Art Things in Baltimore: A Single-Source Supply Shop for Studio and Classroom

Art Things is a full-service art supply retailer located in Canton, stocked for working artists, students, and hobbyists who need both common materials and harder-to-find specialty items without a mall trip or two-week online order.

What Art Things actually is

Art Things operates as an independent shop, not a branch of a national chain. The store carries drawing supplies (graphite, colored pencils, charcoal), painting media (acrylics, oils, watercolors), printmaking materials, papers in bulk and retail quantities, and brushes across price tiers. The space functions as a working reference: staff can show you the difference between student-grade and professional pigment, and you can handle paper weight and texture before buying. Most customers are Baltimore-area art students, working painters, and people restocking supplies mid-project rather than building a kit from scratch.

Stock, pricing, and what you can find

Acrylic paint tubes run $2 to $8 depending on brand and size; Gamblin oils and Winsor & Newton watercolors sit at the premium end. Sketch pads start around $6 for basic student paper; higher-quality cold-pressed watercolor sheets in 140-lb weight cost $15 to $25 per pad. Brush sets for beginners range from $12 to $40; individual professional brushes (sable, synthetic, or natural fiber) cost $8 to $35 per brush. The store stocks paper by the sheet if you need one or two sheets of expensive cold-pressed stock rather than committing to a full pad. Pricing is consistent with independent retailers nationwide; you pay more than a big-box chain but less than specialty online vendors, and you avoid shipping delays.

How Art Things compares to other Baltimore options

Blick Art Materials operates a large-format location in the Inner Harbor, with broader inventory and bulk ordering options; choose Blick if you need 50 sheets of something specific or want to browse a wider range of professional brands in one trip. Michaels (multiple Baltimore locations) undercuts Art Things on student-grade basics and carries some craft supplies Art Things does not, but staff knowledge varies, and you cannot examine specialty papers before purchase. Art Things suits people who value expert recommendation and hands-on material evaluation over selection breadth or price floor. For printmaking supplies specifically, Art Things stocks more depth than Michaels but less than a dedicated print studio shop; printmakers doing serious edition work often source plates and inks elsewhere.

Who it suits and who it does not

Art Things works well for Baltimore art students (MICA, UB, community programs) who need supplies between classes, working artists restocking mid-project, and teachers buying for small-group sessions. Walk-in browsing is practical because the space is compact and staff can answer material questions without a long wait. It does not suit people buying bulk supplies for large classroom orders (Blick's wholesale discounts apply at higher volumes) or artists who exclusively work with one brand and buy online in bulk. Absolute beginners who want a premade starter kit at one low price may find the selection and pricing model less appealing than a kit-focused retailer.

What the first visit involves

Enter, state your medium or project, and ask. Staff will ask what you are making, your skill level, and budget, then point you to relevant stock or recommend an alternative if Art Things does not carry exactly what you need. Expect to spend 10 to 20 minutes browsing and asking questions on a first visit; the store is not self-serve at the level of a big-box shop. Checkout is straightforward. There is no appointment system; come during business hours, and during school breaks (late May through August, late December through early January) foot traffic drops.

Hours, location, and parking

Art Things operates Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; verify hours before visiting, as retail schedules can shift seasonally. The shop sits on a Canton side street with street parking; there is no dedicated lot, so expect to circle for a spot during peak afternoon hours. Sunday and Monday closures mean weekday visits during lunch or after work are often quieter than Saturdays.

Art Things fills a practical gap between chain-store pricing and specialty online shipping. For Baltimore artists who value immediate access and expert advice over selection breadth, it remains a reliable neighborhood stop.