The Best Tools For Painters

To continue to evolve as a painter, you sometimes have to experiment with different painting tools to elevate your artistic style. Sometimes that means switching up your technique, and what better way to do so than by trying out some new painting tools? There are a ton of options out there, and it can get kind of overwhelming when you’re trying to decide which ones to buy. So, we’re going to talk about some of our favorite rubber painting tools! If you’re interested in incorporating rubber tip tools into your painting process, keep reading.

Going Beyond the Basics

When you first think of painting tools, paintbrushes and palette knives might be what comes to mind. While these tools are important, we’ll be going beyond the basics and talking about painting tools that beginners might not be familiar with. Rubber painting tools are some of the most popular choices for artists who want to step up their painting game. They’re great for manipulating the medium, which can result in some really unique and detailed textures!

Blades
At Cheap Joe’s, we have plenty of rubber tip tools to choose from. Some of our favorite products are the Princeton Catalyst Blades and Mini Blades. These are painting tools that fall somewhere between a brush and a palette knife. They’re made of silicone, so they’re really flexible and can be used with a variety of mediums. The set of mini blades comes with the following blade types: flat, scraper, detailer, round, angle, and long. The full-size Catalyst blades also feature a variety of edges so you can get a customized look. These blades are great for adding designs or texture to a painting, so they’re fun to play around with!

Colour Shapers
If you’re looking for a tool that has many uses, you should check out the Colour Shaper Painting Tools! These silicone-tip tools are extremely versatile, and can be used for painting, drawing, blending, and lifting. When you use these shapers, you’ll get even more control and precision than you would when using conventional brushes and painting knives. Colour Shapers are available in both Soft and Firm tips. The ivory-colored tip is soft, so it’s meant for use with fluid colors. The gray tip is firm and works well with heavy-bodied paints. You can find the following Colour Shaper designs on our website: Angle Chisel, Cup Chisel, Cup Round, Flat Chisel, Taper Point, and Wide.

Wedges
Wedges are another silicone tool meant for creating detailed textures and designs in a painting. Products such as the Princeton Catalyst Wedges (link 4) are ergonomically designed to be thicker on one end, allowing the artist to hold them comfortably in their hands. They work well with a variety of media, including acrylic paint, oil paint, and encaustics. These wedges come in six shapes to choose from, so you can experiment with different textures until you find one you like!

Contours
Similar to wedges, contours are heat-resistant tools made of nylon and silicone. They’re used to create texture in mediums like heavy acrylic, plaster, and ceramics. They’re easy to hold and use, permitting artists to have direct and precise interactions with their work. At Cheap Joe’s, we offer a variety of Princeton Catalyst Contours, which feature multiple edge shapes to choose from. You can purchase these contours individually, or you can get all of the contours in a series. The green contours (C-21 through C-24) make up series 20, the teal contours (C-61 through C-64) are series 60, and the black contours (C-81 through C-84) make up series 80.

Wipe-Out Tools
A wipe-out tool, or a paint eraser, is a double-sided tool that allows artists to remove or manipulate wet paint to correct mistakes or tweak designs. The tool has firm yet flexible rubber tips on each end – one side usually features an angled chisel, while the other has a fine-point tip to remove paint from smaller areas. We recommend the Richeson Double-Ended Clay Wipe Out Tool, which allows you to expertly smooth out edges, scrape back layers, and even create expressive strokes in your painting. It’s a super useful tool for artists at all skill levels!

Choosing The Right Tool For You

As you can see, there are many tool options to choose from, even just in our selection of products. Any of these would be great additions to your art supply collection, but if you have more in-depth questions about choosing the right tool for your needs, we’re always available to help. Feel free to reach out to us by phone at 888-792-6089 with any questions or concerns!