Top 15 Art Supplies for The Art Makes Me Smart Membership

A gentle guide from our homeschooling hearts to yours

We see you. Balancing lessons, laundry, snacks, and the deep desire to give your kids something meaningful. You’re doing beautiful work, and we believe art can make it even more joyful.

At Lily & Thistle, we’re a team of homeschooling moms just like you. We’ve walked the same road of decision fatigue and messy kitchen tables. That’s why we created The Art Makes Me Smart Membership, designed to make learning through art easy, rich, and connected.

If you’re wondering what supplies you’ll need to bring this creative adventure to life, we’ve got you covered. Here are the 15 most-used art supplies across our lessons, each of them tried, tested, and loved by real families.

Watercolors

Watercolors are one of our favorite go-to supplies and for good reason!  They’re simple, widely available, and forgiving. Kids (and moms!) love how easy it is to mix colors, soften mistakes, and create something beautiful—even with a basic set. They’re budget-friendly, low-mess, and versatile, perfect for all the art adventures waiting inside Art Makes Me Smart.

Oil Pastels

Softer than crayons and bursting with color, these creamy sticks are perfect for bold lines, rich textures, and fun resist techniques. They blend like a dream and make every project feel vibrant and full of life! These are one of those art supplies you’ll reach for again and again.

Gouache

Think of gouache (pronounced go-wash) as watercolor’s bolder cousin—creamy, vibrant, and a lot more opaque. It gives you the look of acrylic paint but dries much more quickly (a win for busy homeschool days). The best part? Just like watercolor, dried gouache can be revived with a splash of water, so nothing goes to waste. Try it on black construction paper, your kids will love the way the colors come alive.

Colored Pencils

These are wonderful for fine details, borders, and shading. A classic tool that helps kids explore precision and layering with color.

Crayons

Never underestimate the humble crayon! We use this classic art tool in many of our projects—especially with our youngest artists. They’re excellent for layering, blending, and wax-resist techniques.

Crayola Markers

Bright, bold, and wonderfully versatile, Crayola markers are a staple in many of our Around the World projects. We love using them for outlining, vibrant coloring, and adding graphic or poster-style details.

IMPORTANT: You may be tempted to grab the washable version (we totally understand!), but for most of our lessons, the non-washable Crayola markers work best. The techniques we use—like layering and blending with water or pairing with other media—depend on the particular ink in the non-washable versions. Trust us, the results are worth it!

Thin Black Pen for Outlines

A simple thin black pen adds the perfect finishing touch—outlining shapes, defining details, and giving artwork that polished look. We love the Sharpie Pen because it’s waterproof (no smudges or bleeding) and works beautifully for outlining watercolor pieces or adding fine details to any drawing.

Watercolor Paper

This is a must-have! Watercolor paper (preferably cold press, 140 lb) keeps colors vibrant and prevents your child’s art from turning into a soggy, wrinkled mess. Canson XL is our favorite for homeschoolers.

We’ve tested a lot of brands over the years, and these are the ones we come back to again and again. They just work.

Pro tip: For smaller projects or to stretch your supplies across multiple kids, try cutting each sheet into halves or fourths. It’s a simple way to make your paper last longer while still giving each child plenty of space to create.

Mixed Media Paper – White & Black

For projects using oil pastels, markers, or gouache, mixed media paper gives your kids a durable surface to explore. And black paper? It’s magical for contrast and glow!

Scissors

Every artist needs a good pair of child-safe scissors. We use them for cutting shapes, collage work, and crafts in many of our units.

Glue

Whether it’s a glue stick or white school glue, adhesive is essential. From assembling artwork to mixed media layering, we use glue regularly throughout courses.

Construction Paper

A homeschool classic! Perfect for colorful backgrounds, layering, and endless paper crafts. The Tru-Ray brand is a total game-changer! It’s smooth, sturdy enough for paint or any other medium you throw at it, and the colors stay beautifully bright. Once you use it, regular construction paper will feel rough and thin by comparison.

Cardstock Paper

Cardstock is thicker than regular paper but not as textured as watercolor paper. It’s perfect for printing templates, making bookmarks, or creating sturdy craft pieces that will hold up over time.

Brushes

Just one or two round brushes (sizes 6–8) are all you need to begin. Soft bristles work best for watercolor and gouache. Water brushes are also great for younger kids or mess-free art time.

Pencils & Erasers

Many projects start with a simple pencil sketch. Graphite pencils are perfect for outlining shapes, planning compositions, and adding light details before painting. They glide smoothly, erase easily, and when paired with a soft white eraser, make sketching low-stress and confidence-building for kids. A good white eraser won’t tear the paper or leave smudges, which makes it a must-have for clean, frustration-free art.

Want to Shop in One Spot?

We’ve gathered all of these supplies, plus more of our favorites,  into one easy place for you! Visit our Amazon Storefront to browse or shop.

Just Remember…

You don’t need everything all at once. Start with what you have. Add what fits your rhythm. The goal isn’t perfection, it’s connection. And that’s exactly what art-first learning is all about: building curiosity, confidence, and joy through creativity.

You’re not just checking off a box. You’re cultivating wonder.
And we’re so honored to be on this journey with you.

We have used affiliate links in this post, which means we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you if you purchase through our links. Every purchase supports the work we do here and helps us create more art-first resources for families like yours. Thank you!