What supplies do I need to start painting?

It’s one of the first questions people ask.

Before you begin, it can feel like you need the right setup — the right paints, brushes, and materials — to do it properly.

So you start researching.

And quickly, it becomes overwhelming.

My Experience

I’m Gosia Margie Witko.

I began exploring art at a young age, working with different materials over time — from batik and encaustic to textiles and paint.

There was never one perfect set of tools.

What mattered was the act of working — experimenting, observing, and learning through the process.

Later, I spent decades building systems in design, technology, and consulting, helping people simplify complexity and focus on what actually matters.

That same thinking now shapes how I approach painting.

What You Actually Need to Start Painting

If you’re just beginning, you don’t need a full studio.

You can start with a very simple setup:

• Acrylic paint (a small set: red, blue, yellow, white, and black)

• A few brushes (1–2 medium brushes, 1 smaller brush)

• A surface (canvas, canvas board, or heavy paper)

• A palette (anything from a palette pad to a plate)

• Water container

• Paper towel or cloth

That’s enough.

Why Keeping It Simple Helps

Many beginners believe more supplies will make things easier.

But too many options often create hesitation.

When you work with a limited set of materials, you begin to:

see colour relationships more clearly
understand how paint behaves
make decisions more intentionally

This is where learning actually begins.

A Better Way to Begin

Instead of focusing only on materials, start with a simple question.

What happens if I mix only two colours?
What happens if I focus only on light and dark?
What happens if I use one brush for the whole painting?

This gives you direction.

You’re no longer guessing what to do.

You’re exploring.

The Studio Approach

This is how I structure the beginning of a painting practice.

Each step is built around focused exploration, not pressure to produce finished work.

You start small.
You observe.
You continue.

The Art Studio Residency

This approach takes place inside The Art Studio Residency.

It’s a private online studio where artists begin with simple materials and develop their work over time through guided exploration.

You don’t need to have everything figured out before you start.

You begin where you are.

If you’ve been asking:

“What supplies do I need to start painting?”

You need less than you think.

And once you begin, the rest becomes clear through practice.