Pencil is a very simple drawing material with which artists start their creative journey. Even any kid makes his first lines with a pencil before moving on to more complex material. But not such a pencil and primitive, if you study in more detail. He is able to help the artist create sketches, various illustrations, drawings and paintings. Pencils have their own types and it is important for any artist to be able to choose the right material for their work so that the illustration has a presentable appearance. So let's figure it out how to choose a pencil for drawing?

The principle of the pencil

When a person presses down on a pencil, the rod slides over the paper, and the graphite particles break down into small particles and linger in the paper fiber. Thus, a line is obtained. In the process of drawing, the graphite rod is erased, so it is sharpened. The most familiar way is a special sharpener, you can also use a regular blade. It is important to understand that this method requires special care and preparation, in order to avoid cuts. But thanks to the blade, you can make the desired thickness and shape of graphite.

Types of a simple pencil

The basic definition of a pencil is a graphite rod framed in a wood or plastic frame. A simple graphite pencil is various types. They differ in their degree of hardness.
Human eyes can see a large number of shades of gray, and to be precise -150 tones. Despite this, the artist must have at least three types of simple pencil in his arsenal - hard, medium soft and soft. With their help, you can create a three-dimensional drawing. Different degrees of rigidity will be able to convey the contrast, you just need to skillfully handle them.
You can determine the degree of softness of graphite using the symbols (letters and numbers) that are printed on the frame of the pencil. The scale of hardness and softness are different. We will consider three types of notation:

Russia

1. T- solid.
2. M- soft.
3. TM- medium softness.

Europe

1. H- solid.
2. B- soft.
3. HB- medium softness.
4. F- middle tone, which is determined between H and HB.

1. #1 (B)- soft.
2. #2 (HB)- medium softness.
3. #2½ (F) Medium between hard and medium soft.
4. #3 (H)- solid.
5. #4 (2H)- very hard.

It is impossible not to take into account such a moment as the manufacturer. Sometimes, even the same softness of pencils from different manufacturers will differ significantly from each other due to their quality.

A palette of shades of a simple pencil

It is worth noting that the softness of pencils can vary significantly. In other words, softness and hardness are further divided into tonality. The H designation is considered the hardest, while B is the softest. It's not surprising if there are whole sets in the store from 9H (hardest) to 9B (softest).
The most common and popular is the HB pencil. It has moderate softness and hardness, making it easy to sketch. With it, you can enhance dark places, thanks to its light softness.
To enhance the contrast of the picture, it is worth purchasing 2B. Artists rarely use very hard pencils, but this is a matter of taste. This type of pencil is more suitable for drawing schemes or building perspectives for landscapes, because it is almost invisible in the image. It is impossible not to take into account that the high hardness of the pencil allows you to make a smooth transition on the hair or add a barely noticeable tone without fear of darkening.

At the beginning of work, it is worth using a hard pencil, especially if you are not sure about the result of the illustration. A soft pencil is designed to work out the shadows and highlight the desired lines.

Hatching and shading

Regardless of the softness, one must always remember that the pencil must be sharpened sharply. Strokes and lines are best obtained with a hard pencil due to the fact that the lead does not dull quickly, but remains in its pointed shape for a long time. Shading is preferred for a soft pencil, but it is better to draw with the side of the stylus so that the material is applied evenly.

Features of working with a pencil

Do not forget that the pencil lead is a rather fragile thing. Every time a pencil falls to the floor or is hit, its core is damaged or even broken. As a result, it will be inconvenient to draw, because the stylus will crumble or fall out of its wooden frame.

Outcome. The information worth knowing is quite voluminous for a novice artist. But it is very useful, because it will help in creating future masterpieces. Over time, knowledge will automatically suggest which simple pencil is needed in a given situation. Most importantly, don't be afraid to experiment.

oil painting- this is the most popular and favorite technique of many world-famous artists, both past centuries and our time. Due to its plastic structure, oil paints dry for a long time, which makes it possible to correct the drawing for a long time. Oil painting always looks elegant and refined. Learning to paint with oils is a difficult task, but it brings a lot of pleasure to the artist. If you have not yet mastered this technique, start right now: who knows, maybe the future Aivazovsky or Vasnetsov is hidden in you? What does a beginner oil painter need to have?

The list of necessary items for oil painting

1. Oil paints.
2. Brushes: you can use brushes made of natural bristles and synthetics (the choice of brush depends on how much you have and what result you want to achieve).
3. Wooden palette.
4. Oiler for thinner.
5. Thinner (used so that the paints are not too thick).
6. Canvases (canvas on a stretcher, canvas on cardboard, and primed cardboard are equally good).
7. Special liquid for washing brushes.
8. Kistemoyka.

Oil paints- paints created from oil, pigment and turpentine. For oil paints, linseed, hemp, poppy, walnut or safflower oils are used. Pigments affect the color of paint and can be synthetic or natural. Oil paintings remain in excellent condition for many centuries: when dried, oil paints retain their color, they are not afraid of light and frost. Due to the pasty structure, oil paints have excellent opacity.

brushes: Oil paints are best applied with natural bristle brushes or synthetic brushes. Each artist should have brushes of different hardness and different shapes- this will help to display the desired structure of the picture and make even small details clear.

wooden palette- this is an indispensable thing in the arsenal of an artist who loves to paint with oil paints. For convenience, you should have two palettes: one large - for drawing in the studio, the second - a small one for traveling. Please note that a plastic palette for oil painting is not suitable.

butter dish- special utensils for diluent, which is attached to the palette with a special clamp.

Diluent used to make paints less thick. For oil paints, petroleum, tee or linseed oil is most often used as a thinner. By the way, for people who react negatively to odors and allergies, it is better to use petroleum, since it does not have any smell.

Canvas- This is the material on which the paintings are painted. The variety of canvases in our time can confuse the novice artist. In any art supply store you can find a large selection of canvases on a stretcher or on cardboard and canvases wound on a roll. Canvases are made of linen or cotton, which makes their structure varied - from fine-grained to coarse-grained. Most often, medium-grained canvases are used by artists.

Brush cleaner- This is a special tool for cleaning brushes from paint residues. It is much easier to wash the brush with such a liquid than with other thinners, and with proper care, the brush will last much longer.

Kistemoyka- a small vessel, often in the form of a small bucket, with a spiral mounted on top to secure the brush. With the help of a brush washer, only the necessary part of the bone is in the washing liquid, which allows you to save the brush handle from damage.

Buy, quality oil paints, as well as all the necessary accessories for oil painting, you can in our store. We will be glad to help you!

Modern oil painting is a set of styles, trends and techniques that require not only special skills, but also special tools. agree that for quality work and the implementation of the author's intention, we take the choice of materials seriously. Any store for artists today offers a huge assortment in which a beginner without knowledge of all the intricacies of the matter can easily get lost. What can we say about the formats and textures of the canvas, if the names of the shades of oil paints cause frank bewilderment for many.

It is difficult for a novice artist to understand what specific materials for painting will surely come in handy in the process of work. Canvas, oil paints and paint brushes are far from a complete set that is needed in order to paint a picture. Therefore, we offer you a virtual trip to the artist's shop in the company of our experienced teacher.

CANVAS

Not only ordinary paper can serve as the basis for a future masterpiece. Oil painting is interesting because boards, plywood, glass and even metal can be easily used as a canvas. If we talk about the classic basics, then, of course, these are the most diverse textures of fabrics. As a rule, a novice artist is advised to use medium or fine grained linen. It is strong and durable. It is known that most of the prominent painters in Russia chose this option. When buying a canvas, pay attention to its surface. The fabric should be even, without knots and other convex fragments. It is important that there are no gaps in the threads on the matter, and their thickness is uniform everywhere.

STRETCHER

Any specialized artist shop offers ready-made canvases stretched on a stretcher made of linden, pine or birch. When purchasing this, evaluate the quality of the wood. The bars must be dry and smooth. If you notice knots, rot, or wormholes, it's best to make your own stretcher or look elsewhere. An important point is a method of attaching fabric to wood. When buying a glued base, make sure that it is strong and not overdried. But those canvases on which matter is fixed with screws need to be checked in a special way. Flip the base horizontally and see if the fabric is sagging or has any spots or wrinkles on it.

PRIMING

The base primer is key in preparing the canvas. Oil paints are quickly absorbed, dry and darken if the fabric is not pre-treated. This is what good soil is for. The easiest way is to buy a fully finished canvas, pre-soaked and dried. However, first ask how this procedure was performed. After all, the durability, freshness and saturation of the shades of the future picture depend on this.

The soil is glue, oil and emulsion. The first is a layer of a solution of glue and chalk. The second one is created from several layers of finely grated oil paint, zinc or lead white over the adhesive coating. The third is a mixture of emulsion and dry powders of the same white.

Any type of soil requires drying. Oil, for example, has a rather long period: from six months to a year. Therefore, for the most part, canvases are treated with an emulsion or glue.

One way or another, the coating of the fabric should be even, smooth and durable. Roughness indicates that the base solution was poorly mixed or overdried.

OIL PAINTS

For oil painting, a beginner artist will need a set of a maximum of 8-10 primary colors. Performing subsequent work, you will be able to understand which shades are consumed faster. You can paint a picture using just a couple of tubes, so do not rush to get a large range right away. It is better to pay attention to the quality of paints, their derivative component. So, for example, there are oil paints from flax seeds, poppy, sunflower, walnut and hemp. Most often, flax oil is used, as it forms a resistant and durable film when dried. Based paints nut butter They are good because they practically do not darken when dried. Poppy oils are much more transparent and dry slowly, so they are used less often. But sunflower or hemp oil, despite the long drying time and greenish-yellow tint, does not spread and eventually turns into a good protective film.

When choosing materials for painting, think about what you will paint and what scale. This will help you choose not only the color scheme, but also significantly reduce your costs.

BRUSHES

You need to choose brushes for drawing, based on the subtlety of the future work and on the technique of its execution. You can paint the same landscape countless times with a variety of methods, both with narrow and neat strokes, and with chaotic rough strokes. On average, for oil painting, you will need no more than 4-5 brushes of different sizes and shapes. Be sure to buy one large flat brush, one medium round brush and a few fine ones for the "jewelry" details.

Any brush has its own number, which is identified with its size. You can find this number on a wooden handle or a metal rim near the base. When over time you develop your own style, you will understand which brushes you use most often and will be able to easily distinguish goods for the artist by name, number and article.

EASEL

In order to paint a picture, it is not necessary to have an easel. So say those who are afraid to step aside and objectively evaluate their painting from the outside, with the eyes of an unfamiliar viewer. An easel helps to set the canvas in a secure position, at a height convenient for your height. In addition, leaving the picture in a fixed position at eye level, you can clearly see the details and flaws. Some of the artists finished work they do not remove from the easel for a certain time, because after the expiration of the period and frequent contemplation of fresh work, there is a desire and need to change, correct, correct something.

Easels come in different shapes, heights and sizes. The only thing you should pay attention to when buying is the strength of all fasteners and the length of the legs.

SKETCHBOOK

This is the so-called "portfolio" for oil painting outside the workshop area. If you love nature or want to convey the beauty of the architecture of the city, a sketchbook is an indispensable thing! It can be compactly and neatly placed all the accessories: brushes, canvases and paints. Most often it is made of wood or plywood of a square or rectangular shape. On the sides of the sketchbook there are straps that make it easy to carry, and special holders - to install in the open air in any area. Floor sketchbooks are good because they are equipped with special legs, the height of which you can adjust yourself for the convenience of work.

Before purchasing a sketchbook, make sure it has plenty of instrument slots normal size and the aforementioned legs are securely fastened.

LUCKY

Looking at goods for the artist, you will surely notice artistic varnishes. This is a special solution of resin in turpentine, alcohol or oil. It helps to improve the pictorial properties of the finished painting, and also contributes to its long-term storage.

It is not necessary to cover the work with varnish. However, applying this coating to the drawing, you will be surprised by the saturation of colors and shades, as well as confident that the canvas will not fade over time. The dried protective layer of varnish will make it easy to wipe the picture from dust.

The so-called "picturesque" varnishes are made from soft types of resins. Some of them are suitable for thinning oil paints. At first, we do not recommend experimenting with varnishes on your own without first consulting with experienced artists. Otherwise, you may inadvertently ruin your work.

Palette knives

For oil painting, these tools are a must for you! Palette knives are designed to apply and remove paint from the canvas, as well as transfer them to the palette. It is enough to have a palette knife in one copy. But at the same time, each time you will be forced to wipe them from paints. Therefore, do not skimp on buying several pieces of different sizes and shapes.

PALETTE

As a palette, you can use wood, glass or tiles. A professional palette made from a thin sheet of wood is good because it has a special hole for your finger and is an order of magnitude lighter than any glass or tile square. With it, your hand will not get tired in the process. long work. In addition, a wide palette accommodates all the desired shades. Even if you decide to postpone the lesson for a short time, after it expires, the tool will remind you of the colors and scales used. When choosing a palette in the store, try it on in your palm.

We hope these little simple tips will help you when choosing the necessary materials for oil painting. With a full set of these tools, it will certainly be easy for you to write your first serious picture!

Drawing plays a huge role in the development of the baby, and in order for this skill to be a joy to him, bring pleasure from self-expression, new knowledge and instill an aesthetic taste, it is in our power to use to the maximum all the means created for this insanely interesting view creativity. Of course, you can get by with the unconditional trio "pencils-paints-paper" (even brushes are not needed, and you can even do without pencils), but in order for the child not to lose interest, you need to use not only various drawing methods and techniques, not only imagination and a variety of techniques, but also objects, without which all these methods, techniques and techniques, in fact, are impossible.

What do you need to have in your home arsenal so that drawing lessons with a baby are varied and entertaining?

I, based on my experience as a NON-professional and based on our home "repertoire", will sum up some (undoubtedly intermediate) results.

Paints.

• Finger paint


• gouache


• watercolor

I'll start with them.
The very first paints can be from the juice of fruits, vegetables and plants(beets, carrots, spinach, berries...). Here you can be sure of their environmental friendliness and safety, and mothers of allergic babies can choose the “palette” at their discretion, thus excluding the contact of the child with allergenic products and additives. This method is ideal for very young children. You can make home-made paints that will be close in consistency to the factory ones, and try to attract the baby to their manufacture, which he will be incredibly happy about (recipes for such paints can be viewed, for example,.
I would not recommend only finger paints at this age, since after a year the baby can successfully use both gouache and watercolors, and in the same way as in finger paints - draw with his hands. Closer to 1.5 years old, the baby already draws beautifully with a brush.
From gouache and watercolors, in my opinion, the paints of the company are not bad Gamma- the best combination of price and quality. From finger paints, I recommend paints from the company Ses- they are perfectly laundered (and it is difficult to wash off many finger paints from the child’s body), they smell pleasant, have a creamy structure and fit well.

Optional:

• acrylic


• on glass


• For bathroom


• for fabric

For variety, you can buy acrylic paints: with their help, we paint crafts made of wood, stones, ceramics, etc. The beauty of acrylic paints is that they are indelible, do not get dirty after drying (for the same reason, wash the palette immediately after work, otherwise the paints will remain dried to it forever), dry quickly. It is convenient for us to work with acrylic not in tubes, but in jars. There is an important nuance here: if it is necessary to dilute the paint, then we must put it on the palette, otherwise - the water got into the jar - the paints will be covered with mold.
Paints on glass you can take stained-glass "adhesives" - they create a film that is quite easy to remove from the glass and re-paste on another mirror-smooth surface. You can also create window stickers from them (although we have a wonderful alternative - window stickers made of pva glue, on which I wrote a master class).
Closer to two or three years, when the baby gets used to the world of colors, does not constantly taste them and can already draw beautiful abstractions :), you can try to use fabric paints: to paint a T-shirt, napkins or dad's shirt - the child will wear his own creation with great pleasure (dad, for sure, too :)), and the grandmother will rejoice at the tablecloth painted by her granddaughter on the table. Such paints are not washed off during washing (we perfectly withstand temperature regime in 40") and is sufficiently resistant to fading and washing.
Well, in order to make swimming even more fun - to help bathroom paints.

brushes

• from a squirrel


• bristle


• synthetic

For minimum set, I would recommend two squirrel brushes: about No. 2 and No. 9 (you can try and columns - it will be cheaper), a bristle brush No. 5 and a synthetic flat brush about No. 18. These are the brushes that we use constantly in our work, and which will last for a very, very long time for a wide variety of drawing techniques.

Squirrel brush №2- for thin, drawn lines, patterns, etc. Put an accent, a point, draw an eye.
Squirrel brush #8- for creating broad strokes, ideal for background painting on wet paper. As a rule, squirrel brushes are used for watercolor painting. They "grow bald" quite quickly, so do not forget to change them from time to time.
Bristle brush #5: bristle goats or pigs. Many recommend it as a baby's first brush when only the visual effect of the trace left by the brush is needed, although I still prefer squirrel softness and controllability. They can also be used for watercolors on rough paper or canvas, they are needed for drawing with pokes, splashing, drawing with semi-dry paint - in a word, when a certain disheveledness is required in the drawing, since such a brush draws with the tips of the hairs. But more often, such a brush is used to apply glue. For the latter, by the way, it is better to have a separate brush.
Synthetic brush #18: ideal for clear (waterless) and even lines, layering and mixing gouache directly on the sheet to create halftones (may the artists forgive me, I speak my own language :)), applying wide and rich strokes, for rubbing paint. In terms of rigidity and elasticity, it is close to the column, but inferior in terms of filling with water and the volume of absorbed paint, due to which it leaves a bright, "geometric" trace.

What else can you need and bring extra convenience?

• non-spill cup (preferably double)


• palette


• small spray bottle


• spoon

Spray can be taken from an empty tonic bottle. It is convenient for them to spray watercolor paints before starting work to soften them a little. A spoon(you can take it from a children's set, for example) it is very convenient to type and put on a paint palette. The latter, by the way, will be successfully replaced by a plastic plate.
Palette, of course, is necessary and important - on it we mix and dilute paints together with the baby, along the way entertaining him with a scientifically meaningful conversation about the formation of new colors, shades, saturation, consistency, etc.

Pencils

• regular (thick and trihedral)

Baby's first pencils should be thick(easy to squeeze into a cam) and triangular(form the correct grip and setting of the fingers). Soft writing, with a thick lead, leaving a bright clear mark. A little later, you can choose hard-soft pencils so that the baby also learns to press, and this, in fact, prepares his hand for writing. Best for this moment Crayola proved itself: among the huge variety of brands tested by us, I can say with confidence: they are ideal in their segment (pencils for children): they sharpen easily and beautifully, have a thickened lead. Bright, ideally lay down on paper, without scratching it and without leaving "crumbs". Excellent reviews about Maped pencils (in our garden they require only her), Kohinoor (excellent watercolor pencils), Carioca, Jovi.

Optional:

• watercolor


• multicolor


• with retractable stem

Watercolor pencils: after the drawing is ready, draw a brush dipped in water over it - the paint will blur and create a watercolor effect (it is better to draw with such pencils on watercolor paper). Or they can draw directly on wet paper.

• Watercolor pencils: before and after wetting the drawing with water.

Multicolor: iridescent stylus, due to which not one color is drawn on paper, but several at once. It is interesting to use in coloring books in combination with ordinary one-color pencils. You can create an interesting effect of grass, sky, etc.

• An example of using a multi-colored pencil

Pencils can be with retractable stem: The thickness of ordinary pencils, but in a plastic case. They do not require sharpening, draw easily and softly .

Additionally:
Don't forget a good sharpener (and especially a thick pencil sharpener!)
We prefer the simplest, without any bells and whistles - as long practice has shown, they last the longest. And in such sharpeners, you can control the removal of chips with an even ribbon, with which you can then create beautiful applications (we made a cockerel and a Christmas tree).

Crayons

• wax

Crayons are known to everyone and more often bought earlier than ordinary pencils, and they are known to us under the code name " wax pencils". There are triangular shapes. The beauty is that drawing with wax pencils is quite convenient, especially for small kids who still do not know how to hold them correctly. You need to pay attention to the brightness of the trace left and the thickness of the crayons: a huge minus (which creative people immediately turn into plus, creating various colorful panels and pebbles from fragments) - they quickly break under the pressure of small hands, and due to the fact that they are quite hard, the drawings turn out faded. Wax pencils are great for drawing using the scratching technique, and with a pencil white color you can make wonderful invisible drawings. There are wax mechanical (twisted) crayons.

Varieties:

• pastel


• oil pastel


• gel pencils (crayons)


• wax gel or watercolor


• for glass


• for face and body


• For bathroom


• school crayons

Pastel- dry, soft colored pencils without rims. It is very similar to the crayons that we are accustomed to since childhood :) With the help of dry pastel, airy, delicate drawings are drawn, it is well shaded.
oil pastel- has a fatty oil base, quickly "grinds". Having once tried to draw with her, we have always remained her fans. It leaves a rich juicy trace of an unusual texture, draws very smoothly and voluminously, is suitable for the scratching technique (scratching a picture) and for shading drawings (we really like to draw "shadows" with it). It is convenient to paint over the backgrounds with the long side of the crayon. For our crafts, I chose Jovi crayons.
Gel(regular, wax, watercolor - the difference will be in the composition and effects when drawing): thick pencils in a plastic "shirt" with a retractable core. They leave a very rich greasy mark, the effect of painting with lipstick :)
For glass: they look the same as gel ones, but they are designed for painting on glass: it is easy to paint a window or a mirror with them, for example, for the holidays. They write softly, brightly and are washed off the window with a cloth dipped in water. The effect when drawing is the same as from gel crayons. We use Crayola.

• Photo left from top to bottom: oil pastel, wax pencil, thickened wax pencil. The lines were drawn with approximately the same pressure. On the right is an example of a glass crayon.

For face and body. Strictly speaking, their principle and purpose are clear.
School crayons. At the word "crayons" it is their image that appears before our eyes :) There are thicker and longer ones - for painting on asphalt.

felt-tip pens
They are very, very not recommended to be given to babies, although, admittedly, children often begin their "creative path" with them. Behind the imaginary simplicity lies deceit: felt-tip pens do not allow you to control the pressure and when using them it is impossible to mix colors. Often in Lately I read recommendations that it is advisable not to give them to a child up to three years of age or use them occasionally.

Among them there are many interesting subspecies:

• washable


• flavored


• air


• magical


• whiteboard markers


• for fabric

Washable markers. Made on a water basis. Suitable for babies, easy to wash off the skin. As I thought and still think (having tried a lot of excellent brands) - there are no competitors for washable felt-tip pens from Razvivashek. I somehow did the most detailed on them. In short: they not only wash off perfectly and without a trace, but you can come up with a lot of games with them.
Scented markers. Everything is clear here. I just want to add that we liked all the same rinse-off flavored ones from Razvivashek.
Air. I give an annotation, since I have not yet acquired similar ones. Blopen markers draw with air. The child blows into a tube filled with paint - and a sheet of paper or a piece of cloth is covered with small dots. I changed the blopen - and others are added to the dots of one color! An unusual effect is obtained if different colors are sprayed on each other, or if a wet brush is drawn over the pattern. If you remove both caps, you get a regular felt-tip pen for drawing with thin lines. Working with air felt-tip pens will not only develop the artistic taste of the child, but also strengthen the respiratory system.
Magic. I still remember how they appeared in the post-perestroika years and we dreamed of similar ones. Their magic lies in the fact that they change their color if you draw over the drawing with a special felt-tip pen filled with colorless ink.
Whiteboard markers- such felt-tip pens are used for drawing on plastic, glass, laminated and metal surfaces. Easily erased with a piece of dry cloth and the surface can be used again. A similar principle has been successfully applied in developing cards from Rech (very good manuals, by the way), a water-based felt-tip pen is included with the cards. For older children, you can use it when teaching letters: insert a lined sheet of paper into a transparent file, and write letters on top of the file. For kids, an option, for example, with training geometric shapes: draw a circle on the sheet, paste it into the file, and on top we add to the circle either petals - a flower, - erase -, then eyes, noses, etc. and so on. You can just draw pictures. By the same principle, picture frames with plastic transparent "glass" are used.
Glass markers- same purpose. as glass crayons, but they leave a more "dry" mark, similar to marks from felt-tip pens. Easily rinses off any smooth surfaces.

• The mark left by a glass marker and glass chalk.

Markers for fabric. The purpose is the same as for fabric paints, only with the help of them you can draw various thin lines. paints on fabric and felt-tip pens on fabric.

Paper.

• watercolor paper


• drawing paper

Optional

• cardboard


• whatman


• colored paper


• decorative paper

For watercolor - the appropriate paper, otherwise you simply will not understand either the charm of drawings or the charm of pencil paints. No albums on a paperclip: buy a folder with a block of paper on separate sheets- and you and your child will be happy. Or take a roll of unnecessary wallpaper: spread it on the floor, and let the child, either with arms or legs, do whatever he wants there. They also sell rolls of paper for drawing, and special coasters for them are a handy thing.

And in general, you can draw on anything and paint anything: paper - only as a "base". From our experience, I can say that we draw everywhere (but only for each "field of activity" and its own "drawing room"!): On the floor, window, doors, mirrors, paper, magnetic boards, natural materials, etc. My daughter is not accustomed to draw on the wall (just somehow there were enough other wonderful surfaces). Is it necessary easel? You decide. It has certain advantages: the ability to work while standing (it's bad for kids to sit :)) and in general, at least at "full speed": from a raid, swoop, skipping; the whole drawing is clearly visible, you can change the position and angle of a sheet of paper ... Yes, and many children like to draw on it, despite the fact that there are inconveniences: the baby is not able to hold his hand on weight for a long time and control the application of colors (due to for which they flow in stormy streams). So that later it would not be excruciatingly painful for a damaged Persian carpet, lay before your drawing lessons oilcloth on the work surface, and for pencils, paints, brushes and all other drawing arsenal, it is better to have a separate shelf or box, and in order for the baby not to stain clothes, it is better to purchase apron for creativity from raincoat-like fabric with Velcro and sleeves.
What should be left free? It depends on you and your child. I hide only acrylic paints and paints and fabric markers. The rest is all in sight of the baby - a creative impulse to her often comes not at my request, but at her own request.

________________________________________ _____
So, if you try to draw a line and crystallize that minimum, from which, in my opinion, it is worth starting so that drawing is interesting, and not buying everything and everything:

1. gouache


2. watercolor


3. 4 brushes: 2 squirrels (thin and thick), 1 medium bristle, 1 large synthetic.


4. watercolor paper


5. drawing paper


6. oil pastel


7. non-spill cup

In principle, in short, that's it :) If you have any questions - ask. I will answer with pleasure.

Good luck, interesting finds and discoveries!
Draw! Create! Love!

Drawing

The colors are very different types. They are distributed primarily according to the age principle - a child up to three years old for sure, maybe up to four does not need a variety of shades and types of paints at all. It is advisable to use gouache (its quality is higher than finger paints and the consistency is more pleasant) and draw with your fingers, not with a brush.

Gouache (for kids under three years old - draw with fingers). if possible, it is better to find gouache in separate colors in large jars (in any case, there are such ones in Israel and St. Buy three primary colors (red, yellow, blue) and white, and a palette. The palette is successfully replaced by ordinary disposable plates, where you can dilute paints and mix shades.

Watercolor (when the child has already mastered the paints, mixed plenty of colors, can be controlled with a brush and water)

Acrylic (for painting any other surfaces, wooden blanks for souvenirs, foam plastic volumetric figures are especially good, natural materials)

For glass (these are not serious stained glass paints, but simple paints for glass. You can paint bottles, vases, draw primitive stained-glass windows).

For fabric (you can prepare many original and useful gifts in everyday life - paint T-shirts for your relatives, make a tablecloth or napkins with children's drawings, etc.)

Paints for ceramics - if you want to paint plain dishes. you need to pay attention to the baking temperature so that your oven can “give out” such.

Quick wash paints for painting in the bathroom are suitable for "extra fun" and fun while bathing, but cannot be the main material, because. do not fulfill the main task of drawing.

From bristle (goat) it is well suited for very small ones, when they are just interested in a visual trace of the action. for seniors it is suitable for spraying, drawing with pokes, drawing with semi-dry (dry) paint, painting with acrylic and other paints for any surface.

From fur-bearing animals (colonies and squirrels are the main ones) for drawing with gouache and watercolor. at least two numbers - thick and thin. for example, number 3 and number 5 or 6. Of course, you can collect a larger assortment. What to pay attention to - "furry" brushes grow bald over time, you need to replace the "animal" in time.

For indelible or difficult to wash off paints (acrylic, for glass, etc.), it is better to have special brushes, and do not paint with watercolors, for example.

We prefer oil pastels to all others. It is even Chinese and that is of good quality. Wax crayons lose a lot to her. Called oil pastel, it costs a lot less than high-quality professional art pastel.

Ordinary crayons for drawing on asphalt. very wide crayons are sold - it’s good to give them to kids so as not to torment them " fine motor skills", because the little ones have a normal grip with a" fist ", and not with three fingers.

Pencils
should be soft and easy to sharpen. Chinese pencils are for the most part really "disposable" - when you try to sharpen the lead breaks and breaks down to a small pencil stub. I like the German ones the best. still good Czech. pencils should be soft or hard-soft. for a child preschool age it is not the main material (ideally paints should be used more often).

felt-tip pens
do not allow you to make your own efforts and mix colors. it is better that they appear at least sporadically, and in principle they are not needed until three years old, after - as additional, not the main material. gel pens are also here - as any decoration, and not as the main material for drawings.

Albums for drawing with paints were invented by someone who does not understand that more than one drawing can be drawn at a time (if you immediately turn the page, the drawings stick together). children are usually much more productive than the authors of the idea of ​​watercolor albums. it is better to buy a set of separate, not fastened, sheets of thick paper (for watercolor). for gouache, the usual "paper for the printer" is quite suitable. you can draw perfectly on colored paper (especially white paint is interesting) and on cardboard.

Workplace

It is not necessary that this be a permanently fixed special place. creativity is a spontaneous process, children often draw "where inspiration found" (most often it visits during contact with the wall).
it is better to buy an ordinary household oilcloth and spread it on the table for the duration of classes. the drawing often tends to continue on the table, beyond the boundaries of the paper :). the easel is more suitable for an older age (at least after 7, or even worse) - it is rather laborious for a small child to hold a hand with a brush in the air, drawing in such a position is completely unnatural. Quite kids (a plus year) draw "from the shoulder", that is, purely theoretically, an easel would suit them, only it is too small (there is nowhere to roam), unstable (already from the shoulder, so from the shoulder!) And paint will flow from the sheet all the time. It is good to draw on whatman paper (on the floor or on the wall, in a special corner). In general, children love large surfaces.

Additional funds
any blanks that can be painted: plastic, wood, foam, cardboard; natural materials (cones, pebbles, shells, all kinds of seeds of all kinds of plants); glass or ceramic products, etc. elderly female relatives are especially delighted with matryoshkas and cutting boards painted by a child :)