There’s an idea among painters that DIY saves money. Stretch your own canvases. Build your own frames. Cut your own panels. Control the art materials cost and keep more profit.
But is that actually cheaper? Sometimes. Often, no. Art supplies are expensive, but so is wasted studio time.
How to save money on art supplies without sacrificing quality
Standard painting sizes save money. When you work in standard canvas sizes, you benefit from mass production. Manufacturers stock them. Frame companies produce moulding for them. Art supply sales frequently discount them.
Odd sizes reduce options and increase cost. Custom framing and mats become inevitable. Shipping costs rise. That quietly erodes your profit margin.
I knew a watercolorist who stocked only one size painting. She moved them in crates that she packed in a fraction of the time I was wasting wrapping each work separately. The crates stacked easily in her van. She only had to order one size frame and one size paper. And her booth always looked effortlessly elegant.
For professional painters, standardization isn’t dull—it’s smart business. It improves studio efficiency and reduces friction from easel to sale.
Are DIY canvases and frames cheaper?
Raw materials and tools aren’t cheap. Quality canvas, linen, boards, stretcher bars, hardwood moulding, corner clamps, biscuit joiners or v-nailers, miter saws—these all add up fast.
Woodworking is its own art form. After investing $1,500 or more in tools, you will almost certainly be bad at it, at least at first. Miters won’t close. Corners don’t stay glued. You’ll be off by a 16th of an inch. Finish will run. And stretching canvas to the right tension is a skill.
Meanwhile, you’re not painting. Is this the best use of your creative energy?
Oil painting medium is a great example. I learned how to make my own using damar varnish, turpentine, linseed oil and cobalt drier, but if you look at mid-century paintings done with that combination you’ll see cracking and crazing. The cost of the materials will set you back more than many jars of better, modern mediums.
Buying art supplies on sale changes the math
Art supply sales are not trivial. They can run twenty to forty percent off frames, panels or canvases. When you buy professional art materials at those discounts, the gap between DIY and retail shrinks dramatically.
“I walked into Jerry’s one day and saw this ridiculous sale—40% off—on square wood frames that my buyers seem to love,” my student told me. “I bought a bunch but will always regret not buying every single one. They were so cheap and look so good, and I only have a couple left!”
That’s art business cost control.
Be a cheapskate buyer of quality materials. Watch for sales. Stock up on standard sizes. Plan ahead. Buying canvases and frames during art supply sales is more cost-effective than DIY.
Professional vs. student-grade: don’t cut the wrong corners
A workshop student asked me why I recommend professional grade painting boards. For an absolute beginner they don’t matter. But once you get past that, cheap boards sabotage your results. And cheap paint is never a bargain.
The goal is economical framing options and efficient supply purchasing without compromising your work. Use professional-grade materials, but buy them intelligently.
One reason artists love to DIY
Sometimes DIY isn’t about economics, it’s about avoidance.
Researching moulding profiles feels productive. Building stretchers feels industrious. But they don’t answer the harder question: what are you going to put on that blank canvas? If your mission is to grow as a painter, sell more work, and build a sustainable art practice, then focus on the thing that matters. Paint.
Registration is now open for workshops in 2026! Reserve your spot:
- Find your Authentic Voice in Plein Air | Berkshires, MA, August 10-14, 2026
- New! Color Clinic 2026 | Rockport, ME, October 3-4, 2026
- New! Composition Week 2026 | Rockport, ME, October 5-9, 2026
Can’t commit to a full workshop? Work online at your own pace: