Buying professional quality art supplies can be expensive. Purchasing the finest brushes, paints and canvas is unjustifiable except for established artists with consistent sales. Fortunately, artists of all abilities can find great deals on art supplies in a number of easy ways.
Scavenge for Free Canvas
Do not be bound by convention. Go to construction sites, abandoned fields or go dumpster diving for paper, posters, cardboard, plywood, mirrors, glass panes or fence boards. Right now, the “recycled art” and “green art” market is hot. Artists should use many different materials in lieu of canvas to set their work apart.
Go Garage Sailing for Cheap Art Supplies
Buying large, pre-stretched canvas can be costly. By priming used, mass produced prints, artists can get blank canvases for pennies on the dollar. A canvas size that retails for $50 may only cost $10 at a garage sale. Moving sales or estate sales are typically the best places to find recycled canvas. Often, frames are included, adding extra value.
Since it is illegal in many areas to dispose of unused paint cans, homeowners usually need to unload their leftover house paint. For mixed media artists, this can be a great way to pick up cheap art supplies. Spackle, caulk and glazing compound make great textures and unique 3-D effects.
Look for picture frames. Once primed with special paint, glass panes and mirrors make a perfectly usable canvas.
Buy Art Supplies in Bulk
Properly cared for, canvas, brushes and paint can be stored for years. So plan ahead. Large art supply stores like Hobby Lobby routinely have 30% off sales on all canvas and paints. Since artists’ work typically has a high markup, waiting for great deals on already cheap art supplies only increases profit margins.
TIP: For online shoppers, Dick Blick and Cheap Joe’s offer great deals on art supplies. Additionally, both sites provide helpful tutorials and workshops to hone artistic skills and teach new techniques.
Buy Returned Paint
For action painters or drip painters (think Jackson Pollock), buying full retail is unnecessarily expensive. To avoid losing money on mixing errors, local paint stores, like Sherwin-Williams, usually sell discounted remainder paint. Many suppliers will happily notify artists when discounted quality paint and rare colors become available.
TIP: Large home improvement stores like Lowes and Home Depot will occasionally accept paint returns. Unique colors are routinely found for 50% off or more.
Maintain Artist Equipment
A good set of artist paintbrushes or pallet knives can last a lifetime. After each use, thoroughly clean artist utensils with either soap and water (for acrylics) or turpentine (for oils). Make sure paint caps and lids are airtight. Recycle old plastic tablecloths for extra-protection for studio floors.
Find Deals on Art Supplies
Professional artists can halve their costs by buying art supplies at the right time and from the right places. For those just starting out, painting does not have to be an expensive hobby. Free canvas is available in many forms and frequently found for free or sold in neighborhood homes and businesses. With a little imagination, artists can find deals on art supplies in a variety of places.
Click HERE for examples of art created from recycled mixed media.
David Clark - As a business owner, freelance writer and abstract artist, I keep myself busy. Always learning, evolving and creating, I guarantee you'll ...
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