Australia’s art and craft retail scene has changed a lot over the past decade. What used to mean a single trip to a local store now often means comparing a handful of online and in-person options, each with different strengths depending on what you’re making and how specialised your needs are. Whether you’re a student stocking a first kit, a hobbyist branching into a new medium, or a teacher buying in bulk, knowing which type of retailer suits which need makes shopping a lot less overwhelming.
Here’s a genuine look at the main categories worth knowing about.
Large General Retailers
For most people starting out, a large general retailer is the easiest place to begin. These stores typically stock a wide range of mediums and craft categories under one roof (or one website), which means you’re not piecing together an order from five different specialty stores just to get started. Eckersley’s Australia is one of the most established names in this space, with a broad range spanning painting, drawing, and general craft supplies, making it a solid starting point for anyone building a first kit.
The advantage of shopping with a general retailer is convenience and range. You can compare student and artist-grade options side by side, browse across mediums if you’re not yet sure what you want to focus on, and generally find competitive pricing due to the volume they move. The trade-off is that highly specialised or niche items (certain resin supplies, specific calligraphy nibs, uncommon paper weights) aren’t always going to be their strongest category.
Specialty Online Stores
Once you know more specifically what you’re after, specialty retailers become worth exploring. These are stores that focus on a narrower category, fine art paints, resin and pouring supplies, calligraphy and lettering tools, printmaking equipment, and go deeper into that category than a general retailer typically will.
The benefit here is depth. A specialty store is more likely to stock a wider range within their niche, carry harder-to-find brands, and have staff or product descriptions that reflect genuine expertise in that specific area. The downside is that you’ll likely need to shop across a few different specialty stores if your interests span multiple mediums, which can mean more separate orders and shipping costs to manage.
Local and Independent Art Stores
There’s still real value in shopping local, even in an increasingly online-first retail environment. Independent art stores often can’t match the range or pricing of larger retailers, but they make up for it in other ways. Staff at a small, specialised store are frequently working artists themselves, and the advice you get in person (what paper actually holds up to a particular technique, which brush shape suits your style) is hard to replicate from a product description online.
Local stores also tend to run workshops, host community events, and support local art scenes in ways that larger retailers generally don’t. If you’re at a point where you value community and expert guidance as much as price, it’s worth checking what independent options exist near you before defaulting to the biggest online option.
What to Look for When Comparing Retailers
Regardless of which type of retailer you’re considering, a few factors are worth checking before you commit to shopping there regularly:
Range and stock depth, whether they carry the specific brands, sizes, and quality tiers you’re after, not just a narrow selection dressed up as variety.
Delivery and shipping policies, particularly for bulky or fragile items like glass jars, framed canvases, or large paper rolls, since damage in transit is a common frustration.
Returns and exchanges, especially important if you’re buying paint colours or paper weights you haven’t used before and might need to swap.
Loyalty programs or bulk pricing, useful if you’re a regular buyer, a teacher purchasing for a classroom, or someone building up a collection over time.
Final Thoughts
There’s rarely one single “best” retailer for every Australian creative, and the honest answer is that most serious hobbyists end up using a mix. A general retailer for everyday basics and building a first kit, a specialty store once you’ve settled into a specific medium or technique, and a local shop for advice, community, and the occasional splurge on something special. Knowing which category you’re shopping in, and what to expect from it, makes the whole process a lot less overwhelming.