Tools of the Trade: Shelby’s Favorite Art Supplies

Every artist has their go-to tools, the supplies that ground them, challenge them, and help them follow that spark of curiosity wherever it leads. Over the years, my toolbox has evolved right alongside me. Some tools I fell in love with instantly, while others… well, they had to earn their place. Today, I’m pulling back the curtain on a few of my favorite supplies, the unexpected materials that push me creatively, and why I believe curiosity matters more than anything you can buy in a store.

Pushing Myself Out of My Comfort Zone

Lately, I’ve been experimenting with collage and starting my paintings with loose, abstract layers. Both of these techniques force me to respond to color instead of trying to over-control the outcome. It’s a deliberate creative stretch, one that wakes up my instincts and helps me loosen up. When I start with something unpredictable, it invites me to paint more intuitively. It keeps the process fresh, and honestly, it’s just fun.

My Favorite Art Supply of All Time

If I had to choose just one thing I absolutely can’t live without, it’s my giant glass palette.

It feels incredibly luxurious, like a small gift I give myself every time I walk into the studio. There’s endless room to mix color. There’s no frantic scraping and cleaning between layers. The palette creates a sense of abundance rather than scarcity, which shifts the whole tone of the painting process. It just gives you space… literally and creatively. And right behind that? A dedicated art space I don’t have to constantly clean or reset. Being able to walk in and start painting immediately, without clearing a table or reorganizing supplies this has transformed my productivity and reduced so many psychological barriers to starting.

Tools I Once Disliked but Grew to Love

It’s funny how creativity changes our preferences. For years, I only wanted crisp, precise brushes, ones that could hold a perfect edge. As soon as they softened or frayed, I would toss them aside. But as my work became more interpretive and improvisational, those old, worn-in brushes revealed their magic. The unpredictable edges create the most interesting marks, full of texture, personality, and life. Each brush has its own character, and now I reach for them constantly. The same transformation happened with acrylics. I was an oil painter for nearly a decade, and acrylics used to drive me crazy. They dried too fast, offered too few colors, and felt flat. But the paints available today are so much better, richer, more varied, more sophisticated. And the speed at which you can execute an idea with acrylics? You just can’t beat it. They allow me to work fluidly, to explore, and to avoid mixing everything into mud. Now, acrylics are the primary medium in my studio, even though I once couldn’t stand them.

The One Thing Every Artist Should Have

People often ask what supply I recommend most, what’s the one thing every artist needs in their tool bag.

Honestly? There isn’t one. I’ve lived around the world and watched artists create breathtaking work with materials many of us would consider inferior. Creativity isn’t dependent on the “right” paint or brush. It’s fueled by curiosity, the desire to explore, experiment, and follow an idea all the way through. That said, if you do want to invest in something that will help you get where you’re going faster, start with better paint. Higher-quality pigments make mixing easier, create richer results, and save you from fighting with your materials. Even one or two professional-grade colors can make a huge difference, and you can always save money by painting on cardboard, paper, or alternative surfaces.

Curiosity first. Quality where it counts. That’s my philosophy.

Final Thoughts

Your art isn’t defined by your supplies, it’s shaped by your willingness to explore, to play, to get it wrong, and to try again. The tools in my studio continue to evolve as I do, and I hope yours do too. Whether you’re painting with a luxury palette or craft-store paint, the magic comes from engaging with your creativity wholeheartedly.

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