Cheap art materials

[FionaH]

Hiya
I've screwed my courage to the sticking post and started going to an art class! Bit flamin' scarey as I have not held a brush in anger for over 20 years!

The price of materials has really shocked me though, especially for acrylic and watercolour paints. Do any crafty grapes know of any cheapish online suppliers please?

Many thanks
Fi

[Two_Sheds]

student quality, or artist quality?

For student paints, I always bought from The Works; Tesco had some cheapish tubes in last time I looked too (Winsor & Newton I think)

[piskieinboots]

I can't offer advice as I'm not an artist in any way (shut up in the cheap seats!) but I can say well done you and tons of luck - enjoy it most of all

[rustylady]

Local pound shops often have bits and pieces, including some quite good quality paints

[FionaH]

student quality, or artist quality?

For student paints, I always bought from The Works; Tesco had some cheapish tubes in last time I looked too (Winsor & Newton I think)

Student quality I reckon Two Sheds. The sort of daubings I am turning out it would be a shame to use more expensive paints
Our Tescos doesnt do paints so wouldn't have thought of looking there, thanks, will check the big one in Guildford

[SarzWix]

Good for you honey Not sure about the art supplies, have you asked your tutor? Might be worth signing up for an N.U.S. card, that gets you discount in a lot of places. Or have you tried flea-bay?


P.S It's 20 years since I wrote an essay, but I'm having to batter my brain into doing it now... I'm sure it'll be good for us in the end

[Glutton4...]

Good for you Fiona! I did a similar thing to keep a friend company a few years back, and, like you hadn't even picked-up a pencil in anger for years. I very soon got back into my stride, and surprised myself. However, my trouble is I'm too fussy, so I bin everything coz I'm never satisfied with it LOL!

I hope you have a fabulous time, and sorry I can't help with supplies - I threw all mine out when we moved, as all the tubes of paint had gone solid!

[organic]

I got a pile of Winser & Newton "artist" watercolour half-pans from a local art supplies shop when they had a big clearout.
Most of it was the same stuff you usually see but in old style packaging or with the paper wrap torn a bit.

Some even had the paper missine entirely but opening up the foil to see the pan itself made sure there was no pot-luck involved.

I got every colour I wanted, some in multiples, and some paper blocks in a 2-for-1 offer too. I also bought a "student" quality paint set really cheaply so I could use the tin they came in.

The only things I didn't get in the sale were the brushes.

I'm afraid I can't remember where I put the student quality paints (windsor and newton again) though. If I find them in the next day or so I'll drop you a line.

[organic]

Glutton - I used to do that, then someone told me not to thorw any of my work out, no matter how bad.

I go back over it from time to time for 2 reasons.

1> It lets you know how much you've improved, which is very encouraging.
2> It lets you see all your mistakes again, reinforcing the lessons you (should have) learned from making them.

The other bonus is sometimes you look at something you hated at the time and suddenly find something you really like in it. That can be a pleasant surprise whether you leave it in with the mistakes, take it out and work on it some more or put it with the "good" stuff.

Give it a shot.

[BumbleB]

I have also been thinking about having a dabble. I have a couple of modern canvas pictures that i was thinking of adding some extra embelishment to. Maybe just some textured squares etc and a dab of silver etc. It must be these dark rainy nights making us crafty.

[fran]

Cass arts - in London - but I think they do mail order. They have VERY good offers all the time. Good luck!

[FionaH]

Thanks for all the replies guys, you've been really kind. Just been thinking what a terrific place the Vine is. I got recipes yesterday, kind support today, all from "imaginary online firends"
I was talked into going to the class by a friend of mine and I am really enjoying it. It is nice to see the improvement even over a couple of weeks. No one mentioned that water colours are considered the hardest medium before I started though! Still I played around with some acrylics today and had some fun. My painting still looks like an epileptic spider in a paint pot but hey ho, I'm not aiming for the Turner prize!

[muckdiva]

Try Freecycle. I got a box of paints and watercolour pencils a year or two ago that way and they were lovely. Just no longer needed....

[Hans Mum]

Home Bargains have lots of art stuff in

TJ Morris - Home Bargains: Find your nearest Home Bargains store or check on its opening times

if there's one near you, DD has had quite a bit from there

[Jeanied]

Hi Fiona - just some thoughts. Don't go to any big expense while you are still experimenting - it took me for ever to find out I preferred working in ordinary watercolour crayons - then you only need a few colours as you can mix the rest - green is blue and yellow, purple: red and blue, and orange: yellow and red. So get a kids play around range and experiment like mad in class - size, materials, media, subject. Then you will know. Strangely enough I drew best in clay - which wasn't drawing at all but modelling!!!