5 tools under $10 for Artists (that don't suck)

In this video, I’m sharing my favorite useful tools for artists, all for under $10! I’ll take you through some budget-friendly essentials that have transformed my creative process. From versatile sketching supplies to compositional tools, these tools are perfect for anyone looking to enhance their artistry without breaking the bank. Join me as I showcase each item, share tips on how I use them, and explain why they’re must-haves in my art toolkit!

Stuff I mentioned in the video (affiliate links)

EXTRA CONTENT

ARTBOOK 📚

SOCIALS📷

MUSIC

TIMESTAMP
0:00 - Mirror
1:00 - Thumbnail Card
2:22 - Skillshare
3:06 - Spray Fixative
4:22 - Pomodoro Timer
6:10 - Ink-filling Syringe
7:00 - Bonus Hack (lightbox)

[jakelasherart]

The thumbnail card is such a good idea!!!

[pendantblade]

The desk mirror is cool unfortunately I'm a vampire and don't cast a reflection. 😢

[nickpicman]

not for typical digital or on paper art, but i found silicone/rubber kitchen sheets pretty cheap and good enough alternative for fake skin to practice tattoing

[stanloona]

Actually useful actually cheap tools, we love Chroma moma

[Vicious-scribbles]

‘I don’t know why I’m doing this, this camera doesn’t have an auto focus’ made me laugh so hard. Just doing something absent-mindedly and then realizing is such a human and funny experience. Thanks for sharing tips!

[berolinastrassmann]

I cut an A6 piece of red acetate to help me see values in a landscape, rather than get confused by the colours. Seeing through red helps your eyes find highlights and shadows without the distraction that colours create. If acetate is not available, I cut some red plastic folders from the office supply shop. I ❤ the 🍅 technique. I preset some 25 and 10min timers on my phone and on my computer. It works..withiut any extra gadget. Great advice tonstand up and look into the distance. This has helped my eyes enormously! Thanks for the video.

[MicahBuzanANIMATION]

This is brilliant! I'm def going to turn my outdated card into a thumbnail/view finder machine now.

[maeilum]

my boy chroma I know you have a genuine job in art but please post more 😭there are only a few good traditional art youtubers and you have the best channel in this niche 💯

[Jmdeleeuw-]

I'm just here to appreciate that cube timer design. That's clean.

[akachi]

Great hack. Small sketchbook on a theme/1 idea (5in x7in or less). It helps me not think so hard. "Just do" and then turn the page and "do" again.
I've literally filled up an entire sketch book in a matter of days instead of months/year.

It really helps keeps me from getting stuck on a single idea and makes me develop a broader concept. Just barely halfway through...and you are really out of ideas. You really have to start thinking differently and then all these other ideas start developing like a flood lol.

[InfructuosaFelicidad]

Cheap pencil extender (I go through a lot of colored pencils) was such a huge realization for me.

[CydL]

i had an issue w not painting consistently/forgetting about my paint and my acrylic paint drying up before i used it all which was a pain to have to re-mix colors so i looked into wet palettes. didnt have the money nor did i want to spend it so i made my own out of an old ferrero rocher box, paper towels, wax paper and water

[Gingrnut]

Bro that thumbnail guide is a gamechanger I need to make some of those! I’m trying to thumbnail more and it annoys me that the frames I make aren’t consistent or I don’t have a way to check aspect ratio, when that’s such an important part of composition. Absolutely making that a little project!

[Ceares]

I keep a travel bottle of hair spray with me for graphite drawings in my sketch book. It's cheap enough that I don't mind using it on all my drawings and small enough to stick in your purse or art bag if you are on the go.

[garymay]

Funnily enough, the art tool that's really been a "game-changer" in my art has just been a copic fineliner pen that a friend gifted me a while ago. For most of my life I've been in a place with drawing where I'm better at drawing than most people but not good enough to enjoy pursuing it. But the super clean lines from the pen just changed everything. It felt novel and almost "professional" in a way, much better than the faded lines that my mechanical pencil would make. Now I'm actually trying to get better at art.

[DistrustfulAtom]

Light box alternative if you happen to have a computer monitor or laptop, set the background to a light color and tape on the monitor 👍🏻

[jpg]

New chroma moma video just as I open youtube! Thank you!!

[Ninoletta]

🎉I really liked when you talked about the Pomodoro technique because I often work with it as well. Using this technique not only reminds me to take a break from time to time, but at the same time it helps me a lot with my discipline. And I actually also found that taking a break from drawing gives me a better perspective on it. I often recommend it as well.

[marielcarey]

Idk if this really counts, but, a stack of A4 printer paper. I keep it in a desk drawer and it's good for no-risk sketching, if i like a sketch enough then i just take a photo of it and start working over it digitally.

[velynbarajas]

If inexpensive light pads are not bright enough- simply darken the room to make the light pad more luminous