I have seen many novice artists mistake paint for painting. Sounds a little murky, right? Well, it’s not always the paint material when we think of making great art. It’s always the finished product.
If that’s aesthetic, and it conveys a message (and it is positive to your soul), you can say you have made great art. If you are making it your main goal now, then the lack of money won’t stop you. Read this post to find out how that’s possible.
Painting on a Budget
You’ll achieve this skill after finishing this post. Along with this factor, though, you have to understand where it has taken me on my journey.
I have been dreaming of getting a job as a designer around 10 years ago. Although you don’t have to be a painter to be a designer, it kind of ‘aids’ your situation.
So, the first thing to paint on a budget comes out as this: You really need to know the ‘basics’.
For example, oil painting is costly. You need to buy the paints. Then, you have to do your work in a protected place and take precautions to manage the fumes.
Imagine you invested money in oil painting, but you are not aware of how this paint is used to minimise risks and maximise its use. You would simply waste paint, or probably the supplies for it, and eventually end up losing the value of your investment.
Luckily, my trainer told me all of this. Now, when painting on a budget comes into the picture, you might need to focus on the painting rather than everything else that comes with it.
A Golden Rule for All Artists on Low Funds
I will share with you what I learnt.
Back then, I tried to get into an art school. I had limited financial resources. To be honest with you, my credit score was bad at that moment. I suffered problems with it and had to pay penalty charges for it. My finances were not okay. It sometimes makes me wonder how my artistic mind still retained its passions in these days of struggle.
Guess that’s what artists do…
Anyway, I tried to find an art college, where the course was too expensive. I found an online course, though. It was not too expensive but was…well…expensive.
I decided to get a loan and go for my education. As you see, education comes before anything. I came to know that you can get loans in Ireland for bad credit using your income statements. I was told if I can borrow an amount I can repay, then getting a loan is as easy as ABC, even if there’s something called a bad credit score.
It was in this course that I learned the greatest lesson of my life. I feel gratitude each day to get a trainer who actually made me understand what it means to be an artist.
My course taught me the application of all sorts of painting materials, the accessories you need for them, and how you can manage maintaining them. However, I have always looked upon oil painting as my goal. Now, I am a watercolour artist and that too an urban sketcher.
You see, the lesson I learned from the art teacher is that you need different paint materials to achieve the effect you want in your painting. But that comes later. What comes before that is the vision and the meaning of that art.
So, painting a rabbit in oil paint and then doing the same with watercolour would only make sense if your idea is clear with what you want to achieve with your painting.
If it’s simple doodling, then be it. If it’s loose sketching, so be it. If it’s hyperrealistic paintings, go ahead.
But are you sure that’s what you want? When you become sure of the end goal, you can use any paint to make it happen. And that’s where you can say you’re a creative person.
How Did I Start Painting on a Budget?
Mind you, I am going to be offering some easy ways to start painting on a budget. However, it may not suit every artist. If you are patient enough to think about them, though, you might as well get an idea of how art can be cheaper and probably better.
● Please Do Not Ignore Your Art Lessons
Anything can be self-taught. There is no doubt about that. However, can you afford the time to learn from your mistakes and then rectify yourself when you don’t have more money to lose?
You see, sometimes, making mistakes and then restarting might have to go a long way. This factor, although important, may become too expensive for some people though.
Let’s say you purchased a set of acrylic paint only to realise you love watercolours or oil pastels.
These confusions may turn out to be costly mistakes. If you don’t want them to happen, simply enrol in a course and get help from a trainer. They can understand your style and requirements better to suggest a short avenue to reach your painting goals.
● If You Don’t Have a Studio, Think of Your Home
You need to manage, my friend. If your home has a spare room, like the guest’s room or an extra bedroom, then go ahead and make that your temporary studio.
Mine was my attic. I know the temptation of making your attic your paint studio is irresistible to some. However, not all attics are fit for it. So, make sure to check it out before you make it to your studio.
Also, note that an artist’s studio should have ample natural light entering the room. You may also need to invest in bright lights to work at night.
● Buy Student Grade Paint and Use Watercolour If Possible
You can buy student-grade paints for a cheaper price. These paints might not give you the expensive finish you want in your paintings.
But again, the question is not about the materials. Think about the expert photographer who snaps breathtaking shots using a phone or a point-and-shoot camera.
In other words, student-grade colours cannot downgrade your artistry. All you need to do is to buy them and use them sparingly but smartly.
You can buy student-grade watercolours at really low costs. If you want to go a step higher, you may want to buy gouache or poster paint, which also is watercolour.
Acrylic and oil paints are high-quality paints. They might be expensive. You may not also find the ‘student-grade’ classification with these paints in the official sense.
But you can search and find products at lower rates. Compare different products to find out the most affordable supplies for you.
If you are into dry media, then maker pens, such as water-based markers, can come at cheap costs. However, alcohol markers, acrylic markers and oil markers are a little expensive.
On the other hand, oil pastels are super cheap compared to oil paint, yet they give your painting an oil paint look.
Study different kinds of painting materials to find out how they work with each other and how they can help you achieve your creative goal without making your pockets go empty.
Along with paint, I would recommend you buy a simple sketchbook to start painting. Buy a pocket sketchbook. Keep some paint with you. And start sketching at home or on the go. It is not an expensive thing.
Although sketchbooks are available on the paper quality you need for different colours, I would recommend you buy a sketchbook of mixed media paper so that you can use any sort of paint material on it.
To Conclude
Hope this article can offer you guidance and suggestions for helping you paint. If you need more assistance, though, then I would say the best person to help you out is an artist or an art teacher.
Try connecting with one of them and also be a part of your community.