Yukon School of the Visual Arts sculpture student David Fraser improvises with found materials at the Dawson City Landfill. This process is one way of obtaining art materials—especially unique or vintage types—at minimal cost. Photo: Veronica Verkley.
Art supplies are a perennial line item in most artists’ budgets—one that can grow more daunting when it’s time to repay student loans. Here’s some helpful advice for anyone looking to stretch an art-materials dollar.
Check out alternative or found materials
There’s a long tradition in contemporary art of using found materials—and unique, evocative or vintage found materials can often be located at low to no cost. Today, these materials can be sourced everywhere from a free-books box on a neighbourhood street to the rack at a local second-hand store to the reuse centre at an area landfill.
Ask for expert help in-store
Many of the staff at art-supply stores are artists themselves, and have expertise with the materials on display. If you’re looking for a quality product in a certain price range, ask for assistance; you may be pleasantly surprised by the volume of useful information you receive.
Get sale scoops via email, Facebook and Twitter
Online is the place to be for discounts these days, and the art-supply world is no different. Many bricks-and-mortar stores offer discounts and special sale notices to those who sign up for their e-newsletters, Facebook posts or Twitter feeds. Check your local retailer’s website to see how you can stay in the loop.
Stay organized in the studio
There’s nothing worse than returning home from buying art supplies and realizing you already have some of the items on hand—albeit wedged at the bottom of a toolbox or hidden in storage in the basement. Take time to create an organized supply area of your own, and you’ll save money on duplicated or “lost” materials in the long term.
