Eckersley’s

Confession. I am an adult colouring in fan. Yep. I’ve taken to that buzz word trend like a duck to water. And along with this new found hobby I’ve discovered how the *right* pencils are of vital importance to the process.
Hence my visit to Eckersley’s. Located off Park Road in Milton, there’s a few parking spaces at the front of the store but you’re best to try and find a street park.
The store is small but stocks an array of art suppliers that cater to the serious artist or dabbler. There’s visual art diaries, charcoals, Fimo, inks, paints and more. I sense that even if they didn’t have it in stock they’d seek to order it in for you.
Lucky for me, there’s at least a quarter wall dedicated to colour pencils. Stocking the most well known names like Derwent and Faber-​Castel, you’ll probably find yourself giddy with excitement choosing different colours (from the loose pencils) and deliberating about the best value tinned collections to purchase.
All in all, Eckersley’s is one of those places to always remember for arts and crafts projects. Chances are they’ll have just what you’re looking for.

I frequent Eckersley’s in the CBD more regularly however I found this one at Milton only recently and I am glad I did.
I love the CBD location and have spent many a lunch hour admiring all the material however the Milton location is easier to get to on a weekend, the parking is average but at least it’s not the city. It is also a much larger store and therefore has more ‘stuff’. I love stuff! Papers, pastels, pens — it’s all good. I don’t always technically need it, but it’s fun to look at all the same.
Eckersley’s is a fantastic resource for stocking up on graphic design supplies such as boards, pens, markers and colour books and an even better place to go if you need some artistic inspiration.

When doing graphic design or illustrations for bands and other promotion companies, I always make an excuse to go to Eckersley’s in Milton. To myself, I rationalise its because I can claim the expenses back on tax. The truth is I love to go there and check out the cornucopia of artist tools on stock.
To this day I have a wardrobe full of different paper types, lead pencils and acrylic crayons that helps in the creation of artistic pieces both personal and professional. If there is something that I need, more than often, unless it’s a really hard to get item, Eckersley’s will have it in stock.
The store is more than just a Valhalla for visual artists, they have plenty of items and tools in store that are regularly bought by architects, designers and print press operators. Simply, anything that you can imagine, you can bring to life by visiting this store.
I have found that the advantage of visiting Eckersley, over a mass chain found in shopping centres, is that they will have what you need. Secondly the quality of the products is second to none, outlasting all inferior items.
If you do go to the Milton store, be expected to struggle when finding a park. Eckersley’s has only have two spots out the front and the Park Road area where it’s situated in is notorious for snaky drivers. It’s the quick and the dead there.

I didn’t even realise this shop existed and I would never have if I had not been walking aimlessly around the streets of Milton in search of ice cream. I walked in here wondering what it was exactly and to my amazement, it was an arts and crafts store!
I have a secret vice for places like Eckersley’s because I love art, sketching, drawing, painting with acryllic, with oil… not that I’m any good at it, I did study art for 12 years of school so that’s got to count for something, if not an appreciation for art supplies.
They have a great range of paints and paint brushes, paper, scissors, scrap book accessories, canvasses, pencils from 2B to 4H… different sketch books and the like. It’s an artists dream shop, very cool indeed. Sure there is always the Art Riot shops around the bigger shopping centres, but these are more specialty ones that are rare and hard to find, and I found one!
Definetely worth a go if you’re looking for an art specific item, the bags they put your purchases in are very pretty, environmental friendly, very big too… the staff are extremely helpful and friendly. I have gone back a few times since my first encounter and I will be going back in the future.