Start Creating: Art Supplies for Beginners

New to art? You're in exactly the right place. We've taken the guesswork out of getting started — choose the kind of creating you'd like to try, grab one all-in-one starter kit, and you're away. No jargon, no endless shopping list.

100% NZ-owned
Free NZ shipping over $75
Fast dispatch from Auckland
Curated for beginners

Just want the easy answer? Start with acrylics. They're forgiving, fast-drying, and our 18-piece beginner set has the paint, brushes and canvas all in one box. Or browse every beginner kit in one place.

Pick your starting point

Acrylic painting

Best all-rounder — the most popular place to begin

You need paint, a few brushes, something to paint on, and a palette. A beginner kit gives you all of it at once.

Tip: acrylics dry fast and forgive mistakes — if you don't like it, just paint over it.

Shop the Beginner Set Basics Kit

Fluid & pouring art

For instant wow — no drawing skills needed

You need pouring paints, a pouring medium and a surface. A starter bundle has the lot, pre-matched.

Tip: cover your table first — pouring is gloriously messy and that's half the fun.

Shop the Pouring Kit

Watercolour

For soft, calm, portable painting

You need watercolour paints, a brush or two and proper watercolour paper. A basics kit bundles them together.

Tip: use less water than you think to begin with, then build up — you can always add more.

Shop the Watercolour Kit

Sketching & drawing

The cheapest start — and the best foundation

You need a range of graphite pencils, an eraser and a pad. Add colour later with pastels.

Tip: drawing trains your eye for everything else — even painters benefit from sketching first.

Shop Sketching Pencils Add Pastels

Clay & sculpting

For makers who like working with their hands — no kiln

You need air-dry clay and a few simple tools. It hardens on its own, so there's no special equipment.

Tip: keep a small bowl of water beside you to smooth joins and cracks as you go.

Shop Air-Dry Clay

Journaling & lettering

For creativity that fits in your bag

You need a journal and some fine pens — add a calligraphy set when you're ready for hand lettering.

Tip: done beats perfect. Fill one page today and you've already started.

Shop the BuJo Set Calligraphy

How to choose your first kit

1. Match the kit to what you want to makePainting, fluid art, drawing or clay — pick the medium that excites you most and start there.

2. One all-in-one kit beats buying bitsA starter kit is cheaper and less confusing than guessing at separate paints, brushes and surfaces.

3. Start mid-rangeStudent-grade supplies are made for learning — affordable, forgiving, and good enough to be proud of.

Beginner questions, answered

What art supplies do I need to start painting?

For acrylics you need paint, a few brushes, a surface such as a canvas or pad, and a palette. An all-in-one beginner kit includes all of these so you don't have to guess — our Acrylic Paint Beginner Set has 18 paints, 10 brushes and a canvas in one box.

What's the best beginner art set in NZ?

The best set is the one matched to what you want to make: acrylics for general painting, a watercolour basics kit for soft washes, or a pouring kit for fluid art. All of ours are beginner-friendly, ship free NZ-wide over $75 and dispatch fast from Auckland.

Do I need expensive supplies to start?

No. Student and mid-range supplies are made for learning — affordable, forgiving and good enough to make work you're proud of. Start mid-range and only upgrade the few things you use most.

What should a complete beginner buy first?

One all-in-one starter kit for your chosen medium, plus something to work on. That's genuinely it. Add extras later, once you know what you enjoy.

How much should I spend to get started?

Most beginners can get a complete starter kit for well under $75 — and any order over $75 ships free across New Zealand.

Is art hard to learn as an adult?

Not at all. The right beginner-friendly materials remove most of the frustration. Pouring and acrylics in particular give satisfying results from your very first session.

Ready to make something?

Pick a kit above and get started this weekend, or browse every beginner-friendly kit in one place. Free NZ shipping on orders over $75, dispatched fast from Auckland.

Shop all beginner kits Start with Acrylics