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Versatile art supplies even starving artists can afford

So much for art being a luxury. Appreciating art, it turns out—and creating it—isn’t all about pricey oil compositions and massive canvases. Making art with a few low-cost, innovative products can be just as gratifying as splurging on the finest materials. Creative expression, in other words, doesn’t necessarily have to come at a high price.

Case in point are the arty products, featured below, which remain accessible to both budding and experienced artists, kids and adults alike. Temporary markers, permanent acrylics, dry-erase chalk, and modestly sized canvases are—in the right hands—capable of yielding imaginative works, both long-lasting and fleeting.

Nothing permanent about these non-toxic, odorless chalk markers. Designed for temporary messaging on chalkboards, glass, ceramic, and a whole range of other non-porous surfaces, this 8-color pack of markers features bullet and chisel tips that allow for vivid, refined lettering or drawing. Use them for DIY art projects, school blackboards, or kitchen shopping lists. A quick swipe with a damp cloth makes all markings disappear like magic.

Not just one blank canvas—48 of them! This 8 x 10 inch value pack of archival quality canvas boards is ready and waiting for a whole host of creative ideas, whether for work or pleasure. 100% cotton duck canvas is primed and ready to receive compositions in oil, acrylics, tempera, and other slow-drying media. The acid free, non-toxic surface ensures the lasting integrity of finished art pieces.

Trade in those old acrylic tubes for these <a href="https://www.charlotteobserver.com/reviews/acrylic-paint-pen/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">opaque acrylic paint pens</a>, which feature chisel tipped nips that produce clean, refined drawings and lettering. Drying quickly, they leave a long-lasting glossy finish on almost any surface, including stone, glass, ceramic or wood. Odorless and with a color palette of 12 vibrant hues, these portable acrylics are compact enough to take along when traveling. No fuss, no muss.

Not every work of art needs a frame. Prop your latest masterpiece on this miniature wooden easel as part of an imaginative tabletop tableau. Hand crafted from pine, this sweet 14 inch stand has adjustable legs, and is fitted with a catch string to ensure extra stability. Neatly accommodating art pieces up to 14 inches in size, this little easel is the ideal support structure for a revolving suite of small works.

Ho-hum signs, be gone! This eye-popping liquid marker set includes a suite of 24 dazzling colors (and white), picture-perfect for creating vibrant lettering and drawings on chalkboards, glass, white boards, and other non-porous surfaces. The 6mm reversible tips (round or chisel) lend themselves to subtle variations in design, and bonus pieces include a pair of tweezers for reversing the tips, and a nifty fabric travel case.

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If the word ‘art’ conjures up images of million dollar canvases, take a pause. Getting creative doesn’t always demand a canvas, nor does it necessitate a hefty paycheck. The opportunity to create beauty exists even in everyday, mundane tasks—making a sign, wrapping a package, sending a personal note—and its only requirement is a vivid imagination. As the accessibly priced products, featured above, illustrate, even starving artists no longer have an excuse to stop creating.

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Promila is a New York-based writer, editor, and content creator, whose focus is on visual culture—product design…
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