Storage for Art stuff

[FusionChefGeoff]

Any suggestions? My friend has got really into painting / drawing recently and I'd like to get her a box to put all her stuff in. I'm not sure exactly what she'd need - I'm sort of imagining something that will expand outwards like a tool box when you lift the lid?? Or is just a big box better??

I work in a gallery and most artists use actual tool boxes to store their things. They use wrap things for their brushes and the boxes for paint and bottles of oil etc.

If she's into painting though, as storage is such a personal choice, I would consider a voucher for a good art shop.

There's nothing nicer to an artist than choosing your own new paints or brushes. It's expensive to get those things...and only she will really know what she needs.

I use this: www.hobbycraft.co.uk/clear-storage-caddy/578084-1000.
There's loads of different options eg www.hobbycraft.co.uk/clear-storage-caddy/578084-1000

I wouldn't go for the expensive wooden boxes as they can be quite heavy to carry when you've got all your equipment in them and they're a bit precious - most of the art people I know carry their stuff in plastic lidded and compartmented boxes - they're cheaper and easier to clean and less precious

Sorry, I've put the same link twice I meant to put this one: www.jacksonsart.com/studio/art-storage-boxes-cases-rolls/paint-boxes-cases

When I travel and need to take art equipment from my studio with me to say an event I use a heavy duty plastic toolbox I bought from Halfords. Over the years these have proved to be far cheaper more robust and lot more adaptable. The only thing I do not throw into such a box are my expensive soft pastels. For those, if your friend uses them, it is worth buying a special box with foam dividers to protect them in transit.

I’ve always used tool boxes for art stuff. They aren’t as pretty as craft/art boxes but they’re very robust.