artsupply

Artsupply is a broad term for materials used by visual artists to create works. It encompasses tools, media, and supports employed across drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and mixed media. The term covers both consumables such as paints, inks, and pigments and durable supplies such as brushes, pencils, papers, canvases, and mounting boards.

Common categories include drawing implements (pencils, graphite, charcoal, pastels), painting media (acrylics, oils, watercolors, gouache), inks and markers, brushes and applicators, and supports (various papers, canvases, panels). It also includes printmaking supplies (inks, plates, linoleum or woodblocks, presses) as well as sculpture and ceramics materials (clay, modeling tools, wires, plasters) and craft or mixed-media components (adhesives, glues, tapes, embellishments).

The market differentiates student or value lines from professional or artist-grade products, with differences in pigment quality, lightfastness, tactility, and permanence. Availability spans local specialty art stores, big-box retailers, and online platforms, serving educators, hobbyists, and professional studios.

Historically, art materials evolved from natural pigments and binders to mass-produced paints and standardized media in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today the field emphasizes safety and sustainability, with many products labeled for non-toxicity and responsible sourcing, and ongoing development of lower-VOC solvents and recyclable packaging.

Safety and labeling considerations include product certifications, proper storage, ventilation when using solvents, and awareness of potential hazards for pigments and powders. Consumers are advised to consult manufacturer data and, where applicable, safety seals that indicate non-toxicity.