Art requires a lot of materials in which to create art. Those materials are varied in quantity, value, and needs. In other words, it depends entirely on what art form you are creating in as to what materials are needed. Goes without saying, doesn’t it?

Art materials can be, well are expensive. No matter what you are looking at you are going to make an investment in your supplies. Those of us who have been working at this for a number of years have an advantage as over the years you do accumulate a lot of “stuff” that you use regularly for your art. Look into anyone’s studio who works regularly and over a long period and you will see vases and cans of multitudes of brushes, multitudes of paints and many times even canvases. I know from my own experience I buy canvases whenever they go on sale and just store them until needed. There is nothing to go out of date with a canvas, they will store forever. I also believe we can never have too many brushes. When working on a super hard surface like Masonite, the brushes wear down very quickly and have to be replaced. Of course, paint is used up over time as well.

Some of us have more access to materials than others. I realize in other countries their availability to supplies is limited and they have to make do with what they are able to acquire. Sometimes I feel a little guilty knowing this and understanding what a struggle it is for them to have what they need.

In some art forms you can get away with very little in the way of supplies. For instance, eco art. If you are out in nature and practicing eco art you use the materials that are there provided from nature; stones, leaves, needles, seeds, branches, shells, whatever your natural habitat provides. There can be very beautiful artwork made from these natural materials. It doesn’t cost anything for this artwork and the experience of creating in this situation is unbeatable. No only are you out communing with nature, you are building something beautiful to be left in nature where it came from. I have revisited artwork made this way and was joyed to see it was still there. If it is off the beaten path from being kicked out of shape, or washed out due to weather and rain, that piece of artwork could be there for a long time.

Those of us with resources at our fingertips should be thankful for this, and use our supplies wisely and frugally. We are indeed fortunate!