A.C. Moore Arts and Crafts in Baltimore: Broad Selection and Competitive Pricing for Hobbyists and Professionals
A.C. Moore is a mid-size craft retailer stocked with materials for drawing, painting, sculpture, jewelry-making, and mixed media work. Located in Baltimore, it serves both casual hobbyists restocking supplies and serious artists preparing for shows or installations. The store occupies a full retail footprint with organized sections rather than the cramped layout of dollar-store craft aisles, making it easier to compare brands and find specific items without searching multiple locations.
What the store carries
The inventory spans acrylic and oil paints, canvas and paper in various weights and finishes, brushes across price tiers, colored pencils, markers, printmaking supplies, beads and jewelry findings, leather, wood blanks, and seasonal craft kits. A.C. Moore stocks both budget and mid-range brands. For example, Winsor & Newton professional acrylics sit alongside Liquitex and house-brand paints at lower price points. Brush selections include natural-bristle and synthetic options from brands like Princeton and Grumbacher. The jewelry section carries Beadalon wire, bead boards, and clasps suitable for beaded bracelet and necklace assembly. Wooden dowels, sheets, and pre-cut shapes fill the woodcraft aisle, useful for sculptors and furniture makers sourcing materials in bulk.
The store does not specialize in fine art supplies to the degree that a dedicated art gallery or museum shop might; industrial-grade printmaking inks or museum-quality archival paper are not the focus. Nor does it stock heavy sculpture materials like kiln clay or welding supplies.
Pricing and discount structure
Paint starter sets typically range from $15 to $35 depending on brand and volume. Individual acrylic tubes run $3 to $8 for house brands and $6 to $12 for Liquitex or Winsor & Newton. Brush sets cost $8 to $25; single quality brushes range from $3 to $15. Canvas pads and sketch paper are priced by count and size, with a 9x12-inch pad of mixed media paper usually between $6 and $12. Beads and findings sell individually or in bulk packs, ranging from $1 to $8 per pack depending on material and quantity.
A.C. Moore runs frequent 40-50% off sales on single items, advertised both in-store and via email. Coupons valid on most merchandise appear regularly in circulars and the company website. Prices shift seasonally; inventory clears during back-to-school and post-holiday periods, sometimes reducing prices further. Check the store or website directly to confirm current promotions, as they change weekly.
How it compares to other Baltimore options
Michaels, also present in Baltimore, carries similar breadth but operates at a larger scale and tends toward higher baseline prices before coupons. A.C. Moore typically undercuts Michaels on mid-range brands and offers comparable discounts. For professional-grade supplies, Maryland Art Supply or Blick Art Materials (online, with local options in nearby areas) offer deeper selection in archival papers and premium acrylics, but at higher per-unit cost and without the same discount frequency. For specialty materials like glass fusing or pottery clay, dedicated studios or pottery supply shops offer expertise A.C. Moore does not. For basic craft kits and seasonal items, drugstores and dollar retailers stock limited selections at rock-bottom prices but with minimal choice in color, finish, or brand.
Who benefits and who does not
Art teachers buying bulk supplies for classrooms, hobbyists experimenting with new mediums, and jewelry makers assembling findings find value in the breadth and pricing. Students and beginners appreciate the range of budget options and the physical ability to see and compare products before buying. Working artists with established supplier relationships or those needing specialized materials (museum-quality oils, printmaking inks, industrial adhesives) will outgrow this store and move to specialty retailers or online suppliers.
What to expect on a first visit
The store is organized by material category: paints and mediums in one section, papers and pads in another, brushes and tools in a third, and beads and jewelry supplies in a fourth. Staff can direct you to specific items, though they are not art consultants. Plan to spend 20 to 45 minutes depending on how many items you need and whether you are browsing unfamiliar sections. The checkout process is standard retail; bring coupons if you have them, as they are applied at the register. The store does not offer in-house framing, custom paint matching, or supplies rental.
Hours, parking, and location
A.C. Moore locations in the Baltimore area operate during typical retail hours, usually 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays; Sunday hours vary. Verify current hours before visiting, as retail schedules have adjusted in recent years. Most locations include dedicated parking lots, avoiding the downtown parking premium. The store accepts major credit cards, cash, and gift cards.
A.C. Moore fills a practical middle ground for Baltimore artists and crafters: broad enough in selection to serve multiple disciplines, discounted enough to make regular purchases affordable, and organized well enough to find materials quickly without specialist knowledge.
