even after heavy use. They are quite stiff and don’t hold as much paint as higher-end brushes, but they are excellent for learning with.

Buy: Winsor & Newton Winton Long Handle Brush (3 Pack) (Round 4, Filbert 6, Flat 8) $21.80

ALSO CONSIDER
Utrecht Rhenish Pure Hog Bristle Brushes
Named for the Rhine, where some of the company’s products are still made, these long-handle natural brushes are handmade to deliver excellent paint-holding capacity. The interlocked bristles have flagged ends that provide smooth and soft strokes, and they especially excel at moving heavy-body paints. The natural finish of the long and comfortable wood handle is aesthetically pleasing, but it is also a smart design for plein air painting as it doesn’t get hot in the sun.

Utrecht Pure Hog Bristle Brushes

Price: $4.27–$64.91

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From early cave painters to Pablo Picasso to Roberto Longo, artists have long loved the expressive potential of a soft charcoal pencil or crayon. Each sweep of charcoal offers intense black color and easy blending for preliminary studies, lush landscapes, or photorealistic portraits. There is a wide variety of artist’s charcoals on the market, each with its own unique set of properties and ingredients. Compressed charcoal is a soft block or stick, often created from burned birch, clay, and black pigment. Charcoal pencils are similar to graphite pencils; they’re often used to render crisp, detailed drawings. There are also delicate charcoals made from burning willow twigs and grape vines. Buying charcoal implements in a set is a nice option, giving you tools for an array of effects from the get-go. We can help you find the set best suited to your needs; browse our picks below.

How we pick each product:
Our mission is to recommend the most appropriate artists’ tool or supply for your needs. Whether you are looking for top-of-the line equipment or beginners’ basics, we’ll make sure that you get good value for your money by doing the research for you. We scour the Internet for information on how art supplies are used and read customer reviews by real users; we ask experts for their advice; and of course, we rely on our own accumulated expertise as artists, teachers, and craftspeople.

ARTNEWS RECOMMENDS
General’s Charcoal Drawing Assortment
The popular pencil purveyor offers a number of charcoal sets, but we like this compact kit as it covers a range of charcoal types, all at an affordable price. Highlights include two black charcoal pencils (one 4B and one 6B ) that have little drag and blend nicely, three compressed charcoal sticks for covering larger areas, four willow charcoal sticks, a sharpener, and a kneaded eraser. Ideal as an introduction to the medium, this set will satisfy basic shading and smudging needs.

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Derwent Charcoal Mixed Media Set
If you love sketching with willow and vine charcoal, consider Derwent’s set. It’s the only option on our list to include both in addition to harder kinds of charcoal. You get one chunky piece of willow charcoal for intense mark-making and two long stripes of vine charcoal ideal for looser strokes, plus three charcoal pencils. One is a dark variety that’s slightly softer than General’s and therefore capable of producing slightly cleaner lines that are less prone to smudging. The other two are tinted pencils in a brown and a white—great to add subtle tones into your drawings. Also included are three compressed charcoal blocks that smudge beautifully and a blending stump to smudge with. Note that unlike other brands, Derwent designates its charcoal by shade rather than by the standard grading scale for hardness.

Derwent Charcoal Mixed Media Set

Price: $24.99

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EDUCATORS’ CHOICE
Royal & Langnickel Essentials Medium Charcoal Art Set 
This is a great expanded starter set for those on a tight budget. While not made of the highest-quality charcoal, the tools offer an introduction to lots of charcoal types in varying degrees of hardness, and the low price means you won’t feel too bad if you accidentally break one—which is likely if you’re a newcomer to charcoal. Packed in a handy tin are six compressed charcoal sticks for large areas, three charcoal pencils and three woodless charcoal pencils for line work, two white pastel sticks for highlights, and a sanding block for sharpening your implements. You also get four vine charcoal sticks to familiarize yourself with a more brittle form of the medium, three blending stumps, and an eraser.

Buy: Royal & Langnickel Essentials(TM) Medium Charcoal Art Set W/Tin $15.57

Cretacolor Black & White Drawing Set
Made in Vienna, the implements in this set will satisfy artists seeking more sustainable products. They’re made with no rainforest woods or toxins in a process that doesn’t compromise on quality. Artist-grade charcoal appears in myriad forms, from a trio of compressed black charcoal (in soft, medium, and hard) to two white charcoal sticks with square ends. A highlight is the Nero art stick, an oil-based charcoal pencil that can produce permanent, deep-black lines. This set also comes with chalk pencils, chalk oil pencils, and pastels, making it a particularly good choice for those who want to mix their drawing media.

Buy: CRETACOLOR Drawing Set, 25 Piece, Multi $28.88

TOP OF THE LINE
Faber-Castel Pitt Charcoal Set
Faber-Castel’s Pitt charcoal is natural, which means it doesn’t have any added fillers or binders, and is incredibly intense. You’ll get to experience the top-grade stuff in diverse ways with this set, which includes three charcoal pencils that are soft yet lay down deep and dark strokes; three compressed charcoal pencils that offer even deeper black marks; and eight charcoal sticks of different sizes. You also receive eight compressed charcoal sticks to work with. These are rectangular rather than round like most sticks, which makes them more comfortable to hold. Made of a combination of charcoal and soot, they produce a unique black that is very blendable.

Buy: Faber-Castel 24 Piece Pitt Charcoal Set $30.69

Are you curious about colored pencils as a medium? Has your child graduated from crayons and looking for something a little more grown-up to color with? Then a set of good-quality colored pencils is a must. It can be overwhelming finding the right one, however, as many colored pencils are geared toward pros. But for those just starting out, regardless of their age, pencils for beginners—while not necessarily lightfast—will suffice. Read on for our top picks of starter sets, which all come with at least two dozen colors.

How we pick each product:
Our mission is to recommend the most appropriate artists’ tool or supply for your needs. Whether you are looking for top-of-the line equipment or beginners’ basics, we’ll make sure that you get good value for your money by doing the research for you. We scour the Internet for information on how art supplies are used and read customer reviews by real users; we ask experts for their advice; and of course, we rely on our own accumulated expertise as artists, teachers, and craftspeople.

ARTnews RECOMMENDS
Prismacolor Scholar Art Pencils, Set of 24
These student-grade pencils from the biggest name in colored pencils sit at the top of our list for many reasons. First, they are economical, at a little more than 50 cents a pencil. Secondly, they deliver rich, blendable color that can lay down lightly or intensely. Their cores are softer than Prismacolor’s premier line of colored pencils, allowing students to practice blending colors, but they nevertheless resist breakage. This set also comes in a durable plastic case that opens to double as an upright holder you can stand on your desk.

Buy: Prismacolor Scholar Colored Pencils, 24 Pack $13.08

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Derwent Academy Colored Pencil Sets
These rather highbrow sets may not be an intuitive buy for little artists, but it cinches the next spot on our list for a few reasons. First off—and this is a big one—these pencils come in a sturdy tin, so you can bid farewell to flimsy, dirty cardboard boxes. The pencils themselves are simply gorgeous: brilliantly hued 3.3-millimeter leads in a glossy black casing, finished with correspondingly colored ends. They’re a worthy purchase for the whole family. Because Derwent’s colored pencils are a step up from our first pick, expect to shell out a little more for these 12- and 24-pencil sets. Are they worth every penny? You bet.

EDUCATORS’ CHOICE
Sargent Art Color Pencils
Sargent Art’s colored pencil set is a budget-friendly choice that is especially good for pre-k or elementary students. They don’t require a lot of pressure to create marks, but the cores can withstand a good amount of force should kids push down hard. The colors may not be as vibrant as others on our list, but the tips glide across paper and are capable of producing sharp, crisp lines. This set of 36 colors offers enough hues for all but the most ambitious budding artist.

Buy: Sargent Art 22-7236 36-Count Assorted Colored Pencils $7.99

ALSO CONSIDER
Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor Oil-Based Colored Pencils and Sets
If you want a set that is slightly more sophisticated but still suitable for students and beginners, we recommend Lyra’s pencils. They feature oil-based cores densely loaded with pigments that disperse effortlessly over paper with no wax buildup. Vibrant and blendable, the pencils offer good lightfastness, with ratings for each color printed inside the included tin.

A GREAT ALTERNATIVE
Prang Duo-Color Colored Pencil Sets
Yes, this is a two-in-one pencil. No, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but the novelty of a double-ended pencil is sure to thrill your little ones. These used to be the holy grail at crafting parties and in elementary school art class. Now, they can be yours in sets of 6, 12, or 18. You have to admit, two colors for the price of one is a darn good deal. Of course, each color will be half the length of a full-size colored pencil; consider these a creative and economical option if you’ve never known the sad sight of a totally whittled-down Sky Blue.

Prang Duo-Color Colored Pencil Sets

Price: $2.92–$8.19

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Highly pigmented alcohol ink is an incredibly versatile painting medium. Most products can be used on virtually any nonporous surface, from resin to Yupo paper (a synthetic waterproof paper). These inks can be used straight from the bottle or diluted with alcohol to create lighter tones; some brands offer blending solutions, but simple isopropyl alcohol will also work. Although alcohol inks are forgiving—you can often wipe mistakes away with alcohol—they can stain clothing and skin, so you’ll want to make sure your setup is prepared to withstand drips and spills. (Note that alcohol inks are not suitable for artists under 16.) Our picks below will help you decide which brand is best for your needs.

How we pick each product:
Our mission is to recommend the most appropriate artists’ tool or supply for your needs. Whether you are looking for top-of-the line equipment or beginners’ basics, we’ll make sure that you get good value for your money by doing the research for you. We scour the Internet for information on how art supplies are used and read customer reviews by real users; we ask experts for their advice; and of course, we rely on our own accumulated expertise as artists, teachers, and craftspeople.

ARTnews RECOMMENDS
Jacquard Piñata Colors and Sets
Jacquard’s vibrant, fast drying, and cost-effective inks will serve you well no matter the project—use them on glass, ceramic, resin, Yupo paper, and more. They are on the thicker side, but still easy to squeeze from the bottle, and they blend well, whether mixed with a blending solution or inks from other brands. You can buy a great basic set of nine colors in 0.5-ounce bottles, or choose from 27 individual colors in 0.5- or 4-ounce bottles.

Jacquard Piñata Colors and Sets

Price: $3.38–$125.00

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Ranger Tim Holtz Alcohol Inks
Ranger is another artist-favored brand. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting to work with alcohol ink, these inks are easy to use. Although slightly thinner and more delicate than Jacquard’s inks, they dilute nicely with extenders and flow very well whether you’re working with resin, polymer clay, Yupo paper, or even metal. Their fluid consistency also allows you to have great control over blending and layering. Ranger stands out for its color offerings: their 14-milliliter bottles (a shade under 0.5 ounces) of ink are available in nearly 70 colors, including unique ones such as rose gold and a teakwood shade that you can use to create faux-wood finishes. They are sold in sets of two or three complementary colors, or you can purchase them individually.

Ranger Tim Holtz Alcohol Inks

Price: $3.70–$11.09

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ANOTHER OPTION
T-Rex Inks Starlight Shimmer 12-Bottle Set
Most alcohol ink sets are sold in small volumes, with typically less than 15 milliliters of ink per bottle. While compact bottles can last a while, especially with extenders, high-volume ink users should consider T-Rex’s product, which comes in 20-milliliter (a little under 0.75-ounce) bottles. While T-Rex doesn’t have the same brand-name recognition or reputation as our top pick, its inks are excellent. They carry rich, vibrant colors and perform well with resin and papers. This set includes 11 sparkly colors to add to your arsenal of hues.

Buy: T-Rex Inks Premium Alcohol Inks Starter Set- 12 Vibrant XL Colors – Alcohol Ink for Epoxy Resin Dye, Painting, Tumbler Making & More – Storage Box & Alcohol Ink Blending Solution – 20ml Bottles $30.99

A GREAT ALTERNATIVE
Copic Ink Refills
These alcohol-based ink holders are technically refills for Copic markers, which are beloved by illustrators. But they also perform exceedingly well as implements for alcohol ink art: Simply drip the ink directly onto your art surface, be it glass, ceramic, metal, or paper. Shaped like a thick marker, these refills have an ergonomic design with an angled, dropper-style tip. The colors are vibrant and blend well with alcohol while maintaining their original hue. Best of all, you get to choose from Copic’s range of more than 350 colors. Although you have to buy them individually, each refill contains 12-milliliters (0.4 ounces) of ink.

ALSO CONSIDER
Brea Reese Alcohol Ink and Sets
These inks are perfect for covering large areas as they have a thinner consistency than our other options. Fast-drying and transparent, they spread easily on surfaces from paper to metal and can even be moved faster with the aid of tools like a heat gun or an air compressor. This makes them excellent for tinting resin or acrylic pours, and the colors remain bright and true. Because each bottle features a precision tip, you can also use them to load markers. Choose from 26 colors, available individually or in sets of three in 20-milliliter bottles.

Brea Reese Alcohol Ink and Sets

Price: $3.99–$6.99

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