Looking for fun inexpensive tools to add to your art supply toolbox? In this post, I’ll be sharing six ways that you can get creative and save on your art supplies. We are going to start with all of the goodness you can find at the dollar store!

It is wonderful having a box filled with trinkets and treasures, including your favorite colors and interesting tools to create texture. I love opening my box and choosing colors for my painting projects. Art supplies can be expensive, especially if you’re beginning to build your toolbox. If you’re like me, you feel like a kid in a candy every time you go into an art store. It can be hard to choose.

Let’s get on to the list!

#1 Shop at the Dollar Tree!

My local dollar store is Dollar Tree. I find lots of art supplies for $1.25. I recently purchased a set of three brushes, and they are good! You can find palettes, portable water cups, scraper tools and so much more!

You can buy sponges, brushes, paint, palette paper, colored pencils, stencils and random goodies that work for creating beautiful texture. Wait, buying paint at the dollar store? How good can dollar store paint be? Well, I used a watercolor set to paint the above flowers. It was good practice! All you have to do is paint or create.

By the way, I am still looking for the newly added palette paper. I am using parchment and wax paper. Yes, I found these at the dollar store too, and they work fine! Oh, here’s another good one. Dollar stores often carry mason jars or mugs. Jars and mugs are great for holding your brushes and for water cups. While you’re shopping for supplies, pick up a few snacks.

What’s in your toolbox? Do you enjoy walking the aisles and seeing what grabs your curiosity? Leave your ideas in the comment section. I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

#2 Coupons

Always look for sales. Crafts stores will have coupons from 40-60%. I love going to Jo-Ann Stores with coupons. I bought a Winsor & Newton Watercolor 12-tube travel set for $17. I believe the regular price was $50. Sign up for a rewards program. You’ll get coupons in your mailbox. Craft stores usually have a clearance section. There may be a 50% off on Neocolors that are a little used but work great!

#3 Make a list and check it twice before you shop online.

If you don’t have access to stores that you can shop in, you can always shop online. Blick always has sales. There is back to school sales, and a Spring sale I like going to. If you teach art you can get an extra 10% off. You can stock up on sale items like paper and titanium white. It’s nice to wander in an art store and occasionally buy a new medium to explore.

#4 Treat Yourself Once a Month

Once a month or every quarter, I’ll treat myself to a new supply. It may be that opera rose or quinacridone magenta gouache I want but are pricey. I try to plan for when these items may be on sale. I just purchased two tubes of gouache that were 50% off!

#5 Stick with Primaries

Here’s a great tip I wish I had learned at the beginning of my art adventures. If you’re like me you can wander for hours in an art store admiring and contemplating what tubes will go home with you. I wanted all of the colors. With three primary paint colors, you can mix almost all of the colors. My favorite primaries are turquoise, yellow and, quinacridone magenta. You will need a titanium white and a bright pink. Imagine all the fun you will have, mixing awesome colors with three tubes of color!

#6 Paint Boxes

This is fun! I was thinking of this list and taking notes. Right before me was a tissue box. Why not paint on it? You can paint over it and do a nice floral pattern! See what your designs look like on different surfaces. You can do cereal boxes. Pick up a crate from the dollar store.

I hope that at least one of these ideas inspires you. I just thought of buying a bucket of chalk at the dollar store to draw outdoors! Please comment below with your ideas!

Interested in more painting ideas and talk? You can subscribe to my blog and be part of a garden where wildflowers grow. I do like the sound of that!

Thanks for reading. Comment if you like. It is always fun to learn about new art.

With Love, Mireya