Shop art surfaces for painting and drawing

Canvases and drawing pads for artists and students.

Find the right surfaces you need to start drawing, painting and sharing your artwork with confidence. We offer a wide range of creative surfaces that can turn your creative ideas into reality. Shop from sketch pads, drawing paper, watercolour paper and canvases for school assignments, classroom activities, personal projects and finished artwork. Whether you’re learning about art for the first time, practicing new techniques or working on a finished piece, the right surface can help your colours, lines and designs stand out. You can also explore other art supplies to complete your home, class or studio setup, including painting supplies, drawing supplies, sculpting tools, kids art supplies and more. For young artists and teachers, arts education supplies can make learning about art more creative and hands-on. If you’re looking for fun activities for kids, we have children’s arts and crafts supplies that encourage creativity and imagination like kids craft kits, kids paints and colouring books. Whether you’re shopping for yourself, your child or your classroom, we make it easy to stock up on the supplies you need to create and foster a love of art.

FAQs

What is the difference between a drawing pad and a sketch pad?

Drawing pads and sketch pads share similarities but there are some key differences between the two. Sketch pads are designed for practicing and experimenting with new techniques, planning for a new project, quick studies and quick drawings. A drawing pad is used when you want to create something more finished and polished. Drawing pads feature heavier and higher quality paper than sketch pads for more detailed artwork. Drawing pads let you be more aggressive with erasing and get better colours compared to a sketch pad.

What kind of paint do I use on a canvas?

If you’re planning to paint on canvas, acrylic paint and oil paint are the two most popular options. Acrylic paints are quick-drying, water-resistant and flexible for painters of all skill levels to use. Oil paints are better for blending colours together and working with richer colours to create more detailed works of art. You can also paint with gouache if you’re looking for a matte finish with your art. Whichever paint you use make sure you have a set of paint brushes to suit your painting style.

What kind of paper is best for watercolour?

The best paper for working with watercolour paint is generally 100% cotton and acid-free so it can better absorb the paint and deliver the best results. We have a great selection of watercolour paper that fits both students and professional painters. There are three textures to choose from when looking for watercolour paper: hot press, cold press and rough. Hot press paper has a smooth surface and is meant for more detailed painting, cold press has a textured surface and is most commonly used for watercolour painting and rough paper has the most textured surface and is better for achieving textured looks without fine details.

What is the use of tracing paper?

Tracing paper is semi-transparent, low-opacity paper that’s designed mainly for tracing images. It can also be used for transferring designs as well as creating overlays for sketches and drawings. Artists and designers use tracing paper to refine their compositions, create copies for drafting and transferring sketches and outlines onto different surfaces like canvas, wood and watercolour paper without damaging the artwork.

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