Mixed media art demands supplies that can handle layering — wet paint over dry pencil, marker over acrylic, collage over everything — and that’s exactly where most art sets fall short. For a dedicated surface, the MOFUNY Mixed Media Sketchbook 9×12 stands out as my top overall pick, with 98lb heavyweight paper that resists buckling under wet media far better than thinner pads like the 30-sheet alternative lower on this list. If you want supplies rather than surfaces, the iBayam 195-Pack Deluxe Kit offers the widest media variety per dollar, while the Colour Block 181-Piece Wooden Case Set justifies its premium price with presentation and organization. The main tradeoff in this category is simple: kits trade depth for breadth, while standalone sketchbooks trade convenience for quality. Keep reading for the full breakdown of which option fits your skill level, budget, and preferred techniques.
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Key Takeaways
- Paper weight was the single biggest differentiator among the three sketchbooks on this list — both 98lb/160gsm pads (MOFUNY and SuFly) handled light watercolor washes acceptably, while thinner 30-sheet pads buckled quickly under anything wet.
- Kit size and quality are inversely related in this price bracket: the 195-pack iBayam set costs less per piece but includes more filler accessories, while the smaller 132-piece Darnassus set concentrates on usable core media.
- The Colour Block sets appeared twice in this comparison for a reason — the wooden case version suits stationary home studios, and the aluminum case version suits artists who travel, so case material is a genuine buying decision, not a detail.
- Only two sets (Colour Block 181 and iBayam 195) included enough wet and dry media variety to genuinely support mixed media layering; the others skew toward drawing and sketching despite the marketing labels.
- Beginners get better value from all-in-one kits with included sketchbooks (HIFORNY 136 or the easel set), while intermediate artists already owning media should buy a quality standalone sketchbook instead.
| MOFUNY Mixed Media Sketchbook 9×12, Drawing Paper Pad 60 Sheets, 98lb/160gsm |  | Best Overall Sketchbook | Size: 9×12 inches | Sheets: 60 | Paper Weight: 98 lb / 160 gsm | VIEW LATEST PRICE | See Our Full Breakdown |
| Colour Block 181-Piece Mixed Media Art Set in Wooden Case |  | Best for Medium Exploration | Total Pieces: 181 | Mediums: 12 including watercolor, acrylic, colored pencils, oil pastels, soft pastels, charcoal | Tools: 11 including brushes, kneaded eraser, sharpener, blending stumps, manikin | VIEW LATEST PRICE | See Our Full Breakdown |
| iBayam Art Supplies, 195-Pack Deluxe Drawing Painting Kit, 3 Sketchbook Set |  | Best Value Bundle | Total Pieces: 195-pack | Sketchbooks: 3 books, 30 sheets each | Canvases: 3 A4 canvases | VIEW LATEST PRICE | See Our Full Breakdown |
| Mixed Media Sketchbook 9″x12″ – 30 Sheets |  | Best for Finished, Frameable Work | Size: 9″x12″ | Sheets: 30 | Paper Weight: 98 lb / 160 gsm | VIEW LATEST PRICE | See Our Full Breakdown |
| Mixed Media Art Set with Art Easel, Complete Art Supplies Kit |  | Best Portable Studio Setup | Total Pieces: 55 | Paint Types: Acrylic and watercolor | Includes: Brushes, colored pencils, drawing accessories | VIEW LATEST PRICE | See Our Full Breakdown |
| Soucolor 192 Pack Deluxe Art Set |  | Best Big-Box Starter Kit | Total Pieces: 192 | Crayons: 60 | Colored Pencils: 24 | VIEW LATEST PRICE | See Our Full Breakdown |
| HIFORNY 136 PCS Drawing & Sketching Set |  | Best for Dry-Media and Watercolor Sketching | Pencil Types: 9, including charcoal, graphite, colored, watercolor, metallic, and blender | Sketchbook: 6 x 9 inches, 50 pages (30 white, 10 tan, 10 black) | Watercolor Book: A5, 12 pages, 300GSM | VIEW LATEST PRICE | See Our Full Breakdown |
| Color Block 151-Piece Professional Art Supply Set |  | Best for True Mixed Media | Colored Pencils: 24 | Watercolor Pencils: 10 | Acrylic Paint Tubes: 12 | VIEW LATEST PRICE | See Our Full Breakdown |
| Darnassus 132-Piece Art Set |  | Best Budget Gift Set | Color Pencils: 22 | Oil Pastels: 40 | Markers: 18 dual-tipped + 6 additional | VIEW LATEST PRICE | See Our Full Breakdown |
| SuFly Mixed Media Sketchbook 9×12 |  | Best Paper Foundation | Size: 9 x 12 inches | Paper Weight: 98lb/160gsm | Sheets: 60, perforated | VIEW LATEST PRICE | See Our Full Breakdown |
More Details on Our Top Picks
MOFUNY Mixed Media Sketchbook 9×12, Drawing Paper Pad 60 Sheets, 98lb/160gsm
Among the sketchbooks in this roundup, the MOFUNY 9×12 pad earns the top spot because it doubles the sheet count of the Mixed Media Sketchbook 30-Sheet pad without any price-class compromise on paper quality. The 98lb/160gsm weight means pencil, ink, light acrylic washes, and charcoal all sit on the surface without bleeding through — the single most common failure point of cheap mixed media pads. Its 360-degree rotating ring binding is a genuinely useful detail for anyone working across spreads or tilting the pad for wet washes. That said, the binding is the weak link: with daily studio use the rings can loosen, and artists who push heavy gesso or collage layers will want a heavier-weight paper than 160gsm. Compared with the SuFly 60-sheet pad, the paper spec is similar, so the decision comes down to binding preference and availability.
Pros:- 60 sheets offer double the capacity of most competing mixed media pads
- Thick 98lb paper resists bleed-through across pencil, ink, acrylic and charcoal
- 360-degree rotating ring binding suits left- and right-handed work angles
- Recyclable paper appeals to eco-conscious buyers
Cons:- Ring binding can loosen or deform with heavy daily use
- 160gsm is too light for very wet or heavily textured techniques
Best for: Mixed media artists who work in many dry and light-wet mediums and burn through pages quickly
Not ideal for: Artists doing heavy wet-on-wet watercolor or thick collage — 160gsm will buckle under heavy applications
- Size:9×12 inches
- Sheets:60
- Paper Weight:98 lb / 160 gsm
- Binding:Ring binding, 360-degree rotation
- Material:Recyclable mixed media paper
- Compatible Media:Watercolor, acrylic, pencil, charcoal, ink
Our verdict“The most versatile all-around mixed media pad here for artists who want reliable multi-medium paper in quantity.”
Colour Block 181-Piece Mixed Media Art Set in Wooden Case
Where the iBayam 195-pack floods you with crayons and pads, the Colour Block 181-piece set takes a smarter approach: it spans twelve distinct mediums — from watercolor pencils and oil pastels to graphite and charcoal sticks — plus eleven genuine tools like a kneaded eraser, blending stumps, a color wheel, and a wooden manikin. That breadth is what makes it the standout pick for discovering which mediums you actually enjoy before investing in professional-grade versions. The tradeoff is depth: each medium comes in small quantities, so once you find your favorite, you will outgrow this set quickly. Compared with the 55-piece Artbreezing easel kit, you get far more medium variety but no easel and a thinner selection of brushes. The included watercolor pad is serviceable, not exceptional.
Pros:- Twelve distinct mediums allow genuine mixed media experimentation
- Quality accessories included: kneaded eraser, blending stumps, color wheel, wooden manikin
- Sturdy wooden case keeps everything organized and travel-ready
- Both natural hair and synthetic brushes for different paint behaviors
Cons:- Small quantities of each medium limit extended work in any one technique
- Individual supply quality is student-grade, not professional
Best for: Beginners and hobbyists who want to sample twelve different mediums before committing to any one
Not ideal for: Artists already settled on a primary medium — the shallow quantities per medium will frustrate focused practice
- Total Pieces:181
- Mediums:12 including watercolor, acrylic, colored pencils, oil pastels, soft pastels, charcoal
- Tools:11 including brushes, kneaded eraser, sharpener, blending stumps, manikin
- Included Surface:Watercolor pad
- Storage:Wooden case
- Skill Level:All levels
Our verdict“The best sampling kit on this list for artists still figuring out which mediums they love.”
iBayam Art Supplies, 195-Pack Deluxe Drawing Painting Kit, 3 Sketchbook Set
Measured purely on volume per dollar, the iBayam 195-pack is hard to beat: three sketchbooks, acrylic and drawing pads, three A4 canvases, and full paint and pencil ranges, all in a wooden case with a gift box. Unlike the Colour Block 181-piece set, which focuses on medium breadth, iBayam prioritizes surfaces — you get real canvases and multiple pads, which is what mixed media artists actually run out of fastest. The ASTM D4236 certification also makes it a safer gifting choice for teens. The catch is predictable at this price: quality is inconsistent, with student-grade paints that lack pigment density and sketchbook paper lighter than the 160gsm MOFUNY pad. Serious artists will replace half the contents within months, but as a starter ecosystem or gift, the sheer completeness compensates.
Pros:- Includes surfaces most kits omit: 3 canvases, 3 sketchbooks, acrylic and drawing pads
- Exceptional piece count spanning paints, pencils, pastels and crayons
- Non-toxic and ASTM D4236 certified, safe for younger artists
- Wooden case plus gift box doubles the presentation value
Cons:- Student-grade paint pigments are weak compared with standalone artist paints
- 60 crayons inflate the count while adding limited mixed media value
- Sketchbook paper durability is unverified for wet media
Best for: Gift-givers and beginners who want a complete, ready-to-open art ecosystem with surfaces included
Not ideal for: Experienced artists — the student-grade pigments and lighter paper will disappoint anyone used to studio-quality supplies
- Total Pieces:195-pack
- Sketchbooks:3 books, 30 sheets each
- Canvases:3 A4 canvases
- Paints:24 acrylic paints, 24 watercolors
- Dry Media:60 crayons, 24 colored pencils, 24 oil pastels
- Safety Certification:ASTM D4236, non-toxic
- Storage:Wooden case with gift box
Our verdict“The most complete out-of-the-box bundle for new artists, as long as expectations stay at student grade.”
Mixed Media Sketchbook 9″x12″ – 30 Sheets
This 30-sheet pad loses the sheet-count battle with the MOFUNY 60-sheet sketchbook, but it wins on finish: the micro-perforated pages detach cleanly for framing, gifting, or scanning, which matters enormously if your mixed media pieces are destined for a wall rather than a drawer. The acid-free, fade-resistant paper also gives artwork better long-term archival odds than standard recyclable pads. Pair that with a spiral binding that lays completely flat, and this becomes the better choice for careful, finished compositions. The tradeoffs are real, though — half the sheets of MOFUNY at a similar weight, a textured surface that fights fine detail work, and the same 160gsm ceiling that limits aggressive wet techniques. I would treat this as a presentation pad rather than a practice pad.
Pros:- Micro-perforations allow clean, tear-free page removal for framing
- Acid-free, fade-resistant paper protects artwork longevity
- Spiral binding lays flat for comfortable detailed work
- Well-suited as a gift for young artists and students
Cons:- Only 30 sheets — half the capacity of the MOFUNY pad
- Textured tooth is unfavorable for highly detailed pen or fine pencil work
Best for: Artists and students creating finished pieces they want to remove, frame, or gift cleanly
Not ideal for: Heavy sketchers who fill pages fast — 30 sheets disappear quickly compared with 60-sheet alternatives
- Size:9″x12″
- Sheets:30
- Paper Weight:98 lb / 160 gsm
- Binding:Spiral bound, lays flat
- Perforations:Micro-perforated for clean removal
- Material:Acid-free, fade-resistant, bleed-resistant
- Compatible Media:Watercolor, acrylic, pastel, ink
Our verdict“The right pad when finished, presentable artwork matters more than raw page count.”
Mixed Media Art Set with Art Easel, Complete Art Supplies Kit
The Artbreezing 55-piece set carves out a role none of the bigger kits claim: it is the only one that includes an easel. The wooden box converts into a stable painting station, which transforms a coffee table, park bench, or dorm desk into a workspace — something the Colour Block 181-piece and iBayam 195-pack cannot do despite their larger counts. Its one-year warranty is also unique in this lineup and adds real reassurance for gift buyers. The compromises are equally clear: with only 55 pieces, the medium selection is thinner than every rival here, and notably there is no paper or canvas included, so you will need to pair it with the MOFUNY or 30-sheet pad from this guide. Paint quantities are unspecified, which suggests sample-size tubes aimed at casual use.
Pros:- Wooden box doubles as a stable easel, unique in this roundup
- Compact and portable enough for travel, school, or outdoor painting
- One-year warranty offers protection no competing set provides
- Covers acrylic, watercolor, colored pencil and drawing basics in one kit
Cons:- No paper or canvas included — an extra purchase other kits bundle
- Only 55 pieces with unspecified paint quantities limits serious project work
Best for: Travelers, students, and casual painters who want a self-contained painting station they can set up anywhere
Not ideal for: Artists who want an all-in-one kit — you must buy surfaces separately, and paint volumes are unclear
- Total Pieces:55
- Paint Types:Acrylic and watercolor
- Includes:Brushes, colored pencils, drawing accessories
- Easel:Wooden box converts to easel
- Brand:Artbreezing
- Warranty:1 year
Our verdict“Buy this for the easel-in-a-box convenience, not for supply depth — pair it with a separate sketchbook.”
Soucolor 192 Pack Deluxe Art Set
This 192-piece wooden-case set is the broadest single purchase in this lineup, covering crayons, oil pastels, colored pencils, watercolor, and acrylic paint plus three canvas boards and multiple paper pads. Compared with the Color Block 151-Piece set, it trades aluminum portability for a dual-drawer wooden case that reads more like furniture than luggage — better for a permanent home studio corner than a backpack. The tradeoff is depth: like most mega kits, individual supply counts are modest, and only three canvases means serious painters will outgrow it quickly. Compared with the Colour Block 181-Piece set, the paint selection here leans more kid- and hobby-friendly than artist-grade. This pick makes the most sense for a household or student who wants every medium represented in one gift box rather than quality in any single one.
Pros:- Covers crayons, pencils, pastels, watercolor, and acrylic in one purchase
- Durable wooden case with dual drawers keeps everything organized
- Includes canvas boards, sketch pad, and specialty paper so painting can start immediately
- Strong all-ages gift presentation
Cons:- Only three canvas boards, limiting extended painting projects
- Volume is excessive and disorienting for complete beginners
- Individual supply quality is entry-level, not artist-grade
Best for: Students, hobbyists, and gift-buyers who want one box that covers every major medium
Not ideal for: Artists focused on one medium — quality per supply is diluted across 192 pieces
- Total Pieces:192
- Crayons:60
- Colored Pencils:24
- Oil Pastels:24
- Watercolors:24
- Acrylic Paints:24 tubes
- Canvas Boards:3
- Case:Wooden case with dual drawers
Our verdict“Buy this if you want maximum medium variety in a single gift-ready box; skip it if you’d rather invest deeply in one medium.”
HIFORNY 136 PCS Drawing & Sketching Set
Where the Soucolor 192-pack spreads itself across every medium, this set doubles down on drawing and portable watercolor work. The standout detail is the bundled 300GSM watercolor book — thicker paper than most all-in-one kits include — plus a 50-page sketchbook with white, tan, and black pages, which opens up toned-paper techniques the other sets can’t support. Nine pencil types, from charcoal to metallic to a colorless blender, give dry-media artists more range per dollar than the Darnassus 132-piece set, which skews toward markers and oil pastels. The tradeoff: there’s no acrylic paint or canvas here at all, so true wet-media mixers will need to supplement. The nylon case is lighter and more backpack-friendly than any wooden option in this roundup, though pencils need frequent sharpening and instructions are thin.
Pros:- 300GSM watercolor book included, far heavier paper than typical kit stock
- Toned tan and black sketch pages enable advanced drawing techniques
- Nine specialized pencil types including charcoal, metallic, and blender
- Lightweight nylon case sized for travel at 12 x 8.74 x 2.75 inches
Cons:- No acrylic paint, pastels, or canvas — not a true all-media kit
- Pencils require frequent sharpening
- Minimal guidance for beginners navigating the variety
Best for: Urban sketchers and dry-media artists who want portable pencil variety plus real watercolor paper
Not ideal for: Acrylic and canvas painters — this set has no paint tubes or painting surfaces for them
- Pencil Types:9, including charcoal, graphite, colored, watercolor, metallic, and blender
- Sketchbook:6 x 9 inches, 50 pages (30 white, 10 tan, 10 black)
- Watercolor Book:A5, 12 pages, 300GSM
- Coloring Book:A5, 20 illustrations
- Case:Nylon, 12 x 8.74 x 2.75 inches
Our verdict“This is the pick for artists whose mixed media means pencil, charcoal, and watercolor on the go rather than full painting setups.”
Color Block 151-Piece Professional Art Supply Set
This is the set whose contents most directly match the mixed media mission of this roundup: watercolor pencils that bridge dry and wet techniques, soft pastels in 24 color tones plus 7 grey tones, and both acrylic and watercolor paint in tube form. Compared with the Soucolor 192-pack, it sacrifices raw piece count for a more coherent artist’s toolkit — the grey pastel range alone signals a set designed for value studies and blending work, not just variety. The aluminum case is lighter and more travel-durable than wooden options, though it holds fewer total supplies. The honest drawback is transparency: quality documentation on individual supplies is thin, and intermediate artists may eventually replace the paints with artist-grade tubes. Still, no other set here offers watercolor pencils at all, which makes this the strongest bridge between drawing and painting.
Pros:- Watercolor pencils let artists draw then activate with water — a genuinely mixed-media tool
- 24 color plus 7 grey tone soft pastels support serious blending and value work
- Both acrylic and watercolor tubes included, not just cakes
- Rigid aluminum case survives travel better than nylon or thin wood
Cons:- Variety can overwhelm complete beginners
- Limited published information on the quality of individual supplies
- Intermediate artists may outgrow the entry-level paints quickly
Best for: Artists experimenting with layering dry and wet media who want watercolor pencils and pastels in one kit
Not ideal for: Buyers wanting verified artist-grade materials — quality details on individual supplies are sparse
- Colored Pencils:24
- Watercolor Pencils:10
- Acrylic Paint Tubes:12
- Watercolor Paint Tubes:12
- Watercolor Cakes:18
- Soft Pastels:24 color tone + 7 grey tone
- Sketching/Charcoal Pencils:9 sketching + 3 charcoal
- Case:Aluminum
Our verdict“The most genuinely mixed-media kit here — choose it if blending dry and wet techniques is the whole point of your purchase.”
Darnassus 132-Piece Art Set
Among the mega kits here, this one stands out mostly on price-to-variety ratio and a genuinely light, compact case. Its personality differs from the Color Block 151-piece set: where Color Block leans into fine-art tools, Darnassus leans playful, with 24 dual-tipped markers and 40 oil pastels making up the bulk of the count. That makes it better suited to coloring, journaling, and casual creativity than studio painting — the 18-pan watercolor selection is the thinnest paint offering in this batch. Compared with the iBayam 195-pack, it wins on portability but loses on included paper and books. The tradeoff is simple: this is a low-commitment entry point or a gift for a teen, not a toolkit an enthusiast will build around. Nothing here is bad, but nothing here is specialized either.
Pros:- Dual-tipped markers and 40 oil pastels make it strong for coloring and journaling
- Lightweight compact case is the easiest to toss in a bag
- Friendly all-ages price-to-variety ratio
- Includes accessories like palette, sharpener, and eraser
Cons:- Smallest watercolor offering of the large sets in this roundup
- No canvas or heavyweight paper for serious painting projects
- Variety skews quantity over depth in every medium
Best for: Gift-buyers, teens, and casual hobbyists who want colorful variety without a big spend
Not ideal for: Watercolor-focused painters — 18 pans is the smallest paint selection in this lineup
- Color Pencils:22
- Oil Pastels:40
- Markers:18 dual-tipped + 6 additional
- Watercolor Paints:18 pans
- Accessories:Sharpener, eraser, palette, brush, writing and art papers
- Case:Portable, lightweight
Our verdict“A solid budget gift for casual creators, but painters and mixed-media experimenters should step up to the Color Block 151 set.”
SuFly Mixed Media Sketchbook 9×12
Every kit above ships with thin paper that buckles under real watermedia — which is exactly the gap this 60-sheet heavyweight pad fills. At 98lb/160gsm, it handles pencil, ink, marker, pastel, gouache, and light watercolor in a single sheet, which is the literal definition of mixed media practice. Compared with the MOFUNY 9×12 mixed media pad at the same weight and count, the differentiators are the hard covers and perforated edges — you can work outdoors without a drawing board and cleanly remove finished pieces. Against the 30-sheet mixed media pad, you get double the pages for not much more shelf space. The honest limits: 160gsm is still on the light side for heavy wet-on-wet watercolor (expect some warping), and the spiral binding isn’t ideal for framed presentation. Think of this as the surface upgrade that makes any kit in this roundup actually usable.
Pros:- One surface accepts pencil, ink, marker, pastel, gouache, and light watercolor
- Hard covers double as a lap desk for field work
- Perforated sheets remove cleanly for display or scanning
- 60 sheets doubles the page count of comparable 30-sheet pads
Cons:- 160gsm buckles under saturated watercolor washes
- Spiral binding complicates framing or book-style mounting
- Heavier paper feels like overkill for quick gesture sketches
Best for: Artists who already own supplies and need one paper that survives layered dry and wet techniques
Not ideal for: Heavy wet-on-wet watercolorists — 160gsm will buckle without stretching or heavier stock
- Size:9 x 12 inches
- Paper Weight:98lb/160gsm
- Sheets:60, perforated
- Binding:Side spiral, lay-flat
- Cover:Hard cover
- Paper Type:Mixed media
Our verdict“The best single purchase for mixed-media artists who already have tools — this pad turns a mediocre kit into a workable studio.”
How We Picked
Because “mixed media” spans everything from graphite to gouache, I judged every product against one question: can it support layering across wet and dry techniques? For sketchbooks, that meant prioritizing paper weight (98lb/160gsm or heavier scored better), sheet count, binding quality, and how well the surface holds up under watercolor, ink, and light acrylic washes. For kits, I looked at media variety versus filler — a 195-piece set full of duplicate pencils and plastic erasers ranks below a 132-piece set with genuine watercolor pans, charcoal, and blending tools. Case construction, portability, and whether a sketchbook or easel was included also factored in, since these kits target different working situations.
The ranking logic reflects buyer priorities rather than raw piece counts. Products that solve the core mixed media problem — a durable surface or a genuinely versatile media range — rank highest. All-in-one gift-style sets rank lower on capability but earn their place for beginners and gift buyers, where convenience and completeness outweigh professional-grade quality. Every pick was compared head-to-head within its type, so a sketchbook was never penalized for lacking pencils, and a kit was never penalized for lacking a wooden easel — each was measured against what its intended buyer actually needs.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Art Supplies For Mixed Media
Choosing mixed media supplies involves more than matching piece counts or grabbing the shiniest case. These are the factors that actually determine whether your supplies help or hinder your work.Paper Weight Determines What You Can Actually Do
The single most common mistake mixed media buyers make is underestimating paper weight. Anything under 90lb will buckle, pill, or tear the moment you add watercolor, acrylic, or even heavy ink layering — which defeats the entire purpose of mixed media. 98lb/160gsm paper is the practical minimum for wet media, and serious artists working with heavy washes or collage should look at 140lb or higher, though you’ll pay noticeably more per sheet. Sheet count matters less than weight: a 30-sheet heavyweight pad outperforms a 60-sheet lightweight one for anything beyond dry drawing. Also check whether the pad is glue-bound, spiral, or hardcover, since glue-bound pages often tear unevenly and spiral bindings let the book lay flat — a real advantage when you’re working across a spread with wet media.
Piece Count Is Marketing — Media Variety Is Reality
A 195-piece set sounds impressive until you realize 60 of those pieces are near-identical colored pencils and another 20 are accessories you’ll never touch. What actually enables mixed media is variety across media families: graphite, colored pencil, watercolor, charcoal or pastel, and decent brushes. Compare the iBayam 195-pack against the Darnassus 132-piece set and the pattern is clear — the smaller set can contain more genuinely usable variety. Before buying any kit, mentally sort the contents into “media I’ll actually layer” versus “filler,” and calculate value only on the first pile. A kit heavy on filler isn’t a bargain at any price, because replacement costs hit sooner than you’d expect.
Kit Quality Tiers: Gift Sets Versus Working Sets
Most large kits in this price bracket are manufactured in the same few factories, which means quality differences are smaller than branding suggests — but the differences that exist matter. Pigment load in the watercolor pans is the usual weak point, producing washed-out color that frustrates beginners who blame themselves. Charcoal and graphite are more forgiving at budget tier, so if you primarily draw with occasional color, a cheap kit goes further than if you paint. The wooden-case Colour Block set occupies the upper end here, and its value comes as much from organization and presentation as from media quality. Honest advice: if you already know you love one medium, buy that medium separately at higher quality. Kits reward curiosity, not specialization.
Case Material Shapes How and Where You Work
Wooden cases look beautiful on a shelf and protect contents well, but they’re heavy, slow to open, and effectively anchor the set to one location. Aluminum cases are the better choice for artists who work outside the home — classes, travel, cafés — because they’re lighter and latch quickly. Soft zippered cases, common on the biggest budget kits, are lightest of all but offer little crush protection for charcoal and pastels, which shatter easily. Think honestly about where you’ll actually use the supplies before paying a premium for a case style you don’t need. And if you already own a storage system, case quality should drop near the bottom of your priority list entirely.
Who Benefits From Included Extras: Easels, Sketchbooks, Coloring Books
Several kits in this roundup bundle extras like tabletop easels, watercolor books, or even coloring books, and these additions deserve scrutiny rather than automatic enthusiasm. An included easel makes sense only for someone with zero existing setup and dedicated desk space — it’s genuinely useful for a first-time painter and dead weight for everyone else. Included sketchbooks are usually lightweight, which means they’re fine for the included dry media but will buckle under the included watercolors — an ironic mismatch worth knowing about. Coloring books, where present, are pure filler for most buyers. Weigh each extra as its own purchase: would you buy it separately at a fair price? If not, don’t let it sway your decision between two kits.
When to Skip Kits Entirely and Buy Piecemeal
Kits exist to solve the cold-start problem: you own nothing and want everything at once for one price. Once you’ve worked for a few months, the calculus flips — you know which media you reach for, and replacing just those items at higher quality beats rebuying a full kit. A common pattern is buying a big starter kit, discovering you love watercolor, then realizing the kit’s pans were holding you back all along. The most cost-effective path for developing artists is often a quality standalone mixed media sketchbook (like the MOFUNY or SuFly pads) paired with a small set of upgraded media in one or two favorite families. Kits are a starting point, not a destination — budget accordingly and don’t treat the initial purchase as a long-term investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 98lb/160gsm paper actually good enough for watercolor and mixed media?
Yes, with realistic expectations. 98lb/160gsm paper handles light watercolor washes, ink, and mixed dry media well, which is why both MOFUNY and SuFly pads ranked highly — that weight is the sweet spot for true mixed media pads at consumer prices. What it won’t do is handle heavy, saturated washes or multiple wet layers the way dedicated 140lb+ watercolor paper will; expect some warping and slower drying if you push it. Techniques like taping the edges, stretching lightly, or working in smaller wet areas minimize buckling. If your work is 70% or more watercolor-based, buy real watercolor paper instead. But for layering pencil, marker, ink, and occasional washes, this weight is the right call and cheaper per sheet.
Are big kits like the 195-piece sets actually good quality, or just quantity?
Honestly, they’re a mix, and the honest framing is that you’re buying breadth, not depth. The graphite, colored pencils, and charcoal in sets like the iBayam 195-pack are serviceable — better than the price suggests — while the watercolor pans and brushes are the weakest links, with lighter pigment loads than even modest standalone paints. That tradeoff is acceptable for beginners and multipurpose households, and the per-piece cost is unbeatable. Where these kits disappoint is for anyone who has already developed preferences, because nothing in them is upgrade-worthy. My advice from the comparison: use a big kit to discover which media you love for a few months, then reinvest in that one medium at quality. The 195-piece sets rank well for value, not for professional-grade results.
Should I buy a kit with a case, or buy a sketchbook and supplies separately?
It depends entirely on whether you own anything already. If you’re starting from zero or buying for a student, a kit solves the cold-start problem efficiently and the case keeps everything organized — that convenience has real value for young artists and travelers. If you already own decent media, a standalone heavyweight sketchbook is almost always the smarter purchase, because the paper is the component that limits mixed media work most, and kit-included paper is usually the thinnest in the box. The MOFUNY and SuFly pads cost a fraction of a full kit and upgrade every supply you already own. Separately bought supplies also let you concentrate your budget on the two or three media you actually use, rather than spreading it across 150+ pieces of mixed usefulness.
What’s the difference between the two Colour Block sets — wooden case versus aluminum case?
Beyond the roughly similar piece counts, the difference is fundamentally about where you’ll work and who the gift is for. The wooden case version functions as furniture — it stays open on a desk or shelf, displays beautifully, and suits a dedicated home studio space or a gift where presentation matters. The aluminum case version is built for portability, with lighter weight and quick latches that suit classes, travel, and shared living spaces where supplies get packed away daily. Media quality is comparable between them, so neither is the “better” set in isolation. Choose the wooden one for stationary use and gift impact; choose the aluminum one if the set will move. Paying for the wrong case type is the most common regret with these sets.
Which option is best for a beginner who isn’t sure which media they’ll like?
For genuine beginners, the all-in-one kits with included sketchbooks — the HIFORNY 136-piece set or the kit with the easel — make the most sense, because they remove every barrier to starting tonight. The included paper won’t handle heavy wet media, but for first experiments across graphite, charcoal, colored pencil, and light watercolor, it’s perfectly adequate, and the bundled accessories mean there’s nothing else to buy. The mistake to avoid is spending premium money on a wooden-case set before knowing your preferences. Give yourself two or three months of experimentation with a mid-priced kit, note which media you reach for, and then upgrade that one medium alongside a proper 98lb+ mixed media pad. Beginners who follow that path spend less overall than those who buy the biggest kit first and replace half of it within a year.
Conclusion
After comparing all ten options, the right choice maps cleanly to who you are as a buyer. For best overall, the MOFUNY Mixed Media Sketchbook 9×12 wins because paper quality is the true bottleneck in mixed media, and its 98lb weight with 60 sheets serves almost every technique — just add your own media. The SuFly Mixed Media Sketchbook takes best value with nearly identical specifications, making it the smart pick if you go through pads quickly. For best premium, the Colour Block 181-Piece Wooden Case Set delivers presentation, organization, and enough genuine media variety to justify the price for a home studio or an impressive gift. Best for beginners goes to the HIFORNY 136-Piece Set, which bundles sketchbooks, coloring books, and every major dry and wet medium at a forgiving price. And for specific needs: the Colour Block 151-Piece Aluminum Case for traveling artists, the easel-included kit for first-time painters setting up a dedicated space, and the iBayam 195-Pack for families or gift buyers who want maximum variety per dollar. Whatever you choose, remember the pattern that shaped this entire ranking: a durable surface and genuine media variety beat raw piece count every time.
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