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About This Quiz
Art is one of humanity’s oldest leisure activities. But art we see today is completely different from art from 1,000 or 2,000 years ago. The art supplies we use to draw or paint with have also changed a lot. Do you know when these art supplies are used and how they look? Let's see if you can name all of these art supplies from only one picture.
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Ruled paper
Ink
Acrylic paint
It's hard to believe, but synthetic paint, such as acrylic paint, was first used only in the 1940s and became commercially available in the '50s. This paint combines the properties of oil and watercolor, which makes it a perfect choice for both beginners and advanced artists.
Stencil
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Clay
Easel
A vertical, or sometimes horizontal, structure made to support an artist’s canvas has a long and complicated history. Even the ancient Egyptians used something like easel as a sturdy place on which to write. The word itself was derived from the German language and is a synonym for the word "donkey."
Round brush
Eraser
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Sand
Gouache
Paint brushes
For centuries, people used sticks, leaves, or bones to draw. The first real paintbrushes were used around 300 BC. The invention of this universal art tool is generally attributed to a general in the Qin Dynasty - Meng Tian.
Ink
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Oil paints
The technique of oil painting, as we know it today, was re-invented in Europe by Jan van Eyck in the 15th century. Even though the Flemish painter was not the first to use it, he was the first to develop a stable varnish and popularize oil paints.
Graphite
Oil paint
Marker
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Tempera
Pastel
Canvas
Pottery wheel
In Japan, the first Jomon pottery was made around 10,000 years ago. Even though those hand-building methods are still used today, the pottery wheel, that appeared by about 3000 BC, made it so much easier to create pots, dishes, mugs, vases, and other types of artwork.
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Crayons
Charcoal was one of the most used drawing tools for centuries until colorful powdered pigments replaced it. At first, the crayons were made using oil, but later it was discovered that using wax made the sticks sturdier and easier to use.
Fabric pens
Card stock
Nib
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Quill
Paper
One of the most world-changing Chinese inventions, papermaking was invented around 100 BC. Nobody really knows the exact date, but 105 A.D. is often cited as the year in which paper was created, because historical records show that year invention of paper was reported to an official of the Imperial Court.
Blacklight paint
Encaustic paint
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Colored pencil
Tempera or poster paint
Graphite
While the first graphite pencil was made in the 16th century, the first eraser appeared only a few hundred years later, in 1858, to be exact. Also, all the pencils were the same until Nicholas Jacques Conté figured how to modify the hardness of pencils by mixing powdered graphite with clay.
Vinyl paint
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Charcoal
Charcoal was around for centuries - it was even unintentionally used by cavemen who created most of their cave paintings using charred sticks from a fire. Charcoal sticks were also widely used in the Renaissance for creation of preparatory drawings.
Brush
Cloth
Sponge
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Palette knife
Varnish
Varnish was originally used in wood finishing, but generally it can be used to finish any artwork. It can be either glossy or matte, transparent or with a little bit of color, and usually applied at the end to achieve a film for gloss and protect the piece.
Aerosol paint
Airbrush
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Oil pastel
A popular painting and drawing medium, oil pastels are versatile, convenient, and quick to use. It's easy to use them outdoors, or to make a quick drawing. Thanks to different oil pastels styles and techniques, you'll never get bored of using them.
Papier-mâché
Foil
Glitter
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Oil paint
Glaze
Knife
Gold leaf
Gold leaf art is unique and eye-catching thanks to its rich texture and vibrant color. Even though it's mostly used by professionals, beginners can also find various gold leaf and leafing kits online to create their own sparkling masterpieces.
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Finger paint
Graphite
Chalk
India ink
Once used for writing and printing only, India ink today is more commonly used for various art projects, from drawing and outlining to hand-lettering. It's also ideal for inking comic books and comic strips and is used in medical applications as well.
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Watercolors
Tracing paper
Tracing paper has low opacity and was originally created for architects and design engineers. Today it's used by all kinds of artists who use this convenient tool to transfer and copy their designs.
Paint brush
Washable tempera paint
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Drawing pencils
Tissue paper
Washable markers
Chalk
Colorful chalk is used for drawing and writing a lot, especially by kids. However, the modern art of hand-lettering has made chalk a popular art tool for professionals as well.
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Charcoal pencil
Multi-media gloss varnish
Markers
Broad line, fine line, glitter, or metallic - modern markers come in all shapes and sizes. While the markers are widely used by kids in schools and at home, it's a versatile art tool that's perfect for drawing comics, lettering, making prints, textile design, and more.
Paint cups
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Conte crayons
Watercolors
Free-flowing, fluid, and a little bit transparent, watercolor is an amazing drawing medium. There are countless watercolor techniques and tricks that make each painting unique and beautiful in its own way.
Tin foil
Paint trays
n/a
What art supply is shown in this picture?
Oil pastel
Gum erasers
Clay
Clays are plastic when wet and become hard, brittle and non–plastic after drying or firing. It's a multi-purpose material that can be used to make bricks, cooking pots, art objects, dishware, and even musical instruments!
Spray paint
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Rubber stamps
Various stamps are used for different purposes. Self-inking, date stamps, custom stamps, hand stamps, old-school stamps with a company's logo on them - stamps have more creative uses than you might thought!
Flat brush
Inking tray
Foam plate
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Modeling tools
Glitter
Using glitter is a great way to customize your painting. A variety of small, reflective particles that come in a variety of shapes and sizes make an artwork shiny and colorful.
Canvas
Glaze
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Broad line permanent markers
Kneaded erasers
Shading pencils
Foam brush
Foam paint brushes are made with foam pads and wood handles. They are great for crafts and hobby paints, touch-up work, stains, and so much more!
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Paper
Painter's tape
The main purpose of the painter's tape is to create sharp paint lines. It's so lightweight and easy to use that it can be removed cleanly for up to 14 days without paint damage.
Tempera paint
Crayons
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Glue
Many school projects, crafts, and decorations would be impossible without glue. Modern glue sticks are formulated to be easy to use and clean up. The glue can even change color, becoming transparent when it dries.
Waterproof markers
Pencil sharpener
Eraser
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Colored pencils
Glitter
Tissue paper
Scissors
It's important to have a pair of scissors in your arsenal of supplies. While the invention of scissors is usually attributed to Leonardo DaVinci, the very first cutting tools were around long before - to be exact, they were invented around 1500 BC in ancient Egypt.
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Acrylic paint
Eraser
In 1770, English engineer Edward Nairne invented the first rubber eraser for commercial use. It was widely marketed, but long before, this material was known as gum elastic or by its Native American name - caoutchouc. Pencils with built-in erasers are mostly an American phenomenon.
Watercolor paper
Washi tape
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Paint roller
Pencil sharpener
Using a dull pencil leads to messy handwriting and blurred lines. On the other hand, a pencil with a freshly sharpened, pointed tip makes writing and drawing tasks easier, since lines are neater, brighter, and even the tiny marks are more accurate.
Sharpies
Paint bottle
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Glue gun
Glue sticks
Metallic markers
Metallic markers feature bright, metallic finishes and smooth, even color. Using these markers is the best way to add some extra sleek sheen to your art and different craft projects.
Oil pastels
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Colored pencils
Some colored pencils’ cores are wax- or oil-based, while some of them are water-soluble or mechanical. Different pencils are great for different types of drawings. Their use is well-documented and can be traced back to the Greek Golden Age.
BioColor paint
Playdough
Markers
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Round brush
Clay
Flat brush
Flat brushes provide lots of color capacity and are great for different types of strokes. For example, you can use the entire brush for bold, sweeping strokes, while its edge is ideal for sharp, fine lines.
Printed craft tape
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Colored Tissue Paper
Watercolor trays
Not everyone knows it, but the material of which your watercolor tray is made matters - watercolor paints behave differently on different types of palettes. The most popular materials are wood, plastic, and ceramic.
Foam paint
Wood craft sticks
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Glue gun
Graphite
Paint cups
Convenient paint cups guarantee that the paint won't drip, dry, or spill. They are ideal for kids, and usually come with colorful, tight lids for an air-tight seal.
Charcoal
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Ink
Gold leaf
Varnish
Masking tape
Unlike durable duct tape, masking tape is made of almost transparent, thin, and easy-to-tear paper. It usually comes in different colors and designs, so you can decorate and personalize your projects.
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Tempera paint
Tempera paint is ideal for cardboard, cloth, or wood. It can be also used on canvas, but it's not a perfect medium. Like fluid acrylic, tempera paint is not really thick and can drip downward, especially if applied to a canvas on an easel.
Palette knife
Filbert brushes
Moisture-retaining paint palette
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Painting canvas
Water container
Paint scrapers
In addition to removing old paint, paint scrapers with different designs are ideal for creating fine lines, various patterns, and wide grooves in wet paint.
Apron
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Paint trays
A quality paint tray is a must-have for young artists. The durable plastic trays, shaped like artists' palettes, can be used even by toddlers!
Easel
Drawing board
Markers
n/a
What art supply is shown in this picture?
Bulldog clips
Varnish
Gloves
Duct tape
Duct tape is not only a go-to tool for everyday fixes, it's a creative tool as well! The brand even has its own contest for students - Stuck at Prom® Scholarship Contest. Anyone can design a unique dress or costume, using only duct tape, wear it to prom, and win cash prizes, or a scholarship!
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Ruler
The very first rulers, which were made of ivory, were used during the Indus Valley Civilization period prior to 1500 BC. Modern rulers are made of all kinds of materials, including plastic, wood, metal, and even glass.
Varnishing brush
Ink
Shading pencils
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Chalk pastels
Foam plates
Sponge
Sponge printing and painting is a great way to engage kids and have a fun playdate. Colorful sponges are good, not only at absorbing water, they also make a great craft material!
Inking trays
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Water-based markers
Kneaded erasers
Charcoal pencil
Origami paper
Origami is the Japanese word for paper folding, where "ori" means to fold and "kami" is paper. The art of paperfolding is increasingly popular in the Western countries and as of today, you can join countless origami clubs and communities that unite like-minded people.
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Liquid tempera
Spray paint
Cardboard
Some artists love to experiment and create art that breaks the mold: recycled art and design, green art, sculptures, and unusual art from everyday objects like cardboard boxes.
Paint cups
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Spray glue
Construction paper
Even though construction paper is perfect for all-purpose use in classroom art projects, professional artists use it a lot to create textured 3D art or add colorful details to their paintings, collages, etc.
Multi-media gloss varnish
Metallic colored pencils
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Glitter
Tin foil
It turns out tin foil, thanks to vibrant colors and texture, is great for art too. It can be a fun project for the entire family, or a real piece of art, and all you need to make it is tin foil and glue!
Ruler
Watercolor tray
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Art paste
Colorless, non-toxic art paste is ideal for various detailed craft projects. It can be simply mixed with cold water to make a smooth paste perfect for collage, paper mache, or découpage.
Construction paper
Gum erasers
Chalk pastels
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Conte crayons
Shading pencils
Shading pencils are widely used to create a strong sense of space and form. Usually, shading pencils make all the difference between an amateur drawing and a professional piece, simply because shadows add depth and create realistic 3D effects.
Blending stumps
Canister sharpeners
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Acrylic
Canvas roll
Pastels
Conte crayons
Conté, Conté sticks, or Conté crayons, are pencils made of powdered graphite or charcoal mixed with a wax or clay base. They usually come in three main colors - black, red, and brown - and can be also varied for different degrees of hardness.
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Pencil
Did you know that Nuremberg, Germany, is the birthplace of the first mass-produced pencils? Widely used since 1662, modern-looking pencils changed the art industry. Previously, only graphite sticks were used, or they were wrapped in string. Of course, those "pencils" were far less convenient.
Watercolor paper
Chalk
Crayon
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Charcoal
Sharpie permanent marker
Created by Tom Sharp, Sharpie is a brand of writing instruments that mostly manufactures black permanent markers. The company started small in 1964, but since then, the Sharpie brand has been rapidly expanding. Their markers inspired breathtaking Sharpie Art and are widely used by artists worldwide.
Colored pencils
Conte
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What art supply is shown in this picture?
Acrylic paint
Watercolor paint
Airbrush
Pen
It all began with quill pens that first appeared in Spain and were commonly used from 600 to 1800 AD. Then there were fountain pens (the modern version of a quill pen) or ball-point pens. The first prototype ball-point pen was designed in the 1880s. However, its was still not fine enough for letter-writing. What we would call a modern pen, a ball-point or Biro, became common in the 1940s.
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