What Art Supplies Do You Need as a Beginner in NZ? Essential 7-Item Checklist

Starting a new creative practice can feel overwhelming when you're staring at hundreds of products in an art store. This checklist gives you exactly what you need to start — no more, no less. Priced for NZ, with free shipping on orders over $75.

The 7 essentials every beginner needs

1. Paint (acrylic is the best starter)

Recommended: Mont Marte Signature Acrylic 12pc x 12ml set ($9.99) or 18pc starter set.
Why: Acrylic is water-based (easy cleanup), dries fast (no waiting days), mixes well, and works on almost any surface. Oils and watercolours have steeper learning curves.
Budget: $10-25 for a starter pack of 12-18 colours.

2. Brushes (5-8 to start)

Recommended: 11-piece Taklon Brush Set ($19.99).
Why: Synthetic taklon brushes work for acrylics and watercolour, are affordable and durable. A set gives you variety immediately.
Budget: $15-25 for a decent beginner set.
More detail: See our Paintbrush Buying Guide.

3. Canvas or canvas pad

Recommended: 2-3 pre-stretched canvases (20×25cm or 30×40cm) OR a canvas pad for practice.
Why: Canvas pads are cheaper for practice; stretched canvases are better for finished work you want to hang.
Budget: $5-15 for a small pre-stretched canvas.
More detail: See our Canvas Size Guide.

4. Mixing palette

Recommended: Plastic or wooden palette, or simply use a ceramic plate.
Why: You need somewhere to mix colours. Anything flat and washable works.
Budget: $3-8 (or free if you repurpose an old plate).

5. Pencils & eraser (for sketching first)

Recommended: 2B, 4B and 6B pencils + kneadable eraser.
Why: Sketching lightly before painting saves mistakes. The B pencils give you range from light to dark.
Budget: $5-10.

6. Sketch pad / visual diary

Recommended: A3 visual diary (for NCEA students) or A4 sketch pad (for casual).
Why: Planning compositions, practising techniques, and capturing ideas. Invaluable.
Budget: $10-20.

7. Water jar & paper towels

Recommended: Two jars (one for rinsing, one for clean water), plus paper towels for drying brushes.
Why: Clean brushes stay sharper and longer.
Budget: Free (repurpose jars from home).

Total cost breakdown

What you don't need as a beginner

Avoid these common beginner money-drains:

• Premium paints — Signature/student-grade is perfectly fine. Only upgrade when you're serious.
• Huge sets of 48+ colours — Start with 12 and mix the rest. Too many colours can be overwhelming.
• Expensive easels — A tabletop surface works fine. Buy an easel later if you commit.
• Specialty mediums — Flow mediums, gel mediums, varnishes: skip until you know what you need.
• Oil paints (as first paints) — Harder cleanup, longer drying, more ventilation needed. Master acrylic first.

Common beginner questions

Ready to start?

Browse our full beginner range, grab a Complete Beginner Kit, or dive deeper with our Acrylic Painting Beginner's Guide.