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Black Friday is over, but some of these Black Friday bargains are still available! Whether you need art and craft supplies, are yearning to pick up a new hobby, or are in the market for a gift for your creative loved ones, now is the time to buy.
A word of advice: move fast as many of these products will sell out quickly (perhaps consider automatic inputting of your payment information for faster checkouts). All prices are current at time of publication. Happy shopping!
LOWE’S
Black Friday weekend is an excellent time to shop for reliable tools for the studio or gallery, as big box stores often have great deals on high-end hardware. Here are some of our favorites on Lowe’s:
Save $60 on a Dewalt cordless drill
Drill freely and effortlessly with Dewalt’s high-powered tool, a cordless drill for all your light- to medium-duty studio projects. The 20-volt drill weighs just over 2.5 pounds but packs an impressive amount of power for its size while boasting a long lasting battery. Its compact body allows you to get into tight or awkward spots and prevent fatigue or cramping as you work. Notably, the drill has a ½-inch chuck—a rarity for a small and lightweight option. The tool comes with two batteries; pair it with an impact driver (sold separately) to get into dense surfaces like metal and brick.
Purchase: Dewalt 20-volt Brushless Cordless Drill, $99 on Lowe’s
Save $70 on a Bosch laser level
A laser level can give you an extra boost of confidence as you’re hanging artwork or mounting other objects. This little tool self-levels quickly and projects a bright red light visible up to 50 feet away. You can project one horizontal line as well as two vertical lines—perfect to plumb, level, and square square, and you can lock them once aligned. Other notable features include a magnetic base, retractable feet, and a ceiling clamp for versatile positioning. Note that this laser level is for indoor use only, though you could try using it outdoors on a cloudy day.
Purchase: Bosch Self-Leveling Line Laser Level, $99 on Lowe’s
Save $7.99 on Craftsman Kid’s toolkit
Encourage your young one to learn lifelong skills with this child-safe set of tools. Suitable for ages five and up, this kit comes with a tape measure, two different screwdrivers, a hammer, safety goggles and a professional-looking toolbox for them to collect even more tools. Everything is sized perfectly for small hands but works like real tools, with steel parts and comfortable, rubber handles that provide a secure grip.
Purchase: Craftsman Kid’s Beginner Project Kit, $20.79 on Lowe’s
Save $15.99 on a Dremel Lite Rotary Tool
Now’s the time to purchase a Dremel, whether you need to cut, sand, engrage, sharpen, or polish your materials. This kit is ideal for artists who need a compact tool for small jobs, and one that’s highly portable. The included 4-volt, cordless rotary tool has a variable speed ranging from 8,000 to 25,000 rpm—capable of executing tasks like grinding silver, carving wood, and sharpening blades. Lightweight and ergonomic, it comes with a USB cord to charge the tool almost anywhere, from inside your car to a craft fair using a portable battery pack. You also get several accessories, including a brush wheel, two polishing wheels, and a sanding mandrel.
Purchase: Dremel Lite Multipurpose Rotary Tool, $39.00 on Lowe’s
B&H
For cameras, computers, and peripheral devices, look no further than B&H, which is posting daily flash deals and holiday specials on its website. You can find some of their handpicked deals here.
BLICK ART MATERIALS
If you are lucky enough to live near a Blick, the art supply store is having an in-store-only holiday sale now through December 24. Otherwise, do not despair! Blick is offering great Cyber deals while supplies last. Online shoppers should also check Blick’s website for daily free offers. Plus, web orders over $45 get free shipping—just keep in mind those possible delays. (The store does offer express shipping, so you can stress less if you’re a late shopper.) Here are some supplies with price tags we love:
30-43% off Best of Ampersand panels
Ampersand’s panels are ultra-responsive to paint, showcasing textures and details beautifully. Pick up a three-pack, which includes one of each of the company’ s famed, velvet-smooth Clayboard (for mixed media), highly absorbent Aquaboard (for watercolor and gouache), and fine-toothed Gessoboard (for oils) panels. Choose from a 8-by 10-inch or 5-by-7-inch set.
Purchase: Ampersand Panel Pack Assortment, from $8.99 on Blick (5-by-7-inch set sold out until 12/28.)
Save up to 55% on Liquitex Basics Acrylic Paint
From the first name in acrylic paint comes this user-friendly option—a great gift for a student or beginner! These are relatively heavy bodied, allowing you to build texture while still moving gracefully with your brush. We especially recommend these paints for beginners, hobbyists, and just about anyone looking for a bold, easy-to-blend paint for protests signs. Tubes are sold individually and in sets, including spectacular fluorescent and iridescent palettes.
Purchase: Liquitex Basics Acrylic Paints and Sets, from $4.01 on Blick
Save up to 45 % on Sennelier French Artists’ Watercolor Paint
We’re all spending more time outdoors than ever, so why not pick up a set of travel watercolors in pan form? The famed Sennelier offers pro-grade paints made with a touch of honey, which results in smooth and brilliant colors that are a breeze to rewet. The pigment-loaded colors are highly saturated, and they layer beautifully too. We are partial to the Aqua Mini, a set of 8 half-pans, which come packaged in an adorably chubby and highly portable case, complete with an appropriately sized watercolor brush.
Purchase: Sennelier French Artists’ Watercolor Paint, from $9.25 on Blick
Save 40% on Prismacolor Premier Mixed Media Art Kit
This is a superb opportunity to score someone who draws a mix of Prismacolors’ most popular products. The 34-piece kit comes with 12 colored pencils, 12 watercolor pencils, six double-ended markers, a graphite pencil, colorless blender, sharpener, and kneaded eraser. The brand’s colored pencils are our favorites for their approachability, beautiful colors, and soft yet sturdy cores. The watercolor pencils are pigment-rich and boast excellent mixing ability. And those alcohol-ink markers, which feature one chisel nib and one fine-point tip, flow easily, don’t feather, and blend with ease. Need we say more?
Purchase: Prismacolor Premier Mixed Media Art Kit, $29.99 on Blick
Take 33% off Princeton Mixed Media Set
Serious painters, on the other hand, should consider this seven-piece set of tools, which include five Velvetouch brushes, a brush holder, and a Strathmore mixed media pad. The brushes are a nice vegan option that feel and perform impressively close to Kolinsky hair, and they are suitable for oil, acrylic, or watercolor paints. Everything comes packaged in a stylish case for artists on the go!
Purchase: Princeton Mixed Media Set, $49.99 on Blick
Save 37–67% on Prismacolor Premier Double-Ended Art Markers
This is an incredible deal on pro-quality illustration markers with two nib sizes. Loaded with a dye-based alcohol ink, Prismacolor’s markers are vivid tools that you can use and blend them beautifully with colored pencils and watercolors. The ink never looks streaky, layers beautifully, and dries very fast.
Purchase: Prismacolor Premier Double-Ended Art Markers and Sets, from $4.08 on Blick
Save 30% off on Golden Heavy Body Artist Acrylics, Set of 10
Our eyes are on this 10-tube set of heavy-body paints from Golden, which is notable for offering many single-pigment colors in this acrylic line. These are buttery and relatively soft paints that you can build up while retaining brushstrokes in every mark. Loaded with pigment, the colors don’t change as they dry and present nuances in body and finish. The 10-tube set comes in a useful range of colors plus a wood box to store them in—which also makes them gift-ready! If you want to curate your own palette, all Golden heavy-body acrylics are on sale, so stock up now.
Purchase: Golden Heavy Body Artist Acrylics, Set of 10, $83.99 on Blick
Save 28–40% on Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolors
Daniel Smith, a Seattle-based company, is known for beautiful single-pigment paints, each carefully sourced and hand-milled for quality control. These top-of-the-line watercolors move beautifully on paper, showcase excellent granulation, and reconstitute easily. We particularly like this set of 10—though lacking in cadmium colors, it offers gorgeous hues including Ultramarine Blue, Pearlescent White, and three different quinacridones. The brand rarely goes on sale, so this is the time to buy.
Purchase: Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolors, from $4.62 on Blick
Take ups to 60% off Daler-Rowney Georgian Oil Ppaint
If you’re in the market for oil paints, check out this affordable line from Daler-Rowney. Lightfast, consistent in color from wet to dry, and formulated to have a soft body for seamless movement, these paints are very user-friendly. Though categorized as a “studio” set, we consider these more student-grade, particularly because they showcase less tinting power than artist-grade oils. Our original recommendation, the Studio Set of 10 tubes, is sold out until the end of December. But you can still get a set of 6 or or purchase individual tubes for up to 60% of list. Another excellent gift for beginners or that friend who picked up oil painting during lockdown.
Purchase: Daler-Rowney Georgian Oil Paints and Sets, from $3.62 on Blick
FULLY
This company, which specializes in sustainably manufactured ergonomic furniture, is offering 15% off its entire inventory through the end of November. Though Fully markets its wares as office furniture, many items in its catalog are equally useful in the studio. Save on the Jaswig children’s desk, perfect as a first work or art table, or consider splurging on the avant-garde Capisco chair, which you can customize with a foot ring to make a drafting stool. This is the time to buy, as Fully rarely does sales.
MICHAELS
Get 60% + 20% off custom framing
If you have a stack of artworks you’ve been meaning to frame, get ready to finally work your way through them! Michaels is offering 60% off all custom frames, with styles sure to suit your gallery wall, from classic to industrial to rustic aesthetics.
Purchase: Custom frames, various prices from Michaels
AMAZON
Amazon was truly an early bird this shopping season, kicking off special deals in October (you read that right) that will stretch through November. You can get deals up to 25 to 40% off on products from coveted brands like Apple and Sony, but savings on art supplies are also to be had. (Don’t forget that Amazon Prime members get free shipping! If you are not already a member, you can pick up a free 30-day trial of Prime here.) Here are some deals we’ve already spotted:
Take 32% off glow-in-the-dark paints
This sale on a set of 8 phosphorescent paints is a good one for artists looking to add some pizzazz to their designs. You can apply them on canvas, wood, plastic, metal, among other surfaces. Best of all, you don’t need a black light to make these paints glow in the dark—charge them in sunlight, and they get impressively bright! Great for adding glow-y details to crafts, masks, and more.
Purchase: Neon Nights Glow in the Dark Paint, Phosphorescent, $16.99 (was $24.99) on Amazon
Take 21% off Strathmore hardbound journals
A perfect notebook for drawing and even dryer styles of watercolor painting, this hardcover journal comes in two classic sizes. The 60-lb paper is acid-free and perfect for light sketching. We recommend it for pencil users; if you use inks and markers, test first.
Purchase: Strathmore Hardbound Sketch Art Journals, from $12 on Amazon
Save 32% on Strathmore’s visual watercolor journal
This is a really good deal on a 9-by-12-inch spiral-bound blank notebook for sketching, notetaking, and journaling. You get 22 sheets of thick, 140-pound (63-gram), acid-free watercolor paper, which is also suitable for collage, pen and ink, pencil, and marker.
Purchase: Strathmore 400 Series Visual Watercolor Journal, $11.50 on Amazon
Save 40% on Cricut Explore Air 2, a die-cutting whiz that can turn materials from vellum to fabric into professional-looking designs. And it comes in the dreamiest mint or blue!
Purchase: Cricut Explore Air 2, $149 on Amazon
Take 33% off Aquash water brush pens, which feature a pretty generous transparent reservoir, durable nylon brushes, and an essentially leak-proof design. Hate washing brushes? These babies are dishwasher safe.
Purchase: Pentel Arts Aquash Water Brushes, $14.97 for a three-pack on Amazon.
Get $14 off a Primary Palette set of 9 Tombow water-based dual brush pens, designed with a flexible brush tip and a hard bullet tip. You also get one blending brush to help you achieve watercolor effects.
Purchase: Tombow Dual Brush Pen Art Markers, Primary Palette, $14.99 on Amazon.
And take a whopping 59% off this set of Tombow dual brush pens in shades of gray, useful for everything from quick landscape studies to finished works. You’ll be surprised at how often you reach for them.
Purchase: Tombow Dual Brush Pen Art Markers, Grayscale Palette, $11.89 on Amazon.
Save $150 on a Cleartex MegaMat chair mat, and save your floors while rolling around your studio. Measuring 46 by 53 inches, this extra-large, heavy-duty mat provides maximum protection for wood and carpeting.
Purchase: Floortex Cleartex MegaMat Polycarbonate Chair Mat, $228.59 on Amazon.
Take 32% off Pacon’s tracing paper, ideal for drawing, layering, and of course, precise tracing. It won’t tear as you work and presents a surface that’s smooth without being slick.
Purchase: UCreate Tracing Pad, $7.61 on Amazon.