When I am feeling artistic, there is nothing I like better than making a huge mess with a bunch of…read morebrightly coloured soft pastels. I have been through a few different brands. My favourite is Winsor & Newton but they are not always easy to find. Lucky me for, Eckersley's always has them in stock and a really decent selection of colours too plus a range of paper stocks in different colours and textures. Being a I designer by trade, I have bought so much stuff from here! If they do not have Pantone swatch books in store, they are happy to order one in for you, although they do not have a huge range. They certainly have enough to get you started though. the markers and pens are good quality and again, enough to get you started.

Like most aspiring artists who tend to think about art as opposed to actually making art, I'm a…read morenotorious hoarder of art supplies. Having scoured Brisbane and beyond looking for art equipment, I can confidently say Eckersley's in the city has the widest range for painting, pastels and drawing. Their supplies are limited for sculptors and ceramicists but this tends to be a niche market anyway with their own suppliers. Their craft section is surprisingly decent with a beautiful range of handcrafted paper. I ended up buying my wedding invitation paper here and attending one of their cheap card making workshops for inspiration. The workshop facilitator was friendly and full of practical advice. While these workshops are not for experts, they're good fun for the casual hobbyist or the lazy, aspiring artist.

Not only are you getting to wander through the beautifully restored Brisbane City Hall, but you're…read morealso seeing some of Brisbane's coolest handmade 'everythings'. From the colourful resin brooches, necklaces and rings from Each To Own to letter press cards and air plant holders - there's really something for everyone at these markets. It's an easy way to spend Saturday morning, and if you're not careful, an easy way to spend some of your weekend spending money! Depending on your frame of mind you can spend hours visiting each stall or opt for a quick 20mins doing a spin around the 3 rooms.

I'm not a very 'arty' person. I know this because I'll be impressed by most artworks I see (while…read moreother more discerning people screw up their faces) and the only thing I can draw with consistency is Homer Simpson's head. But I have found myself at this 'artists' art shop' on a a couple of occasions and found it really useful. The first time was to get some paint to cover up a scratch at an old rental property (which shall remain nameless). I took a photo of the paint and the staff happily helped me match it to a suitable paint. Thanks guys -- I got the whole security deposit back! The other occasion went to get some wrapping paper for a wedding gift. Turns out you can get brown craft paper for 80 cents/metre, which figures out much cheaper than buying wrapping paper at other shops. #WINNING!

This place is heaven for the next budding Picasso or Matisse. Stocking a vast amount of canvases,…read moreeasels, water colours, paints, glitter and stencils at wholesale prices (A.K.A. ridiculously cheap!). Whether you're young or not-quite-so-young, this place has all your arty needs catered for. There are stacks of body and face paints, as well as rows upon rows of calico. They advertise art classes around Brisbane, such as life drawing, photography workshops and they even host kids' creative workshops. So it's well worth dropping in to see what's happening in the art world in and around Brisbane.

Since GoMA opened nearly five years ago, the original Queensland Art Gallery tends to get…read moreoverlooked. If you browse in the QAG now, you'll be one of the only ones but it's still full of some wonderful art - just not the contemporary kind. Because of this, the QAG store (which was already tucked away in a little corner) isn't as busy as it once was and thus their quantity of stock has diminished. The quality of their stock is still nice. They have lots of beautiful art books, postcards, calendars, notebooks, as well as some jewellery, knick-knacks, and souvenirs. They don't have as much stock as the GoMA shop, but they offer things you can't get there. If you're looking for a book about pre-modern art, you'll find it here rather than at the GoMA shop and that's what keeps the QAG store relevant. Also, in the areas where their stock does overlap, if the GoMA shop is sold out the QAG store probably won't be. The QAG store has some comfy chairs where you can sit and look at their books, and it's much quieter than the hectic GoMA shop so you can linger over the books for ages without being in the way.

Great products and customer service. They were very prompt on emails and with dispatched my order…read morein a timely matter. Would order again.

I get the heebie geebies when I go into Oxlades Art Centre. I can almost guarantee that if I leave…read moreempty handed (a rarity), I will at least leave Oxlades with the curiosity and inspiration to propel myself into some mysterious artistic tangent that I've stumbled upon while being there. Trawling their three small aisles full of art bounty, I am constantly surprised at what I find in there. You've got a truckload of different pens, pencils, charcoal, graphite, crayons, chalk and paints in there to choose from of course. These are art store staples. On the note of painting: painters will be interested to know that Oxlades sell a big range of canvas (just enquire at the desk rather than whipping out the pocket knife and going for it yourself). Back to browsing. It becomes more interesting when you move into sculpting territory. They've got bulk wax, plaster, resin, and all sorts of sculpting things that I don't know the name or nature of. There's also a wide range of supplies available to print makers and those into etching. Glorious art stuffs be mine! If you become inspired by some unidentifiable medium or material, ask the staff at the counter. They are extremely knowledgable and helpful. They also have a small book collection on different art practices if you want to just sit down with a book and teach yourself through wild experimentations. Go on: I dare you to go in there and get curious. Start playing!

For a stationery addict like myself, kikki.K is a dangerous place. Their wares can be a tad on the…read morepricey side, but they often have sale items (I got 3-for-2 lists/planners today, nngh so good) and if you're a "strong of will" sort - or can get someone to hold your wallet - then even window-shopping in kikki.K can be a delight. The stores are always clean and bright and well laid-out, and the new Carindale store is no exception. kikki.K is one of the stores that should have been a part of Westfield Carindale ages ago, so thank goodness for the additional space in the new section. The staff are a delight, very helpful and friendly; I had a great chat with the girl who ended up serving me today. kikki.K's more than just stationery - they're gung-ho about organisation, to the point where you can attend workshops and consultations related to organising your life. Uh, I'm interested, but I'm all out of cash - do they barter?

The Queensland Centre for Photography is a lovely, neat space. There's usually five small to medium…read moreexhibitions on inside at any point in time, and a display of photographs that can be seen from outside the gallery. My favourite thing about this gallery is its medium size. There's variety but it's not so big that you feel a need to rush through to see everything, as often happens with bigger national galleries. Based on how few people I see in here, I'd say QCP is off most people's radar, but it's definitely worth the short stroll from West End or South Bank if you get the chance.

The Queensland Centre for Photography (or QCP as it is often reffered to), is an art gallery that…read morefocus on showcasing of many Australia photographers' works. I have been to a few QCP exhibitions, including openings and have found that although I do not always find the work particularly amazing, it does show case some good photography overall. The photography displayed here is very varied, sometimes they showcase some beautiful experimental abstract work but other times they showcase work that is not that special (at least not to me). I suppose what they are trying to do is keep their range broad so that there is something for everyone which is fair enough- what I find appealing to the eye may not be to someone else. The exhibition space itself is a very suitable size for the number of works they showcase at a time. It is fairly intimate comprising a few rooms small rooms to help divide each artists' work. It can get a little bit crowded during openings but that is a given for a gallery space of this size. I do not know of many art galleries in Brisbane that focus on photography but apart from the QCP. I believe it is a good exhibition space to visit to anyone who is a fan of photography.

The Gallery of Modern Art was the perfect rainy day activity. From the interactive experiences, to…read morethe moving art installations, it was a captivating and immersive experience. The tickets were fairly reasonable, the workers were kind and welcoming and the selection of art was amazing.

Mostly referred to as the GOMA, this art museum is a great place to learn about different styles…read moreand modes of artistic creation. The facility itself is superb, with multiple floors to view. Also, it has many spaces for quiet reflection or purposeful concentration. FREE! That is right-- this Museum is free so take advantage of its collections. Even just a small amount of time walking through a few of the exhibits can be a wonderful way to take a break.