You Don’t Need the Whole Crayon Box to Make Great Art

You Don’t Need the Whole Crayon Box to Make Great Art

Have you ever opened a brand-new box of crayons or paints and thought, “Wow… I need all of these to make something good”?

Here’s a happy secret from an illustrator (hi, that’s me): you don’t.

You can make beautiful, joyful art with just a few supplies—and you can make art every day.

Less Stuff, More Magic

It’s fun to have fancy markers and every color ever made. But fancy supplies aren’t the boss of your creativity.

Your imagination is the real superpower.

Sometimes, having fewer colors actually helps your brain get even more creative. When you don’t have “the perfect color,” you start mixing, layering, and inventing. You start saying, “Hmm… how can I make this work?” And that’s where the fun begins.

Try This: Pick Two Favorite Colors

Here’s a kid-friendly art challenge you can do today:

1. Pick two colors you love.

2. Use those two colors to make a whole picture.

3. If you want, add one extra: black, white, or a pencil.

That’s it!

Those two colors can become your very own mini color palette. And you’ll be amazed at how many feelings and ideas you can show with just two.

A Few Supplies Can Go a Long Way

You don’t need:

• the most expensive pen

• every marker set

• all the paints in the store

You can create with:

• a pencil

• a pen you like

• a small set of crayons or markers

• a tiny watercolor set

• a sketchbook (or even plain paper!)

Art isn’t about having “the right stuff.” Art is about showing what’s in your heart.

Making Art on the Go (My Angola Trip!)

I’m getting ready to travel to Angola, and I’m not bringing a whole art studio with me. I’m packing just a few supplies—enough to sketch ideas, draw little moments, and let the pages be what they are.

Sometimes a quick sketch is not “perfect.” Sometimes it’s messy. Sometimes it’s just a start.

And that’s wonderful.

Because it’s still creating.

For Kids (and Grown-Ups Too)

I really want kids to know this:

You don’t have to wait until you have “better” supplies. You don’t have to wait until you have “more” colors. You don’t have to wait until it’s “just right.”

You can make art now.

With what you have.

With what brings you joy.

Keep Creating

If you’ve been feeling like you need more supplies before you can begin, I hope this brings you a big breath of relief.

You don’t need the whole crayon box.

You just need:

• a few tools

• a little time

• and your wonderful imagination

Keep creating.

P.S. I’ll be sharing more in the next couple of weeks about how I come up with characters—so stay tuned!