20 art media that are inexpensive to get into

Like all art supplies, the cost of watercolor paints depends on the quality of the products you purchase, but generally speaking, watercolors are among the least expensive paint types. You’ll have to buy surfaces on which to paint, but those can be purchased for cheap.

Lower-end graphite pencils aren’t all that expensive, making them a great supply if you want to test the waters of a new art medium. And while you’re new at it, you can use lower-end paper, too, gradually investing more as you become more comfortable with graphite pencils. 

Classic colored pencils can be purchased for cheap, too. There are plenty of great quality options that cost a fair amount, but if you’re new to drawing with colored pencils, a package used for school supplies will do the trick while you decide whether you want to stick with it or not. 

Hard pastels are drawing sticks that contain pigment, water, and chalk. They’re a little different than chalk, though, as they function quite differently. They’re relatively inexpensive if you’re after a cheap new artistic hobby. 

Drawing with chalk certainly has drawbacks, but its price point is hard to beat. One of the best aspects of chalk drawing is that you don’t have to buy surfaces for your art if you don’t want to, eliminating one of the sneakiest costs of hobby art. 

Good old crayon drawing is cheap to get into, too. Crayons also exist on a spectrum, but the low end is inexpensive enough for the medium to still warrant a spot on school supply lists. You’ll have to purchase paper, but that can be bought for cheap, too. 

There are lots of inexpensive ways to get into painting, and one good option is tempera. Tempera paint can be purchased for cheap, and it can even be made at home. It works well on a variety of surfaces, so you can shop around for what works best and is the least expensive. 

Like tempera, gouache paint works well on a variety of surfaces, so long as they’re not oily. It’s also relatively inexpensive, so you can get into the hobby on a low budget. 

Making a collage is only as expensive as the materials you use. You can start with something classic like old magazines and newspapers and graduate into different found materials while using inexpensive adhesives to set your work.  

If you want to go full send and purchase a kiln, clay, and potter’s wheel for your personal use, you’ll be spending hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to get started. But if you take a pottery class or join a collective in which you can use their materials and supplies, you can get started in the medium on a budget. 

Wood carving can also be inexpensive, but it depends on the type of wood you use and how much you purchase. Researching what you’re buying ahead of time is especially important when it comes to wood carving, so do your due diligence before buying a ton of wood. 

Historically, photography wasn’t a cheap hobby to get into, but thanks to smartphones and even cheap Polaroid cameras, it’s a lot more accessible. To get the best photos, you’ll want to eventually upgrade to a legitimate camera, but you can get a feel for the hobby by starting with your phone. 

Calligraphy is also a lot more accessible today than it was long ago. To get started, you only need a pen and paper. As you improve, you’ll likely want to purchase higher quality materials, but it could be a worthwhile investment as there’s serious potential to make money from the hobby. 

Embroidery is one of the cheapest craft hobbies to get into. If you’re unsure where to start, there are lots of kids available for purchase to help you get the lay of the land. From there, you can purchase more specific supplies, but even those aren’t too expensive.  

Like embroidery, crocheting can be started by purchasing a kit. And tons of online tutorials help you if you’re lost to start. But it’s not too expensive of a hobby to keep up, and you can end up with lots of practical pieces from crocheting. 

You can get into knitting rather inexpensively, too. And like crocheting, knitting can be a hobby that pays off because you can knit items that you actually use, like blankets, hats, and scarves. If you get really good, you can even knit yourself a sweater. 

Jewelry-making might not fall in line with your first thoughts when brainstorming art media to get into, but it’s a legitimate form. And a good one, at that. If you opt for inexpensive materials, you can start a jewelry-making hobby on a budget. 

Découpage, the art of cutting out pictures and pasting them onto a surface, is only as expensive as the pictures you cut out, the surface on which you glue them, and the adhesive you use. It might sound tacky, but it’s a beautiful art form when done well. 

Origami is only as expensive as the paper you use, and you can get hundreds of sheets for little cost. It’s also a great exercise for your hands. Two paper birds, one stone. 

Graphic design can be cheap to get into if you go about it correctly. There are dozens of free platforms on which you can start to flex your creative muscles. If you want to take it seriously, you’ll have to invest, but you can get started rather inexpensively.