Shopping for art supplies for mixed media means juggling two priorities: surfaces that can survive wet and dry layers, and media that play well together on the same page. The Shuttle Art Acrylic Paint Set (50 Colors) takes the top spot because its waterproof, non-toxic formula layers over pencil, ink, and pastel without lifting earlier work — the single most common failure point in mixed media projects. For a surface, the SuFly Mixed Media Sketchbook edges out the competition with true 98lb/160gsm paper that handles light washes and heavy acrylic without warping. The main tradeoff in this category is breadth versus depth: all-in-one kits like the Soucolor 192 Pack and HIFORNY 136 PCS sets offer variety at lower per-item quality, while individual sketchbooks and paint sets deliver better performance for artists who already own basics. Read on for the full breakdown of all 11 picks and which combination fits your workflow.
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Key Takeaways
- Paper weight was the biggest differentiator among sketchbooks: the SuFly and MOFUNY pads at 98lb/160gsm handled wet media well, while the 30-sheet and Phinus pads are better treated as dry-media-first surfaces with only light wash capability.
- All-in-one kits (Soucolor 192, Darnassus 132, HIFORNY 136) trade individual item quality for convenience — great for beginners and gift-buyers, but a working artist will outgrow them within months.
- The 72-color dual-tip acrylic paint markers filled a niche none of the brush-and-bottle sets cover: precision work on non-porous surfaces like glass, rock, and ceramic without sealing spray.
- Sets that include easels (the Mixed Media Art Set with Easel and the 65 Pack Acrylic Paint Set) only make sense if you don’t already own one — the bundled easels are entry-level and the paint counts inside are smaller than standalone sets.
- Across all 11 products, waterproof and quick-drying acrylics proved the most versatile mixed media anchor, which is why paint-focused picks outranked pencil-focused kits in the final ranking.
| SuFly Mixed Media Sketchbook 9×12, 60 Sheets, 98lb/160gsm Heavyweight Paper |  | Best Overall Sketchbook | Size: 9 x 12 inches | Paper weight: 98 lb / 160 gsm | Sheets: 60 | VIEW LATEST PRICE | See Our Full Breakdown |
| MOFUNY Mixed Media Sketchbook 9×12, Drawing Paper Pad 60 Sheets, 98lb/160gsm |  | Best for Flexible Page Handling | Size: 9 x 12 inches | Sheets: 60 | Paper weight: 98 lb / 160 gsm | VIEW LATEST PRICE | See Our Full Breakdown |
| Mixed Media Sketchbook 9″x12″, 30 Sheets |  | Best for Sharing Finished Pieces | Size: 9 x 12 inches | Sheets: 30 | Paper weight: 98 lb / 160 gsm | VIEW LATEST PRICE | See Our Full Breakdown |
| Phinus 30 Sheets Watercolor Sketchbook 5.5 x 8.5 Inch Cold Press Watercolor Paper |  | Best for Wet Media in a Compact Format | Size: 5.5 x 8.5 inches | Sheets: 30 | Paper weight: 140 lb / 300 gsm | VIEW LATEST PRICE | See Our Full Breakdown |
| Shuttle Art Acrylic Paint Set, 50 Colors, 2oz Bottles, Waterproof and Non-Toxic |  | Best for Broad Acrylic Color Choice | Number of colors: 50 | Bottle size: 2 oz / 60 ml | Paint type: Acrylic | VIEW LATEST PRICE | See Our Full Breakdown |
| Soucolor Art Supplies 192 Pack Deluxe Art Set Drawing Painting Supplies Kit |  | Best Overall Kit for Mixed Media Beginners | Total Pieces: 192 | Crayons: 60 | Colored Pencils / Oil Pastels: 24 each | VIEW LATEST PRICE | See Our Full Breakdown |
| Acrylic Paint Markers, 72 Colors Dual Tip Acrylic Paint Pens |  | Best for Surface versatility | Colors: 72 including metallics | Tips: Fine tip (1mm), brush tip (1–6mm) | Surfaces: Rock, glass, wood, ceramic, canvas, leather, fabric | VIEW LATEST PRICE | See Our Full Breakdown |
| Darnassus 132-Piece Art Set, Deluxe Professional Color Set with Portable Case |  | Best Budget-Friendly Starter Set | Total Pieces: 132 | Color Pencils: 22 | Oil Pastels: 40 | VIEW LATEST PRICE | See Our Full Breakdown |
| HIFORNY 136 PCS Drawing & Sketching Set |  | Best for Drawing-Focused Mixed Media | Total Pieces: 136 | Pencil Types: 9 including charcoal, graphite, colored, watercolor, metallic, white charcoal, woodless graphite, blender | Sketchbook: 6 x 9 inches, 50 pages (30 white, 10 toned tan, 10 black) | VIEW LATEST PRICE | See Our Full Breakdown |
| Mixed Media Art Set with Art Easel, Complete Art Supplies Kit |  | Best Easel-Included Starter Bundle | Total Items: 55 | Media Included: Acrylic paint, watercolor paint, brushes, colored pencils, drawing accessories | Easel: Wooden easel box, doubles as storage | VIEW LATEST PRICE | See Our Full Breakdown |
| 65 Pack Acrylic Paint Set with Wooden Easel and Accessories |  | Best All-in-One Starter Kit | Number of Colors: 30 | Paint Volume: 12 ml per tube | Total Pieces: 65 | VIEW LATEST PRICE | See Our Full Breakdown |
More Details on Our Top Picks
SuFly Mixed Media Sketchbook 9×12, 60 Sheets, 98lb/160gsm Heavyweight Paper
The SuFly Mixed Media Sketchbook is the most balanced paper pick here for artists who move between drawing and painting. Its 98 lb/160 gsm sheets support pencil, ink, markers, pastels, gouache, acrylic, and watercolor, while the 9×12 format leaves room for layered compositions. Compared with the smaller Phinus Watercolor Sketchbook, SuFly gives you more working area and a wider dry-media focus, but its lighter paper is less suited to repeated wet washes. The 60 perforated sheets and hard covers make it practical for keeping studies together or removing finished work; the spiral binding also lets pages lie flat. The tradeoff is a finite page supply, and the coil may not suit artists who prefer a book-style binding.
Pros:- 98 lb/160 gsm paper accommodates a broad mix of dry and lighter wet media
- Perforated sheets can be removed for display or sharing
- Spiral binding lets the sketchbook lie flat while working
- Hard covers help protect pages during transport and storage
Cons:- 60 sheets may run short for artists making frequent studies
- Paper is less suited to very wet watercolor washes than the 140 lb Phinus
- Side spiral binding may not appeal to artists who prefer a bound book
Best for: Mixed-media students and journal artists who want one roomy sketchbook for drawing, ink, and occasional painting.
Not ideal for: Watercolor artists who regularly use heavy washes and need thicker paper that resists warping.
- Size:9 x 12 inches
- Paper weight:98 lb / 160 gsm
- Sheets:60
- Binding:Side spiral bound
- Cover:Hard cover
- Paper type:Mixed media
Our verdict“Choose SuFly for a roomy, versatile sketchbook that balances drawing and moderate mixed-media use.”
MOFUNY Mixed Media Sketchbook 9×12, Drawing Paper Pad 60 Sheets, 98lb/160gsm
The MOFUNY Mixed Media Sketchbook suits artists who want to turn pages around as they work: its ring binding rotates 360 degrees, useful at a crowded desk or while sketching on the go. Like the SuFly, it offers 9×12 pages, 60 sheets, and 98 lb/160 gsm paper for pencil, ink, watercolor, and acrylic. That makes the choice less about media range and more about handling: MOFUNY favors page rotation, while SuFly adds hard covers and perforations for protection and cleaner removal. The paper is described as bleed-resistant, but the product data cautions against heavy or textured media, so thick applications may be a poor fit. The limited sheet count and potentially less durable rings also make it less compelling for rough daily handling.
Pros:- 360-degree ring binding allows flexible page rotation
- 98 lb/160 gsm paper supports several common drawing and painting media
- 9×12 size offers working space while remaining portable
- Recyclable mixed-media paper
Cons:- Rings may be less durable over time
- Not intended for very heavy or textured media
- 60 sheets limit its usefulness for extensive projects
Best for: Mobile sketchers and students who want to rotate pages freely while switching between drawing and light painting.
Not ideal for: Artists who use heavy impasto, textured materials, or need a sketchbook built for frequent rough handling.
- Size:9 x 12 inches
- Sheets:60
- Paper weight:98 lb / 160 gsm
- Binding:Ring binding
- Page rotation:360 degrees
- Material:Recyclable mixed media paper
Our verdict“Pick MOFUNY if rotating pages matters more to your workflow than hard-cover protection or perforated removal.”
Mixed Media Sketchbook 9″x12″, 30 Sheets
This 30-sheet mixed media sketchbook is a focused choice for artists who value removable work over a large page supply. Its perforated, acid-free sheets can be detached for sharing, and the 9×12 spiral format gives students and hobbyists a full-size surface for watercolor, acrylic, pastels, pen, and colored pencil. Compared with the SuFly sketchbook, it offers the same listed paper weight and size but half as many sheets, making it easier to treat each page as a finished piece rather than a disposable study. The product data describes the paper as bleed-resistant, though 98 lb/160 gsm stock remains a limitation for very wet media. It also lacks storage features, so loose tools and finished pages need a separate place.
Pros:- Perforated pages are easy to remove and share
- Acid-free, fade-resistant paper
- Spiral binding lays flat during use
- Supports watercolor, acrylic, pastel, pen, ink, and colored pencil
Cons:- 30 sheets provide less room for practice than the 60-sheet SuFly and MOFUNY books
- 98 lb/160 gsm paper is not suited to very wet media
- No pocket or storage compartment for loose materials
Best for: Students and gift recipients who want a modest supply of removable mixed-media pages for finished studies.
Not ideal for: Artists who fill sketchbooks quickly, rely on heavy watercolor washes, or want built-in storage for loose supplies.
- Size:9 x 12 inches
- Sheets:30
- Paper weight:98 lb / 160 gsm
- Binding:Spiral bound
- Perforated pages:Yes
- Paper properties:Acid-free, fade-resistant, bleed-resistant
- Suitable media:Watercolor, acrylic, pastel, pen, ink, colored pencils
Our verdict“Choose this pad when removable, shareable artwork matters more than having a deep supply of practice pages.”
Phinus 30 Sheets Watercolor Sketchbook 5.5 x 8.5 Inch Cold Press Watercolor Paper
The Phinus Watercolor Sketchbook is the wet-media specialist in this group. Its 140 lb/300 gsm cold-press paper is heavier and textured, giving washes and layered watercolor more support than the 98 lb/160 gsm pages in the SuFly, MOFUNY, and 30-sheet mixed-media books. That added capacity makes it a stronger fit for watercolor-led mixed-media work, though its 5.5 x 8.5-inch pages leave less room for large compositions. The spiral binding makes pages accessible and removable, but the pad has just 30 sheets and comes in one listed size. Compared with the broad-media sketchbooks, Phinus trades a larger drawing surface and more flexible dry-media emphasis for sturdier watercolor paper.
Pros:- 140 lb/300 gsm paper is substantially heavier than the other sketchbooks listed
- Cold-press texture suits watercolor washes and layered painting
- Spiral binding provides easy page access and removal
- Compact size is convenient for travel or smaller workspaces
Cons:- 5.5 x 8.5-inch surface is smaller than the 9×12 sketchbooks
- Only 30 sheets per pad
- Only one size is listed
Best for: Watercolor-first artists who want a compact pad for washes, layering, and adding dry media.
Not ideal for: Artists who need a large page for expansive mixed-media compositions or want a greater supply of sheets.
- Size:5.5 x 8.5 inches
- Sheets:30
- Paper weight:140 lb / 300 gsm
- Binding:Spiral bound
- Surface:Cold press
- Suitable media:Watercolor, mixed media
Our verdict“Choose Phinus for compact watercolor-led mixed-media work where heavier textured paper matters most.”
Shuttle Art Acrylic Paint Set, 50 Colors, 2oz Bottles, Waterproof and Non-Toxic
The Shuttle Art Acrylic Paint Set adds a wide color range to mixed-media work: 50 colors in 2 oz bottles let beginners and classroom artists build varied palettes without mixing every shade from a small core set. Its water-based acrylics are listed as waterproof and fade-resistant, giving finished work more durability on suitable surfaces. Compared with the Phinus Watercolor Sketchbook, this set shifts the focus from paper and washes to opaque acrylic color across multiple surfaces; it can pair with a sketchbook, but the lighter 98 lb/160 gsm papers in this roundup may not suit heavy paint application. The 2 oz bottles also limit the supply for large canvases or frequent group projects. Non-toxic status and listed ASTM D-4236 and EN71-3 certifications are useful considerations for shared art spaces.
Pros:- 50 colors provide a broad palette for mixing and direct use
- Water-based acrylic paint is listed as waterproof and fade-resistant
- Non-toxic with ASTM D-4236 and EN71-3 certifications
- Suitable for multiple surfaces
Cons:- 2 oz bottles may run out quickly on large projects
- Acrylic application can be demanding on the lighter sketchbook papers in this roundup
Best for: Beginners, teachers, and hobbyists who want many acrylic colors for varied small to medium projects.
Not ideal for: Artists planning large-scale acrylic work who need substantial quantities of each color or prefer watercolor transparency.
- Number of colors:50
- Bottle size:2 oz / 60 ml
- Paint type:Acrylic
- Waterproof:Yes
- Non-toxic:Yes
- Certifications:ASTM D-4236, EN71-3
Our verdict“Pick this set for broad acrylic color choice across smaller projects, while planning separate support for large-scale painting.”
Soucolor Art Supplies 192 Pack Deluxe Art Set Drawing Painting Supplies Kit
This set stands out for sheer media variety — crayons, oil pastels, watercolor, acrylic, canvases, and multiple paper pads all in one wooden case. Compared with the Darnassus 132-Piece Art Set, the Soucolor includes actual acrylic paints and canvas boards, which makes it the stronger pick for someone who genuinely wants to experiment across wet and dry media. The dual-drawer wooden case is a real advantage over soft cases, keeping fragile pastels and pencils organized. The tradeoff is depth: individual material quality sits at hobbyist level, so an artist already invested in professional tools (like pairing a Shuttle Art Acrylic Paint Set with a dedicated sketchbook) will outgrow these components. Still, for sampling every medium before committing, this option makes the most sense at the top of the list.
Pros:- Covers wet and dry media including acrylic, watercolor, pastels, and colored pencils
- Wooden case with dual drawers keeps 192 pieces organized and protected
- Includes canvases and dedicated paper pads so you can start immediately
- Balanced proportions — 60 crayons plus 24 each of the core media
Cons:- Individual material quality is hobbyist-grade, not professional
- Casual users may never touch half the contents
- Wooden case is heavier and bulkier than soft-case alternatives
Best for: Beginners and gift-givers who want to try every major medium without buying separate supplies
Not ideal for: Intermediate artists with established toolkits — the generalist quality will feel like a step down
- Total Pieces:192
- Crayons:60
- Colored Pencils / Oil Pastels:24 each
- Watercolor & Acrylic Paints:24 each
- Paint Brushes:8
- Surfaces Included:3 A4 canvas boards, sketch pad, watercolor pad, acrylic pad
- Storage:Wooden case with dual drawers
Our verdict“The best all-in-one starting point for mixed media curious artists who want everything in a single organized box.”
Acrylic Paint Markers, 72 Colors Dual Tip Acrylic Paint Pens
Where most entries in this roundup work on paper or canvas, this marker set is built for non-traditional surfaces — rocks, glass, ceramic, leather, and fabric. The dual-tip design (1mm fine plus a 1–6mm brush tip) lets you move from linework to fills without switching tools, something bottle-based options like the Shuttle Art Acrylic Paint Set can’t match for precision or portability. The water-based, quick-drying ink suits mixed media journaling and layering over dry media well. The honest tradeoff: brush tips wear faster under heavy pressure, and water-based ink lacks the permanence some professional applications demand. Compared with the Soucolor 192 Pack, this is the more focused choice — fewer media, but far more control when your substrate isn’t paper.
Pros:- 72 colors including metallics, with vibrant water-based ink
- Dual tips handle both detail work and broad coverage
- Adheres to rock, glass, wood, ceramic, leather, and fabric
- Portable case makes plein air and travel projects practical
Cons:- Brush tips are less durable under heavy, repeated pressure
- Water-based formula is not archival or professional-grade
- Cannot replace traditional brushes for large-scale painting
Best for: Crafters and journal artists who paint on rocks, glass, ceramic, and fabric rather than paper alone
Not ideal for: Artists needing archival or professional-grade pigment — water-based ink is limiting
- Colors:72 including metallics
- Tips:Fine tip (1mm), brush tip (1–6mm)
- Surfaces:Rock, glass, wood, ceramic, canvas, leather, fabric
- Ink:Water-based, non-toxic, waterproof, quick-drying
- Storage:Portable organized case
Our verdict“A precision tool for surface-driven mixed media projects where brushes and bottles are impractical.”
Darnassus 132-Piece Art Set, Deluxe Professional Color Set with Portable Case
The Darnassus takes a lighter approach than the Soucolor 192 Pack: it skips acrylics and canvases entirely, focusing on color pencils, oil pastels, markers, and watercolor in a compact, lightweight case. That focus makes it the better value pick for buyers who mostly work dry and only occasionally reach for watercolor. The 40 oil pastels out-number most competing sets here, which suits blending-heavy work on the SuFly Mixed Media Sketchbook, whose 98lb paper handles dry media well. The tradeoff is what’s missing — no acrylic paint, no canvas, and no watercolor-specific paper, so anyone wanting true wet-media flexibility should step up to the Soucolor. Compared with the HIFORNY 136 PCS, it trades pencil depth for color-media breadth, a reasonable swap for younger or more casual artists.
Pros:- 40 oil pastels — more than most sets in this price bracket
- Lightweight portable case easier to carry than wooden boxes
- Broad media mix including 18 watercolor pans and dual-tipped markers
- Accessible for all skill levels and ages
Cons:- No acrylic paint, canvas, or heavyweight watercolor paper included
- Individual item quality details are sparse
- Marker count and color variety are modest compared with dedicated marker sets
Best for: Budget-conscious buyers and younger artists who primarily sketch and color with occasional watercolor
Not ideal for: Artists who want acrylics or canvas — this set is dry-media focused
- Total Pieces:132
- Color Pencils:22
- Oil Pastels:40
- Markers:18 dual-tipped plus 6 additional
- Watercolor Paints:18 pans
- Accessories:Sharpener, eraser, palette, brush, art papers
- Case:Portable and lightweight
Our verdict“A sensible low-commitment entry point for dry-media artists who dabble in watercolor.”
HIFORNY 136 PCS Drawing & Sketching Set
This set carves out a different niche than the paint-heavy kits here: it’s a drawing-first collection — 9 pencil types spanning charcoal, graphite, metallic, woodless graphite, and a colorless blender — paired with three purpose-built books. The toned and black sketchbook pages genuinely matter for mixed media, since white charcoal and metallic pencils only shine on dark grounds. The 300gsm watercolor book also out-classes the paper included with the Soucolor 192 Pack for wet work, making this a stronger pick if drawing and washes define your practice. Compared with the Darnassus 132-Piece, it sacrifices oil pastels and markers for real pencil depth. The tradeoff: there’s no paint beyond watercolor pencils, so acrylic-based artists should look to the Shuttle Art Acrylic Paint Set instead.
Pros:- Nine specialized pencil types including metallic, white charcoal, and a colorless blender
- 50-page sketchbook with toned tan and black paper for light-on-dark techniques
- Dedicated 300gsm watercolor book suitable for wet media
- Durable nylon case is lighter than wooden alternatives
Cons:- No acrylic or traditional paints included
- Sketchbooks are consumable — the core value depletes with use
- Overwhelming volume for minimalist artists
Best for: Sketchbook artists who build mixed media pieces around graphite, charcoal, and watercolor pencil washes
Not ideal for: Acrylic or oil pastel painters — there’s no traditional paint in the set
- Total Pieces:136
- Pencil Types:9 including charcoal, graphite, colored, watercolor, metallic, white charcoal, woodless graphite, blender
- Sketchbook:6 x 9 inches, 50 pages (30 white, 10 toned tan, 10 black)
- Coloring Book:A5, 20 illustrations
- Watercolor Book:12 pages, 300gsm
- Case:Nylon, 12 x 8.74 x 2.75 inches
Our verdict“The strongest pick here for artists whose mixed media starts with a pencil rather than a brush.”
Mixed Media Art Set with Art Easel, Complete Art Supplies Kit
Most kits in this roundup assume you already have somewhere to work — this one doesn’t. The wooden easel box that converts into a working easel is the whole story here, bundling acrylics, watercolors, brushes, and colored pencils with a ready-to-paint setup. Compared with the 65 Pack Acrylic Paint Set with Wooden Easel, it trades paint volume for media variety, adding watercolor and dry-media options that make it better suited to genuine mixed media exploration. Against the Soucolor 192 Pack, the 55-piece count looks small, but the included easel and focused curation mean less unused filler. The tradeoffs are real: 55 pieces limits color range in each medium, and accessories lean toward student grade, so advanced artists will want to supplement rather than rely on this kit alone.
Pros:- Wooden easel box doubles as storage and a stable painting station
- Covers acrylic, watercolor, colored pencils, and brushes in one bundle
- Portable design suits outdoor painting and art classes
- Includes 1-year warranty
Cons:- Only 55 pieces, limiting color depth in any single medium
- Accessories are student-grade, not suited to advanced techniques
- Easel box adds weight compared with simple soft-case kits
Best for: First-time painters, students, and gift recipients who need an easel and supplies in one purchase
Not ideal for: Advanced artists wanting professional-grade tools or a wide color range per medium
- Total Items:55
- Media Included:Acrylic paint, watercolor paint, brushes, colored pencils, drawing accessories
- Easel:Wooden easel box, doubles as storage
- Brand / Model:Artbreezing Art Paint Set
- Warranty:1 year
- Use Cases:Outdoor, art classes, family entertainment
Our verdict“A complete ready-to-paint station for beginners who don’t own an easel and want everything at once.”
65 Pack Acrylic Paint Set with Wooden Easel and Accessories
This set earns its place as the most complete out-of-the-box solution in the lineup. Where the Shuttle Art 50-Color Acrylic Set gives you more paint volume per color, it stops at the paint itself — this kit adds a foldable wooden easel, canvases, brushes, palette knives, a sponge, and an acrylic pad, so a complete painting session can start the day it arrives. That makes it a stronger match for beginners and gift-giving than the Soucolor 192-Piece Deluxe Art Set, which spreads its value across drawing tools rather than a true acrylic painting setup.
The tradeoffs are real, though. At 12 ml per tube, the paint runs out faster than the 2-oz bottles in the Shuttle Art set, and the kit is acrylic-only — anyone wanting watercolor or ink work in the same box will find it limiting. The easel also requires assembly and the whole package is bulky to store.
Pros:- Truly complete setup with easel, canvases, brushes, palette knives, and acrylic pad included
- 30 vibrant, non-toxic, artist-grade colors safe for both kids and adults
- Foldable wooden easel elevates the experience beyond a basic paint box
- Strong gift option since nothing extra needs to be purchased
- Everything is designed to work together as a coherent starter system
Cons:- Small 12 ml tubes run out quickly compared with 2-oz bottle sets like the Shuttle Art kit
- Acrylic-only — no support for watercolor, ink, or dry media exploration
- Bulky to store and the easel requires assembly before first use
Best for: Beginners, students, and gift-givers who want everything needed to start acrylic painting immediately, including a working easel
Not ideal for: Mixed media artists who switch between watercolor, ink, and acrylic — this kit covers only acrylics, and the small 12 ml tubes won’t suit heavy painters either
- Number of Colors:30
- Paint Volume:12 ml per tube
- Total Pieces:65
- Includes:Wooden easel, brushes, canvases, palettes, painting knives, sponge, acrylic pad
- Material:Acrylic, wood
- Paint Type:Artist-grade, non-toxic, waterproof acrylic
- Age Range:Kid, Adult
Our verdict“Buy this if you want a single purchase that turns a complete beginner into a painting acrylic artist on day one; skip it if you already own brushes and easels or work across multiple mediums.”
How We Picked
I evaluated every product through one lens: how well it supports layered, multi-technique work rather than a single medium. For sketchbooks, that meant judging paper weight, cold press texture, ability to withstand wet media without buckling, and how many usable sheets you get per pad. For paint sets and markers, the criteria shifted to pigment load, waterproofness once dry, color range, and whether the formula plays nicely over graphite, ink, and gesso. For bundled kits, I weighed component quality and coherence — whether the included items actually work together or just inflate the piece count.
The ranking favors versatile core supplies over convenience bundles, because mixed media artists hit creative walls fastest when their foundation (paper and paint) can’t keep up. That’s why the Shuttle Art acrylic set and SuFly sketchbook lead the list, mid-tier kits fill the beginner and value slots, and the smallest pads and easel bundles sit lower — not because they’re bad products, but because they serve narrower situations. Easel-included sets, for example, only rank well for buyers starting from zero.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Art Supplies For Mixed Media
Beyond the individual picks, a few category-wide realities shape whether your mixed media setup succeeds or frustrates you. These are the factors I’d weigh before spending anything.Paper Weight Determines What You Can Actually Do
The single most expensive mistake in mixed media is buying paper too light for your ambitions. Anything under 90lb/180gsm will buckle under watercolor washes and cockle badly under acrylic, no matter how carefully you tape it down. At 98lb/160gsm — the weight of the top-ranked pads here — you can handle light washes, ink, marker, collage, and light acrylic layers without gessoing the page first. If your work leans heavily wet, priming with gesso effectively upgrades any paper, but that adds cost and prep time most hobbyists skip. A common trap: pads marketed as “mixed media” sometimes mean “sketch paper that tolerates a damp brush,” so always check the gsm figure rather than the label.
Buy the Easel Separately Unless You Own Nothing
Two of the eleven products here bundle easels, and the math only works one way. If you already own any easel — even a cheap tabletop model — the bundled versions add weight and cost without improving your painting. The easels inside these sets are basic A-frame or tabletop designs, fine for a first month of practice but wobbly at full extension and rarely adjustable for angle work. Buyers starting completely from scratch get genuine value from the bundle; everyone else should redirect that money toward a better sketchbook or more paint colors. This is the clearest example in the category of a feature that helps some buyers and actively wastes money for others.
Kit Size Versus Component Quality
Big piece counts sell kits, but piece count and usefulness are different things. A 192-piece set that includes 60 pencils, 24 oil pastels, and dozens of accessories sounds impressive until you realize the items most mixed media artists actually burn through — decent paper and fluid acrylic — are the smallest components. Individual pencil and paint quality in large kits typically sits at student grade, with chalky pastels and paint that needs two or three coats for opacity. My advice for anyone past the first three months of making art: build your kit from singles (one good pad, one good paint set, one good marker set) and let the mega-kits go. For gift-buyers and absolute beginners, the kits remain a reasonable doorway.
Waterproof Media Changes Your Layering Options
Whether your paint reactivates with water after drying quietly determines your entire layering strategy. Waterproof acrylics — like the top-ranked bottle set and the paint markers in this lineup — let you glaze, scrub, and lift over finished layers without disturbing what’s underneath. Water-reactive media force you to work top-down and plan everything in advance, which kills the experimental spirit that draws most people to mixed media. Markers add a further advantage: no brush cleanup, no water cup, and precision on non-porous surfaces that brushes struggle with. If you only invest in one upgrade, making your primary paint waterproof delivers the biggest creative payoff.
Match the Set to Your Actual Surface Mix
Not all mixed media is paper-based, and several picks in this roundup only shine on specific surfaces. The 72-color paint marker set adheres to rock, glass, ceramic, and wood — surfaces where bottled acrylic needs priming and sealing to survive. Conversely, the watercolor sketchbooks are purpose-built for paper projects and waste their cold press texture on anything rigid. Before choosing, list the three surfaces you realistically use most; if two of them aren’t paper, weight your budget toward markers and skip the premium pads entirely. Buyers who skip this step end up with beautiful paper they never touch and markers that can’t do what they bought them for.
When to Pay More — and When It’s Wasted
Paying up makes sense on two items: paper and your primary paint set. These are where quality gaps show up immediately, in buckling pages and streaky color, and where premium versions genuinely change what techniques are possible. Paying up on accessories — sharpeners, erasers, blending stumps, the extras that pad out big kits — is almost always wasted money, because the budget versions perform within a hair of the expensive ones. Charcoal, graphite, and colored pencils sit in the middle: student grade is serviceable, but artists doing finished work will notice the pigment difference. A sensible split for most budgets is roughly half on paper, a third on paint, and the remainder on everything else.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a 98lb/160gsm mixed media pad good enough for watercolor, or do I need real watercolor paper?
For light washes, ink, and mixed techniques, 98lb/160gsm is a solid middle ground, and it’s what the SuFly and MOFUNNY pads in this roundup use. For heavy, saturated watercolor work — multiple soaking washes, wet-on-wet blending, lifting — true 140lb/300gsm watercolor paper like the cold press Phinus pad will perform noticeably better and resist buckling. The tradeoff is that dedicated watercolor paper costs more per sheet and its texture can fight dry media like fine-liner detail work. A practical approach many artists take: keep a mixed media pad for exploration and layering, and reserve a smaller watercolor pad for pieces that are watercolor-first. If you gesso the mixed media pages before painting, you also gain durability at the cost of the paper’s natural tooth.
Should I buy a big all-in-one kit or build my supplies piece by piece?
It depends entirely on where you are in the hobby. If you own nothing and want to try everything — pencil, charcoal, watercolor, pastel — a kit like the HIFORNY 136 PCS or Soucolor 192 Pack gets you experimenting for far less than buying each medium separately. The catch is component quality: kit pencils, pastels, and paints are student grade, and artists who stick with the hobby typically replace them within a few months. If you already know you love, say, acrylic and collage, skip the kits and put the full budget into one heavyweight pad and one quality paint set. Kits are a discovery tool, not a destination — buying one when you already know your preferences is the most common wasted purchase in this category.
Are acrylic paint markers worth it if I already have bottled acrylics?
They solve a different problem, which is why both appear in this lineup. Bottled acrylic with brushes covers large areas and mixes custom colors cheaply, but struggles with fine linework, clean lettering, and non-porous surfaces like rock, glass, and ceramic without primer. Paint markers — especially dual-tip versions like the 72-color set here — deliver opaque, waterproof lines with no setup or cleanup, and many bond to slick surfaces straight from the pen. The tradeoff is cost per milliliter: markers are dramatically more expensive as a paint delivery system than bottles. Most mixed media artists end up using both, markers for detail and text layers over acrylic backgrounds. If your work involves journaling, mandalas, or painted stones, markers earn their shelf space; if you work large on canvas only, they’re optional.
Do the easels bundled with some art sets actually hold up?
Bundled easels are almost always entry-level — typically lightweight table easels or basic A-frames that suit small canvases and sketch pads up to roughly 16 inches. For a beginner painting at a table, they’re functional and genuinely better than working flat, which is why the easel bundles rank well for total newcomers. Where they fall short is stability with larger canvases, angle adjustment for detailed work, and durability over years of use; the hinges and tightening knobs on budget easels are the usual failure points. If you plan to work on canvas regularly or above 16 inches, buying a standalone field or studio easel separately is the better long-term move. Treat the bundled easel as a free starter, not a selling point.
How many paint colors do I actually need for mixed media work?
Fewer than the packaging suggests. A 50-color set like the Shuttle Art offers real convenience, but with a warm and cool version of each primary plus black, white, and a couple of earth tones, you can mix nearly anything — around 12 to 15 tubes covers most working artists. The value of large color counts is skipping mixing time and getting consistent repeatable hues, which matters more for pattern work and color-blocked designs than for expressive painting. Where bigger sets genuinely help in mixed media is layering: having many pre-mixed transparent-ish hues speeds up glazing experiments. One practical warning from the budget-set tier: very cheap paints with low pigment load force extra coats, which muddies layered work. A smaller, pigment-rich set will outperform a large chalky one in every mixed media application.
Conclusion
After comparing all 11 options, the right choice comes down to what stage you’re at and what surfaces you work on. Best overall goes to the Shuttle Art Acrylic Paint Set — waterproof, layerable, and versatile enough to anchor almost any mixed media practice. Best value is the SuFly Mixed Media Sketchbook, which delivers genuinely capable 98lb/160gsm paper at a per-sheet cost that lets you experiment freely. For beginners, the HIFORNY 136 PCS Drawing & Sketching Set wins because its components are more coherent than most mega-kits — the included sketchbook and watercolor book mean you can start the day it arrives. Best premium pick is the 72-color dual-tip acrylic paint marker set, which unlocks precision work on glass, rock, and ceramic that no brush-based set here can match. If you’re starting completely from scratch, the Mixed Media Art Set with Easel bundles everything including a place to prop your work, making it the practical one-box purchase. Pair a top-half sketchbook with a top-half paint or marker pick, and you’ll have a mixed media foundation that won’t hold you back.
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