11 Dec 2008, Posted by Chris Kaufman in Art, Business, 0 Comments

Think Outside the Art Supply Store

Here’s a post I wrote for a friend’s blog, Canvas Cubed, back in February. Canvas Cubed is an online store offering deep-edged artist’s canvases and I highly recommend their products.

When it comes to shopping for art supplies, you probably feel like you have limited options. Whether you’re picking up a few brushes, a tube of acrylic or gloss varnish, your first (and only) stop is probably your local art supply store.

It’s time to think outside the art supply store.

A couple of my favorite places to shop for supplies for my creative projects are my local hardware and home improvement stores. Not only will you conjure up countless ideas to use the oddities you find while wandering the expansive aisles of the Home Depot, you’ll also discover that home improvement supplies are significantly cheaper than traditional art supplies.

Here are some of my favorite home improvement store and hardware store finds:

• If you’re painting the background of a large canvas a solid color, try a pint or quart of latex house paint instead of expensive tubes of acrylic or oil.

• Want to add a glossy shine to your finished piece? Skip the gloss varnish from the art supply store. Instead, try some polyurethane. It brushes on easy, seals and protects your work, and provides the glossy look you’re going for.

• Instead of art store brushes, give a traditional house painting brush a try. They come in several sizes and varieties and are great for painting large areas of a canvas quickly.

• Looking to add some visual interest to your canvas? Try gluing some washers to your masterpiece. Paint over them to achieve an embossed effect.

• Add texture by applying spackling paste or wood putty directly to the canvas. Experiment with different textures by applying either through a piece of screen or wire mesh.

• Use pieces of wire or twine, or experiment with caulking and other adhesives to add dimension to your canvas surface.

• Gently rub shoe polish onto your piece to add an aged look and add definition to texture. Be sure to seal your canvas if you use this technique since the shoe polish can rub off.

Give your local hardware store and home improvement store a try and see what you can find. Most importantly, think outside the art supply store “box”, and be creative!