Running low on creative supplies? Well, don’t fret because we’ve listed stores where you can buy the best art supplies in Calgary!
If you want to stock up on other supplies, you can check out our latter sections to know what each artist should have. Let’s get started.
Table of Contents
How Much Do Art Supplies in Calgary Cost?
But before anything else, let’s talk about how much you may spend on art supplies. Here are the most common art supplies and how much you may pay for them.
Note that art supply prices depend on the size, quality, and even brand.
| Type of art supplies | Expected price range |
| Brushes | $3.5–$40 |
| Paint | $4.5–$30 $25–$120(sets) |
| Canvas | $2–$90 (depending on size) |
| Pens and markers | $4–$18 $25–$85 (sets) |
| Sketchbooks | $8–$30 |
| Pencils | $1.30–$2.20 $12–$230 (sets) |
| Art sets | $15–$300 |
The Best Art Supply Stores in Calgary
Art encompasses a wide spectrum of creativity, so we made sure to make our list as diverse as possible. Just choose which among these shops aligns closely with your art style and visit them for supplies.
1. Kensington Art Supply & Instruction
| PRODUCTS | Pencils, pastel, watercolours, brushes, inks, mediums, |
| WEBSITE | http://www.kensingtonartsupply.com/ |
| ADDRESS | 6999 11 St SE #120, Calgary, AB T2H 2S1 |
| CONTACT DETAILS | (403) 283-2288 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday – Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM Sunday: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM |
Kensington Art Supply prides itself as Western Canada’s biggest art supply store with 7,000 sq ft of total space. A whopping 5,000 sq ft of this space is dedicated to holding over 40,000 products—coloured pens, brush markers, pigments, canvas, and just about any type of art material to cater to any Calgarian.
This store is even staffed with actual working artists. So, customers can receive credible advice and information about art mediums, tools, and instruments while shopping for them.
However, despite being informative, some staff members were deemed rude and unaccepting. At least, that’s what we’ve heard from some reviews.
The remaining 2,000 sq ft, on the other hand, is reserved to hold 2-full sized studios. Here, Kensington conducts workshops and classes taught by a bunch of experienced creatives.
For these classes, aspiring artists can freely choose a schedule, whether weekly, bi-weekly or monthly, depending on their own schedule and desired pace.
Lastly, Kensington also offers gift cards, so that anyone from around the world can give their artistic loved ones meaningful presents.
Pros
- Two large on-site art studios
- Art workshops with flexible scheduling
- All-week availability
- Largest art supply store in Western Canada
Cons
- Some complaints about rude staff
- Relatively expensive products
- No online ordering
Customer Reviews
Read these reviews about Kensington Art Supply to know what Calgarians like and dislike about the store:
“I highly recommend Kensington Art Supply. I recently started watercolor painting again and had many questions. Angela took the time to explain the different paints and supplies I needed, all on the phone. Since we are in isolation, I could not go to the store. I was really pleased with the products, as they were all high quality but not high price. I will definitely recommend to anyone who asks. Thank you Angela!!”—Alanna King
“Probably my favourite art aupply store in the city as the staff is always friendly and knowledgeable and will give me a faor hit of their time when i have no idea what i need. The only negative experience I’ve ever had is a few pens and markers I’ve bought over the years drying out faster than any ive purchased other places. Prices are a bit high on consumables, but that’s okay with me as i prefer to support local”—Matt Jensen
2. Inglewood Art Supplies
| PRODUCTS | Canvas and panels, paint, easels, brushes, pastel, drawing materials, paper, printmaking supplies |
| WEBSITE | https://www.inglewoodart.com/ |
| ADDRESS | 646 1 Ave NE, Calgary, AB T2E 0B6 |
| CONTACT DETAILS | (403) 265-8961 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Sunday: 12:00 AM – 5:00 PM Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
Whether for painting or for drawing, Inglewood Art Supplies has the right materials for you. This store has canvas and panels, paints and pigments, brushes, papers and boards, markers, pens, colouring materials, and calligraphy inks.
All of these products are available for purchase every day, thanks to Inglewood Art Supplies’ lengthy operating hours. And to add to that, Inglewood Art Supplies also delivers to anywhere in Calgary.
What we especially like about this service is that Inglewood Art Supplies waives any delivery fee for orders costing above $60. But you should know, delivery isn’t available for large canvas and panels and that there have been some complaints about its checkout process.
Inglewood also does weekly art workshops to help artists and aspiring creatives improve their skills and widen their horizons. The best thing about this service is it’s available both online and on-site.
However, before going to this art supply store, you should also know that some have complained about its staff’s treatment to customers.
Pros
- All week availability
- Delivery services within Calgary
- Free delivery for orders above $60
- Online and on-site options for art workshops
Cons
- Some complaints about pricing and checkout
- Some complaints about customer service
Customer Reviews
Customers also praised Inglewood Art Supplies for its great pricing and occasional discounts, just as these have:
“Great prices and selection. If they don’t have it they will order in for you. Staff are very knowledgeable and helpful if you ask. I like that they have lots of Canadian products like Tri-Art. They offer an art class during the day that I really enjoy. The class sizes are small and the instructor is really knowledgeable to help you with your choice of medium. Plus I’m all for small business!”—Theresa Tucci
“Well-stocked store owned and run by practising artists, great sales, excellent customer service, great knowledge of materials and how to handle them. Staff is happy, which says a great deal about their business. My favorite art supply, offering me regular discounts for my business and for my students. This is quality and genuine care for their artists.”—Hedda Zahner
3. The Paper & Ink Boutique
| PRODUCTS | Cardboards, paper, craft materials, paint, crayons, markers, pens, adhesives, pins, glitter, embellishments |
| WEBSITE | https://www.paperandinkboutique.com/ |
| ADDRESS | 5330 72 Ave SE #171, Calgary, AB T2C 4X5 |
| CONTACT DETAILS | (587) 620-6305 | [email protected] |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday, Friday – Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Tuesday – Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
Despite being a new store, the Paper & Ink Boutique has solidified itself in the local art supply scene. It has all the newest and most essential papers, stamps, and other mixed media for papercrafts and scrapbooking.
And the best thing is, all of its products are available online. Given that it has an online shop, Paper & Ink Boutique also does delivery services, of course.
Paper & Ink Boutique even goes a step further by classifying its art supplies according to themes, sometimes grouping them in kits, for easier shopping. We also discovered that this store has scrappy hours deals every Wednesday and Thursday, a feature we think would benefit those on a budget.
To help those who want to enter the mixed media arts, Paper & Ink Boutique offers art journaling, scrapbooking, card making, and decor creation classes.
We also like that it has these classes for all levels. So, beginners and experts alike can benefit from Paper & Ink Boutique’s services as much as they do with its products.
Pros
- Convenient online catalogue
- Delivery services within Calgary
- Products grouped in kits or according to themes
- Art workshops available
- Discounted items every Wednesday and Thursday
Cons
- Closed on Sundays
- Limited painting supplies
- Gift cards are not available at the online store
Customer Reviews
The Paper & Ink Boutique has also received praises for its customer service. Here are just some of its reviews to tell you more:
“The store is huge, hopefully they will fill it up with more products. Very nice couple that own it. Will be back for sure! Only negative thing is location for me I live an hour away. But worth the drive!”—Amy Thompson
“I love shopping here! Friendly, knowledgeable staff, and they seem to always get in the new stuff, which is always exciting. I definitely recommend stopping in if you are into anysort of paper crafting!”—Becky Simmons
“I’m so excited for a store like this in the SE! Great selection of paper, scrapbook supplies, stickers, glitter, and almost anything else you can think of. The store is very tidy and organized and I find it easy to navigate. Very helpful staff too!”—Christina
4. Destination Art
| PRODUCTS | Paint, brushes, knives, canvas and mediums, furniture, markers, pens, inks, pastels, paper, clay and pottery supplies, craft supplies |
| WEBSITE | https://www.destination-art.ca/ |
| ADDRESS | 3400 14st NW, Northmount Dr NW, Calgary, AB T2K 1H9 |
| CONTACT DETAILS | (403) 289-1633 | [email protected] |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday – Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
Destination Art strives to be a one-stop art shop for all your art supplies and framing needs. Its art supplies consist of painting, drawing, drafting, and crafting supplies, making it a shop suitable for all kinds of artists.
What we find really special about Destination Art is that it customizes frames, so its customers can request unique panels to complement their artwork. Just know that its framing choices are limited to Peterboro Matboards materials.
Unfortunately, while Destination Art seeks to be as accessible as its competitors, it still doesn’t have a fully functional online store.
Luckily, Destination Art has knowledgeable and helpful staff and other incentives for those visiting its location. It even provides tips online for using and buying canvas, pallets, and brushes.
Destination Art also calls itself a place where hobbyists and professionals alike can come together and exchange ideas about the arts. To further improve this kind of environment, Destination Art also arranges some art workshops like kids drawing camp and resin art.
Pros
- Offers frame customization
- Sculpting supplies available
- Art workshops available
Cons
- Closed on Sundays
- No online ordering
- Framing options limited to one brand
Customer Reviews
From the front desk to the sales staff, everyone at Destination Art seems to be kind, helpful, and informative, just as these reviews have shared:
“Stopped by to pick up some art supplies for my kids. The person at the desk was extremely helpful and offered to guide me through the store to find what I was looking for. He was very knowledgable about what he had on hand and even offered alternatives when I wasn’t able to give him the specifics that were required. Not a lot of room in there – they have a lot of selection for a little shop – but with great service like that, you can’t go wrong. Remember folks, buy local if you want local places to shop at!”—Andreas Berko
“Best art store. There was an item I was looking for in a size that is unconventional and the manufacturer stopped making. Guess who had it during the middle of a pandemic! Thanks for this! Saved me a TON of trouble in my project.”—Gord Cummings
5. Sunnyside Art Supplies
| PRODUCTS | Paint, canvas, books, paper, printmaking supplies, clay and pottery supplies |
| WEBSITE | http://www.sunnysideartsupplies.com/ |
| ADDRESS | 132 10 St NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1V3 |
| CONTACT DETAILS | (403) 475-0608 | [email protected] |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday – Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM Sunday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
If you’re looking for painting, drafting, and drawing materials then Sunnyside Art Supplies can help you out. To add to all these art supplies, the store even has clay and accessories for your pottery needs!
Sunnyside Art Supplies makes art accessible to any level and any age in several ways. First, it understands that a creative mood can come at any day, which is why it’s open all week.
Next, Sunnyside Art Supplies conducts workshops occasionally to boost the talents and skills of aspiring artists. Unfortunately, its website only shows that its most recent workshop was wack in 2019.
Luckily, this store still sells paint-by-number products for customers to practice with at home. So, those who still lack imaginative skills can gain inspiration and learn the basics from this instructional art.
To top it all off, Sunnyside gives a 10% discount for all students with valid IDs. So, even students without enough sources of income can still pursue their dreams of creating art.
Pros
- Best for sculpting supplies
- All week availability
- 10% student discounts
Cons
- No online ordering
- No recent art workshops
Customer Reviews
Here are some customer reviews to tell you more about Sunnyside Art Supplies products and services:
“The owners/staff are extremely knowledgeable and friendly, I feel comfortable asking the simplest of questions. The prices are super fair (considering good supplies are $$$). I bought a water brush set for the same price as a set off of amazon and I love it! Every time I go in I end up finding a lot of very neat and handy accessories that I didn’t even know existed that make aspects of painting less of a hassle. I could wander the store for hours!”—Beth Chandler
“Looking for local, knowledgeable and delightful help with excellent quality art supplies that won’t break the bank? Go no further. I went in for beginner watercolour supplies, and Shirl was an immense help. She made sure I had basi s to start with, then gave me some tips and shared some of her own watercolour work. Whether I stick with this medium or not, I’ll be back for all my others, and workshops when they run again. Locally owned, operated and brilliant. Go here.”—Lyn Langille
Art Supplies Every Beginner Should Have
The art supplies you need depend on what type of art form you want to study or improve on. However, beginners should at least have these items:
- Sketchbook
- Graphite pencils
- Pastels and coloured pens
- Erasers
- Watercolour
- Paintbrushes
FAQs about Art Supplies
And those are the shops that’ll give you the best art supplies in Calgary! We know art requires quality materials, so we hope you can find the exact type of art supply looking for.
There are always new stores opening, even now. So, if there are other art supply stores that we haven’t heard about, please feel free to leave us your recommendations!
Creating art can be more than just a hobby. If you want to pursue a career in the arts, then the best art schools in Calgary can possibly give you the boost you need no other college can replicate.
