Art Supplies, Materials and Where to Find Them
As an artist and spirit artist, I’m often asked about the materials and products I use in my creative and spiritual work. Over the years, I’ve tested a wide range of supplies and now tend to return to a few trusted brands and suppliers who consistently provide great quality, value and service.
I enjoy browsing art shops and online stores to restock essentials, but also to discover new materials that might spark inspiration or open up a new way of working for myself or with students.
Below, you’ll find a list of some of my favourite materials and tools, along with links to the suppliers I have a referral program with and regularly use.
Spirit Art, Mediumship & Inspirational Creativity
For my spiritual and intuitive art, I prefer materials that allow for spontaneity and flow, soft pastels, charcoal and mixed media surfaces can capture the essence of movement and energy quickly and efficiently. Materials I regularly use:
- Soft pastels – a range of colours for expressive, flowing work
- Pastel paper – textured surfaces that hold pigment beautifully
- Mixed media paper – ideal for layering pastel, pencil, and water-based media
- Charcoal pencils – for grounding outlines and contrast
- Pencils and erasers – for sketching and refining composition
- Hand wipes – a practical essential in any studio
- Fixative spray – to protect finished pastel or charcoal drawings
- Masking tape – for clean edges and securing work surfaces
- Easel – sturdy and adjustable, to suit seated or standing work
Trusted Supplier – Artway
Artway UK
A great wholesale supplier with a wide range of cost effective art materials, perfect for getting started on your creative joureny.
Artway UK – A4 Art Kit
The A4 Art Kit is perfect for students looking to start their creative education with quality art supplies in a comprehensive creative kit.
Artway – A3 Art Kit
The A3 Art Kit is perfect for students looking to start their creative education with quality art supplies in a comprehensive creative kit.
Encaustic Wax, Inspired Art
Encaustic art, painting with molten wax is a wonderfully tactile and intuitive process that lends itself beautifully to spiritual and expressive work. The work can be interpreted like inspiration and oracle cards, used as the starting point for a read or private session. Items to have on hand:
- Encaustic wax blocks (coloured and clear)
- Encaustic iron and stylus
- Heat-resistant cards or panels
- Polishing cloths
Starter Kit includes:
- Encaustic art painting iron
- 16 wax block colours
- A6 and A5 white painting cards
- Metal scribing tool
- Short multi-lingual guide
Oil Painting, Big Projects and Studio Work
Oil painting connects me deeply to the physical act of painting — the layers, texture, and slow drying time allow for a meditative, immersive process.
Studio essentials:
- Brushes – a variety of bristle and soft-hair brushes for different effects
- Oil paints – artist-quality paints for vibrancy and longevity
- Linseed oil – to extend and thin paint
- White spirit or low-odour solvent – for cleaning brushes and thinning paints
- Gesso – to prepare canvas or board surfaces
- Canvas – stretched or board-mounted
- Satin or matt varnish – for final protection and finish
Thoughts for creatives
Good quality materials won’t make the art for you, but they will make the creative journey smoother, more enjoyable and more expressive.
Whether I’m creating a spirit portrait, a landscape or abstract work of art I’ve found that working with trusted tools allows me to focus fully on the energy, emotion and energy of the unseen world.
If you’re new to art or exploring spirit and inspired creativity, start simple. Invest in a few quality materials and let them guide your exploration. Be creative every day!