Art materials from The Works-any good?

[Molehillmountain]

Dd1, 7, is really enjoying drawing and painting at the moment and I want her to have artists paints etc rather than children's ones. The cost is a bit prohibitive for us though as it could be a bit of a phase. I saw the art section in The Works today and wondered what sort of quality their stuff is? I don't want to buy rubbish, but equally I am finding art shops to be understandably specialist and expensive. I did buy a gorgeous little set of water colours and the quality is just lovely and am afraid of what happen to my bank balance if I darken their doors too often

I LOVE The Works! The art stuff is great - more than good enough for a keen 7yo. Stock up on their sketch books, charcoals and packs of paints :-)

Whispers - They sell coloured staples! Shhhh ... don't tell anyone!

Hi Molehill.
I'm an artist and teach art in adult education. I often recommend The Works to my students as a supplier for their materials, especially the oil pastels, acrylic paints (which are very concentrated and go a long way/last a long time) , charcoals and canvases as they are a good student quality. As the price isn't prohibitive the students don't worry too much about possible waste of materials through experimentation, thus giving them freedom to explore and create.

I use these materials myself too when creating working drawings etc to present to clients before finalising commissions, and find they give a good quality product for my needs at that point.

Save the specialist art shops for later yes their stuff is gorgeous and lush ...maybe if /when they want to study it at 6th form level/University, or as a special treat for birthdays etc.

Hope this helps.

Oh, thanks so much! That's just what I wanted to hear. I don't want to care too much if she uses lots of materials and at the Works prices I can get her a sketch book, couple of canvases, brushes or paints for the price of a magazine that she'll look at once. I so remember my parents encouraging me so strongly to be sparing with stuff that I ended up not wanting to use it at all . They meant well and I guess it wasn't so easy to get cheap materials then.

You're very welcome

I hope they - and you - have lots of fun!!!

I hope they - and you

Sorry - I meant your daughter - and you

I might be a bit brave and do some art. An art teacher did once say I was good with pastels! Feel much safer with crafts where there are instructions and a clear right way to do things.

Oh and the "they" is probably accurate-there are two little ones who'll want to get in on the act, or art, too!

Go for it. Tear up the instructions, and just play!!!!

What-no colour wheel?

Try Baker Ross too!

I love The Works, although I managed, through extreme self control, to walk out with nothing but lots of ideas for party bags and the like last time, simply because I knew if I started I wouldn't be able to stop

They had some fab mini canvases with mini easels for £1 - which I thought would make a great party bag filler - or party activity. My DB2 had a house warming party where he bought a load of stuff and everyone painted him a picture for his new flat - some of them are *amazing"

I don't dare go in there. I have an addiction to buying crafty bits for dd, it is brilliant value.