First point, the customer service from and staff and ownership is second to none. Theresa and her shopkeeps are warm, friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. Secondly, the store is thoroughly stocked with floor to ceiling materials for most any project you could conceive. World renowned artists frequent and are continual attracted to shop here for a reason! Thirdly, Rath also offers local feature window displays, quality handmade items and supports independent artists year round. They have created a beautiful community footprint! And if you don't care about any of that? Just go get your paint and be very happy with your purchase and experience! read more

Best art store in the city! Don't judge a book by it's cover: This place may be tiny but it has all your artsy needs covered! The selection is smaller than Opus or DeSerres, but everything they carry is very high quality, even the things priced on the lower end, and they have some specialty items i've never seen at those other larger stores! I popped in yesterday to grab a new tube of white paint and noticed cans of specialty enamel paint for hand-lettering signs... Coincidentally I have an outdoor sign for a store just waiting to be painted, and after the owner told me the benefits of using that paint rather than plain jane acrylic i was sold! I'm so happy that i can provide one of my clients with better quality work thanks to the advice I got at Rath! Basically one of my favorite things about the place is the staff! If i have a question about anything, i'm always way more confident asking the super friendly, very knowledgeable owner about something than i am any of hired guns at Opus and DeSerres. The only thing: Don't come in here if you're looking for scrap booking supplies, tubes of glitter, jewelery making kits (etc etc!). Rath sells art supplies, plain and simple, so if your creativity falls into the crafting end of the spectrum you're best off going to DeSerres. If you aren't sure if they carry what you're looking for, just give them a call! read more

Rath Art Supplies - Art supplies can really enrich your life!! - Art Supplies Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Beautiful space chock-full of well-selected, quality products, and friendly, knowledgeable service. Sadly, I had hoped to pick up some origami paper that was listed on their website, but it apparently had been removed from the product selection. Updating the website seems like a good bare minimum thing to do, especially in the COVID era. Thus the docked star. read more

Before the Culture Crawl I arrived at the store with a canvas that needed to be stretched. It was in poor condition - there were some areas that had wrinkled badly and some that were still smooth. I was reluctant to even ask Theresa to give it a try as I thought there was little hope. Didn't think it could ever be stretched over a frame successfully but she did it! Bit by bit I saw my painting be resurrected. Her perseverance and skill much appreciated. Thanks Theresa! read more

The type of store you wish existed at the corner of your neighbourhood not only for the supplies but for the genuine care and community feel it would bring to your street. This store reminds me of the 'old vancouver' where children could play freely outside and we all knew our neighbours. Like others, I'd rather shop here than the big box stores (that aren't even cheaper based on quality!). I bought my calligraphy nibs here and they sell them individually if you aren't looking for a set! read more

Incredible store--what I've been looking for in art supplies since I moved to Vancouver. So far, it is the only place I have found where you can purchase high quality bulk linen. In addition, Rath is now carrying my very favorite brand of oil paints: Williamsburg!! I'm in love. Also, as everyone else has noticed, the guy who runs the place (and presumably owns it) is super nice and helpful. read more

I love this store. The owner is knowledgeable, and will help each and every customer from a complete beginner to an expert. You feel very welcomed in the store. It's a small shop, and most of the supplies he sells are geared to painting, sketching, and illustration. But I can say for a fact that he only sells quality products. The best markers, sketch books, and paints. He can tell you about each brand and even when new shipments of your favorite markers will come in. Whenever I need markers Rath Arts is my go to stop. If I was rich I would probably buy everything in sight! read more

I bought a canvas painting from Peru no frame or stretcher bars. All rolled up in a cardboard tube. Theresa welcomed me with a great smile and a lot of knowledge. She did such a great job stretching and mounting it that there are no wrinkles or deformities. Will definitely go back there. Thanks Theresa! read more

Rath is incredible. The employees I've spoken to whether in person or over the phone are all very knowledgeable and if they don't have something in stock (although the selection is pretty good) they'll have a suggestion about where to find it. Lovely humans :) read more

Such an excellent store. The owner is adorable, very sweet, has a great sense of humour and great knowledge of everything I had questions about and well beyond that, suggesting this product over that one even though it was less expensive, recommending other local artists, etc. Had a fun and easy rapport with his staff too, a lovely thing to see. Can't recommend enough and can't wait to go back. Two big thumbs up! read more

Stan stretches canvas to perfection. Is always cool, calm and collected and single handedly works his store six days a week. I would rather pay full price and support this store than buy anything for a discount at one of those chain stores. I have never heard Stan say "Can't do it" and when I have really really needed something fast, he came through with flying colours. This store is a GEM and should be supported by every artist in Vancouver! read more

This place is very hidden and tucked away. I wanted to come in here for a specific type of paint as I wanted to support the mom and pop shop first before going to the major chains, however, they did not have what I was looking for. The shop owner was still none the less very helpful, kind and took the time out to point me in the right direction. It's rare to get customer service like this. read more

super nice guy, custom canvas.....small store but big appeal. (Forget STAPLES..shop local darnnnit) read more

Saw the great reviews here and decided to check it out. It is such a cute little store and the most friendly owner ever :D Even though small, it has pretty much has all the things I can possibly need. read more

This is a wonderful store for the serious artist. Stan, the owner, carries an excellent supply of high end paints and brushes, as well as more moderately priced art supplies, but still high quality. His stock of blank journals is the best in the city, in my opinion. For some reason, most journals are either hard cover with thick paper or spiral bound with thin paper. Not sure why. Rath Art Supplies has spiral bound with thick paper. Yay! If you need a canvas custom stretched, this is the place. Stan does work for most of the best artists in Vancouver. Knowledgeable and friendly owner, some supplies unique to Vancouver (and Canada!), dog friendly. Great place. read more

Really nice small, comfortable store to be in, the staffs were friendly but ignored me after I greeted her with a nod. I believe the owner was nicer and more friendly. But it could be my problem, who walks into an Art store with military camo pants and camera bag? To be honest I dont even look like an artist read more

Stan is the most valuable source for art supplies and information in Vancouver. I am a calligrapher and he has stuff you can't fine anywhere! Rath Art Supplies has something for any artist. I am so glad we have Stan! read more

There is nothing more that I LOVE than a True Authentic Art Store... This is it!!! Excellent customer service, a wealth of knowledge. Just a joy to walk in and out of this place. read more

I need high quality oil paints and this is were I get them. Rath carries Williamsburg and Michael Harding paints. High pigment and short buttery textured oils. Check it out on Main St. and support your local art store! read more

The owner (Stan) used to have a store in Hamilton, Ontario, and we were neighbours for many years. I'm glad to see he's doing well in Vancouver! read more

Been there many times. I found my favorite Air Brush colors there, as well this is where I usually go to get new pencils, ink and nibs, and the old man there has knowledge. Good deals as well. read more

I bought a can of paint here, and months later realized it was the wrong colour--a colour I knew I wouldn't be able to use for other projects. So I brought it back and asked if I could exchange it for the colour I originally wanted. I totally expected them to be like, "it's been too long", but they were super kind and all I had to do was pay the difference! I don't think you can get that kind of service anywhere else. read more

Stopped by, more out of curiosity, just before closing and had a great chat with the owner. Very charming place with great quality supplies.

I spoke to a guy named Stan. I am not sure if he is the owner. What a wonderful man. So kind and so helpful. Amazing prices and amazing service. Great value . I hope they can stay in business. I had some canvases stretched on frames! Best darn price in town. Everyone in Vancouver seems so lazy. They want $100.00 p/hr for their time. Stan is very fair and very reasonable. Make this your first stop before you go any where else. You won't be disappointed! Guaranteed. read more

Stan, the owner, is the best. Always helpful, patient and pleasant, it really is my fav. shop to buy supplies.

I was looking for a place to get my son's canvas art class project stretched and couldn't find any. I couldn't even find a place that sell stretching bars. I was referred to Rath Art by a friend of a friend. Luckily they were doing it! It took a lot longer than originally estimated (due to high amount of other projects he had to work on) but because I wasn't really in a hurry, I was okay with that. Will use them again. read more

When my boyfriend discovered that I used to paint eons ago, he immediately went out to Costco and purchased me an easel with paints and brushes. I was excited to try out this easel, as I hadn't actually used one before, maybe in art class in junior high but that nearly doesn't count. The only thing that didn't work for me were the brushes...yes, it does make a difference, especially if your confidence towards whether you can paint is on the line....So I wanted to purchase a few brushes to get myself started and without spending an arm and a leg. The gentlemen who I can only presume is Mr.Rath himself, had just sat down when I came in and proclaimed it was the first time during the day he had taken a rest, so I let him be for a bit before I bothered him with my brush request! He was very accommodating and knew exactly what I was saying: I didn't want to go ape and buy hundreds of dollars worth of brushes, just a few that would get me through until I remembered how to do all of this again. $20 later and I had a set of acrylic and watercolour brushes that will inspire me to have a go at it once more! Of course, Rath's carries every paint (Golden Artist Colours amongst a plethora of others) of oil, acrylic and watercolour varieties in just the colours you need along with all the tools, canvasses, brushes, paint thinner, drawing pencils and pastels, that you could need! read more

Super friendly and helpful staff. Although it's a smaller art store, they have pretty much everything I've ever needed. This place is now my go-to art store read more

A truly wonderful jewel in Vancouver! What a treat to go there, browse, chat and be inspired. Lovely guy!Small but excellent selection!

Stan runs an ethical business, offering quality merchandise and high end wood panels at the best prices in Vancouver. Plus he's a great guy who never promises what he can't deliver. Makes great custom sized panels. read more

What a great store. The super-nice guy (why don't we know his name?) is so lovely to chat to, and always has good advice. love it.

Stan carries an excellent selection of high quality paints (with a good pigment load and no fillers), brushes, calligraphy supplies, and other art supplies. I always get him to make my panels and they are reasonably priced and well made. read more

Very carefully curated selection with kind, knowledgeable, but not imposing help.

I recommend this store. I buy my sketchbooks here. He sells Heinz Jordan hardcover sketchbooks, made in Canada, open flat, all the sizes that I need: 11x14, 8 1/2x11, and 5x8. read more

great place to get paintings stretched or custom panels/canvases built. top quality service and product at affordable rates. stan most definitely is the man. read more