Fine Art Readers’ Choice Awards 2023 Winners
The votes are in!
We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2023 Annual Artists Network Readers’ Choice Awards. We asked you to weigh in on your favorite art tools and materials in more than 50 categories. We wanted to know what you consider great supplies for newbies, what tools are studio essentials, what items are worthy of a splurge, and more. Categories ranged from your favorite sketchbook to what masterpiece you’d most love to own. Dozens of companies were on the ballot, and you had the option of writing in your own choices. Several companies received votes via write-in.
More than 500 members of the fine art community completed the survey. Did your preferred brands rise above the rest? Read on for a full listing of our community’s favorites.
Thanks to everyone for your participation and congratulations to all the winners!
Lifestyle
The Museum You’d Most Like To Have In Your Neighborhood

The Louvre
https://www.louvre.fr/enThe Metropolitan Museum of Art, Muse’e d’Orsay
The World’s Most Artistic City

Paris
New York City, Rome
If You Could Own a Masterpiece of Art, What Would You Choose?

Sunflowers by Van Gogh
Monet’s Water Lillies, Mona Lisa
Tools for Drawing
Best Sketchbook

Best Graphite Pencil

Best Colored Pencil

Best Marker or Pen

Best Charcoal Sticks

General Pencil Compressed Charcoal Sticks
http://www.generalpencil.comStabilo, Faber Castel
Best Pencil Sharpener

Staedtler
https://www.staedtler.com/us/en/Bostitch, Prismacolor
The one drawing tool you cannot live without

Staedtler and Derwent eraser
https://www.staedtler.com/us/en/Sakura Pigma for ink drawing, HEXAGONAL RULER 2.0
Tools for Oil Painters
Best Introductory Oil Paint Set

Sennelier Oil Paint
http://www.sennelier-colors.comBlick, Richeson Oil & Panels Set/6
Best Oil Paints – Overall

Winsor & Newton
https://www.winsornewton.com/na/Sennelier Oil Paint, Utrecht Oil Paints
Best Brushes For Oil Painting

Jerry’s Artarama
https://www.jerrysartarama.comRaphael Brush, Isabey Brushes
The Single Most Essential Brush (MVP) for Oil Painting

The First Brush You’d Buy After Winning The Lottery

Arategria
https://www.artegria.com/productsRaphael, Winson & Newton
Best Stretched Canvas

Frederix
https://fredrixartistcanvas.com/Blick, Jerry’s Artarama
Best Panel or Art Board

Best Oil Painting Medium

LUKAS
https://www.lukas.eu/BLICK Linseed Oil , Winsor & Newton Linseed Oil
Best Palette Knife

Richeson Stainless Steel Offset Palette Knife
https://products.richesonart.comLiquitex , Holbein
Best Round Brush

Winsor & Newton
https://www.winsornewton.com/Escoda, Princeton Brush Company
Best Flat Brush

Princeton Brush Company
https://princetonbrush.com/Grumbacher, Escoda
Best Bang-for-your-Buck Brush

Blick
https://www.dickblick.com/Princeton Brush, Royal & Langnickel
Tools for Watercolor Painting
Best Introductory Watercolor Paint Set

Daniel Smith
https://danielsmith.com/Sennelier Watercolor, DalerRowney
Best Pan Watercolor Set

Best Watercolor Paint – Overall

Daniel Smith
https://danielsmith.com/Winsor & Newton, Sennelier Watercolor
Best Hot-Pressed Watercolor Paper

Fabriano Astistico
https://fabriano.com/Arches Aquarelle Watercolor Paper, Legion Paper
Best Cold-Pressed Watercolor Paper

Arches Aquarelle Watercolor Paper
https://arches-papers.com/Isabey Brushes, Holbein Gold
Best Brushes for Watercolor Overall

Raphael Brush
https://www.macphersonart.comIsabey Brushes, Holbein Gold
Single Most Essential (MVP) Brush for Watercolor Painting

Cheap Joe’s Watercolor Beginner Set
https://www.cheapjoes.com/Isabey Brushes, Holbein Gold
Best Travel Set of Watercolor Paints

Art Alternatives
https://www.art-alternatives.com/Artsy, Grumbacher
Tools for Pastel Painting
Best Soft Pastels

Sennelier
https://www.sennelier.fr/Great American, Terry Ludwig
Best Hard/Semi-Hard Pastels

Prismacolor Nu Pastel
https://www.prismacolor.com/Derwent, Paul Rubens
Best Pastel Starter Set

Best Pastel Paper

Pastel Mat by Clairefontaine
https://goodbeads.comCanson Sanded, Uart Sanded
Tools for Acrylic Painting
Tools for Plein Air Painting
Best Easel for Outdoor Painters

Guerrilla Painter
https://guerrillapainter.comGoEasel, Mabef Easels
Best Backpack for Hauling Your Gear

Sienna Plein Air Backpack
https://www.amazon.comCreativo Original Messenger Style Art Bag, HUION Water-resistant
Best Plein Air Umbrella

Guerrilla Painter Umbrellas
https://guerrillapainter.com/collections/umbrellaDeluxe Outdoor Adjustable Painting Umbrella by Jerry’s, SoHo Urban Artist UV Sunscreen Umbrella
Best Pochade Box

Guerrilla Painter
https://guerrillapainter.com/collections/pochade-boxesPortable Painter, Mabef Easels
Best Portable Stool

Da Vinci Air-Lift Artist Stool
https://www.jerrysartarama.com/da-vinci-air-lift-artist-chair-stoolEuropean Folding Stool, ArtComber Portable Rolling Chair
Best Splurge-Worthy Items for Your Studio

Sennelier Watercolor
http://www.sennelier-colors.com/Blick, Mabel Easels
General Art Tools
Best Camera For Artists

Best Software for Creating Digital Art

Adobe Photoshop
https://www.adobe.com/Corel DRAW Graphics Suite, Sketchbook
Best Artist’s Soap

The Master’s Artist Soap
https://www.jerrysartarama.com/masters-artist-hand-soapDawn Dish Soap, Escoda Brush and Hand Soap
Best Primer
