I remember having painting lessons with my Papa as a child, and using his expensive brushes and paints. It made the experience so much more rewarding because I felt like a "real artist" to be trusted with his materials. They may cost more, but I think it's always worth it to help teach children the joy of creating!

I agree with this post in theory, but spending $45 on colored pencils seem a bit steep. At least, I might wait until they are old enough to take good care of the pencils!

I remember feeling like a snob as a kid because I preferred the markers I had a home to the ones available at elementary school. Although, that was just Crayola vs whatever the school had. But still, a valid point about the colors, etc.

I would say this point is incredibly true with watercolors. Even a cheap $20 set is light years less frustrating than the box set most people grew up with in elementary school.

I agree that age enters into too, though. When a kid is happy finger painting or just being abstract, go for the dollar paint. If they start showing frustration when trying to make more complicated work, that might be when it's time to graduate up a bit.

I always had access to serious art tools since my parents were artists, and it really showed in my work.

You know, I'm a cheapskate 89% of the time, but I've learned my lesson about quality supplies.

The standard crayola watercolors (approx US $2) were played with for 5 minutes and then abandoned out of frustration and never used again.

The Van Gogh watercolor palette (on sale! US $17.00) absorbs my preschooler for 30 minutes or more and he wants to paint regularly. And what's more, he actually pays attention to the paint, the action of his brush on the paper and even the color in the water.

Van Gogh is student quality, but even so the difference in experience for my fella is stunning.

Hmm, I think this is true. I had access to limitless art supplies as a kid and I grew up loving it. I especially loved using my mom's fancy markers instead of my normal markers.

Crayola is good quality though and I actually really like their colored pencils for myself (though I only color for fun, not an artist!) and the kids paint set is perfect for toddlers/preschoolers.

$45 seems like too much for colored pencils, I'd prefer to splurge on paint or markers. But still, I think you make a good point. And this is coming from a major cheapskate.

Nothing beats the real thing... there are good crayons and cheap crayons, there are great pencil crayons and tragic ones... I give my kids the real thing - they last longer, they use them a whole lot more... seriously good pencils, paints and crayons last better, they don't shatter and break as easily... and they make art more fun. I am so prepared to make creating the best that it can be because I want them to be creative and to be honest I want to create alongside them and I sure don't want to use cheap and nasty products!!!

When I was in college, I had to buy some very expensive supplies, and recently I found some still stashed in a closet. I have both the 48- and 128-color Prismacolor pencil sets (the markers were dried up, unfortunately). My toddler now BEGS to use "Mommy's pencils" and it's quite the special treat for him (YEAH, bribery!). I always noticed a big difference in art supply quality when I was a kid, though probably not til elementary school.

Prang watercolors were what I had growing up and what my kids use. I've found a local place selling the set of 16 for under $10; it's worth it as both my children will paint for up to a hour.

On the same vein, close friends gave their 5 yr-old a Faber Castell art set in a wooden box. Everything has its place and easy storage. He is so proud of that set and uses it with reverence.

For my daughter's childhood in general, we're a family that spends extra on shoes and art supplies. I care deeply about showing respect for the creative process a child has, if and when. (Also comfort while running!)

Not sable hair brushes, mind you, but adult brushes and paper at least. And things like that air-hardening playdoh type stuff now she's older so her sculptures last.

Creamy crayons are worth the price, just as so many people told me, what a neato invention.

Does anyone else know about easels and art development in children? My mother is adamant they shouldn't have an easel before five; she has a degree in art education for children but obviously from some time ago so I've been trying to find something more current to read on the subject. Any art teachers out there who know?

I still remember the cheap crayons that didn't stick to the page and had the paper sliding off vs the crayola crayons that actually colored the page. Ugh, even worse the REALLY cheap crayons that just bent until the tips broke off almost instantly. Totally worth the extra money.

So true. We have Lyra pencils and the pencil snake as well. The pencils are lovely quality, don't break, sharpen easily, have excellent color, last forever and are loved by both my 18m and 3.5 y. The pencil snake keeps them in nice condition, allows them both to practice putting them away, and makes them special. Both get concerned if a pencil is missing or out of place.

We use stockmar crayons for the same reasons. Beautiful colors, they don't break, excellent quality contol and they last FOREVER.

Both clean up easily.

Good watercolors and paper transform simple dabs of paint into beautiful works. (Makes me laugh sometimes when people are SO complimentary about my son's art.)

p_capucine

We don't use an easel. I just felt like it looked ackward. The kids use a Waldorf-style watercolor board for painting (but you can also use a cutting board).

I think it is worth noting that the set of Lyra pencils pictured above and the same that I raved about are not the more expensive giants. They are the regular short Lyra pencils which I think are easier to manipulate. $18-20 depending on where you buy them

P_Capucine, About Easels for young children... I'm a toddler art teacher and studied early childhood art education in my masters program- everything that I have learned and studied supports the use of easels for toddlers. Easels offer a different perspective, a way for toddlers to do art while standing (since they often don't like to sit for long) and they allow for large, sweeping, arm movements that are great for gross motor skills. In my experience Easels also offer the chance to work with other kids side by side in a way that doesn't happen when seated at a table. I wonder why anyone ever thought easels were detrimental before age 5?

As a child who went nuts over art supplies and grew up to be a real artist, I'm very mixed on this.

Growing up I burned through art supplies and my parents bought Crayola for most stuff with a few exceptions:

-Markers I always got to have Mr. Sketch markers. Twice the price of crayolas but last forever and great colors. Scented too. (And comes with a peach colored marker which was a necessity for me!)

-Watercolors I got Prang. Oddly, these are usually cheaper than Crayola but colors are 100% better. Don't waste your money buying a nice set of Pelican or other artist watercolors for something kids tear through like a freight train and will be mucked up in a week.

I don't really agree with good quality colored pencils. I struggled in college to buy a set of Prismacolors because those things are hella pricey and still don't look that great! What you don't get told about good quality colored pencils is they break like no ones business. Ive had whole pencils I've sharpened to nubs just trying to get a point without it breaking. With how tough kids are on art supplies, they won't last long. A pack of slightly better ones are fine. I think Ticonderoga makes a good cheap set and have shockingly good color to them.

I think the best things you can get a child are an easel with clips, an extra thick book of newsprint paper and marker paper and let them go nuts.