Readers Respond: Share Your Tips on How to Save Money on Art Materials

Responses: 21

What do you do to reduce the amount of money you spend on art materials? Share your art money-saving and budget-stretching tips here. Share Your Tips

Self discipline is what's required; leave your cards in the wallet. In common with other postings, I'd advocate going for higher quality over cheapness. However, I'm easily tempted...
—Guest jumpsystems

Cheap brushes are no bargain. Don't buy inexpensive brushes in sets as the hairs come out. It's better to buy one or two good quality brushes and use them. Then replace them when you need to. Use the plastic food containers that cold meats come in for watercolors. You can get them at the grocery store. Look for discount vouchers at art stores and use then whenever you can.
—Guest Flora

Buy the good stuff to begin with. A little goes a long way, you use less, and the colors are better. It may cost you more, but they last longer and you buy less over time. Use coupons at Michaels and JoAnn's and shop online at ebay and Cheap Joe's and other art supply places. They have some good deals. Reuse paper when you can.
—Guest Anne Maurer

I bought as much in the sales over the last year as I could. I now estimate I have enough oils, acrylics and watercolour to last me several years. I also buy second-hand pictures at the car boot sales and use the pictures to copy techniques and the frames for my own paintings.
—barbaranorman

Planning out your artwork before painting is a paint-saver. Sometimes I start painting and cannot control the urge to change up the whole painting over and over again. Many people find that this is a good way to paint anyways, but planning and using as little supplies as possible sure saves money!
—Guest Dana Stevens

I shop at a Hobby Lobby near me but I check their art sales first. An ad sheet will often say "and others" meaning non-listed and the store will honor the purchase. I once bought a bunch of Bob Ross stuff on indirect sale. And if the paints or brushes are not there, ask for a" rain check". I wanted to try Bob Ross and was able at a fraction of the price due to timing.
—BarrySonenthal

I like Williamsburg brand, but they are quite expensive, when attending the School of Art Institute of Chicago I had to choose between food and materials, so I would put my excess paints when the session was over on tin foil and immense them in a jar filled with water. They lasted well for long periods of time.
—Guest Namasta

I have a supply of large plastic sleeves once used to keep posters and prints in. I use them now to paint on (acrylics)- some dazzling light-filled abstracts are the result.
—Vistapoint

IF you have a FREECycle in your area...post a WANT art supplies. Take everything that shows up!
—pinkavoo

As I am a beginner and have a tight budget, I went to Home Depot and bought a panel of hardboard and had them cut it into 8x10 pieces; gesso and sandpaper and I have enough for I think 15 small paintings at less than a dollar per support. Since they are small, it won't use much paint while I learn the ins and outs of paint mixing, glazing, etc.
—ElizabethAmanda

Instead of buying many tubes of paints, start with the split primary colors plus perhaps a viridian and a burnt sienna - an earth color. And, of course, white in a large tube. Not only will your inventory of paints be less but you'll motivate yourself to learn about mixing colors.
—rghirardi

I also watch for closeout/discontinued item specials on the online art supply stores I frequent. I've saved hundreds of dollars doing this, and don't have to feel guilty when I indulge and include a "just because" item. (Point in fact, I just got a bunch of stuff, some for as little as 20 cents a piece!)
—BethPete

On saving money for art supplies, I say the bigger the better. I have some tubes of paint that I have had for years and I have been using regularly.
—Guest Michelle

A good quality flat, interior, white paint works as well as anything for covering up a painting for reuse. Use as many coats as it takes to cover sanding lightly between coats and then gesso. I've had better results than low quality art paint for less money...
—RichNorth

Search for art supplies on eBay in the "Crafts" category to find a wide range of items at a huge discount off retail prices. This is also a good solution for people who live far away from an art supply store. Prices on eBay are generally below the prices of the big art supply catalog stores. You don't have to wait for an auction to end, either. Items sold as "store inventory" or "fixed price" listings are available for purchase immediately. In your eBay search, select the "include store items in search" feature to see everything that's listed on eBay in a certain category. Store items won't show up in a regular search on eBay.
—mginsberg

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