#we have frescoes that have lasted thousands of years that are literally just pigment slapped on wet plaster.

[was-anyone-gonna-tell-me]

art supply companies mark shit WAY up and 99% of the time you can find an almost-identical product way cheaper at the hardware store.

modelling paste = drywall joint compound (or spackling, or wood filler-- compared to the cost of modelling paste, you can afford to buy several of these and test which works best)

masking vinyl = painter's tape

pouring medium = floetrol/flow aid

top coats/varnishes = polycrylic sealer (urethane or polyurethane are also options in some cases & are more durable, but research them first-- there's some paints they won't work well with)

if you're casting something that you're going to paint, don't waste resin-- plaster of paris is dirt cheap, I pay $10 CDN for two litres. if you need something more durable, use concrete.

large brushes, sponges, glue guns, storage containers, etc. can all be obtained at the hardware store at a fraction of the price.

'latex paint' is basically just cheaper, lower-quality acrylic. a can of white latex paint will last you forever. also, stop buying purpose-made gesso! hardware stores sell primer, or you can DIY it (many recipes on google).

the quality of these will be slightly lower overall than purpose-made art supplies, and may not be as consistent from batch to batch. but unless you're a professional or semi-professional artist who's working with these media day in and day out, you won't notice much of a difference.

the gap between artists and tradespeople is absolutely not as large as you've been led to believe, and neither is the gap in our materials.