I love all things crafty, including painting parties. However, I’m also on a super tight budget. This means that spending $30 to $60 for a one or two hour class is an indulgence I can’t afford very often.
If you’re in a similar boat, try hosting your own frugal painting party. When you shop around, the supply cost is nominal and there are a number of free video lessons you can follow along with from the comfort of your home.
Supplies for a Home Painting Party
Acrylic paints vary widely in price and quality. Liquitex paints are frequently used in the painting classes in my area. You can get a 48 color set on Amazon for about $35. If that’s too expensive, I’d recommend Apple Barrel acrylic paints. You can typically buy the exact colors you need at Walmart, but there is an 18 color starter set for about $20 online.
For mixing colors, the lid of a plastic ice cream bucket is my favorite palette. Add the paint a little at a time so you’re minimizing waste.
When it comes to brushes, I like to see the product in person before I buy. Check out what’s available at your local craft store. You can either buy them individually or get a set, but you don’t really need as many brushes as you think. Every class I’ve done has used either two or three brushes, so a set of 15 to 20 is probably unnecessary.
Canvases are the most expensive part of acrylic painting, but there’s a cheaper alternative you may not have a considered. Turn some of your Amazon shipping boxes into free painting surfaces! Acrylic paints are perfect for using on cardboard, although you’ll want to whitewash the surface with a thin coat of white paint before you begin. Instructables has a great post on cardboard acrylic painting with additional details.
Free Online Painting Lessons
The main appeal of a painting class is access to a teacher who can break a picture into more manageable steps. Luckily, there are a number of painting party videos on YouTube that you teach you how to paint from the comfort of your own home.
Here are my favorites:
Snacks
Painting parties typically include a light snack. Wine and cheese makes for a fun girls night, but your menu is entirely up to you. Infused water made with fresh fruits and veggies is a colorful and healthy choice when paired with mini sandwich wraps. Penniless Parenting also has lots of ideas for frugal party foods.
Encouraging Creativity
The key to a successful painting experience is encouraging everyone to put their own spin on the project. Choosing different colors or adding special details give the painting a personal touch. Even small mistakes can be part of the charm of the finished artwork. As Bob Ross said, “We don’t make mistakes, just happy little accidents.”