While it’s quite interesting watching media publications get all in a lather about “what is acceptable as art these days”, the vast majority of art that goes on in the schools, universities, clubs and homes up and down the land still relies on the types of materials that Botticelli, Da Vinci and Lowry would feel at home with. Walk into an art and design school and the gorgeous aroma or paint will hit you (and further evidence will probably be all over the floor, walls and ceiling too). And students don’t keep half-finished jigsaw puzzles in those great big portfolios you see them walking round with. And we must not forget that the contemporary artists plying their trade in the galleries and exhibitions the world over will have honed their skills using the same paint brushes, easels, chisels and kilns as their respected forebears.

So when embarking on a career in art, design or crafts, the most important thing to do is to find an art supplier that you trust. And if they’re not too expensive, well, it certainly won’t harm you! Shopping online is now a perfectly viable way of getting supplies, with more and more retailers large and small getting in on the e-commerce act. As well as being able to compare prices and find the best deals, you can join mailing lists to be alerted to special offers and stock clearance sales. It’s easy to dismiss these emails as junk, but all outlets need to keep their stock levels manageable and if they have over-ordered or if they’re clearing space for Christmas or the new university term, you can get some genuine bargains. Also, you might be offered a material you’ve never tried before, perhaps because of cost, and find out that it’s a life-changing product that inspires you to do great things.

It also helps if you know your niche, too. While all art suppliers will sell the basics – paint, paper, brushes and canvas – once you start to find your personal direction, you might find it more difficult to source your materials. Indeed, the art shop might not even be the place to look. There are plenty of artists who are more at home in a DIY superstore, a builder’s supplier, an electronic components retailer, a scrap yard or an unmade bed shop than in their local art shop. We can never expect an art shop to stock every possible item to satisfy your future artistic needs, so it’s a good habit to familiarise yourself with a wide range of retailers so you’ll know exactly where to look when you have your eureka moment.

We never know when we are going to get bitten by the art bug. Some of us are born with that insatiable urge, some gradually develop it through early adulthood and others only realise they have the desire when they reach retirement. But with a good art supplier on hand and a mind full of inspiration, your creative life can be a rewarding, exciting and maybe even profitable.

Author Bio: Peter Lee Greenspan is an art and craft editor working with Pullingers, an art supplies specialist and provider of paint supplies and brushes for artists.

Category: Arts and Crafts
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