Where to find affordable art supplies

Art by Karie-Ann Author

Art supplies are so expensive. Read my blog post to find out some hints and to help you find affordable art supplies which don't break the bank.

Let's be honest, art is an expensive hobby or business to run. Those pesky art suppliers and manufacturers know just how to make us buy something we aren't looking for, or something we don't even need. We see something new and need to have it, not sure if you're anything like me but I always want more pretty art supplies.

Alas all of those art supplies cost money and it can soon add up to a small fortune. These are a few ways to find affordable art supplies that won't break the bank.

Here are a few tips to help you find a bargain.

• Scour Facebook Marketplace. There are plenty of other people who had to have that certain art supply, bought it and then decided they didn't need it (this would never be me, once I buy something I keep it for life even if I never use it!) Some people are wiser than me and recoup some of the money by selling it on cheap, yay!!!
• Facebook has a few art supplies groups where people of a similar persuasion can swap, change and barter for all sorts of arty pretties. I've scored a mammoth supply of pastelmat paper from a Facebook Swap shop group and it was literally 3 miles from my house, I would never have thought anyone within 100 miles would even know what Pastelmat let alone be willing to part with some for a bargain basement price just a few miles away, she was moving on to oils and no longer needed it. I'd need to be moving to the moon to even think about selling supplies on!!!

• Sign up with ever single art supplier you could ever think of, they will always without fail, email you when they have a sale. If you are able to hold yourself back and not buy willy nilly, you can bulk buy when all of those offers come in and save a small fortune (only if it's a supply you would actually use though)
• Barter with fellow arty types. Every artist thinks about trying another medium, sometimes they move on and have supplies they would either swap for their new arty love or want to sell older mediums to buy new. This is especially true if you are lucky enough to be part of an art group or society.
• Ebay - oh what a treasure trove. I'm just starting out with acrylics and I bought the whole set of Winsor and Newton Artist Quality Acrylics (60ml) for £120, I mean it's less than half the price and I told myself I really did need them! Definitely my buy of the year. Sometimes you can even make a cheeky offer and get the bargain art supply of your dreams.
• Are you starting out maybe and don't need to buy artists quality materials? Are you just starting out and wanting some fun? If so what about the bargain basement materials from somewhere like The Range or even The Works. They always have something affordable on offer, it could even lead to the start of a new hobby or business. Try their version and then when you know you like it, buy a higher quality version.
• I've found acrylics on offer in WHSmith, I bought every colour they had, gesso, brushes and varnish and went home grinning like the Cheshire Cat! 
• My other favourite place to find art supplies are flea fairs and car boot sales, people just want to clear out a space and have all sorts of fabulous supplies for sale at pennies. I bought Unison pastels, a full set of  Neocolour II pastels and set of Polychromos coloured pencils at the flea fair, again I couldn't believe my luck and it felt like I'd won the lottery that day. I've also purchased watercolour brushes and art papers from car boots and boxes of frames from a local auction.

I hope that's given you a few ideas of where you can buy affordable art supplies, it doesn't always need to be from a major art supplier, you can always find a bargain if you're prepared to mooch around.

Forget going to a well known art supplier or buying in their online shop, you never know when you may find that bargain you've been on the look out for.... so happy bargain hunting!

Categories: : art tips