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Why Cheap Art Supplies Aren’t Actually Cheap
I used to grab the 99-cent watercolors and dollar-store crayons. Makes sense, right? Kids waste art supplies. They break crayons. They lose markers. Why spend more?
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Then my daughter’s art teacher told me something that changed my perspective: kids get frustrated with cheap supplies and give up. Watery paints that don’t show color. Markers that dry out in a week. Colored pencils that snap when you sharpen them. The supplies are fighting against the art, and kids blame themselves.
I’m not saying buy professional-grade materials for a 5-year-old. But there’s a massive quality jump between the bargain bin and mid-range supplies, and it’s genuinely worth the upgrade. Here’s everything I recommend after years of trial, error, and crayon-stained furniture.
Best Crayons
Crayola Classic Crayons (64-Count)
Ages: 3+ | Price: $5-8
There’s a reason Crayola has been around since 1903. They just work. Good color payoff, don’t crumble easily, and the built-in sharpener on the 64-pack is great. Could I recommend some fancy artisan crayons? Sure. But Crayola crayons work for every kid, every age, every project. My kids have drawn their way through approximately 900 of these.
Honeysticks Beeswax Crayons (For Toddlers)
Ages: 1-4 | Price: $18-22
Chunky, non-toxic, made from pure beeswax. They smell amazing and the fat shape is perfect for toddler grip. Yes, $18+ for crayons is ridiculous. But if your toddler eats crayons (mine did, enthusiastically), at least these are made from food-grade beeswax. They color beautifully and don’t break as easily as wax crayons. A splurge, but a justified one for the 1-3 crowd. More ideas for the littlest artists in our best toys for 2-year-olds guide.
Best Markers
Crayola Super Tips (100-Count)
Ages: 4+ | Price: $15-20
One hundred colors. Washable. Fine tips that also do thick lines if you press harder. These are the markers my kids (and I, honestly) reach for most. The color range is insane — you’ve got like 15 shades of blue. My 7-year-old is very particular about having exactly the right turquoise and this set delivers. They last longer than you’d expect too. We’ve had the same set for over a year and only a handful have dried out.
Crayola Broad Line Markers (For Little Kids)
Ages: 3+ | Price: $8-12 for 20-pack
For younger kids who press too hard for fine tips, these classic broad markers are perfect. Washable (genuinely — we’ve tested this on walls, clothes, and one unfortunate couch). Bold colors that show up well. Won’t retract into the barrel when pushed hard. Basically indestructible by kid standards.
Ohuhu Alcohol Markers (For Older Kids/Teens)
Ages: 10+ | Price: $25-45 for 48-set
When your kid gets serious about drawing and regular markers aren’t cutting it anymore. These are dual-tip alcohol markers (like Copics but at a fraction of the price) that blend beautifully. My friend’s 12-year-old daughter went from “art is okay” to “I want to be an artist” after getting these. They’re not washable — this is for kids who can handle real art supplies responsibly.
Best Colored Pencils
Prismacolor Junior Colored Pencils (48-Count)
Ages: 6+ | Price: $15-20
Smooth, vibrant, blend-able. These are a massive step up from the generic colored pencils that come in school supply packs. The cores are less prone to breaking during sharpening (the bane of every child artist’s existence). Great for detail work and coloring books. My daughter uses these for her nature journal drawings and the results are genuinely impressive.
Crayola Colored Pencils (50-Count)
Ages: 5+ | Price: $8-12
Budget pick that’s still totally solid. Not as smooth as Prismacolor, but they sharpen well, the colors are true, and they’re sturdy enough for everyday kid use. For a child who goes through colored pencils like snacks, these make more financial sense than premium brands. Buy two packs.
Best Paint Supplies
Crayola Washable Kids’ Paint (10-Color Set)
Ages: 3+ | Price: $12-16
Truly washable. I mean it — this stuff comes out of everything we’ve tested. Good opacity, decent color mixing results, and thick enough that it doesn’t drip everywhere immediately. For kids under 8, these are perfect. Not the most vibrant paints in the world, but the washability trade-off is absolutely worth it when you’re dealing with small kids and rental carpets.
Arteza Kids Tempera Paint Sticks
Ages: 3+ | Price: $15-22 for 24-pack
These are brilliant and I wish they’d existed when my oldest was a toddler. Solid paint in a twist-up stick — like a glue stick but it’s paint. No brushes, no water cups to spill, no mess (well, minimal mess). Colors are surprisingly vivid. They dry in about 90 seconds. My 4-year-old uses these independently and I don’t have to hover. That alone makes them worth every penny.
Watercolor Paint Set (Prang or Crayola)
Ages: 5+ | Price: $5-12
For actual watercolor painting, Prang 16-color ovals are what most elementary art teachers use. Good pigment, affordable, last ages. Pair with real watercolor paper (even cheap watercolor paper is better than printer paper, which buckles instantly). Add a couple of round brushes in different sizes and you’ve got a legitimate watercolor setup for under $20.
Best Art Kits & Sets
Crayola Inspiration Art Case (140 Pieces)
Ages: 5+ | Price: $25-35
Crayons, colored pencils, markers, and paper in a carrying case. The individual supplies aren’t the highest quality, but the variety and portability are the selling points. Perfect for travel, restaurant waiting, grandma’s house, or a birthday gift when you’re not sure what medium the kid prefers. My kids take theirs on every road trip. One of our most-gifted items — it’s always a hit. Great for a birthday present.
Klutz Books (Various Titles)
Ages: 6-12 | Price: $15-25 each
Klutz makes the best activity/art books, period. “Watercolor Crush,” “Draw Star Wars,” “Make Your Own Soap,” “Friendship Bracelets” — each one comes with materials and genuinely good instructions. The illustration style and humor keep kids engaged. My daughter has done four Klutz books and kept going back to each one for weeks. They’re gifts that actually get used.
Arteza Kids Art Set (72 Pieces)
Ages: 6+ | Price: $20-28
A step up from the Crayola case in terms of supply quality. Includes drawing pencils, watercolor pencils (cool!), pastels, and charcoal. Good intro to different media for kids who are getting more serious about art. The wooden case looks nice enough to display. My 7-year-old received this as a gift and it’s been her go-to art station for months.
Best Drawing & Sketching Supplies
Sketch Pad (Canson or Strathmore)
Ages: 5+ | Price: $5-10
Better than printer paper. The heavier weight can handle markers without bleeding through and erasure without tearing. Canson and Strathmore make affordable student-grade pads. Get the 9×12 size — big enough for real artwork but not so big it’s awkward. My daughter fills about one per month.
Faber-Castell Getting Started Drawing Set
Ages: 8+ | Price: $12-18
Graphite pencils in different hardnesses, charcoal, blending stumps, eraser. Everything a beginning artist needs to start learning real drawing techniques. The included guide teaches basic shading, perspective, and proportion. For a kid who’s always doodling and wants to get better, this is the perfect upgrade from a regular pencil.
Best Craft Supplies
Arts & Crafts Supply Kit (Bulk)
Ages: 4+ | Price: $20-30
Pipe cleaners, pom poms, googly eyes, foam sheets, glitter glue, wooden sticks, feathers, buttons, sequins — basically a craft bomb in a box. Keep one of these in the closet and pull it out on rainy days. The open-ended nature means kids make whatever they imagine. Is it always beautiful? No. Is it always creative? Absolutely.
Perler Beads Mega Kit
Ages: 5+ | Price: $20-30
Tiny beads placed on pegboards to create pixel-art designs, then ironed into permanent pieces. Incredibly absorbing. My son makes Minecraft characters, my daughter makes animals, and I’ve been caught making a few myself. Fine motor practice, pattern following, and creative design all in one. Buy the big bucket — the small kits run out too fast. For more creative play ideas, browse our creative toys guide.
Buying Guide: Setting Up a Kids’ Art Station
The Basics Every Home Needs
- Crayons (Crayola 64-pack)
- Washable markers (Super Tips 100-count)
- Colored pencils (at least 24 colors)
- Washable paint (6-10 colors)
- Paintbrushes (variety pack, at least 5)
- Sketch pad or drawing paper
- Safety scissors
- Glue sticks and white glue
- Tape (masking and clear)
Total cost for everything above: roughly $50-70. That’s a complete art station that covers ages 3-10.
Storage Solutions
A caddy or rotating organizer keeps supplies accessible and (somewhat) organized. We use a Melissa & Doug art supply caddy and it sits on our kitchen counter permanently. Easy access means the kids actually use the supplies instead of asking me to dig through drawers. Also prevents the “where’s my blue marker” meltdown that occurs daily.
Protecting Your Home
Washable everything for kids under 8. A plastic tablecloth or silicone mat on the art surface. Smocks or old t-shirts for painting. And accept that some mess is inevitable and actually healthy — the freedom to be messy enables real creativity. My mantra: “Walls are off limits. Everything else is negotiable.”
For more gift ideas for creative kids, see our gifts for 7-year-old girls and toys for 6-year-olds guides — both feature art-loving picks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Look for non-toxic, washable, and ideally edible-grade materials. Beeswax crayons (Honeysticks), washable finger paint, and large chalk are all safe for ages 1-3. Avoid small caps, permanent inks, and anything labeled “not for children under 3.” Supervision is still necessary — even safe supplies can stain if used on walls or furniture.
Mid-range supplies are absolutely worth it — the jump from dollar-store to Crayola-level is massive in terms of usability and results. Professional-grade supplies (Prismacolor Premier, Winsor & Newton) are overkill for most kids under 10. The sweet spot is student-grade supplies from reputable brands. Invest more as your child’s skills and interest grow.
Make supplies visible and accessible. Set up an art station they can reach independently. Do art alongside them — kids mirror what they see. Don’t critique or correct their work. Ask open-ended questions about what they’re making. Display their art where they can see it. And most importantly, never say “what is it?” Just say “tell me about your art.”
Crayons and colored pencils: standard drawing paper or sketch pad. Markers: slightly heavier paper to prevent bleed-through (cardstock works). Watercolor: watercolor paper (even cheap brands prevent buckling). Tempera paint: thick paper, cardstock, or canvas paper. In general, heavier paper makes kids’ art look and feel better, which encourages more art-making.
We like KiwiCo’s Doodle Crate (ages 9-16) for older kids and their Koala Crate (ages 2-4) for little ones. Artsnacks Jr is another good option with quality supplies and project ideas. Monthly art boxes keep things fresh and introduce materials kids might not try otherwise. Just make sure your kid is actually using each box before the next one arrives — there’s no point in stockpiling unopened kits.
