Finding the best online art supply stores can make an enormous difference when you're searching for a specific paint color, archival paper, professional brushes, an unusual drawing surface, or simply better prices and selection than your local store carries.
For artists in 2026, our top overall recommendation is Blick Art Materials because of its broad selection of traditional fine-art materials, student and professional options, and established U.S. distribution.
But Blick isn't automatically the best store for every artist.
Advertisement
Jerry's Artarama is particularly strong for painters and artists looking for deals, Jackson's Art stands out for specialist fine-art materials and international selection, Artist & Craftsman Supply offers an artist-focused alternative, and Michaels can be convenient when coupons, sales, and local pickup matter.
Quick answer: If you're looking for the best online art supply store overall, start with Blick. If you're trying to find cheap art supplies, compare Blick, Jerry's Artarama, Artist & Craftsman Supply, and Michaels because sales, clearance prices, shipping thresholds, and product pricing can make a different store cheaper depending on what you're buying.
The smartest approach is to compare the final order price, not just the advertised product price.
This guide compares our favorite places to buy art supplies online, explains where to find cheap art supplies, and recommends the best stores for beginners, professional artists, painters, illustrators, and digital artists.
Best Online Art Supply Stores: Quick Picks
Our favorite online art supply stores in 2026 are:
- Blick Art Materials — Best overall
- Jerry's Artarama — Best for painters and deals
- Jackson's Art — Best for specialist fine-art materials
- Artist & Craftsman Supply — Best artist-focused alternative
- Michaels — Best for convenience and sales
- Utrecht Art Supplies — Best for Utrecht painting materials
There isn't one universal winner.
A watercolor artist looking for professional paper has different needs from a beginning illustrator buying pencils and a sketchbook, and someone shopping for canvas in bulk may care more about shipping costs than someone buying a few drawing pencils.
Best Online Art Supply Stores at a Glance
| Store | Best For | Value Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Blick Art Materials | Best overall | Large selection across student and professional grades |
| Jerry's Artarama | Painters and bargain hunters | Frequent sales and painting-focused deals |
| Jackson's Art | Specialist materials | Huge selection of harder-to-find fine-art products |
| Artist & Craftsman Supply | Artist-focused shopping | Competitive alternative to larger retailers |
| Michaels | Convenience and beginners | Frequent promotions and local pickup |
| Utrecht Art Supplies | Painters | Established Utrecht paint and studio products |
Prices, promotions, inventory, free-shipping thresholds, and shipping policies can change. Always compare the current checkout total before placing a large order.
Where to Find Cheap Art Supplies Online
If your main goal is finding cheap art supplies online, don't assume one retailer will always have the lowest prices.
Our first places to compare are:
- Jerry's Artarama for discounted painting supplies, canvas, brushes, and frequent promotions
- Blick Art Materials for comparing student-grade and professional-grade materials
- Artist & Craftsman Supply for another specialist retailer with competitive pricing
- Michaels for coupons, seasonal sales, clearance items, and local pickup
- Jackson's Art when you're looking for a specialist item that may be difficult or expensive to find elsewhere
The cheapest store often changes depending on the product.
For example, one retailer might have the lowest price on watercolor paper while another offers a better deal on paint, brushes, or canvas.
How to Find Cheap Art Supplies Without Buying Low-Quality Materials
The goal shouldn't always be to buy the absolute cheapest product.
Instead, try to find the best value for the part of your process where quality actually matters.
A beginner might save money by buying student-grade paint but spend a little more on better watercolor paper.
A drawing artist might buy inexpensive graphite pencils while investing in a sketchbook that can handle repeated erasing and layering.
A painter might save by purchasing canvas in multi-packs while spending more on a few dependable brushes.
Best Places to Check for Art-Supply Deals
Before buying, look for:
- Clearance sections
- Seasonal promotions
- Student discounts
- Bulk pricing
- Multi-packs
- Open-stock materials
- Store-brand products
- Free-shipping thresholds
- Email signup discounts
- Local pickup options
Also compare the final checkout price.
A product that is $5 cheaper can stop being a bargain if another store charges significantly more for shipping.
1. Blick Art Materials — Best Online Art Supply Store Overall
If we had to recommend just one online art supply store for the widest range of artists, Blick Art Materials is our overall pick.
Blick carries materials for drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, illustration, crafts, and studio work.
That makes it useful whether you're buying your first sketchbook or restocking a professional studio.
Artists can shop for:
- Oil and acrylic paint
- Watercolor and gouache
- Colored pencils
- Graphite and charcoal
- Markers
- Brushes
- Canvas
- Drawing and watercolor paper
- Easels
- Printmaking supplies
- Sculpture materials
- Storage
- Studio furniture
The depth of the catalog is one of Blick's biggest advantages.
Instead of purchasing paper from one retailer, brushes from another, and canvas somewhere else, artists can often consolidate an order.
Blick's current shipping policy says most stocked merchandise orders of $79 or more qualify for free shipping within the contiguous United States, although exclusions apply and shipping policies can change.
Who Is Blick Best For?
Blick is a strong choice for:
- Art students
- Illustrators
- Painters
- Drawing artists
- Art teachers
- Professional artists
- Artists ordering several kinds of supplies at once
Is Blick Good for Cheap Art Supplies?
Blick isn't always the cheapest retailer for every individual item, but it can be one of the best places to compare student-grade, store-brand, and professional-grade versions of similar materials.
That makes it especially useful when you're trying to reduce your budget without buying an unknown low-quality product.
Why We Picked Blick
Best overall: Blick combines a broad professional art-material selection with products for beginners, students, educators, and working artists.
The biggest reason to start here isn't that every product will always be cheapest.
It's that Blick makes it relatively easy to compare different grades, brands, sizes, and materials in one catalog.
If you're still figuring out what belongs in your studio, read our guide to the best art supplies for artists.
2. Jerry's Artarama — Best for Painters and Cheap Art-Supply Deals
Jerry's Artarama has been serving artists since 1968 and specializes in art supplies and framing.
Its online catalog is particularly appealing to painters and artists who enjoy comparison shopping.
You'll find:
- Oil paints
- Acrylic paints
- Watercolors
- Gouache
- Brushes
- Canvas
- Painting panels
- Watercolor paper
- Easels
- Frames
- Drawing supplies
- Studio equipment
Jerry's also carries exclusive product lines, which makes it worth checking even when Blick sells the same general type of material.
At the time of this guide, Jerry's advertises free standard shipping on qualifying merchandise orders of $79 or more within the contiguous 48 states, with exclusions for certain oversized, hazardous, and other items.
Who Is Jerry's Artarama Best For?
Jerry's is especially worth checking if you're a:
- Oil painter
- Acrylic painter
- Watercolor artist
- Plein-air painter
- Artist buying canvas in quantity
- Artist shopping for frames
- Value-conscious fine artist
Why Jerry's Is Worth Checking for Cheap Art Supplies
Jerry's frequently emphasizes sales and promotional pricing, particularly for painting materials.
That doesn't guarantee Jerry's will always have the lowest price, but it makes the store worth checking before a large order.
For expensive items such as:
- Canvas
- Easels
- Brushes
- Paint sets
- Frames
- Studio furniture
even a relatively small percentage difference can become meaningful.
Blick vs. Jerry's Artarama: Which Is Better?
For most artists, we'd start with Blick for overall selection and check Jerry's for painting-specific products and price comparisons.
| Category | Blick | Jerry's Artarama |
|---|---|---|
| Overall selection | Excellent | Very good |
| Painting supplies | Excellent | Excellent |
| Drawing supplies | Excellent | Very good |
| Student materials | Excellent | Very good |
| Deal hunting | Good | Excellent |
| Canvas selection | Excellent | Excellent |
| Specialist products | Very good | Very good |
Don't assume the same retailer will be cheaper for every product.
Before placing a large order, compare:
- Product price
- Current discounts
- Quantity pricing
- Shipping
- Oversize charges
- Sales tax
- Final checkout total
A lower advertised price doesn't necessarily produce a lower final order price.
3. Jackson's Art — Best for Specialist Fine-Art Supplies
If you enjoy researching materials almost as much as using them, Jackson's Art deserves a bookmark.
Jackson's says its U.S. catalog includes tens of thousands of fine-art products covering color, brushes, surfaces, and studio equipment.
Its brand catalog is particularly impressive.
Artists can find familiar names alongside specialist products that may be harder to locate through general U.S. craft retailers.
Jackson's carries materials for:
- Oil painting
- Acrylic painting
- Watercolor
- Gouache
- Pastels
- Drawing
- Ink
- Printmaking
- Airbrush
- Chinese painting
- Canvas
- Paper
- Panels
- Brushes
- Studio equipment
The company also publishes detailed product and material guides, which can be useful when you're trying to understand why two seemingly similar papers, brushes, or paints behave differently.
Who Is Jackson's Art Best For?
We recommend Jackson's for:
- Experienced painters
- Watercolor artists
- Printmakers
- Material enthusiasts
- Artists looking for specialist brands
- Artists outside the United States
- Professionals looking for a deep fine-art catalog
Is Jackson's Good for Budget Shopping?
Jackson's may not always be the obvious first choice for bargain hunting, especially for U.S. shoppers, but it can offer value when you need a specialist brand or material that is difficult to find elsewhere.
A cheaper substitute isn't always useful if it isn't the material you actually need.
What About Shipping?
Jackson's operates across multiple markets and warehouses, so delivery options can depend on the product and destination.
For U.S. shoppers, some products may ship domestically while others may come from the company's UK operation.
Check the cart and delivery address before assuming a product is cheaper than a U.S.-based alternative.
4. Artist & Craftsman Supply — Best Artist-Focused Alternative
Visit Artist & Craftsman Supply
Artist & Craftsman Supply is another retailer worth comparing when you want an art-focused store rather than a general marketplace.
Its catalog spans fine art, drawing, painting, and creative materials, and the company operates physical stores as well as its online shop.
At the time of publication, its website advertises tiered shipping with free shipping on qualifying orders of $59 or more, although promotions and policies can change.
Who Is Artist & Craftsman Supply Best For?
Consider Artist & Craftsman Supply if you:
- Prefer specialist art retailers
- Want to compare prices across stores
- Buy both drawing and painting supplies
- Have a physical location nearby
- Want an alternative to the largest online retailers
Why It Can Be Good for Budget-Conscious Artists
Keeping another specialist retailer in your comparison list increases the chance of finding a better price.
You don't need to become loyal to one art store.
A particular paper may be cheaper at one retailer while your preferred paint is discounted somewhere else.
5. Michaels — Best for Convenience, Coupons, and Local Pickup
Michaels isn't as narrowly focused on professional fine-art materials as Blick, Jerry's, or Jackson's.
But that is also part of its appeal.
Its art-supply catalog includes:
- Paint and painting supplies
- Drawing supplies
- Artist canvas
- Easels and art desks
- Paper and drawing pads
- Printmaking
- Storage
- Studio supplies
- Art technology
Michaels also carries a much broader range of craft and creative products.
That can be useful if an artist needs canvas, a frame, storage containers, and craft materials in the same order.
Who Is Michaels Best For?
We'd consider Michaels for:
- Beginners
- Hobby artists
- Parents buying art supplies
- Mixed-media creators
- Artists who value local availability
- General creative projects
Can Michaels Be One of the Cheapest Places for Art Supplies?
Sometimes.
Michaels can be particularly competitive when you're using:
- Store promotions
- Clearance pricing
- Coupons
- Local pickup
- Seasonal sales
For highly specialized professional materials, we'd usually compare Blick, Jerry's, or Jackson's first.
For everyday supplies and convenience, Michaels can make a lot of sense.
6. Utrecht Art Supplies — Best for Utrecht Painting Materials
Utrecht Art Supplies has roots going back to 1949 in Brooklyn and remains a familiar name among painters.
Its catalog features Utrecht paints alongside materials from other established art brands.
Products include:
- Acrylic paint
- Oil paint
- Brushes
- Watercolor paper
- Drawing materials
- Canvas
- Ink
- Pastels
- Sketchbooks
- Studio accessories
Who Is Utrecht Best For?
Utrecht is particularly relevant for:
- Acrylic painters
- Oil painters
- Artists already familiar with Utrecht paints
- Students
- Studio artists
Blick and Utrecht are closely connected today, so don't treat them as completely independent competitors when comparison shopping.
But Utrecht remains useful for artists specifically interested in Utrecht-branded materials.
Which Online Art Supply Store Is Cheapest?
There is no single cheapest online art supply store for every product.
For artists in the United States, we recommend comparing at least Blick, Jerry's Artarama, Artist & Craftsman Supply, and Michaels when price is your main concern.
The winner can change depending on:
- Brand
- Product size
- Current promotion
- Quantity
- Shipping threshold
- Oversize fees
- Local pickup
- Clearance pricing
Example
Imagine you're buying:
- A sketchbook
- Three tubes of paint
- Two brushes
- A stretched canvas
Store A might have the lowest paint prices but charge more for the canvas.
Store B might cost slightly more per item but qualify the entire order for free shipping.
This is why final cart price is more useful than individual item price.
How Can Artists Save Money on Art Supplies?
A few strategies can reduce costs without forcing you to use poor-quality materials.
Buy Student Grade Strategically
Student-grade materials can be perfectly appropriate for:
- Practice
- Studies
- Color experiments
- Sketchbook work
- Learning a new medium
Save professional materials for situations where their performance actually matters.
Buy Open Stock Instead of Huge Sets
A 72-color set may look exciting, but many artists repeatedly use only a small number of colors.
Buying individual colors can sometimes save money and reduce waste.
Buy Frequently Used Materials in Bulk
Bulk purchases can make sense for things such as:
- Canvas
- Drawing paper
- Sketchbooks
- Pencils
- Erasers
- Certain paints
- Studio consumables
But only buy in quantity if you know you'll use the materials.
Compare Store Brands
Specialist art retailers often carry house or exclusive brands that can cost less than major manufacturer products.
Wait for Sales on Expensive Equipment
Items such as easels, large canvases, framing equipment, storage, and studio furniture can be worth waiting to purchase during a promotion.
Which Online Art Supply Store Is Best for Beginners?
For most beginners in the United States, Blick is our first recommendation because you can compare student-grade and professional-grade materials within a large art-specific catalog.
Michaels can also be a good option when convenience, coupons, or local pickup matter.
Beginners shouldn't assume they need professional-grade versions of everything.
A better strategy is to spend more where quality meaningfully affects the experience and save where it doesn't.
Depending on your medium, you might prioritize:
- Better paper
- A few reliable brushes
- A limited palette of good paint
- Quality drawing pencils
- A durable sketchbook
instead of buying an enormous inexpensive kit filled with materials you may never use.
If you're experimenting with materials while developing your visual identity, try the exercises in How to Find Your Art Style: 10 Exercises for Artists.
Recommended Sketchbook for Beginners
A sketchbook is one of the few art supplies that can be useful to almost any visual artist.
Amazon product recommendation: Strathmore 400 Series Sketch Pad
It's a practical option for drawing exercises, studies, thumbnails, and experimenting with ideas before committing to finished work.
As an Amazon Associate, The Artillerist may earn from qualifying purchases.
Which Online Art Supply Store Is Best for Professional Artists?
Professional artists should prioritize material selection, consistency, availability, and reliability rather than simply finding the lowest price.
Our recommendations are:
- Best all-around professional supplier: Blick Art Materials
- Best for painters and deal comparison: Jerry's Artarama
- Best for specialist and harder-to-find materials: Jackson's Art
Professionals may benefit from maintaining accounts with more than one supplier.
If a particular paper, pigment, canvas, or brush becomes an important part of your practice, having alternative sources can help when products go out of stock.
Which Art Supply Store Is Best for Painters?
For painters, our first stores to compare are Jerry's Artarama, Blick, and Jackson's Art.
Jerry's Artarama
Best for:
- Paint
- Canvas
- Easels
- Frames
- Painting accessories
- Deal hunting
Blick
Best for:
- Broad brand selection
- Paint
- Brushes
- Canvas
- Paper
- Studio equipment
Jackson's Art
Best for:
- Specialist paint
- Pigments
- Brushes
- Unique surfaces
- International brands
Painters who buy significant quantities should compare all three instead of automatically purchasing from one retailer.
Where Should Drawing Artists Buy Supplies?
For drawing supplies, we'd start with Blick because of its broad selection.
Artists can compare:
- Graphite
- Charcoal
- Colored pencils
- Pastels
- Markers
- Pens
- Drawing paper
- Sketchbooks
- Erasers
- Sharpeners
Jerry's and Jackson's are also worth checking for specialist drawing products.
If you're deciding which sketchbook works best for your medium, see our guide to the best sketchbooks for artists.
Where Should Digital Artists Buy Supplies?
Digital artists need a different shopping strategy.
Traditional art retailers are useful for:
- Sketchbooks
- Pencils
- Pens
- Reference materials
- Ergonomic studio equipment
- Traditional materials used in mixed workflows
Specialized electronics retailers may be better for:
- Drawing tablets
- Pen displays
- Monitors
- Computers
- Styluses
- Replacement nibs
- Cables
If you're building a digital setup, read Best Drawing Tablets for Beginners.
Artists completely new to the medium can start with How to Start Digital Art: A Complete Beginner's Guide.
Windows users considering software options should also see Procreate for Windows: Can You Use Procreate on a PC?.
How Should You Compare Online Art Supply Stores?
Don't compare retailers on product price alone.
Product Selection
Does the store actually specialize in your medium?
Student Grade vs. Artist Grade
Compare the exact product line rather than assuming everything from one brand is equivalent.
Shipping Cost
Check the final cart.
Free-Shipping Threshold
Sometimes adding a product you actually need can cost less than paying shipping.
Oversized Shipping
Canvas, easels, furniture, and framing products can have additional fees.
Availability
Professional artists need reliable access to materials they use repeatedly.
Returns and Damage Policies
This matters particularly for:
- Large canvas
- Frames
- Easels
- Equipment
- Fragile products
Educational Information
Good material guides can help artists avoid buying the wrong product.
Is It Better to Buy Art Supplies Online or In Person?
Online shopping is usually better for selection and price comparison, while in-person shopping is better for evaluating materials physically.
Online stores make it easy to compare:
- Brands
- Sizes
- Prices
- Reviews
- Product specifications
But some art supplies are difficult to evaluate without touching them.
You may prefer to test:
- Brushes
- Paper texture
- Sketchbooks
- Easels
- Pens
- Certain drawing surfaces
in person before buying larger quantities online.
For many artists, the best strategy is a combination of both.
Is Amazon a Good Place to Buy Art Supplies?
Amazon can be convenient for basic art supplies and commonly available products.
However, specialist art retailers usually provide:
- Deeper professional catalogs
- Better art-specific categorization
- More detailed product information
- Specialist brands
- Easier comparison between grades and materials
Amazon can still make sense for simple or frequently purchased items.
For professional materials, we recommend checking a specialist art retailer before ordering.
Are Cheap Art Supplies Worth Buying?
Sometimes.
Cheap art supplies can be perfectly useful for:
- Practice
- Sketching
- Learning
- Experiments
- Studies
- Children's art
- Classroom use
But the cheapest option can become frustrating when material quality directly affects performance.
Examples include:
- Watercolor paper that buckles excessively
- Brushes that constantly shed hairs
- Weakly pigmented paint
- Markers that dry quickly
- Paper that cannot handle erasing
- Cheap canvas with poor surface preparation
The better strategy is value shopping rather than automatically buying the cheapest product.
Are Professional Art Supplies Worth the Money?
Professional-grade art supplies can offer advantages such as:
- Higher pigment concentration
- Better lightfastness
- More consistent performance
- Higher-quality surfaces
- Greater durability
- Better archival properties
That doesn't mean every beginner needs professional-grade everything.
Upgrade the materials that are limiting your work first.
What Should a Beginner Artist Buy First?
Start with a small number of useful materials.
For drawing:
- Sketchbook
- Graphite pencils
- Eraser
- Sharpener
- Pen or fineliner
For painting:
- A small selection of paint colors
- A few dependable brushes
- Suitable paper or canvas
- Palette
- Basic cleaning supplies
Expand your collection after you understand what you actually use.
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Art Supply Stores
What is the best online art supply store?
For most artists in the United States, Blick Art Materials is our best overall choice because of its large catalog covering drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, studio equipment, and both student and professional supplies.
Where can I find cheap art supplies online?
Start by comparing Jerry's Artarama, Blick, Artist & Craftsman Supply, and Michaels. Check sales, clearance sections, store-brand products, quantity discounts, and shipping costs before ordering.
What is the cheapest online art supply store?
There is no single cheapest store for every product. Prices and promotions change frequently, so compare final cart totals rather than individual prices.
Where can students find cheap art supplies?
Students should compare student-grade materials from Blick and Jerry's and check Michaels for promotions and local pickup. Buying fewer high-use materials is usually better than buying a huge low-quality art set.
What is the best online art supply store for beginners?
Blick is our first choice for most beginners because its catalog makes it easy to compare student and professional materials. Michaels can also be convenient for beginners.
Where do professional artists buy art supplies?
Professional artists commonly shop through specialist retailers such as Blick, Jerry's Artarama, and Jackson's Art because these retailers carry deeper selections of professional materials.
What is the best online art supply store for painters?
Jerry's Artarama, Blick, and Jackson's Art are our top choices for painters.
What is the best place to buy drawing supplies online?
Blick is our top overall recommendation for drawing materials because of its broad selection of pencils, charcoal, pens, markers, paper, and sketchbooks.
Is it cheaper to buy art supplies online?
Sometimes. Online retailers make price comparison easier, but shipping can eliminate the savings. Compare the final checkout price.
Should beginners buy professional art supplies?
Not necessarily. Beginners should upgrade materials strategically as they discover which products affect their work most.
Is Amazon good for buying art supplies?
Amazon can be convenient for common supplies, but specialist retailers generally offer better selections and information for professional fine-art materials.
Where can I buy specialty art supplies online?
Jackson's Art, Blick, and Jerry's Artarama are good places to begin when you're looking for specialist materials or brands.
How can I save money on art supplies?
Compare multiple stores, shop sales, use student-grade materials when appropriate, buy frequently used products in bulk, check store brands, and pay attention to free-shipping thresholds.
Bottom Line: What Is the Best Online Art Supply Store in 2026?
For most artists, Blick Art Materials is the best overall online art supply store in 2026 because it combines a huge fine-art catalog with materials for beginners, students, educators, and professional artists.
But there is no single best store for every situation.
Our final recommendations are:
- Blick Art Materials — Best overall
- Jerry's Artarama — Best for painters and art-supply deals
- Jackson's Art — Best for specialist fine-art materials
- Artist & Craftsman Supply — Best artist-focused alternative
- Michaels — Best for convenience, promotions, and local pickup
- Utrecht Art Supplies — Best for Utrecht painting materials
If your main goal is figuring out where to find cheap art supplies, don't automatically choose the retailer with the lowest advertised price.
Compare:
product price + discounts + shipping + quantity pricing + additional fees = real cost
For many artists, the smartest strategy is to keep two or three specialist retailers bookmarked and compare them whenever you're making a substantial order.
That gives you a better chance of getting the materials you actually want at a good price without sacrificing quality simply to save a few dollars.
Continue with The Best Art Supplies for Artists in 2026, The Best Sketchbooks for Artists, and How to Find Your Art Style to build out your studio based on the kind of artwork you actually want to create.
As an Amazon Associate, The Artillerist may earn from qualifying purchases.