Studio Tips &
Buying Guides
Practical guides on art materials, studio workflow, and techniques — written for working artists and beginners alike, grounded in day-to-day conversations with artists in Kingston, Ontario.
Best Kids Art Supplies Canada: Age-Appropriate Creative Tools Guide
Choosing the right art supplies for children is crucial for their development and creative growth. This guide helps Canadian parents and educators select age-appropriate materials that balance safety, functionality, and creative potential. From chunky crayons for toddlers to detailed brushes for school-age children, discover how the right tools can nurture a lifelong love of art-making.
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Lino Printing for Beginners: Essential Tools & Inks Guide
Lino printing is an accessible printmaking technique perfect for artists of all levels. This guide covers essential tools like lino blocks, cutting tools, rollers, and inks. Learn how to choose the right materials for your first prints. Get practical recommendations from beginner-friendly options to professional-grade supplies.
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Understanding Acrylic Finishes: A Guide to Final Finish, Top Coats and Liquid Glass from Tri-Art
Acrylics have become an extremely popular painting medium over the past near-century since their creation in the 1930’s. This medium has been thoroughly explored by many artists, and allows more people to participate in painting practices as the paints do not require special solvents for cleaning, and also do not emit the same toxic fumes that exist in traditional oils.
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Using Liquid Glass Resin for a Crystal Clear Finish
There isn't anything much more satisfying than the look of a thick crystal clear coat of epoxy resin on your painting. It is incredibly appealing and tempting to coat all your paintings in epoxy resin, however they have very low UV stability compared to acrylic polymer emulsion products. Yes it's true, some epoxy resin products have better UV stability than others, but the bottom-line is all epoxy resin will yellow, it just depends on how much time has passed.
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Why We Recommend Unprimed Canvas
What should you do? Always prime canvas yourself, if you have purchased a pre-primed canvas, it would be good practice to add at least one layer of your own acrylic gesso. Use a good quality acrylic gesso if possible, avoid primers designed for walls as typically these are lower quality.
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Faber-Castell Polychromos vs Caran d'Ache: Artist's Guide
Professional coloured pencils can make or break your artwork, but choosing between premium brands like Faber-Castell Polychromos and Caran d'Ache can be overwhelming. This practical comparison breaks down the key differences in pigment quality, lightfastness, and handling to help you make the right choice. We'll explore who each brand suits best, from detailed botanical illustrations to vibrant contemporary art. Whether you're upgrading from student-grade pencils or adding to your professional toolkit, understanding these differences will guide your investment.
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How to Paint Furniture with Fusion Mineral Paint: Complete Guide
Transform your furniture with confidence using Fusion Mineral Paint's eco-friendly, built-in topcoat formula. Learn proper surface preparation, application techniques, and finishing touches. Discover which projects work best for beginners versus experienced painters. Get professional results without the fuss of multiple products.
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Fusion Mineral Paint Review: Does It Really Need No Primer?
Fusion Mineral Paint claims to need no primer or topcoat, but does it live up to the hype? We've tested this popular Canadian furniture paint extensively in our Kingston store and with customers' projects. Here's our honest assessment of when it works brilliantly, when you might still want primer, and how to get the best results for your DIY furniture makeovers.
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How to Choose a Fountain Pen Nib Size: A 10-Minute Test
Choosing a fountain pen nib can feel confusing because paper, ink, and writing pressure all change the line. This guide gives you a quick 10-minute test to match nib size to how you actually write, plus practical fixes for scratchiness, feathering, and skipping.
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Cartridge vs Converter: How to Choose a Fountain Pen Filling System and Set It Up Cleanly
Not sure whether to use cartridges or a converter in your fountain pen? This practical guide walks you through compatibility, cost, and travel use, then shows a clean setup routine for either option. You will also get quick fixes for skips, hard starts, and messy fills.
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How to Clean a Fountain Pen: A 10-Minute Routine, Plus Troubleshooting for Skipping and Hard Starts
Cleaning a fountain pen is simpler than most people think. This practical guide walks you through a quick rinse, a deeper flush when ink changes, and the most common fixes for skipping, hard starts, and dried-out feeds, using a few household basics today.
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Acrylic Paints: The Definitive Guide Before you Buy
Acrylic paint shopping is easier when you start with how you paint. This guide compares professional, student, and classroom acrylics, shows what to check on labels, and gives a simple step plan to build a starter palette and avoid waste, using Tri-Art examples from Art Noise.
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Erasers for Drawing: How to Choose the Right Type and Fix Common Erasing Problems
Erasers are drawing tools, not just cleanup. This guide shows which erasers lift, which erase cleanly, and how to avoid paper damage, smudges, and pale "ghost" marks. Includes a simple kit, a 30-minute practise plan, and fast troubleshooting for busy creatives.
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Charcoal Drawing Supplies: A Practical Starter Kit + a 45-Minute Practice Plan
Charcoal is fast, forgiving, and great for building value, but the right supplies make the difference between clean, confident drawings and a smudgy mess. This guide shows you a practical starter kit, what each tool is for, and a 45-minute session you can repeat anytime.
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