Studio Essentials: The 7 Art Supplies We Can't Put Down Right Now
The art supplies dominating studios right now—from viral jelly gouache to pocket-sized watercolor palettes. Here's what professional artists are actually using.
By Austin Gallery Team
Key Takeaways
The top trending art supplies combine innovation with quality craftsmanship
Sustainable and eco-friendly materials are increasingly popular among artists
Quality supplies make a meaningful difference in the finished artwork
There is a moment every artist knows: the spark of inspiration that comes just from opening a fresh set of supplies. While we love our heritage brands and old reliables, the art world—much like fashion—has its seasons. Lately, we have noticed a shift in the studio. Artists are moving toward tools that are tactile, vibrant, and surprisingly accessible.
Whether you are looking to upgrade your own kit or gift something that will actually get used, these are the supplies dominating the conversation (and our desks) right now.
1. MIYA Himi Jelly Gouache Set
If you spend any time on ArtTok or Instagram, you have seen these. But beyond the viral "satisfying peel" videos, these paints are genuinely fantastic. Unlike traditional tubes, these come in open "jelly cups" that keep the paint moist and ready to dip into.
Why We Love It: The opacity is incredible—it sits somewhere between watercolor and acrylic, drying to a beautiful matte finish. Plus, the palette case keeps everything self-contained.
Pro Tip: To keep them fresh, give them a spritz of water or a specialized mildew spray every time you close the lid.
Forget the smelly permanent markers of the past. Poscas are water-based, non-toxic, and opaque. They have become the industry standard for muralists and sketchbook artists alike because they can write on anything—glass, wood, rock, and dark paper.
Why We Love It: The layering capability. You can put light colors over dark colors once they dry, which is impossible with standard ink markers. They are "mess-free" painting in a pen.
3. Ohuhu Alcohol Markers (The "Copic Alternative")
For years, Copic was the undisputed king of illustration markers. But recently, Ohuhu has taken the crown for the best value-for-money tool on the market. They offer the same professional dual-tip experience (brush and chisel) and seamless blending capability for a fraction of the price.
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Why We Love It: They don't streak. You can lay down a flat field of color that looks like a digital print. For illustrators who want that smooth, professional look without spending $300 on a set, these are the gold standard.
These aren't your grade-school map pencils. Prismacolors use a soft, wax-based core that feels more like drawing with lipstick than graphite. They are essential for mixed-media artists—we love using them on top of gouache or marker to add crisp details and texture.
Why We Love It: The blendability. You can layer different colors to create entirely new hues directly on the paper, almost like mixing paint.
Sometimes, a drawing just needs that final "pop." The white Gelly Roll is the secret weapon for adding highlights to eyes, shiny reflections on metal, or stars in a night sky.
Why We Love It: It is one of the few white pens that is truly opaque over dark ink. We are also seeing a resurgence of the Neon packs—perfect for adding cyber-punk accents to sketches.
We learned this the hard way: your tools are only as good as your paper. If you are using juicy markers (like the Ohuhus) or wet gouache, standard printer paper won't cut it. We are seeing a huge move toward high-GSM (grams per square meter) watercolor journals, even for non-watercolor work.
If you are using juicy markers (like the Ohuhus) or wet gouache, standard printer paper won't cut it.
Why We Love It: No bleed-through. A thick watercolor book lets you use both sides of the page, even with heavy alcohol markers.
Big studio easels are out; sketching in coffee shops is in. We are obsessed with the trend of ultra-portable watercolor tins. Many artists are actually buying empty tins and filling them with tube paint to create custom color stories, but you can grab pre-filled sets that fit in a denim pocket.
Why We Love It: It removes the friction of "setting up." When your entire studio fits in your pocket, you paint more often.
The best art supplies are the ones that get you excited to create. Whether it is the tactile satisfaction of jelly gouache or the portability of a pocket palette, these tools share one thing in common: they remove barriers between inspiration and execution.
Have a favorite supply we missed? We'd love to hear about it.
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