Many artist struggle to support the cost of their hobbies. For many, working as a professional artist isn’t feasible so they work hard to earn the money for the supplies they need to produce their art. Art students often have the same dilemma as they tend to have pay for books as well as expensive supplies just to satisfy their semester’s curriculum. There is an easier way to support your hobby without having to sacrifice working hours though. With a few simple tips you’ll be stocked up and ready for all of your creative endeavors, so when the mood strikes you can get to work instead of letting your best ideas fade away.
1. Canvas
Canvas plays a major part in painters and many mixed media artists lives. The bad thing is pre stretched canvas can actually run you quite a lot of money if you aren’t careful. One of the cheapest ways to cut down on all of your canvas costs is to learn how to stretch it yourself. This should be a consistent part of any painter’s life as it allows you to control the shape and size of the canvas you need for your work. Buying canvas pre-stretched is very cheap if you can find it in bulk. Once you get the canvas all you have to do is worry about a frame to stretch it onto. Frames can be made out of cheap cuts of wood or scrap wood and can be reused so you shouldn’t have to worry about spending a lot of money on this aspect of you project. When you begin this process you will see how convenient it is to do it yourself rather than buying from the store. Of course, DIY isn’t for everyone so if you must buy it stretched then try to wait for sales and buy in bulk as much as possible.
2. Paints
Paints transcend genres so having a good selection of paints is an important part of an artist’s supplies. Paints can be pretty pricey though, especially if you think you need to buy the expensive brands. When you first start to shop for your own set of paints you might want to look for glazes. These specific paints are perfect because they can easily be watered down without sacrificing the quality of your paints color and durability. If you can keep your paints watered down they will last longer so you won’t have to keep replenishing your stock every time you work up a new painting. Mixing paints can also help you keep some of the more expensive colors in stock, so don’t be too afraid to experiment in order to get what you need. If you’re looking to start off very cheap then you might want to go for student acrylics. These paints will hold up and will cost you less than a dollar per color. They are also perfect for big products that you don’t want to spend a lot of money one.
3. 2nd hand stores
There are a lot of second hand stores that cater to the needs of artist. If you have a student store near you then you might try to check out some used art supplies. These supplies were usually used for a term so you might not get as much out of them as you would a new product, but you will certainly save a whole lot of money on it. When doing this you should always check to see the quality to make sure you aren’t buying dried out paints and glues. You might also want to check out thrift stores or garage sales. You might not think it so, but you can find a whole lot of inspiration in these areas. For instance, if you enjoy mixed media art you might see different things you can encouragement into your piece. A lot of the time you might even be able to find a nice frame that will frame one of your works perfectly.
4. Brushes
A lot of people tend to think it is safe to buy cheap paintbrushes to work with. This, however can be a very expensive mistake. When it comes to buying brushes you should always buy a trusted set, which might mean looking at a lot of reviews before you make your purchase. Cheap brushes tend to fray and might end up forcing you to repaint a lot of your work because your precision will be sacrificed. An expensive set of brushes will give you the best quality work while ensuring you won’t have to buy new brushed any time soon. Make sure you take care of the brushes though as leaving paint on them will force you to lose even more money than you’d originally expect.
5. Loyalty Cards and Coupons
If you find yourself shopping in hobby stores a lot you might want to check into getting a loyalty card to help reduce your expenditure on supplies. A lot of hobby stores offer these but they all have different ways of working their cards. Some will give you a discount every time you swipe your card which will help you save immediately. Other cards will provide you with points that eventually add up to a coupon, whilst others serve to send you coupons in the mail or thru email. It is important to keep up with coupons for hobby stores though as they will certainly help you save big on the items you need to make your art. Some hobby stores will even pass out a 75% off coupon occasionally so take advantage of this whenever you need a big ticket item!
6. Buy in Bulk
It doesn’t matter what your art is, when it comes to shopping for supplies buying in bulk is the best way to go. There are so many bulk store online and off, so make sure you do a lot of shopping around before you decide on a deal. One of the best items to buy in bulk is things like scrap booking sheets and accessories. These items can run pricey on their own, but when you buy in bulk you will actually pay mere cents for them. Always try to look for items you use a lot of in bulk. For instance, buying paint in bulk is usually a huge relief for painters who tend to go through paint bottles often. Thread and yarn are also a good buy in bulk even though they aren’t incredibly expensive on their own. If you use a lot of black thread then why stop spend double the price for five times the product? Of course, buying canvas in bulk is another great buy, but this can run pretty pricey if you aren’t careful. Make sure to know your bulk hobby supply stores before you commit to any purchase.
7. Trade
An artist best friend can be trading if he or she can find the right inner circle. If you know other artist then you might want to bring up the idea of trading with them. This will allow the entire group to get what they need without constantly having to spend a fortune on it. Trading is especially great when you only need to use something for a little while, or only need a small amount of something. You might even get a group together to share a studio which will give you all plenty of space to work as well as use the art supplies without having to wait on someone to answer your frantic text message.
8. Unexpected Places
When it comes to looking for art supplies you should think out of the box. If you look at a hobby shop for a painting sponge you will find they generally cost a small fortune. Of course, a short trip to the dishwashing section in a local store might give you a cheaper selection of sponges that might leave a unique pattern on your work. There is a world of items that are no longer wanted that can really inspire you to make some of the best pieces of art. Another example would be old tin cans. A lot of the time you can cut them and make a green friendly sculpture that provides you with a political statement to share at your next art show. Gizmos and gadgets are everywhere, so open up your mind and let your creativity flow so you can save money on your work while providing you with ample working materials.
9. Pottery
If pottery is your chosen form of art then it might be wise to find a cheap pottery shop. Sure, it would be ideal to have your own kiln and clay, but if you’re planning on saving this isn’t the way to go. Instead, find a place that has decent prices and an area that you feel comfortable working in. Generally, when you pay a pottery shop you have access to the clay and paints and any of the tools you might need to work your art. Sometimes you can even rent a locker or leave your project at the shop if you don’t get finished in one sitting. When you are done you can get your piece fired and enjoy your beautiful art at a fraction of the price you would pay on your own terms. Although it might be a sacrifice to go to the shop it will save you money until you can afford to find an area that will support a kiln and a budget that can keep you stocked up with clay.
10. Recycling
Our households are filled with art potential and once of the best places to look is in the recycling bin. Everyday we throw out goods that have potential, so next time you go out to take your recycling bin think twice about what you’re about to give up. Old tin cans can be cleaned up to make the best brush and pencil holders, so you’ll never have to spend on containers again. Plastic bottles are great for sculptural pieces or supports, but can also be melted down to help provide you a cool new look you can work with. Even old pieces of cardboard will allow you to create beautiful mosaics or collages without having to worry about poster board or other expensive art materials.
Art can be one of the most therapeutic hobbies out there. It is just too bad they often end up costing us a whole lot of money. If you’re worried about spending too much on your supplies then these tips should reassure you can actually relax about your budget when it comes to buying what you need. So, from now on let your creative flag fly and enjoy spending less on the goods you need.
Author: Chelsey McQuitty
