Pros & Cons of Buying Cheap Paint

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Painting is so much more than just a hobby. It’s a lifestyle. So when I travel, I make sure that I spend at least some of my time doing what I love the most: Fearless Abstract Painting. In an effort to travel light, I decided to buy art supplies in Hawaii. Lesson learned: This decision turned out to cost a lot more than paying the excess baggage fee.
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My second stop after Home Depot (of course), was a store called Ben Franklin (Imagine a less shinny version of Michael’s). There, I bought two 24” X 30” canvasses for $50 each, and some paint by a brand called Cheep Acrylic Colors.
 
My reasons for buying cheap quality paint were two fold: (1) I already own lots of great quality paint back home, (2) In order to keep my costs down while travelling, the cost of two tubes of paint for $4 was highly appealing.
 
Pros of Buying Cheep Paint:

• Low cost
• Paint something rather than nothing. For years, I have encouraged my students to reach for the cheap quality paint if it means this will encourage them to paint. There is nothing to gain by telling yourself can’t afford good quality paint if it keeps you out of the studio.

 
Cons of Buying Cheep Paint:

• Dull-Matte finish. In order to keep the prices low, the paint company has cut the pigments and replaced them with fillers. This results in matte, dull-looking colors. The cheaper the paint, the more you will see this happen.
• Strong smell. Acrylic paint is usually pretty odourless. Not so with this brand. I was extremely surprised to find out how much this paint smells even though I was painting outside.

 
Final thoughts:
 
Wherever you are, paint. Don’t let anything get in your way. If you can afford buying professional, artist quality paints while travelling, do it! This result in colors that are bring, intense and a little will go a long way.
 
On the other hand, if you would rather spend your extra cash on gas, Poke bowls and new sarong for the beach, reach for cheaper paint but keep in mind that the results to your work may not be what you’re accustomed to.
 
Happy painting!
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