The Mixed Media Toolbox
From Pencils to Paints: My Current Go-To’s
Over the years, as a mixed media artist who's worked in both the fashion and home industries creating textile patterns and designs, I've had the joy of experimenting with SO many different art mediums! 🎨
One thing you gotta know is that I am definitely not a purist (haha!).
I love following my intuition and reaching for whatever medium makes each piece feel most authentically “me.” I’ll often start with a painted base and then layer other mediums on top—it adds texture and sparks so much joy!
There's something so freeing about mixing and layering different materials to create something unique and personal.
So I hope that from these recommendations, you'll feel inspired to try your next creative adventure! ✨
Let's jump into my current favorites, shall we? 😉
Gouache - My Go-To Paint for Everything!
I LOVE gouache (though funny story, I didn’t like it when I was a uni student cuz I didn’t understand it but now it’s the paint I can’t live without.) Mostly because of its incredible versatility! Whether I'm working on detailed illustrations or loose pattern designs, gouache never lets me down. 😌
My Favorite Gouache Brands:
Winsor & Newton - Consistently good quality that I can always rely on, high lightfastness. I tend to buy a small set of these to mix my own colors.
Holbein - Another fantastic option with rich pigments, high lightfastness. The tubes are smaller than W&N in this set.
(Keep in mind, these paint brands may vary in price depending on where you live, so definitely check what’s most economical in your region)
🎨 And if you want to mix more colors but sometimes feel stuck, I wrote this Color Recipes ebook with 100+ of my fave color combinations. It's like having a color mixing sidekick when you need it! 😉
Sui Gouache - This small business makes the most beautifully premixed colors, and the fact that Sui handcrafts each set with love in Korea adds such a sweet, personal touch to my art practice. 💕 You can find her paints here on Amazon or directly from her website.
I especially love how her premixed colors are so much brighter and more vibrant than what you'd usually get by mixing on your own - perfect if you just want gorgeous, ready-to-use colors straight from the tube!
Budget-Friendly Option: If you're just starting your gouache journey, Arteza and Reeves offers great consistency at a more affordable price point. Great for beginners who are just experimenting and building confidence!
P.S. If you haven't grabbed my free gouache guide yet, you can find it here - it's packed with tips that might help you fall in love with this amazing paint too! 😉
Watercolor - A Classic Paint
Gotta say I started with watercolor and loved it for it’s transparency and flowy nature. It also makes a great medium to travel with because it is much easier to pack than gouache, and there's something unique about the way watercolor creates those gorgeous, flowy effects - especially for painting flowers and nature scenes.
My Watercolor Picks:
Winsor & Newton - Always a reliable classic, lightfast and higly pigmented, recommended by lots of artists, find here.
Koi- a wide variety of watercolors in a small sized palette that is great for traveling, find here.
Other Watercolor brands - Always research what's available in your area - there might be amazing local brands that work perfectly for your style and budget!
Letter Sparrow - Beautifully handmade watercolors from the US! The pigmentation is so rich, and I love that you can build your own custom palette with their paint colors. Kelly is also a small business and her paints can be found here.
Watercolor Ink: If you want to create those absolutely stunning, flowy florals you see in silk scarves, you need to try watercolor ink! Just make sure you're using 100% cotton watercolor paper, or it won't give you those dreamy effects we're after.
Colored Pencils - For the Textures & Details
You know i love using colored pencils, for drawing, texture and even as a finishing touches over my gouache painting and these are my favorite pencil brands:
Caran d'Ache Pablos
Caran d'Ache Luminance
Faber-Castell Polychromos
So most colored pencils are wax only, but the oil blend in the lead of these brands makes them incredibly smooth, and they layer beautifully over gouache.
Wanna see my favorite color swatches?
Watch this YouTube video where I show more favorite supplies and colors of both pastels & colored pencils. I'm planning to update it this year, but it's still super helpful for seeing the colors on screen!
Markers - Perfect for Travel Art
Both of these brush markers are so fun for traveling with - you can use them to draw and even paint over the ink with water to create watercolor effects. I recommend trying them out to draw a city scene or nature scene en plein air.
Koi Brush Pens - Great for portable watercolor effects
Marvy Brush Pens - Another solid option for on-the-go creativity
Pastels - Paint and Draw!
Watercolor Pastels
Caran d'ache Neocolor II aquarelle pastels are so versatile and playful to use. They are almost like wax crayons but they can also be turned into paint! It's such a beautiful touch to nature scenes especially. I usually find them individually at my local art shop, though you can find them online too (you might need to search for vendors in your region).
Want to know which pastel colors I use most? I've listed them in the FAQ of this mini workshop.
Oil Pastels
This is such a fun new medium I've been exploring! There's something so satisfying about the texture and the way you can blend and move oil pastels on paper - it's almost meditative!
Budget-friendly starter: Mungyo Gallery pastels are perfect for dipping your toes in. They are super affordable and have a great selection of colors to start with in this set.
For unique, beautiful colors: I've been loving Hwawon pastels (plus they make the cutest wooden pastel holder). Just a heads up - they're a small business that may have discontinued some supply lines.
Extra Tools and Accessories
Desk Easel
I get asked about this one ALL the time! I use the Meeden desk easel. I love it in my workspace for comfort and using it for paint and pastels.
Fixatives
If you want your art to last for years (or if you're planning to sell your pieces), here are my go-to preservation methods:
Paper - The Foundation of Great Art
This might be the most important recommendation I can give you if you're working with mixed media. I prefer using cotton hot-pressed watercolor paper for ALL my art because of its versatility.
Why cotton matters: From 25-100% cotton content, the cotton helps paint spread beautifully and stay wet longer, giving you more working time. The fine texture of hot-pressed paper has just enough grip for colored pencils and pastels to adhere properly while still being smooth enough for detailed work.
Paper without cotton will not let paint (especially watercolor) spread as nicely, and if the paper is cold pressed then it may be too rough for colored pencils and pastels. So you may choose different paper for different mediums... but I feel like cotton hot pressed paper fits all my needs. 😌
Fun fact: This is exactly why I designed my own sketchbook, The Drawing Diary ✨ I wanted to create the perfect paper for fellow mixed media artists!
Other Paper Brands I Love:
Arches - Classic and reliable but pricey, find here.
Fabriano - Beautiful quality and affordable options, find here.
Blick's - or your local art store may create another affordable alternative
Sketchbook Recommendations:
Creator Tools
Canvas Lamp:
I swear by this tripod, it is how I get all my over the desk shots. Stays out of my creative process but records it well. Watch this video on how I use and record my reels. I also recommend the 360 mount without the lamp if you don't need an extra light. Use code “ELAINE10” for 10% off.
MOFT Invisible Tripod:
I take this on the go when I want to film abroad or at a cafe. It’s super handy with all the different angles and ways to film on your phone! I especially love that it folds down tiny and magnetically sticks to your phone. ✨ Grab 10% off with code “DEARELAINE10”.
I'm so excited to see what mediums you’ll explore next and what you’ll create with them! 💕
xxx Elaine
P.S. If you haven’t watched my Youtube video on my fave art supplies from last year, give it a watch here.
P.P.S. I'd absolutely LOVE to know if there are any brands you think I should try next!
Disclaimer: Some of these links are affiliated. I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no cost to you.
