This list includes 44 Art supplies that start with M, from “MDF board” to “Mylar”. Items range from common studio essentials to specialized media used in drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture.
Art supplies that start with M are tangible materials and tools artists use to make and finish visual work. Many items, like “Mylar” and “MDF board,” became staples in modern studios during the twentieth century.
Below you’ll find the table with Item, Usage, and Popular brands.
Item: Lists the supply name and common variants so you quickly recognize the material or tool for shopping or studying.
Usage: Brief, practical notes on what each supply does and how you might use it in projects or techniques.
Popular brands: One to three well-known manufacturers or product lines to help you compare choices when buying supplies.
Art supplies that start with M
| Name | Category | Primary use | Popular brands |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marker | drawing | Drawing, coloring, and labeling | Sharpie;Copic;Prismacolor |
| Micron pen | drawing | Fine-line archival drawing and detailing | Sakura |
| Mechanical pencil | drawing | Consistent fine lines for sketching and drafting | Pentel;Staedtler;Uni |
| Marker paper | drawing | Smooth paper for marker rendering | Strathmore;Canson;Bienfang |
| Mixed-media paper | mixed media | Support for wet and dry media in one sheet | Strathmore;Canson;Fabriano |
| Modeling clay | sculpture | Shaping and sculpting figures and forms | Sculpey;Fimo;Crayola |
| Modeling paste | mixed media | Build texture and thick impasto effects | Liquitex;Golden;Arteza |
| Modeling tools | sculpture | Shape and refine clay or soft materials | Kemper Tools;Sculpture House |
| Masking tape | tools | Mask areas for clean paint edges | 3M;FrogTape;Tesa |
| Masking fluid | painting | Block areas from watercolor washes | Pebeo;Winsor & Newton;Grumbacher |
| Masking paper | tools | Protect large areas while painting or spraying | FrogTape;3M |
| Mat board | tools | Framing and mounting artwork | Crescent;Lineco;Blick |
| Mat cutter | tools | Cut precise window openings in mat board | Logan;Fiskars;Crescent |
| Matte medium | painting | Adhesive and matte acrylic binder for collage | Liquitex;Golden;Winsor & Newton |
| Matte varnish | painting | Protect artwork with non-reflective coating | Krylon;Liquitex;Winsor & Newton |
| Metal leaf | mixed media | Gild surfaces with thin metal sheets | Mona Lisa;ArtMinds;GenuineGold |
| Metallic paint | painting | Add shimmering metallic color | Liquitex;Golden;DecoArt |
| Mica powder | mixed media | Create pearlescent effects in paint and resin | Jacquard;Cosmic Shimmer |
| Mylar | tools | Tracing, overlays, and stencils | Grafix;Canson;Strathmore |
| MDF board | tools | Support panels for painting and craft projects | Medite;Columbia;Masonite |
| Masonite | tools | Hardboard panel for painting and backing | Masonite |
| Mineral spirits | painting | Thin oil paint and clean brushes | Gamsol;Klean-Strip;Krylon |
| Muller | tools | Grind pigments into a binder to make paint | Winsor & Newton;R&L |
| Mortar and pestle | tools | Grind pigments and dry materials | Cole-Parmer;OXO |
| Mop brush | painting | Lay broad watercolor washes and blend areas | Winsor & Newton;Da Vinci;Raphael |
| Mottler brush | painting | Apply thin even coats of oil or gesso | Winsor & Newton;Da Vinci |
| Monotype ink | printmaking | Ink for single-print monotypes | Akua;Speedball;Caligo |
| Monoprint paper | printmaking | Paper suited to hold ink for monoprints | Arches;Rives;Fabriano |
| Mixing palette | painting | Mix and hold paints during painting sessions | Masterson;Mijello;Redgrass |
| Mixing medium | painting | Modify paint consistency and drying properties | Liquitex;Golden;Winsor & Newton |
| Mounting spray | tools | Adhere paper and photos temporarily or permanently | 3M;Krylon;Lineco |
| Mounting board | tools | Sturdy backing for mounting artworks | Crescent;Canson;Lineco |
| Mold-making silicone | sculpture | Create flexible molds for casting | Smooth-On;Polytek;Mold Star |
| Mold release | sculpture | Prevent castings from sticking to molds | Ease Release;Mann;Smooth-On |
| Mosaic tiles | mixed media | Create decorative mosaic images and surfaces | ArtMinds;MosaicOutlet |
| Mosaic adhesive | mixed media | Glue tiles to surfaces in mosaic work | Mapei;Custom Building Products;Laticrete |
| Melamine board | tools | Reusable palette surface for mixing paints | IKEA;Rust-Oleum;Formica |
| Marble dust | mixed media | Add body and texture to ground and gesso | Kremer Pigments;Gamblin |
| Marbling inks | printmaking | Create floating color patterns on sizing baths | Marabu;Speedball;Jacquard |
| Masking spray | painting | Spray-on frisket for larger masking areas | Liquitex;Marabu;Pebeo |
| Metal ruler | tools | Measure and guide straight cuts | Alvin;Westcott;Staedtler |
| Metalpoint stylus | drawing | Create delicate lines on prepared grounds | General’s;Cretacolor;Lyra |
| Miter box | tools | Guide precise angled cuts for frames | Stanley;Olfa;Hart |
| Microfiber cloth | tools | Clean brushes and wipe surfaces without scratching | MagicFiber;Zwipes |
Descriptions
Marker
Versatile felt-tip pens for drawing, lettering, and coloring; available in permanent and alcohol-based options.
Micron pen
Archival pigment ink pens known for precise, waterproof lines favored in ink drawings and technical work.
Mechanical pencil
Pencils with refillable leads that keep a constant point for detailed sketches, drafting, and illustration.
Marker paper
Coated, bleed-resistant paper designed to show marker colors accurately and prevent feathering.
Mixed-media paper
Sturdy paper that handles washes, collage, and drawing—great for mixed techniques and sketchbooks.
Modeling clay
Soft, pliable clay available air-dry or oven-bake for making models, maquettes, and details.
Modeling paste
Thick acrylic-based paste used to create raised textures or sculptural surfaces on canvas or panels.
Modeling tools
Hand tools—loops, spatulas, and picks—used to carve, smooth, and add detail to clay and wax.
Masking tape
Paper tape used to protect surfaces and create crisp lines when painting or taping off areas.
Masking fluid
Liquid rubber (frisket) applied to resist watercolor; peels off to reveal untouched paper beneath.
Masking paper
Rolls of lightweight paper used with tape to shield big areas from overspray or paint.
Mat board
Acid-free boards used to frame and protect artwork, available in various colors and core styles.
Mat cutter
Handheld or tabletop tools for trimming mat board with straight, beveled openings for framing.
Matte medium
Acrylic medium that thins paint, adds body, and acts as a glue for collage with a non-gloss finish.
Matte varnish
Final spray or brush-on finish that protects paint and reduces glare for a flat look.
Metal leaf
Extremely thin sheets of gold, silver, or other metals used to gild frames, paintings, and mixed-media pieces.
Metallic paint
Paint with metallic pigments that mimic metals, used for highlights and decorative finishes.
Mica powder
Fine shimmering pigment powder used in resin, paint, and mixed media for luminous, sparkly finishes.
Mylar
Durable polyester film used for tracing, stencils, and archivable overlays in mixed media and design.
MDF board
Smooth engineered wood panel commonly used for painting panels, mounting, and cutting shapes.
Masonite
A brand-name hardboard popular as a rigid painting panel or backing material for frames and crafts.
Mineral spirits
Odor-reduced solvent used to thin oil paints and clean brushes; use in well-ventilated areas.
Muller
Flat-bottomed tool for grinding dry pigment into oil or acrylic on a glass or stone slab.
Mortar and pestle
Heavy bowl and club used to crush pigments, charcoal, and additives for homemade paints or pastels.
Mop brush
Soft, large-headed watercolor brush ideal for big washes, blending, and glazing.
Mottler brush
Stiff, flat brush with a short handle used for spreading paint, gesso, and varnish evenly.
Monotype ink
Inks formulated for monotype and monoprint processes, available water-soluble or oil-based for different effects.
Monoprint paper
Durable, high-quality paper that accepts printing inks and retains detail for single impressions.
Mixing palette
Surface—plastic, wood, or porcelain—for blending colors; available portable or as a permanent studio board.
Mixing medium
Additive used to thin paint, increase gloss, slow drying, or improve adhesion depending on type.
Mounting spray
Spray adhesive for mounting prints, photos, and collage elements; choose archival products for longevity.
Mounting board
Rigid board used to mount or back artwork before framing; available in acid-free options.
Mold-making silicone
Two-part silicone compounds used to capture fine details for casting resin, plaster, or metal.
Mold release
Sprays or liquids applied to mold surfaces so cast materials release cleanly.
Mosaic tiles
Small colored tiles—glass, ceramic, or stone—used to assemble decorative mosaic artworks.
Mosaic adhesive
Thinset or tile adhesive formulated to secure tesserae to substrates during mosaic making.
Melamine board
Smooth, non-absorbent board often used as an inexpensive, easy-clean palette for acrylics and oils.
Marble dust
Fine powdered stone mixed into grounds, gesso, or plaster to create texture and body.
Marbling inks
Special inks and paints for paper marbling that float and pattern on water or sizing baths.
Masking spray
Aerosol liquid mask applied quickly over areas to protect from spray or airbrush paint.
Metal ruler
Sturdy straightedge used for measuring, cutting guides, and drawing precise straight lines.
Metalpoint stylus
Pointed metal tool for silverpoint and metalpoint drawing on specially prepared ground-coated surfaces.
Miter box
Simple jig that helps hand saws cut accurate 45° and 90° angles for framing and molding.
Microfiber cloth
Soft synthetic cloths that trap dust and moisture, ideal for cleaning glass, brushes, and sensitive surfaces.