Checklist · 13 picks · 4 categories
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Sketching is one of the simplest art habits to start: you need paper and something to draw with, and that's it.
So start with a sketchbook you won't feel precious about and a pencil set with a few mediums in it, then see what you actually reach for. Colored pencils are the next easy step. Watercolor pencils and oil pastels are fun extras, not homework. Every pick here comes from BestReviews' art supply guides, which range from 2021 to 2026, so older picks may have newer versions. The badges only go to its top two picks in each guide, and each card shows the drawback too, so you know what you're getting before you add it to your cart.
Who this is not for. Skip this if you want to draw on a screen; the Digital Art Starter list is the one you want.
Tell me what you can spend. I pick a tier for every item, essentials first, and show what is left. The first amount covers everything you need at the cheapest tier.
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Estimates based on typical prices, checked Nov 2, 2026. Prices change; see the store for today's price.
0 of 3 on your list · tap one to see your options
| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caliart 176PCS Art Supplies Sketching Kit | budget | $25-50 | trying every medium before you commit to one | 1 outlet |
| Shuttle Art 123 Pack Art Pencil Set | mid | $25-50 | the biggest all-in-one pile of pencils and paper | 1 outlet |
| Norberg & Linden XL Drawing Set | splurge | $25-50 | graphite and charcoal fans with some drawing under their belt | Limited evidence |
budget pick · 176 pieces
Best for trying every medium before you commit to one
BestReviews' best bang for the buck art set: graphite, colored, watercolor, charcoal and metallic pencils, plus a kneaded eraser and blending sticks.
Heads up. A few reports of missing components
1 outlet. BestReviews best bang for the buck art set.
$25-50
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mid pick · 123 pieces
Best for the biggest all-in-one pile of pencils and paper
BestReviews' best of the best drawing kit: its most comprehensive pick, with watercolor, oil-based, sketch, charcoal and metallic pencils plus three kinds of paper.
Heads up. The mix of mediums may not suit you if you want to make one specific kind of artwork
1 outlet. BestReviews best of the best drawing kit.
$25-50
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splurge pick · Zippered case
Best for graphite and charcoal fans with some drawing under their belt
In BestReviews' drawing kit and art set guides: charcoal and graphite that draw sharp lines but stay soft enough to blend, all in a zippered case.
Heads up. BestReviews says it's not the best choice for those with less experience in drawing
Limited evidence. No outlet has named this one yet. It is here as a reasonable option, not a reviewed one.
$25-50
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachmore Drawing Pad, 9 x 12-Inch | budget | under $15 | beginners who fill pages fast | 1 outlet |
| illo Pocket Sketchbook, 4.5 x 4.5-Inch | budget | $15-25 | sketching on the go, and square pages made for posting | Limited evidence |
| Canson 180-Degree Art Book, 8 x 11-Inch | mid | $25-50 | experienced artists who use every inch of the page | 1 outlet |
budget pick · 9 x 12 in, 100 sheets
Best for beginners who fill pages fast
BestReviews' best bang for the buck sketchbook: 100 two-sided sheets of heavy paper that handle pencil, pen and ink and light washes.
Heads up. The cover is weak and may break if you're not careful
1 outlet. BestReviews best bang for the buck sketchbook.
under $15
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budget pick · 4.5 x 4.5 in, 112 pages
Best for sketching on the go, and square pages made for posting
112 pages of 180 gsm paper in a square hardcover with a strap.
Heads up. Heavy painting needs a primer first
Limited evidence. No outlet has named this one yet. It is here as a reasonable option, not a reviewed one.
$15-25
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mid pick · 8 x 11 in, 80 sheets
Best for experienced artists who use every inch of the page
BestReviews' best of the best sketchbook: a lay-flat book with rounded corners and a magnetic seal, great for dry media and light washes.
Heads up. Wet media and alcohol inks can bleed right through
1 outlet. BestReviews best of the best sketchbook.
$25-50
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crayola Colored Pencil Set (36 Count) | budget | under $15 | a cheap, cheerful set for casual doodlers | 1 outlet |
| Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils (48 Count) | mid | $25-50 | leveling up from kid pencils | Limited evidence |
| Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils (72 Count) | splurge | $50-100 | serious illustrators who want every color | 1 outlet |
budget pick · 36 pencils
Best for a cheap, cheerful set for casual doodlers
BestReviews' best bang for the buck colored pencils: bright, creamy colors that come sharpened and ready to use.
Heads up. Some sets arrive damaged or with loose pencils, per BestReviews
1 outlet. BestReviews best bang for the buck colored pencils.
under $15
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mid pick · 48 pencils
Best for leveling up from kid pencils
A solid selection of colors for developing artists, with leads that resist cracking and chipping.
Heads up. Gradient assortment, so don't expect extreme colors
Limited evidence. No outlet has named this one yet. It is here as a reasonable option, not a reviewed one.
$25-50
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splurge pick · 72 pencils
Best for serious illustrators who want every color
BestReviews' best of the best colored pencils: 72 soft, waxy, color-coded pencils with vibrant, smooth pigments in a sturdy box.
Heads up. Some leads are uneven or not clearly numbered, and some sets have quality-control issues
1 outlet. BestReviews best of the best colored pencils.
$50-100
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mungyo Gallery Artists' Professional Soft Oil Pastels | mid | under $15 | creamy blending with an oil paint-like finish | 1 outlet |
| Pentel Arts 50-Color Oil Pastels Set | budget | under $15 | small drawings and a cheap first try at pastels | 1 outlet |
| Castle Arts 72-Pencil Watercolor Set | budget | $25-50 | trying watercolor pencils without spending big | 1 outlet |
| Faber-Castell 48-Color Goldfaber Aqua Watercolor Pencil Set | splurge | $50-100 | sticking with watercolor pencils for the long haul | 1 outlet |
mid pick · 48 colors
Best for creamy blending with an oil paint-like finish
BestReviews' best of the best oil pastels: a very creamy texture that blends easily with or without solvents, which makes them beginner-friendly.
Heads up. The soft, creamy texture means they may not last long
1 outlet. BestReviews best of the best oil pastels.
under $15
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budget pick · 50 colors
Best for small drawings and a cheap first try at pastels
BestReviews' best bang for the buck oil pastels: a wide range of colors with no duplicates, and a smaller build for detail work.
Heads up. The smaller tips may be too small for large projects and filling bigger areas
1 outlet. BestReviews best bang for the buck oil pastels.
under $15
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budget pick · 72 pencils
Best for trying watercolor pencils without spending big
BestReviews' best bang for the buck watercolor pencils: an impressive range of colors that stay vibrant both dry and wet.
Heads up. If you prefer matte, you may not like the glossy finish
1 outlet. BestReviews best bang for the buck watercolor pencils.
$25-50
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splurge pick · 48 pencils
Best for sticking with watercolor pencils for the long haul
BestReviews' best of the best watercolor pencils: a water-soluble set in a tin that's easy to sort and carry, with break-resistant lead.
Heads up. Certain colors may lack some vibrance
1 outlet. BestReviews best of the best watercolor pencils.
$50-100
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means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Spot a mistake? A broken link, a wrong price range or an outdated pick: tell me at hello@allsetlist.com and I'll fix it.
A sketchbook and a pencil set. BestReviews' art set pick, the Caliart kit, comes with graphite, charcoal and colored pencils, a kneaded eraser, blending sticks and 100 sketchbook sheets, so it can cover both at once.
The Bachmore pad is the easy start: 100 two-sided sheets of heavy paper that handle pencil, ink and light washes. The Canson 180-Degree lays flat and suits experienced artists, but wet media and alcohol inks can bleed through it.
No, they're optional. The Caliart and Shuttle Art sets already include some watercolor pencils, so try those first. If you want oil pastels, BestReviews calls the Mungyo set beginner-friendly and says it blends easily with or without solvents.
