DIY On-the-Go Art Kit — for $20 or less!

 

By: Iris Eichenlaub 


It’s an antidote to boredom. It’s a way to pass the time for a long wait at a doctor’s office. It’s how to keep the kids entertained at a (boring, not kid-friendly) family function. It’s sitting at the bus stop. It’s a must-have for travel or vacation.  

Nope, it’s not your phone.  

It’s your On-the-Go Art kit! Keep it by your front door or in your backpack, purse, or work bag. You want it handy because when the creative impulse strikes, you need supplies.  

At NOMAD we believe art-making is for everyone of any age. An On-the-Go Art Kit is something that aligns with NOMAD’s values: creativity is a human right and should be easily accessible. 

 

And if you don’t have your own art bus, a mobile Art Kit keeps your supplies handy when you’re out and about. Does it have to be fancy? No. Does it have to be expensive? Definitely not! Read on for how to pack the essentials in your own, customizable art kit. 

 

FREE and low cost supplies. 

Free! 

Check if your community has a “Buy Nothing” group on Facebook. You can often find art supplies listed here for zero dollars. A friend secured a bag full of Japanese washi tape — beautiful navy with gold accents, celestial images, abstract designs and more — and she shared some with me! 

 

Your recycling bin at home, school, or work is another great source of supplies. You might find cereal boxes, wrapping paper, paper grocery bags, and magazines or calendars with cool images on them. What could you do with the wrapper from a tea bag? A tiny comic? A surprising illustration? A miniature collage? 

 

Low cost. 

My neighbor was thrilled to find some pristine, never-been-opened oil pastels, plus an unused pad of drawing paper at our local Goodwill.  

 

Sometimes churches, libraries, or hospitals have a resale shop where they sell gently used or even new items, including art supplies, fabric, or yarn. Find out what’s in your local area and check out what they offer! 

 

Moderately low cost. 

All of the supplies listed below are available at art or office supply stores, grocery stores, big chain stores, and most items are not too pricey. So even if you buy everything new, you’ll be able to keep the cost down and still put together a robust, mobile art kit. 

 

Now the fun part! 

 

The suggestions below might not be appropriate for all ages (a 3 year-old probably shouldn’t have a Sharpie), maybe you don’t love crayons, or you don’t want tape AND a glue stick.  

 

What inspires you? 

 

Here are a few suggestions to get you started… 

  • Black pen, fine point 

  • Black pen, Sharpie 

  • Pencil (with eraser) 

  • Small pencil sharpener 

  • A handful of markers or highlighters — pick the colors that make you the happiest! 

  • Crayons or colored pencils 

  • Notebook — a fancy art pad, black/white composition book, anything goes 

  • Brown paper from a paper bag is handy — it can even be a scrap! 

  • A piece or two of cereal box  

  • Clear tape 

  • Glue stick 

  • Scissors 

 

Optional but fun — stickers, colored paper, washi tape, special pens or pencils you love, collage materials (beautiful cards you received, scraps from a calendar, images from a magazine). 

 

Oh! And what do you carry your supplies in? Great question. 

 

A gallon ziplock bag is humble but effective. That zipper closure keeps my supplies secure so they don’t dump out in the bottom of my backpack and I also like that I can SEE what’s in there.  

 

Maybe your supplies fit nicely inside a pencil case or a reusable plastic container. Or you might have a sweet little canvas pouch kicking around. 

 

Make a choice based on what kind of supplies you’ve included — and what type of vessel seems to fit them. 

 

 

Don’t leave home without the one, most important thing. 

 

There’s one art-making component that’s constantly renewable, always accessible, and forever free. That’s your creative mind.  

 

Practice one of the most fundamental creative acts: noticing. The curve of a shell, the shape of a cloud, the color of a front door, the chittering goldfinches in a tree, those precious giggles coming from the playground. 

 

Even if your On-the-Go Kit is in your other bag or on your kitchen counter, your most important resource, your creative spirit is with you. Always. 

 
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