The Best Art Supplies for Real Artists (Digital + Traditional Workflow Guide)
- Apr 27
- 3 min read
Updated: May 4
Whether you're creating manga, illustration, or fine art, the best artists today don’t limit themselves to one medium, they combine digital tools and traditional materials to get the best results.
In this guide, we’ll break down:
The best tools for digital sketching
Essential real-world art supplies
Where to buy high-quality materials (including trusted retailers like Dick Blick)
How to combine both into a powerful workflow
Start Digital: The Smart Way to Plan Your Artwork
Before putting paint on canvas, many professional artists begin digitally—and for good reason.
Digital tools let you:
Experiment without wasting materials
Refine composition and lighting
Test color palettes instantly
Iterate faster
Using high-quality brush packs (like Manga Brush™) makes this process even more effective. With professional-grade tools, your digital sketches can closely mimic traditional media like ink, pencil, and even paint textures.
Pro tip: Create your full composition digitally first, then use it as a reference (or transfer) for your final painting.
Essential Traditional Art Supplies
Once your concept is ready, it’s time to bring it into the physical world.
✦ Oil Paints (or Acrylics)
Oil paints offer rich color, blending, and depth that’s hard to replicate digitally. Acrylics are a faster-drying alternative.
Recommended brands:
Winsor & Newton
Gamblin
Utrecht
✦ Brushes
Quality brushes make a massive difference in control and finish.
Look for:
Round brushes (detail work)
Flat brushes (blocking shapes)
Filberts (soft blending)
✦ Canvas or Panels
Stretched canvas (classic feel)
Canvas panels (budget-friendly)
Wood panels (ultra-smooth painting surface)
✦ ✏️ Drawing Tools
Even if you start digitally, traditional sketching is still valuable:
Graphite pencils
Charcoal
Kneaded erasers
Where to Buy the Best Art Supplies
When it comes to reliable, high-quality materials, one of the best places artists consistently trust is:
Dick Blick is one of the most respected art supply retailers in the U.S., offering:
Professional-grade paints
Huge brush selection
Competitive pricing
Supplies for beginners → professionals
Whether you're building your first setup or upgrading your tools, it's a go-to source for serious artists. I get all my fine hair brushes there and I love the Winsor and Newton Oils. They Supply
The Hybrid Workflow: Digital → Traditional
Here’s how many modern artists are working today:
Sketch digitally using tools like Manga Brush™
Refine linework, shading, and composition
Print or reference the design
Transfer to a primed canvas with pencil. I use gesso and color the gesso base with a touch of acrylic on canvas, let dry, and pencil in the drafft before layering in blocks of color.
Paint using traditional materials. I use winsor and newton oil paints from Dick blick! with fine sable brushes. And Voila! Your art is in reality.
This workflow gives you:
Precision of digital
Authenticity of traditional
Less wasted materials
Better final results
Why Digital Tools Matter (Even for Traditional Artists)
Even if your end goal is fine art, digital tools are an advantage.
Using professional brush packs helps you:
Develop ideas faster
Practice more efficiently
Build stronger compositions
Create artwork that translates better to canvas
That’s exactly why tools like Manga Brush™ exist to give artists the same level of control digitally that they expect from real-world tools.
Final Thoughts
The best artists don’t have to choose between digital and traditional, they use both!
Digital tools help you plan and refine
Traditional tools help you execute and express
If you want to level up your art, combining both is one of the most powerful moves you can make.
✦ Start with professional-grade digital tools here:
Explore Manga Brush Packs at MANGABRUSH.com!
Comments