[Discussion] Is anyone else affected by the new Tariffs?

[u/PE_Illustrate]

Hi, so I wanted to ask my fellow artists if anyone else is being affected by the new Tariffs that are being implemented. That's a yes for me since I've already gotten word from my manufacturers on rising prices. Rising prices that will cause my own items and services to rise in cost for people.

But I'm genuinely interested if these new tariffs have affected others on this sub. If so, how are you guys planning to deal with the rising cost and is there any way to minimize the effects this could have on the art community? Also are there other aspects of art that this could affect that I'm not aware of?

[u/alriclofgar]

I stocked up on the raw materials I have to import from Canada and all the labor in my art is my own. The big thing I’m worried about is what will happen to my customers. If life essentials like food and transportation get more expensive, people will almost certainly have less money to spend on art and art education. There’s not much I can do about that, sadly.

[u/Express-Ticket-4432]

The tariffs will cause prices to rise globally, there is almost no one who will be unaffected. I'm stocking up on some of the more expensive, non-perishable supplies like good quality watercolor paper right now.

I don't sell work but I feel bad for those that do. Art is an unnecessary luxury purchase that will be the first thing people cut from their expenses when the economy contracts. Good luck y'all.

[u/Atxu_comicslab → u/Express-Ticket-4432]

Prices will increase in the US, not that much globally , as much as the US thinks is essential is just 10% of the market, if someone out of US sources materials in more friendly countries it won't be much affected, it's true US holds much infrastructure, especially in the web services, but nothing that isn't replaceable with a bit of pain, immediately at least. In the medium term the probable global inflation and restructuring will hit everyone and that will be a general issue. Art in the 21 st century is highly digitalized and as such won't be too affected by tariffs anyway so your prediction isn't right, it will probably keep some kind of edge against other more impacted "unnecessary" sectors like you call them, it signals art as a potentially safer sector than others at least for those than can adapt their businesses. Alas dooming predictions resonate more so I will probably be downvoted to hell for not participating on this bleak point of view. I apologize if my English isn't perfect, alas I am not native speaker.

[u/Express-Ticket-4432 → u/Atxu_comicslab]

You may be right about digital art, I am only familiar with the traditional fine art world. I don't have the energy to respond to the rest of your comment in detail, so I'll just say that I can tell you're young enough that you don't remember the 2008 crisis very well.

[u/Atxu_comicslab → u/Express-Ticket-4432]

I remember, not young, I survived that, as well as all the shit came after that, art is a powerful skill if you manage to add adaptability to it, and After 20 years I realized I managed to keep myself and my kids afloat by following the flow, with ups and downs but it's incredible, and now I am not easily scared. But yes, you are right, hard times seem to be coming for everyone, but we are safer than those in trading manufacturing, and doing business with goods right now, so that means art may also be a safer bet for investors. Hard times inspire great art, and that is quite a tradition we can see going back hundreds of years, let's avoid desperation, we are needed much more than this dumb capitalist world thinks, they want you to feel useless so they can pay you pennies, and that's just not true, especially now! Think big, inspire people, find the way, they need that, they will pay for that!

[u/JennyPaints]

I love Arches paper, and the price is obviously going to go up because it's French. It's not the only imported paint or paper I use, but it's the one I use the most. Less obviously, pigments are internationally sourced and will probably cause paint, whether imported or not, to rise in price.

[u/Mexican-Kahtru]

Just in case that economy wasn't hard enough.Thank you politicians!!!

[u/lunarjellies]

I am in Canada. Tariffs will be affecting things like art supplies and picture framing for us. Metal hardware, etc will be most impacted in picture framing. Canadians are sourcing alternative not made in USA stuff so its going to impact USA sellers more than Canadian buyers.

[u/egypturnash]

My Tarot deck has been out of print for a while. I was starting to think about kickstarting a reprint but the threats of tariffs back in the first Jonald Chump presidency made me not want to risk having the math on a print run suddenly, catastrophically change.

I mostly work digitally so materials costs are not much of a thing. Hopefully I won’t have to replace my computer until well after the entire sprawling tech tree required to make it gets established in the US, or that fucker gets assassinated/impeached or just finally expires from being an old man in terrible shape.

Also I’m a trans lady and his declaration of National Child Abuse Prevention Month yesterday explicitly called anyone involved in gender-affirming care for kids child abusers so there’s that. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/national-child-abuse-prevention-month-2025/

[u/Quomii → u/egypturnash]

I'm so sorry. My 25 year old is trans but if I had known when they were a kid I would've 100 percent sought gender affirming care for them.

[u/Pyracan7ha]

Yup, the company I work for is getting hit hard. We customize apparel and merch. Our US suppliers are smaller and already expensive now all of our other suppliers are getting up there in pricing too. It’s going to be a rough summer with the adjustments.

[u/Hughes_Motorized]

Other than increase my contempt for a certain orange Hitler? No effects yet. Go figure if it's part of his M.O. . I will sit back and chill. I'm retired and living off SS so if that gets DOGE'ed, I'm F'd. However, my plan is to create using what I have on hand and then turn to found objects as my base material. Look as Basquiat and Jon Sarkin. They used cardboard, pieces of wood and whatever. Adapt, improvise and create

[u/One-T-Rex-ago-go]

I'm in Canada, I buy European paints, local canvases, so I am hoping I am Ok. I feel sorry for Americans and the shit show. Russia has no tariffs (why, seriously, why) , so maybe you can order supplies from Russia? Or take a trip across a border for supplies, smuggling them in? If he fires border agents, the tariffs might be hit and miss.

[u/GriffinFlash]

*cries in Canadian

Been already dealing with this for over a month. Over here we're just doing an unofficial mass boycott of American products.

[u/Alia_Explores99]

I stocked up starting in February and won’t have to worry about art supplies. It’s just everything else that’s out of my control, and there’s nothing to be done about it

[u/SnooGoats7133]

I will definitely be next time I need art supplies lol

[u/coffeesnob72]

I run an online art community and we have a little shop where we sell things with people's designs on them. So far there isn't a price hike, but when that happens, it's all over. The stuff's expensive enough to buy, printed one off - with tariffs, forget it. It won't even be worth maintaining the shop.

Also - I used to dye yarn for a living, and I'm so glad I quit. I can't imagine how much a skein of hand dyed yarn is going to cost now. Very little yarn is made in the USA.

[u/c4blec______________]

yeah, for my day job though, not so much art

stock market is goin down

im makin a bit extra shorting it

[u/Pookajuice]

Stocked up on art making supplies and don't plan on being as lucrative, but hopefully very productive. If you're not selling much, making new stuff and releasing it when you get more traffic/its busy again is a damn good use of time.

[u/burritosandbooze]

I work for an LA fashion company and they were already stressed about the earlier tariffs that were imposed. This is going to be really hard and I expect there will be layoffs.

[u/Quomii]

It's gonna affect everyone on the planet at this rate. Everyone keep creating. The world needs you.

[u/Severe_Extent_9526]

I only order overseas for small merch. Things worth $10 or so. Pins, charms, and little trinkets. All comes out to less than $800 per shipment so the tarrifs don't apply.

Larger more expensive items are typically hand made.

Not sure what's going to happen about the raw materials used for crafts... nothing yet. We will see.

[u/Liraelx → u/Severe_Extent_9526]

De minimus is also getting repealed, so tariffs are going to apply on small orders as well :/

[u/Alia_Explores99 → u/Liraelx]

And per ITEM not per ORDER. The costs with be astounding

[u/Equivalent-Cookie258 → u/Severe_Extent_9526]

That goes away May 1.

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[u/Equivalent-Cookie258]

If you don't like the tariffs...wait a minute. If the courts say the president does not have the power to invoke all those tariffs - the power is with congress then the tariffs have to be rolled back. I am betting on the courts. Trump is saying he has the power on a very dubious argument.

[u/Equivalent-Cookie258]

Also as artists we could use more recycled and discarded materials. Its better for the environment.

[u/good-night_moon]

A fine art printer I know said their wholesaler is now increasing Epson ink/printers 24%.