Artsoz | Australian art directory, exhibitions, prizes and artist resources
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Australian art portal

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Artsoz is built for artists, students, parents, teachers, collectors, gallery visitors and art spaces across Australia.

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Best Art Supplies Australia

A curated starting list of places to buy art supplies in Australia.

Best Art Supplies Australia

The best supplier depends on your medium. Professional painters, students, printmakers, teachers and sculptors often need different suppliers.

These are practical starting points. Always check official pages for current courses, hours, fees, stock, dates and conditions.

PickNameLocationTypeBest forWhy it is usefulAction
1Eckersley’s Art & CraftNational / OnlineArt materials retailerGeneral art supplies, paints, drawing, canvas, student materialsGeneral art supplies, paints, drawing, canvas, student materialsOfficial
2Senior Art SuppliesVIC / OnlineSpecialist art storeProfessional art materials, printmaking, paints, papers and studio suppliesProfessional art materials, printmaking, paints, papers and studio suppliesOfficial
3Melbourne Etching SuppliesVIC / OnlineSpecialist printmaking supplierEtching, printmaking, presses, inks, plates and print studio suppliesEtching, printmaking, presses, inks, plates and print studio suppliesOfficial
4The Art SceneNSW / OnlineArt materials retailerArtist paints, canvas, drawing, craft and studio suppliesArtist paints, canvas, drawing, craft and studio suppliesOfficial
5Oxley Art SuppliesQLD / OnlineArt materials retailerFine art materials, painting, drawing and printmaking suppliesFine art materials, painting, drawing and printmaking suppliesOfficial
6Jackson’s Drawing Supplies AustraliaOnlineOnline art materials retailerBroad online materials browsing and artist suppliesBroad online materials browsing and artist suppliesOfficial
7Zart ArtVIC / OnlineEducation and art materials supplierSchool art supplies, classroom projects and educational resourcesSchool art supplies, classroom projects and educational resourcesOfficial
8Officeworks Art SuppliesNational / OnlineGeneral retailerAccessible student materials, paper, markers, portfolios and basic suppliesAccessible student materials, paper, markers, portfolios and basic suppliesOfficial
9Bunnings Art and Studio MaterialsNationalHardware / studio suppliesStudio hardware, storage, drop sheets, shelving, tools and some craft materialsStudio hardware, storage, drop sheets, shelving, tools and some craft materialsOfficial
10Reverse GarbageNSW / reuse focusReuse and creative materialsRecycled materials, education projects, sculpture, collage and sustainable creative practiceRecycled materials, education projects, sculpture, collage and sustainable creative practiceOfficial

How to use this page

Use it to make a shortlist, then compare official information, costs, location, suitability and current availability.

What not to do

Do not assume a resource is best for you just because it appears on a list. Your medium, age, budget, location and goals matter.

Find art prizes, galleries, grants, exhibitions and tools faster.

Updated resource Reviewed May 2026

This page should help users buy better materials without overbuying. The best materials choice depends on medium, skill level, purpose, budget, safety, storage and whether the artwork is for practice, school, exhibition or sale. Good guidance explains trade-offs rather than just naming products.

Artsoz pages are designed to make the first 10 minutes of research easier. They should help you work out what category you are dealing with, what details matter, where official information is likely to sit, and what documents or notes you should save before taking action.

Watercolour

Paper quality often matters more than owning many colours. Poor paper makes watercolour harder to control.

Acrylic

Student-grade acrylic can be fine for learning, but artist-grade paint may give stronger colour, coverage and consistency.

School kits

A student kit should prioritise reliable basics, portability, labelling and affordability instead of too many low-quality items.

Decision table

Field to checkWhy it matters
Artist-grade vs student-gradeRecord this before relying on the opportunity, guide or resource.
Surface compatibilityRecord this before relying on the opportunity, guide or resource.
Safety and ventilationRecord this before relying on the opportunity, guide or resource.
Brush/tool suitabilityRecord this before relying on the opportunity, guide or resource.
Storage and drying timeRecord this before relying on the opportunity, guide or resource.
Shipping/returnsRecord this before relying on the opportunity, guide or resource.

Practical checklist

  • Artist-grade vs student-grade
  • Surface compatibility
  • Safety and ventilation
  • Brush/tool suitability
  • Storage and drying time
  • Shipping/returns
  • Material records
  • Receipts for school/grants/tax
  • Testing before final work
  • Budget and replacement cost

Scenario

A parent buying for a high-school student should start with the school list, then choose durable basics: a good sketchbook, reliable drawing tools, a small but useful paint set, brushes, folder and labelled storage. Specialist materials can be added after the teacher confirms the project direction.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Buying the cheapest surface
  • Buying too many colours too early
  • Mixing incompatible materials
  • Ignoring ventilation
  • Not recording materials used in finished work

How this page should be maintained

This page should be reviewed when official sources change, when users submit corrections, or when Artsoz analytics show that people are finding the page but not continuing to related tools. This page is most useful when current examples, official-source references and practical tables are kept up to date.

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