Starting a new hobby in drawing or painting can feel overwhelming, especially when you walk into an art supply store and see hundreds of products with a wide range of prices. Many beginners believe they need expensive materials to create good work, but that is not true. With a little knowledge and smart shopping, you can build a solid starter kit for under €50. This article will guide you through budget-friendly art materials available in Brussels, from pencils and sketchbooks to paints and brushes, helping you focus on learning rather than spending.
Why You Don't Need Expensive Supplies
The most important tool in art is your observation and practice. High-end materials can improve the experience, but they do not teach you how to draw or paint. Many professional artists started with the cheapest supplies. The key is to understand what each material does and how to use it. For example, a €2 pencil can create the same line as a €10 pencil if you know how to control it. Budget materials allow you to experiment without fear of wasting money, which is essential for learning.
Essential Drawing Materials Under €30
Pencils and Erasers
For sketching, you need a range of graphite pencils. Instead of buying a full set of 12 or 24, start with just three: an HB, a 2B, and a 6B. This covers light sketching, mid-tones, and dark shading. Brands like Staedtler Mars Lumograph or Faber-Castell 9000 are reliable and cost around €1.50 each at art shops like Bureau & Co in the city centre or Boesner in Schaerbeek. A good eraser is also essential. Get a Faber-Castell PVC-free eraser (about €1) and a kneaded eraser (around €2.50) for lifting graphite. Total: under €10.
Sketchbook
You do not need a premium Moleskine. For practice, a Rhodia A4 spiral-bound sketchbook with 80g paper costs about €6 and works well for pencil and pen. Alternatively, the Brussels-based brand Papier & Co offers a budget-friendly A4 sketchbook for €5. If you prefer a hardcover, Leuchtturm1917 sketchbooks are around €15 but last longer. For urban sketching, a pocket-size Stillman & Birn Beta (about €8) is great. Check out our guide to sketchbooks for travel for more options.
Pens and Markers
For line work, a Pigma Micron pen set of 3 (sizes 01, 03, 05) costs about €10 and is waterproof, perfect for ink sketches. If you want to try brush pens, a Tombow Fudenosuke hard tip is €3. For colour, Crayola Supertips (50 pack for €15) are a cheap way to explore markers; they blend reasonably well and are non-toxic.
Budget Painting Supplies
Watercolours
Watercolour is a forgiving medium for beginners. Instead of buying expensive artist-grade tubes, start with a student-grade set like Winsor & Newton Cotman 12-pan set for around €15. It includes basic colours and is available at Boesner or Amazon.de (delivers to Brussels). For paper, Canson XL Watercolour Pad (A4, 30 sheets) costs €10 and is 300gsm – good enough for practice. A synthetic brush set (round sizes 2, 6, 10) from Daler-Rowney costs €8. Total: about €33. For more on this technique, explore our Watercolor Wash Techniques for Sketchers.
Acrylics
Acrylic paint dries fast and is easy to use. A starter set like Liquitex Basics 6-colour set (€12) plus a pack of Daler-Rowney System3 brushes (€6) and a Canvas Panel pack of 3 (€5) gives you everything for under €25. You can also buy individual tubes of Amsterdam Standard Series for about €3 each. Mix your own colours to save money.
Where to Buy in Brussels
Brussels has several art supply stores that offer good prices for beginners:
- Boesner (Rue de laeken 73, Schaerbeek) – Large selection, competitive prices, and frequent sales. Their own brand materials are excellent value.
- Bureau & Co (Rue des Eperonniers 20, city centre) – Good for pencils, pens, and sketchbooks. They often have discount bins.
- Action (multiple locations) – Extremely cheap but inconsistent quality. Good for canvases and basic brushes.
- Hema (multiple locations) – Their own brand sketchbooks (€3) and watercolour sets (€5) are surprisingly decent for absolute beginners.
- Online: Amazon.de and BOL.com deliver to Brussels with low prices. Gerstaecker (German brand) also ships cheaply.
Tips for Saving Money on Art Materials
- Buy in bulk – Pencils, erasers, and brushes are cheaper when bought in sets.
- Use student-grade – Artist-grade is expensive and not necessary until you develop preferences.
- Reuse and repurpose – Use old jars for water, cardboard for palettes, and scrap paper for tests.
- Join a workshop – At Drawing Week Brussels, many workshops provide materials. You can try before you buy.
- Swap with friends – Organise a material swap with other beginners to share unused supplies.
Free and Low-Cost Alternatives
You don't always need to buy art supplies. Here are some zero-cost options:
- Pencil and printer paper – Use the back of printed sheets for sketching.
- Coffee or tea – Use as a wash for a sepia effect.
- Make your own sketchbook – Staple together scrap paper.
- Digital tools – Free apps like Krita or Autodesk Sketchbook simulate many traditional media.
Recommended Starter Kit (Under €50)
For a complete beginner who wants to try drawing and watercolour, here is a shopping list with approximate prices from Brussels stores:
- HB, 2B, 6B pencils: €4.50
- Kneaded eraser: €2.50
- Rhodia A4 sketchbook: €6
- Pigma Micron set of 3: €10
- Winsor & Newton Cotman 12-pan watercolour set: €15
- Canson XL Watercolour pad A4: €10
- Round synthetic brush set: €8
- Total: €56 (slightly over, but you can skip the pen set or buy a cheaper watercolour set from Hema for €5)
With this kit, you can start drawing, inking, and painting. As you progress, you can upgrade one item at a time. Remember, skill matters more than the tool. For more guidance, check out our essential sketching supplies article and top workshops for beginners at Drawing Week.
Related articles
- Essential Sketching Supplies
- Best Sketchbooks for Travel
- Top Workshops for Beginners
- Urban Sketching Basics
- Watercolor Wash Techniques