Weird & Wonderful: 7 Unique Art Supplies to Jolt You Out of Your Creative Slump

Let’s face it—sometimes your muse packs her bags and ghosts you. One minute you’re churning out masterpieces, the next you’re staring at a blank canvas like it owes you money. When the creative well runs dry, it might be time to ditch the usual brushes and paints and shake things up with some delightfully oddball art supplies. Here are 7 weird (and wonderful) tools that might just tickle your imagination back to life.

1. Water Brushes with Coffee or Tea

Yes, you read that right. Fill those watercolor brushes with strongly brewed tea or leftover coffee and paint your way into a vintage dreamscape. The sepia tones and subtle textures can turn even a doodle into a moody masterpiece. Bonus points if your painting smells faintly of chai.

2. Gelli Plates (a.k.a. Slabs of Squishy Magic)

These squishy printing plates are like a monoprinting playground. Slap some acrylic paint on them, toss down a stencil, press a piece of paper, and bam—you’ve got instant abstract glory. It’s messy, addictive, and weirdly satisfying. Great for those “I don’t know what I’m doing but I’m doing something” kind of days.

3. Credit Card Scrapers

Who needs a brush when you’ve got expired plastic? Dip an old credit card (or hotel key card or gift card) into paint and scrape it across your surface for juicy textures, bold lines, or chaotic joy. It’s a fast, cheap way to loosen up and let go of perfectionism. Picasso didn’t use MasterCard—but he probably would've if he could.

4. Glow-in-the-Dark Paint

When the lights go out, the creativity glows on. Painting with glow-in-the-dark acrylics adds a layer of magic to your work—and it's just fun to play with. Try writing secret messages or creating starry night scenes that come to life when you switch off the lights. Your inner child will thank you.

5. Nature Brushes

Stick a twig in your paint and give it a twirl. Dip a pinecone, a feather, or that weird weed you found on your walk. Natural items make unpredictable, fabulous marks, and you’ll feel like some kind of forest-dwelling art wizard conjuring textures straight from the earth.

6. Shrink Plastic (a.k.a. Grown-Up Shrinky Dinks)

Draw something. Cut it out. Pop it in the oven. Watch it curl into a tiny, perfect charm for a keychain, magnet, or necklace. It’s like magic for grown-ups who miss the ‘90s. Plus, nothing boosts your mood like watching your artwork do gymnastics in a toaster oven.

7. Posca Paint Pens

Okay, they’re not that weird—but if you haven’t tried them yet, you’re missing out. These juicy, opaque paint pens write on just about anything (wood, glass, rocks, your cat…just kidding—don’t paint your cat). Great for crisp lines, vibrant color, and doodling when you don’t want to deal with the whole brush-and-water situation.

Final Thoughts from the Art Trenches

Sometimes the best way to get out of a slump is to stop trying so hard and start playing again. Grab something weird. Get messy. Make something ugly on purpose. Try painting with a stick or drawing upside down. Who cares? Art doesn’t have to be serious to be good—and it definitely doesn’t have to be serious to be fun.

Now go forth and make glorious, messy, magical things. And if all else fails, just glue googly eyes on everything. It helps. Trust me.