Whether you’re a professional artist or a hobbyist, creating amazing art can be an expensive endeavor. Making money as an artist or crafter takes more than talent. You’ve got to be able to market yourself and sell your work for more than what you’ve got into it. And, if you’re trying to sell at shows, booth fees can add up quickly. You have to find ways to cut corners wherever you can. Believe me, I know! If you are a fellow starving artist or crafter, here are some tricks I’ve learned along the way that help me save money on art and craft supplies.
This post may contain affiliate links.
1. Shop Around
I’ve found that you really have to shop around when it comes to saving money on supplies. I can usually find much better deals online than I do in stores. One of the best websites I’ve found to help me save money on art and craft supplies is CreateForLess. It’s like an online superstore with everything you could possibly need for creating just about any type of art or craft, from scrapbooking to crocheting.
I buy all of my paintbrushes and canvases from CreateForLess now. They have a great deal on a five-pack of 16×20 canvases, and I go through tons of them. I also purchase the Folk-Art paintbrush sets from them because they’re decent brushes, but they’re cheap enough that I can replace them as soon as they start to wear out. I’ve also found some fantastic bargains on their clearance page, so be sure to check it out.
Another good place to save money on art and craft supplies online is Amazon. They’re an excellent resource for decent, affordable easels to display paintings on at shows. If you spend some time browsing their website, you can also find some great deals on paint brush sets, bulk packs of canvases, and high-quality pencils for sketching. I also really appreciate having access to reviews since I can’t see the product in person.
2. Upcycle
Upcycling is a fun way to create unique pieces of art and save money at the same time. I love to scour flea markets, yard sales, and second-hand stores for treasures that I can use in my pieces. Sometimes you can even find things for free, like driftwood to make picture frames.
Here’s an example of a really cool three-dimensional piece I created using antique Bakelite buttons that I bought for pennies at a thrift store. As an added bonus, many people love hearing that you’ve used some upcycled materials in the piece. It’s a great selling point because many people who enjoy art also care about the environment.
3. Recycle
If you’re anything like me, you probably have old pieces sitting around your studio collecting dust, or pieces from your “learning period” that you don’t feel good enough about to put out there for sale. I like to recycle work like that and try to turn it into something I’m proud of, or at least use it to practice a new technique.
I’ve got canvases with five, six, or even more layers of paint on them. Why spend money on new canvases to practice on when you can just repaint over the old ones? Make sure your friends and family know what kinds of materials you can use, too. You never know what people might be getting ready to throw out.
4. Network
Another way to save money on art and craft supplies and marketing your work is to network with other business owners in your area. You never know what kind of deals you might be able to work out with other local businesses to display your work or get good deals on supplies you would normally have to pay full price for.
5. Barter
I’ve found that you can really make some great trades with people if you’re willing to stick your neck out there and make an offer. One time, I traded my neighbor a really nice landscape painting for a bunch of scrap plywood he had sitting in his shed. I turned around and used that wood to create six more paintings to sell on my website. It turned out that people really love the rustic look of paintings done on wood, so now I do more of my work on wood than I do on canvas.
You might even try trading some of your work for a space at a local craft show or design a special piece for a local restaurant in exchange for a gift certificate. Maybe you could refer people to a local framing shop in exchange for a discount on framing services. Either way, it’s a win for you and them.
As a creative entrepreneur, you have to learn to think outside the box to save money on art and craft supplies and marketing your work. If you’ve found some clever ways to save money when it comes to creating or selling your work, we would love to hear about them in the comments below!
