This list of art supplies, while not exhaustive, includes my absolute favorite art therapy materials to use with clients. I highly recommend these art therapy resources and products not just for their high-quality, but also for the unique ways each product supports the client’s creative process.
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Art Therapy Supplies
When it comes to art therapy, having the right supplies makes all the difference.
Choosing the right products that will work for your art therapy practice will put you in a good position to offer your clients lots of choices when approaching various art therapy directives.
Buying Art Therapy Supplies
I’m a bit of a collector when it comes to art supplies, and I definitely have my favorite brands and products. I have tried art therapy supplies in multiple price ranges, from known companies, and lesser known, and I have discovered that price doesn’t always dictate quality. Some of my favorite art therapy supplies are actually really affordable.
If you are lucky enough to have an art therapy studio, then you might consider buying your art therapy supplies in bulk. But don’t overdo it. 🙂 Having a few of each art supply on hand is sufficient.
Art Therapy Process Versus Product
Most art therapists know that the process of creating art can sometimes be more therapeutic than the actual product created. And when you offer the right tools for the right art therapy directives, clients are set up for a meaningful experience while art-making.
As distinguished art therapist, Cathy Malchiodi, explains in the Handbook of Art Therapy, “the central use of art materials makes what happens in an art therapy session different from all other psychotherapy approaches.”
So, needless to say, the art supplies you present to your clients matter.
Now, let’s explore some of my favorite art therapy supplies!
Art Therapy Supplies
This list of art therapy supplies is divided into the following sections:
- Must-Have Art Therapy Supplies
- Drawing Supplies
- Painting Supplies
- Sculpting Supplies
- Crafting Supplies
- Art Therapy Supplies for Children
- Art Therapy Supplies for Teenagers
- Art Therapy Supplies for Adults
- Art Therapy Supplies for Families
Must-Have Art Therapy Supplies
This list of must-haves includes the art therapy supplies that I consider to be most essential to every art therapy practice.
Firm Chalk Pastels
Firm pastels are a staple in my art supply toolkit. They allow for free form drawing and offer an array of bright contrasting colors. They are nice for blending, too.
I love this 36-pack set of firm pastels from Prismacolor.
Tempera Paint
Tempera paint is affordable, fluid, and brightly-pigmented, which is why it’s great to have on hand in your art therapy studio.
I like this affordable 6-pack of 16 oz. tempera paint in classic colors from Handy Art.
Crayons
Crayons are essential to every art therapy practice. Crayons offer art therapy clients a familiar tool with which to create. They are affordable and the colors are endless.
These 96-packs of crayons from Crayola are perfect to have on hand. They are my go-to crayons for art therapy. I also love these Crayola Colours of the World crayons, too.
Markers
Markers are a must-have in your studio for their ease of use and variety of colors. Markers also offer art therapy clients a high level of control when creating.
This 40-pack set of washable markers from Crayola are the perfect staple for your art therapy studio.
Modeling clay comes in so handy for a number of art therapy activities. Modeling clay offers art therapy clients an opportunity to create in 3 dimensions and work with something malleable.
I love this 24-pack of air-dry modeling clay from Sago Brothers. For modeling clay that won’t harden, try this 12-pack of modeling clay from Sargent.
Collage Supplies
Collage is an amazing art therapy activity, not only for its accessibility, but for its versatility, too. Whether it’s image cutouts & glue, or elaborate mixed media assemblage, having an array of collage supplies on hand is so useful.
Get started with this lot of 5 junk magazines from RescuedItVintage on Etsy.
Mixed Media Sketchbook Paper
Having a pad of mixed media paper on hand is a great idea for your art therapy practice. At least 9×12 in size with at least 80lb paper is best for creating.
This mixed media sketchbook from Strathmore with perforated pages gets the job done.
Drawing Supplies
In addition to the drawing supplies above, these drawing supplies for art therapy are perfect for countless art therapy activities.
Colored Pencils
Colored pencils are great for drawing directives, especially for older kids and adults. They are wonderful for ‘art as therapy’ adult coloring books, too.
This 100-pack from Crayola is my favorite colored pencil set.
Dual Tip Brush Pens
Dual tip brush pens are a perfect drawing tool to offer your art therapy clients. They come in lots of vibrant colors and the dual tip feature allows for varying levels of coverage and control.
This 48 pack of dual tip brush pens from Arteza is amazing.
Charcoal
Charcoal pencils and sticks work well for lots of art therapy directives. Charcoal as a medium is highly versatile and allows for immense blending and shading. Charcoal comes in varying shades and grades of firmness.
This amazing drawing set from Norberg & Linden includes both charcoal and graphite pencils and sticks, plus blending tools!
Newsprint
Newsprint is a super affordable option when it comes to drawing material. It’s perfect for large-size drawing activities and does well with crayon, marker, or pastel. Newsprint is not as sturdy as other types of art paper so it doesn’t do as well with sharp pencil or pen.
This pack of newsprint from Strathmore is a great option to get you started.
Painting Supplies
In addition to the painting supplies mentioned above, these painting supplies for art therapy offer clients lots of options during sessions.
Watercolor Paints
Watercolor paints provide an excellent option for clients who want to paint. Watercolor is great for spontaneous creations and free-flowing design. Color options are endless and the paints are easy to use. Less control than other paint, but high in emotional expression.
I recommend a high-quality watercolor paint set like this one from Grabie. I have this one at home too!
Watercolor Paper
The best way to get the most out of watercolor painting is to use watercolor paper. Watercolor stands up better to the higher levels of moisture.
I recommend this 9×12 watercolor paper pad from Canson.
🎨BONUS RECOMMENDATION!🎨
Grabie is my go-to for all things watercolor and I just have to share this super cool Grabie Watercolor Calendar Set. This is awesome in its own right. But this watercolor calendar is a great art therapy directive for monthly clients. They can create one painting per month and then have an entire series representing the year when they are done.
Acrylic Paints
In my humble opinion, acrylic paints are a must in the art therapy room. They are water soluble, easy to use, and don’t take long to dry. They are more permanent than other paints and good for all kinds of surfaces.
I highly recommend this 14-pack acrylic paint set from Arteza to get you started.
Palette Paper
The best way to do acrylic painting is with some good palette paper. A pad of palette paper allows you to provide your clients with a fresh palette surface every time they sit down to paint.
I use this 9×12 palette paper pad from Strathmore.
Canvases
You can prep and wrap your own canvases, but having several different sized ready-made canvases on hand a really good idea. Canvas works well for all kinds of materials, including acrylic, tempera, collage, mixed media, spray paint, and more.
This multipack of canvases from Arteza is an affordable option that includes various sizes. Arteza runs sales often so it’s a good brand to watch out for when buying in bulk.
Paintbrushes
Having a wide selection of paintbrushes available to suit your clients’ needs is really important. Although there are brushes made for specific types of painting, a general paintbrush set will be sufficient in most cases.
I love this affordable paintbrush set from Rosmax because it includes brushes for watercolor, acrylic, and oil.
Palette Knives
If your clients will be painting, then you will need to have at least one good palette knife at the ready for mixing colors and various painting techniques.
There are some really great palette knife sets out there, but this set of assorted palette knives from US Art Supply hits the nail on the head.
Sculpting Supplies
Sculpture is an amazing medium for self-expression. Malleable materials, like clay and Playdough, allow for responsive movement and sensory play, which can help clients relax. Harder, more structured sculpting materials require effort and meditative motion to create form. All of which bring about powerful art therapy experiences. The sculpting supplies below are my absolute favorites.
Model Magic
Model Magic is such an amazing material. It’s super squishy, lightweight, and moldable. It air dries overnight and keeps it’s shape. Clients can then paint their sculptures and use them for other therapeutic activities. Great for kids and adults alike.
I recommend this 2 lb. tub of Crayola Model Magic to get you started.
Mexican Clay
Many art therapists don’t have access to a kiln, so potter’s clay is not usually an option. But Mexican clay is a great substitute and it’s self-hardening.
I recommend this box of Mexican clay from Amaco.
Polymer Clay
I have always loved polymer clay, ever since I was young, and I think it’s such a fun option to present to clients. They can create any number of things on a smaller scale, including figurines, beads, or pieces of a bigger creation. Polymer clay stays pliable until it’s oven-baked, so it’s really great to have on hand.
I love Sculpey and recommend this 30-pack of Sculpey Polymer Clay.
Sculpting Tools
Sculpting tools can help your clients more easily sculpt their creations. A simple sculpting tool set can work well for pottery, modeling clay, and Playdough.
This sculpting tool set from Nozomy has everything you need.
Soapstone
I love sculpting and carving soapstone! It’s like revealing a diamond in the rough. While not an activity you might offer to everyone, some clients might love it. It’s a slow, meditative experience that could take place over several sessions.
You can buy soapstone online, like this 10 kgs box of soapstone on Amazon.
Sculpting Files
In order to provide the right tools for soapstone carving, a set of carving files and rasps are just what you need.
This 20-piece metal file set from Four Uncles is a great starter set.
Crafting Supplies
Crafting activities can be done both in and out of art therapy sessions. You can also do crafting activities for “art as therapy” (art-making that is therapeutic via the process and doesn’t require processing with a therapist). These crafting supplies are my top picks for art therapy and art as therapy.
Knitting Supplies
Knitting is an awesome art as therapy activity that is meditative and good for overall mental health. While it requires some teaching on your part if your client doesn’t know how to knit, it can be a great activity for your client to engage with during talk therapy.
I recommend this awesome knitting for beginners starter pack from Designer Stitch.
Containers
Cardboard, cardstock, and cardboard boxes make excellent supplies for container exercise in art therapy. These 3-D representations of containers can get very crafty.
I often work these cardboard gift boxes into container exercises with clients and supervisees.
Art Therapy Supplies for Children
While most art therapy supplies work well for clients of all ages, some art therapy supplies are especially perfect for children. These are my favorite art therapy supplies to use in sessions with children.
Paint Sticks
Paint sticks offer the smooth fluidity of regular paint but with more control and less mess. Little hands can easily handle and manipulate paint sticks to create vibrant artwork.
These washable paint sticks from MayMoi are my number one choice for art therapy with kids.
Finger Paints
While kids can do well with tempera paint and watercolor, there is something special about painting with finger paints. Finger paint engages multiple senses and allows kids to directly connect with their creations.
I recommend these finger paints from Crayola.
Puppet-Making Supplies
Working with puppets in child therapy is an awesome way to combine art therapy and play therapy. Puppets can help children express parts of themselves as well as communicate about key figures in their lives.
You can gather your own supplies or purchase this super cool puppet making kit from Gejoy.
Art Therapy Supplies for Teenagers
Working with teenagers in art therapy can be extremely rewarding, but it can also be tough to engage some teens in the art therapy process. You might work with teenagers who challenge you to get even more creative than you already are. ? But don’t let that stop you. These art therapy supplies seem to pique the interest of even the toughest teens! ?
Ink Pens
Some teens really enjoy ink drawings, especially things like sketching, Zen doodles, bullet journaling, and Manga. Ink pens offer varying levels of control and help clients create bold designs in their art.
For something simple, I recommend this set of 12 black assorted tip ink pens from Guobinfen.
Blank Comic Book
This ingenious idea is basically a blank comic book turned sketchbook, with built-in panels that allow teenagers to create powerful stories through words and imagery. This is great for teens who are into Manga and/or comics, but could work well with any population.
I highly recommend this blank comic book.
Art Therapy Supplies for Adults
Adults can pretty much use any and all art therapy supplies you might have in your studio or office, even those meant for kids (which can make for some powerful interventions, let me tell you ?). But there are a few art therapy supplies that seem to fit best for adults. Here are some of my favorites.
Watercolor Pens
While watercolor pens are amazing for any age group, I have found that adults especially prefer them. They offer the perfect balance of spontaneity and control.
My absolute favorite watercolor-based pens are these real brush pens from Arteza.
Oil Pastels
While you can definitely use oil pastels at any age, I find that you get really amazing results when you use them in art therapy with adults.
I have (and love) this 36-piece oil pastel set from Cray-Pas.
Adult Coloring Books
These are great for art as therapy activities and the meditative coloring is very relaxing. My favorite are the adult coloring books that feature mandalas. A nice way to get centered, both in and out of session.
NOTE: Adult coloring books are sometimes marketed as art therapy. By definition, in order to engage in art therapy, you need a trained art therapist. Adult coloring books are a great art as therapy activity, but they are not art therapy.
I adore this spiral-bound, high-quality mandala adult coloring book from Colorya.
Sharpies
Sharpies come in so many amazing colors and they make wonderful drawing tools for adults for their high level of control. Their permanent ink does well on a variety of surfaces, too.
I highly recommend Sharpie’s Ultimate Collection, complete with 45 Sharpies in assorted colors, with 20 fine point and 25 ultra fine point.
Art Therapy Supplies for Families
As an art therapist and family-based therapist, I might be a little biased, but I believe when you bring art into the family therapy space, magical things happen. There are so many amazing family art therapy activities you can do with families. Here are a few of the art therapy supplies for families that I go back to again and again.
Masks
I love using masks in family therapy and art therapy. Masks provide a great opportunity for families to create art together. They also work well for family therapy activities like family sculpts, psychodrama, role plays, and any other therapy activities focused on family roles.
This 30-pack of paper mache masks comes in 2 sizes so it’s perfect for families.
Poster Board
Poster board is the simplest material to have on hand for family art therapy sessions. You can use poster board for all kinds of family art therapy activities, including joint family drawings, family drawing challenges, and family games.
This 50-pack of 22″x28″ white poster board is a great affordable option.
Plasticine Clay
Using plasticine clay, which usually is non-hardening, makes an excellent material for family sculpts. Family members can shape and mold figures again and again to tell their story.
This no-dry plasticine modeling clay from Plasticine is my favorite.
