This collection presents 65 Art supplies that start with S, spanning from “Sable brush” to “Synthetic brush”. These entries cover physical tools and materials common in drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and mixed media. They support studio practice, classroom projects, and hobby work without heavy technical detail.
Art supplies that start with S are tangible materials and tools whose names begin with the letter S. Historically, sable brushes—one notable example—became prized for watercolor detail and still influence modern brush naming.
Below you’ll find the table with Item, Usage, and Popular brands.
Item: The supply name as commonly listed; you can scan it to find specific tools quickly.
Usage: Brief summary of how the item is used in visual art, helping you choose the right material.
Popular brands: One to three common manufacturers or labels you can look for when buying this supply.
Art supplies that start with S
| Name | Category | Common forms / Typical sizes | Popular brands |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sketchbook | Drawing, Mixed media | A5, A4, spiral, hardcover | Moleskine, Strathmore, Canson |
| Sketchpad | Drawing, Mixed media | A4, A3, spiral, glued | Strathmore, Canson, Fabriano |
| Sketch pencil | Drawing | HB, 2B, 4B, 6B sticks | Staedtler, Faber-Castell, Derwent |
| Soft pastel | Drawing, Mixed media | Sticks 3–12 cm, sets | Sennelier, Rembrandt, Unison |
| Sable brush | Painting, Watermedia | Rounds, mops, sizes 0–30 | Winsor & Newton, Raphael, Isabey |
| Synthetic brush | Painting, Acrylic, Oil | Flats, filberts, sizes 0–30 | Princeton, Winsor & Newton, Da Vinci |
| Sponge | Painting, Mixed media | Natural, synthetic, sea, foam pads | Creative Mark, Daler-Rowney |
| Sea sponge | Painting, Mixed media | Natural pieces, various sizes | Natural Sea Sponge Co., EcoSponges |
| Sandpaper | Painting, Sculpture | Sheets, grits P80–P4000 | 3M, Norton, Gator |
| Sanding block | Painting, Sculpture | Hand block, 4–6 inch | 3M, Norton, Gator |
| Sanding sponge | Painting, Sculpture | Flexible block, assorted grits | 3M, Norton, Gator |
| Sanding sealer | Painting, Woodworking | Liquid, 250 ml–1 L cans | Minwax, Zinsser, Rust-Oleum |
| Solder | Sculpture, Metalwork | Rods, bars, 1–3 mm diameter | Kester, Harris, Weller |
| Soldering iron | Sculpture, Jewelry | 25 W–80 W, pencil tip, station | Weller, Hakko, X-Tronic |
| Silicone mold | Sculpture, Casting | Rubber kits, mold boxes, various volumes | Smooth-On, Alumilite, Polytek |
| Silicone rubber | Casting, Sculpture | Pourable kits, 250 ml–5 L | Smooth-On, Alumilite, Polytek |
| Sculpey | Sculpture, Jewelry | Blocks, 57 g–454 g; oven-bake polymer clay | Sculpey (Polyform) |
| Super Sculpey | Sculpture | Blocks 57 g–454 g | Sculpey (Super Sculpey) |
| Sculpting clay | Sculpture, Ceramics | Oil-based, water-based, 1 lb–10 kg | Amaco, Laguna, Chavant |
| Sculpting tools | Sculpture, Ceramics | Loops, ribs, spatulas, wire tools | RBT, Kemper, Flexcut |
| Stretcher bar | Painting | Lengths 8″–6 ft; pre-cut corners | Fredrix, Blick, Art Alternatives |
| Stretched canvas | Painting | 8×10″ to 48×72″, pre-stretched, gallery wrap | Fredrix, Blick, Winsor & Newton |
| Stretcher keys | Painting | Small wooden wedges, packet of 4–20 | Fredrix, Blick |
| Staple gun | Mixed media, Framing | Manual, electric; hand-held | Stanley, Arrow, Bosch |
| Spray paint | Painting, Mixed media | Aerosol cans 150–400 ml | Montana, Krylon, Rust-Oleum |
| Spray fixative | Drawing, Pastel | Aerosol cans 150–400 ml | Krylon, Winsor & Newton, Grumbacher |
| Spray varnish | Painting | Aerosol cans, matte/gloss | Krylon, Winsor & Newton |
| Spray adhesive | Mixed media | Aerosol cans 150–500 ml | 3M, Elmer’s, Aleene’s |
| Spray gun | Painting | HVLP, gravity feed, cup sizes | Iwata, DeVilbiss, Fuji |
| Silkscreen | Printmaking, Mixed media | Frames 20×30 cm–1 m+, polyester mesh | Speedball, Ryonet, Jacquard |
| Screen printing ink | Printmaking | Plastisol, water-based, 500 ml–5 L | Speedball, Jacquard, Rutland |
| Squeegee | Printmaking | Blade widths 4″–24″, durometers 60–90 | Speedball, Ryonet, Blick |
| Stencil | Mixed media, Painting | Sheets, film, pre-cut designs | The Crafters Workshop, Speedball |
| Stamp | Mixed media, Printmaking | Rubber, wood-mounted, acrylic-mounted | Ranger, Hero Arts |
| Stamp pad | Mixed media | Ink pads 2×3″–4×6″, various colors | VersaColor, Ranger, Tsukineko |
| Steel ruler | Drawing, Printmaking | 12″, 18″, 24″, stainless steel | Starrett, Westcott, Alvin |
| Steel wool | Painting, Woodworking | Grades 0000–4 pads | 3M, Brillo, Weiler |
| Spatula | Painting, Sculpture | Palette knives, metal, 4″–12″ | Liquitex, Richeson, Pro Arte |
| Soapstone | Sculpture, Carving | Blocks, slabs, various sizes | Local quarries, Sculptor suppliers |
| Shellac | Painting, Finishing | Flakes, brush-on, 250 ml–1 L | Zinsser, Liberon |
| Sewing awl | Bookbinding, Mixed media | Handheld awl with thread spool | C.S. Osborne, Sailrite |
| Solvent | Painting, Printmaking | Bottles 250 ml–1 L; mineral spirits, turps | Klean-Strip, Gamblin, Sunnyside |
| Spar varnish | Painting, Woodworking | Brushed or sprayed cans 250 ml–1 L | TotalBoat, Rust-Oleum, Epifanes |
| Superglue | Mixed media, Sculpture | 1–20 g tubes, gel forms | Loctite, Gorilla |
| Scroll saw | Sculpture, Woodworking | Benchtop, throat 16″–20″ | DeWalt, Delta, Jet |
| Sander | Sculpture, Woodworking | Orbital, belt, palm; 120–1,200 W | Bosch, Makita, DeWalt |
| Sanding disc | Sculpture, Woodworking | 40–400 grit discs, 5″–6″ | 3M, Bosch, Diablo |
| Safety goggles | All disciplines | One-size, anti-fog, ANSI-rated | 3M, Uvex, Pyramex |
| Spring clamp | Mixed media, Framing | 1″–6″ jaw width, plastic/metal | Irwin, Bessey, Pony |
| Screwdriver | Sculpture, Framing | Flat, Phillips, torque sizes | DeWalt, Craftsman, Stanley |
| Scissors | Mixed media | 8″–12″, fabric and paper types | Fiskars, Gingher, Sizzix |
| Scalpel | Drawing, Modelmaking | Handle #3, blades #10–#11 | Swann-Morton, Excel |
| Slip | Ceramics | Bottles 250 ml–5 L, pouring or brushing | Laguna, Amaco, Coyote |
| Slip trailer | Ceramics | Small squeeze bottle, 20–120 ml | MG, Kemper |
| Sintra | Modelmaking, Sculpture | PVC foamboard sheets, 3 mm–10 mm | 3A Composites (Sintra), Plastruct |
| Styrofoam | Sculpture, Mixed media | Blocks, sheets, 1″–4″ thick | Dow, Generic foamboard |
| Styrene sheet | Modelmaking | Plastic sheets 0.5–3 mm | Plastruct, Evergreen |
| Sheet glass | Framing, Sculpture | Float glass 2–6 mm, cut sheets | Pilkington, Guardian |
| Silverpoint stylus | Drawing | Metal stylus, 1–3 mm tips | Higgins, Daniel Smith, Manuscript |
| Sumi ink | Drawing, Painting | Bottles 30–250 ml, ink sticks | Kuretake, Yasutomo, Sumi Ink Co. |
| Sumi paper | Drawing, Printmaking | Rice/wasli sheets, A4–A2 | Hahnemühle, Hosho, Awagami |
| Sumi brush | Painting, Calligraphy | Mop, round sizes small–large | Kuretake, Da Vinci, Isabey |
| Soft block | Printmaking | Rubber carving blocks 5×7″ sheets | Speedball, X-Press It |
| Soluble graphite | Drawing | Pencils, sticks, 2–6 mm | Derwent, General’s |
| Stencil film | Mixed media | Mylar sheets 7–12 mil, 9×12″ | Grafix, Dura-Lar, Crafters Workshop |
Descriptions
Sketchbook
Bound pad of paper for sketches and studies; varied paper weights for pencil, ink, and mixed media.
Sketchpad
Loose or bound sheets for quick drawing practice, available in varied tooth and weights.
Sketch pencil
Graphite pencil intended for sketching and tonal work; sold individually or in sets.
Soft pastel
Pigmented sticks with soft binder for vibrant, blendable color on textured paper.
Sable brush
High-quality natural-hair brush prized for spring and water retention in watercolor and gouache.
Synthetic brush
Man-made fiber brushes suitable for acrylics, oils, and mixed media; durable and affordable.
Sponge
Absorbent tool for texture, washes, and blending; used wet or dry in painting and printmaking.
Sea sponge
Natural sponges used for texture, faux finishes, and applying/wiping paint.
Sandpaper
Abrasive paper for smoothing surfaces, preparing grounds, and finishing wood or metal armatures.
Sanding block
Rigid block holding sandpaper for even sanding of wood, gessoed panels, and sculpture.
Sanding sponge
Conformable abrasive for curved surfaces and smoothing between coats.
Sanding sealer
Fast-drying sealer applied to wood before sanding and priming to seal grain.
Solder
Metal alloy used to join metal parts in jewelry, stained glass, and metal sculpture.
Soldering iron
Heated tool for melting solder to join metal or wire in metalworking and stained glass.
Silicone mold
Flexible rubber molds made from silicone for casting resin, plaster, wax, and concrete.
Silicone rubber
Raw material for making flexible molds and protective sleeves in casting processes.
Sculpey
Popular oven-bake polymer clay for modeling, jewelry, and small sculptures; cures at home ovens.
Super Sculpey
Firm professional-grade polymer clay favored by sculptors for fine detail and armature work.
Sculpting clay
Generic modeling clay types used for armatures, maquettes, and ceramic work.
Sculpting tools
Hand tools for shaping, carving, and refining clay, wax, or plaster sculptures.
Stretcher bar
Wooden bars assembled into frames to stretch canvas supports for painting.
Stretched canvas
Canvas fabric stretched and stapled to stretcher bars ready for priming and painting.
Stretcher keys
Tiny wedges inserted into stretcher corners to adjust canvas tension.
Staple gun
Tool for driving staples into wood; used in canvas stretching and construction.
Spray paint
Aerosol paint for broad coverage, street art, and quick layering on many surfaces.
Spray fixative
Sprayed sealant that reduces smudging of charcoal, pastel, and pencil drawings.
Spray varnish
Protective clear coat in spray form for paintings and mixed-media surfaces.
Spray adhesive
Sprayed glue for mounting paper, fabric, and collage elements quickly and evenly.
Spray gun
Handheld tool for applying paint or varnish with compressed air or turbine systems.
Silkscreen
Mesh stretched over a frame used with ink and a squeegee to transfer images.
Screen printing ink
Thick inks formulated for screen printing on fabrics, paper, and other surfaces.
Squeegee
Rubber-edged tool used to push ink through a screen onto substrate in printmaking.
Stencil
Template cut from film or paper used to apply repeated shapes with paint or ink.
Stamp
Carved or manufactured image used to transfer ink designs onto paper and surfaces.
Stamp pad
Ink-soaked pad used to ink rubber stamps for print or craft use.
Steel ruler
Straight metal rule for measuring, cutting, and drawing precise lines.
Steel wool
Fine metallic fibers used for burnishing, distressing, and smoothing finishes.
Spatula
Flat metal tools for mixing, applying paint, scraping, and modeling in sculpture and painting.
Soapstone
Soft metamorphic rock favored for carving, inking, and as a smooth drawing surface.
Shellac
Resin dissolved in alcohol used as a sealer, primer, or finish on wood and mixed media.
Sewing awl
Tool for punching and stitching heavy paper, bookbinding, and mixed-media sewing.
Solvent
Liquids used to thin oil paint, clean brushes, and dissolve mediums.
Spar varnish
Durable outdoor varnish traditionally used on boats, sometimes for wooden sculpture finishes.
Superglue
Fast-setting cyanoacrylate adhesive for quick bonds in model making, repairs, and mixed media.
Scroll saw
Electric saw for intricate internal cuts and detailed wood or plastic work.
Sander
Power tool for rapid surface smoothing and shaping in wood, gessoed panels, and sculpture.
Sanding disc
Abrasive discs for power sanders, used to remove material and finish surfaces.
Safety goggles
Protective eyewear to guard against dust, solvents, and flying debris in studio work.
Spring clamp
Quick-clamping tool for holding canvases, gluing, or temporary fixtures.
Screwdriver
Hand tool for driving screws in frames, stretchers, and construction.
Scissors
Cutting tool for paper, fabric, and thin materials in collage and textile art.
Scalpel
Precision cutting blade for paper, mat board, and fine detail work.
Slip
Liquid clay blend used for joining, decorating, and casting in ceramics.
Slip trailer
Tool for applying slip lines and decorative trails on pottery.
Sintra
Lightweight PVC sheet used for signage, modelmaking, and sculptural armatures.
Styrofoam
Expanded polystyrene foam used for carving armatures, prototypes, and lightweight forms.
Styrene sheet
Rigid plastic sheeting used in modelmaking, reliefs, and mixed-media construction.
Sheet glass
Flat glass sheets used for framing, mosaics, glass art, and mixed-media surfaces.
Silverpoint stylus
Metal-tipped tool used with prepared ground to make fine, permanent lines in silverpoint drawing.
Sumi ink
Traditional black ink for brushwork and calligraphy, used in ink painting and drawing.
Sumi paper
Thin absorbent papers for ink painting, printmaking proofs, and Sumi-e techniques.
Sumi brush
Soft brushes designed for ink painting and calligraphy, with excellent ink flow.
Soft block
Carvable rubber block for relief printing and linocut-style prints.
Soluble graphite
Graphite that dissolves with water for wash effects and rich tonal studies.
Stencil film
Durable plastic sheets cut into stencils for repeated painting and airbrushing.