This list includes 27 Art supplies that start with A, from “Acetate Sheets” to “Awl”. It focuses on tangible materials and hand tools used across drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and mixed media. You’ll find both everyday consumables and common workshop tools useful for projects and shopping.
Art supplies that start with A are physical items artists use to make, finish, or support visual work. For example, acetate sheets played a key role in traditional animation cels and transparent overlays.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Usage, and Popular brands.
Name: The specific supply term so you can quickly identify items relevant to your project or shopping list.
Usage: A short, practical description of how artists commonly use the item, helping you pick the right tool or material.
Popular brands: One to three well-known manufacturers or product lines you can look for when comparing options or buying supplies.
Art supplies that start with A
| Name | Category | Typical size/units | Popular brands |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acrylic Paint | Painting | 60-500 ml tubes/jars | Liquitex, Golden, Winsor & Newton |
| Acrylic Gesso | Painting | 250 ml – 1 liter jars | Liquitex, Golden, Grumbacher |
| Acrylic Ink | Drawing | 30 ml bottles | Daler-Rowney, Liquitex, Golden |
| Acrylic Medium | Painting | 120 ml – 1 liter bottles | Golden, Liquitex, Matisse |
| Acrylic Marker | Drawing | 1-3 count, sets | Posca, Molotow, Liquitex |
| Acetate Sheets | Mixed-media | 8.5×11 in sheets, rolls | Grafix, Duralar |
| Adhesive Spray | Mixed-media | 10-14 oz cans | 3M, Krylon, Gorilla |
| Airbrush | Painting | 1 count | Iwata, Paasche, Badger |
| Airbrush Compressor | Painting | 1 count | Iwata, Paasche, Master Airbrush |
| Air-Dry Clay | Sculpture | 1-5 lbs blocks | Crayola, Das, Jovi |
| Alcohol Ink | Mixed-media | 15 ml bottles | Tim Holtz Ranger, Jacquard, Copic |
| Alcohol Marker | Drawing | 1-3 count, sets | Copic, Prismacolor, Ohuhu |
| Albumen Paper | Printmaking | 8×10 in sheets | N/A (often self-made) |
| Aluminum Panel | Painting | 9×12 in, 16×20 in panels | Artefex, Trekell, Dibond |
| Anvil | Sculpture | 50-150 lbs | Ridgid, Kanca |
| Apron | Painting | 1 count | L’Épicerie, Finko, Hudson |
| Aquatint Rosin | Printmaking | 1-5 lbs bags | Graphic Chemical, Charbonnel |
| Archival Ink | Drawing | 30 ml bottles, pens | Speedball, Higgins, Pigma Micron |
| Archival Mat Board | Framing | 32×40 in sheets | Crescent, Bainbridge, Peterboro |
| Archival Paper | Drawing | 9×12 in, 18×24 in sheets | Arches, Fabriano, Strathmore |
| Armature | Sculpture | 12-24 in figures | Sculpture House, Wireform |
| Armature Wire | Sculpture | 10-100 ft rolls | Sculpture House, AMACO |
| Artboard | Drawing | 9×12 in, 15×20 in sheets | Strathmore, Canson, Crescent |
| Art Gum Eraser | Drawing | 1x1x2 in block | Prismacolor, Faber-Castell, Staedtler |
| Artist’s Tape | Drawing | 0.5-1 in width rolls | Pro Tapes, 3M, Blick |
| Atomizer | Drawing | 1 count | Mungyo, Holbein |
| Awl | Mixed-media | 1 count | Lineco, X-Acto, General Tools |
Descriptions
Acrylic Paint
A fast-drying, water-soluble paint made of pigment suspended in an acrylic polymer emulsion. Versatile for use on canvas, wood, and paper.
Acrylic Gesso
A primer used to prepare surfaces like canvas or wood for painting. It provides a smooth, slightly absorbent surface for paint to adhere to.
Acrylic Ink
An extremely fluid acrylic that’s vibrant, permanent, and water-resistant when dry. Perfect for use with dip pens, brushes, or airbrushes.
Acrylic Medium
An additive mixed with acrylic paint to alter its properties, such as changing consistency, transparency, drying time, or finish (e.g., gloss or matte).
Acrylic Marker
A paint pen filled with opaque, water-based acrylic paint. Great for adding bold, fine details on a wide variety of surfaces, from paper to stone.
Acetate Sheets
Transparent plastic sheets used for overlays, stencils, printmaking, or creating layered effects in mixed-media art.
Adhesive Spray
A spray-on glue that provides an even coating for mounting photos, creating collages, or temporarily holding stencils in place.
Airbrush
A small, air-operated tool that sprays mediums like ink or thin paint. It’s used for creating smooth gradients and highly detailed, realistic artwork.
Airbrush Compressor
A machine that provides a steady, controlled stream of compressed air to an airbrush, which is essential for its operation.
Air-Dry Clay
A modeling material that hardens at room temperature without needing to be fired in a kiln. It’s user-friendly and great for sculpting and crafts.
Alcohol Ink
Highly pigmented, fast-drying, acid-free inks activated by alcohol. They are popular for creating vibrant, free-flowing effects on non-porous surfaces.
Alcohol Marker
Markers containing alcohol-based ink that allows for smooth blending and layering without damaging paper fibers. A favorite of illustrators and designers.
Albumen Paper
A historic photographic printing paper coated with a layer of egg white (albumen). It was a dominant method for photo prints in the 19th century.
Aluminum Panel
A rigid, archival painting surface made from an aluminum composite material. It offers a perfectly smooth, non-absorbent ground ideal for oil or acrylics.
Anvil
A heavy block of metal with a flattened top surface, used by sculptors and metalworkers for hammering and shaping metal pieces.
Apron
A protective garment worn over clothing to keep it clean from paint, clay, ink, and other messy art materials. A studio essential!
Aquatint Rosin
A fine powder of tree sap resin used in the intaglio printmaking process. When heated on a metal plate, it creates a tonal ground for etching.
Archival Ink
Pigment-based, permanent, and acid-free ink designed to resist fading and chemical degradation over time, ensuring your artwork lasts for generations.
Archival Mat Board
A thick, acid-free paperboard used in picture framing. It creates a protective space between the artwork and the glass and provides a decorative border.
Archival Paper
High-quality, acid-free paper made to resist yellowing and deterioration over time. It is the preferred choice for finished drawings and fine art prints.
Armature
An internal framework or skeleton used to support a sculpture being made with a pliable material like clay, wax, or plaster.
Armature Wire
Soft, flexible, and non-corrosive aluminum wire that is easily bent to create the underlying support structure (armature) for sculptures.
Artboard
A rigid board with a high-quality paper surface, perfect for drawing, illustration, or painting. It resists buckling and doesn’t require stretching.
Art Gum Eraser
A soft, pliable eraser made from rubber that crumbles as it erases. It’s excellent for gently lifting graphite or charcoal without damaging the paper.
Artist’s Tape
A low-tack paper tape that can be easily removed from delicate surfaces like paper without causing damage. Ideal for masking edges or holding paper down.
Atomizer
A simple mouth-blown tool used to spray a fine, even mist of liquid, such as fixative, onto charcoal or pastel drawings to prevent smudging.
Awl
A pointed tool used for piercing holes in materials like paper, leather, or wood. It’s essential for bookbinding and useful in various craft projects.