The Cost of Art Supplies for a Beginner Painter (2024)

If you are a beginner painter and are worried about the cost of art supplies, don’t be! There are so many affordable art supplies that you can buy.

Beautiful art does not have to be made with expensive paint or canvases. It can be made with cheap paint and brushes and still turn out just as amazing!!

Y’all! I’m so excited to share with you what art supplies are needed for a beginner painter. I get asked this question a lot and frankly coming up with a dollar amount was something that always baffled me. I can’t remember a time not having art supplies, so it took some time before I realized how much of an investment it is (or isn’t). But don’t worry- if you’re just getting started, there are plenty of inexpensive options out there that will still allow your creativity to thrive!

Cost of Art Supplies

The cost of art supplies might seem steep, but believe me, there are cheap options out there!

You do not have to pay an arm and a leg to make beautiful art, you just don’t! And here are some cheap supplies that you can buy to get started right now!

Canvases

Canvases are a very important item for a beginner painter, especially if you would like to eventually start a paint party business! The cost of art supplies can be pretty steep when it comes to canvases, but there are a few affordable options.

Hobby Lobby has an amazing selection of canvases of all kinds that range from as little as $5 to $30. I recommend waiting until the value packs canvases go on sale and stocking up on them!

Paint

Paint just might be the most important art supply for a beginner painter! And paint can be pretty expensive if you are looking in the wrong places.

Again, Hobby Lobby is a good place to find paint since they have brands as cheap as a few dollars. This is a place where there’s a lot of variation on price, as other higher quality brands can be as much as $20. Personally, I lean on the inexpensive side and use Deco Art craft paint almost exclusively!

Michaels and Amazon are also places where you can find cheap paint.

Brushes

The cost of art supplies can be overwhelming when you are just starting out. Paint brushes, for example, can be very pricy! In fact, paint brushes are one of the costliest items out there. In order to get a decent brush, you’re going to have to spend about $15 on a pack of six or more!

Amazon is one of the best places to get packs of cheap brushes for as little as $5. They won’t be as high of quality, but they are a good place to start. Hobby Lobby offers good brushes as well if you can pay a bit more.

Paint Palette

You will need to buy a paint palette to mix your paint on. Both Amazon and Hobby Lobby both offer very cheap plastic palettes. Or, you can do what I typically do and just grab a pack of cheap paper plates! They work great and you can toss them when you are done.

Do You Need Expensive Art Supplies to Make Good Art?

If there was one thing that I wish I could tell all budding painters, it is that they do not have to rely on expensive art supplies!! It just isn’t necessary, and for most of us, it isn’t even an option.

Don’t get hung up on the belief that you can’t make good art with generic and cheap painting supplies. Because you can!

Art isn’t about the supplies that you use, it is about how you use those supplies. Even the most expensive paint in the world can’t create something beautiful without your help.

So, don’t worry if you can’t afford high-end painting supplies, because they really don’t matter that much. It all comes down to what you do with the art supplies that you have access to!

Where Can I Buy Inexpensive Art Supplies?

I use cheap art supplies just like anyone else, and I like to buy supplies from craft stores like Hobby Lobby and Michaels.

These are two places that not only offer a wide selection of affordable art supplies, but they also have sales and coupons!

Keep an eye out for sales in your local Michaels or Hobby Lobby or for coupons on art supplies. Just doing these two things can save you so much on items like paint, canvases, sketchbooks, and paintbrushes.

I also like to order off of Amazon because Amazon has everything! And some of their art supplies are considerably cheaper than in stores.

Want to Make Money as an Artist?

Want to make money as an artist? It’s easy! You can make a great income by teaching painting classes in person or online. Join the membership that I host at Paint Party Headquarters and learn everything I have learned about making money as an artist. It’s a blast, y’all!!!

If you have any questions about how to make money as an artist and run your own art business, you can text your questions to me directly!

More Posts About Art Supplies:

  • 3 Things You Need to Know Before starting a Paint Party Business
  • Art Kit: Must-Have Supplies for Teaching Paint Parties
  • Top 3 Supplies I Need for Paint Parties!
The Cost of Art Supplies for a Beginner Painter (2024)

FAQs

How much would painting supplies cost? ›

If you are painting a room by yourself, on average it will cost $415 for the supplies alone. Paint supplies will cost $235 for a small room, $390 for a medium room, and $610 for a large room. If you need to purchase painting equipment, this will add about $350 to the cost of the project, no matter the size of room.

How to price art as a beginner? ›

(Hourly Wage × Hours Spent) + Cost of Materials

This is a good formula to follow if you're just starting out. It takes into account the time you spent on a work, as well as material costs.

How expensive is it to start painting? ›

3 Types of Budget
Budget TypeAcrylic PaintTotal Cost (approx)
A. Averagestudent-grade paintabout $50
B. Fancyartist-grade paint$60 or more
C. Frugalcraft acrylic paint$15 or less

What is the best art supplies for beginners? ›

10 Must-Have Art Supplies for Beginners
  • Sketchbook: A good quality sketchbook is the foundation of any artist's journey. It allows you to practice your skills, experiment with different techniques, and jot down ideas on the go. ...
  • Pencils: ...
  • Erasers: ...
  • Paintbrushes: ...
  • Acrylic Paints: ...
  • Watercolours: ...
  • Canvas or Paper: ...
  • Palette:
Oct 20, 2023

How do painters price their work? ›

Some contractors use a rough base rate of $1.50 or $2.00 per square foot, some multiply 4 to 6 times the paint cost, some estimate the time the job will take and add it to an estimate of materials—and some may simply offer the lowest price to outbid the competition.

How much to charge as a beginner artist? ›

So, if a piece took you 10 hours to make, you want to get $15 per hour, and the materials cost you $45, you could use $195 as your starting point (10 times 15, plus 45). Cost of materials would include your canvas, paper, paint, ink, and so forth.

What is value in art for beginners? ›

Put simply, value is the the lightness or darkness of a color. When two different values of a color are put next to each other, they create contrast. Kids most often see value when comparing black and white, and all of the shades of gray in between.

What is a fair price for a painting? ›

Price Your Artwork with this Formula. Multiply the painting's width by its length to arrive at the total size, in square inches. Then multiply that number by a set dollar amount that's appropriate for your reputation. I currently use $6 per square inch for oil paintings.

Why do painters cost so much? ›

Just like with the quality of the paint products, the quality of the installation increases the cost. This is why a high-quality exterior painting contractor is more expensive than a lower-quality one.

How do you price art for beginners? ›

In case you need help, here are the formulas:
  1. Hourly rate X number of hours spent + cost of materials = Price.
  2. Daily rate X number of days spent + cost of materials = Price.
  3. Monthly salary / number of paintings you could do in a month + cost of materials = Price.
Jul 10, 2014

What medium should a beginner painter use? ›

Acrylic is typically the easiest for beginners, while watercolor is the hardest. However, if you hate working with acrylic, don't force yourself to paint it just because it's easier. It's far more important to find a medium that you enjoy.

What things are required for painting for beginners? ›

  • Paintbrushes. When you go shopping for paintbrushes, the wide variety available can make it confusing. ...
  • Acrylic paint. Again, there is no need for expensive supplies! ...
  • Mixed Media Pad. Think of a mixed media pad as a big sketchbook for painting. ...
  • Canvases. ...
  • Brush Cleaner. ...
  • Paint Pens. ...
  • Palette Knives.

How do you budget for painting? ›

Practical Budgeting Tips for Your Painting Project
  1. Estimate the amount of paint needed.
  2. Consider the type of paint.
  3. Calculate preparation costs.
  4. Factor in the cost of tools.
  5. Budget for additional materials.
  6. Plan for cleanup costs.
  7. Think about labor costs if hiring professionals.
  8. Consider the cost of unforeseen challenges.
Aug 1, 2023

How much should a 12x12 painting cost? ›

Painters charge $400 to $1,000 per room on average, depending on the size. The average cost to paint a 12x12 room is $400 to $950.

How much do art students spend on supplies? ›

At the start of each semester, art majors face the financial challenge of finding the cheapest price for the many different colors, sizes and types of materials listed on class syllabi. On average, art majors spend between $70 and $200 on supplies each semester.

How do you calculate painting cost? ›

You should budget for paint by finding the total surface area in the square foot that needs to be covered in paint. Then you can select the type of paint you want to use whether it is interior paint or exterior paint. The price of paint can range from ₹10 per sq. ft to ₹200 per sq. ft.

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