Art supplies, made in Canada.
Tri-Art Manufacturing is Canada's largest professional artist paint manufacturer. Every jar, tube, and bottle is formulated, milled, and packaged in our 100,000 square foot facility in Kingston, Ontario. By artists, for artists, since 1994.
Canadian-made art supplies, explained.
Choosing Canadian-made art supplies supports more than your next painting. Here's what your purchase actually pays for.
Local Craft
Skilled work in a Canadian factory that has specialized in artist materials for over three decades. Real jobs, in real communities, paid at a real living wage.
Quality Control
With research, development, and production all in one place, we test, refine, and improve formulations quickly. No outsourcing, no white-label, no compromise.
Responsible Production
Reduced waste, efficient raw material use, and durable products built to perform for the long term. Custom grey-water recycling, on-site PETE re-harvested mediums.
Shorter Supply Chain
Less time on shipping containers, more time in your studio. Fresher product, faster restocking, no transatlantic logistics surprises.
Every step of the process, in one building.
Tri-Art is a working manufacturer, not a brand layered on top of a contract producer. Pigments are ground in Kingston. Paint is milled in Kingston. Bottles are blow-molded in Kingston. Tubes are filled and labeled in Kingston. Substrates are assembled in Kingston.
By keeping every department under one roof, we control the spec on every batch and the timing of every run. The same six-department setup that has been milling paint here for thirty years.
- Formulated and manufactured in Kingston, Ontario
- Small-batch production for consistent quality
- In-house pigment grinding and dispersion
- Rigorous testing for colour strength, permanence, and performance
Every level. Every studio.
Starting out.
- Accessible price points without cutting corners on quality
- Reliable handling for learning techniques
- Colours that mix cleanly and stay vibrant
Working artists.
- High pigment loads for strong, saturated colour
- Smooth, consistent rheology across all viscosities
- Archival quality formulations, ASTM D4236 certified
Teaching spaces.
- Canadian-made materials suitable for classrooms
- Large sizes and efficient formats for group use
- Consistent quality year after year, batch after batch
Built for Canadian conditions.
Artists in Canada work in every climate, from coastal humidity in Vancouver and Halifax to dry studio air in winter Saskatoon. Tri-Art paints are formulated with these real-world conditions in mind.
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Stable across temperature swings.Acrylics that cure properly and remain flexible whether you're working in a damp basement studio or a sun-warmed loft.
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Mediums for variable humidity.Drying-time control mediums that compensate for the dry winter / humid summer cycle most Canadian studios deal with.
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Durable paint films.Performs well in both home studios and public spaces. Tested across the same temperature range our shipping department sees year-round.
Canadian paint, global reach.
Tri-Art products ship to independent art stores, studios, and classrooms in over 30 countries. For Canadian artists, that means our manufacturing here represents Canadian craft on the world stage. For international customers, it means a paint built to a North American standard at a Canadian price.
Made-in-Canada questions.
Are Tri-Art paints really made in Canada?
Yes. Every Tri-Art product is researched, developed, and manufactured in our facility at 18 St Remy Place, Kingston, Ontario. Pigments are ground on-site, paint is milled on-site, bottles are blow-molded on-site, and tubes are filled and labeled on-site. We are Ontario Made certified and a Living Wage Network certified employer.
Do you ship across Canada?
Yes. We ship to every Canadian province and territory. Free shipping is included on orders over $89. Most orders ship the same or next business day from our Kingston facility, so artists from coast to coast get product fresh from the line.
Are your products professional quality?
We manufacture a range of lines for different needs. Our High Viscosity, Liquid, and Low Viscosity acrylics are professional artist-grade with high pigment loads, single-pigment formulations where colour permits, and ASTM D4236 lightfastness ratings on every label. Rheotech is our student-grade line, formulated with the same care for pigment quality and consistency at a more accessible price point.
How does Tri-Art compare to Golden or Liquitex?
Tri-Art's professional acrylic lines are functionally comparable to Golden and Liquitex's professional lines in viscosity, pigment load, and lightfastness. The major difference is point of manufacture: Golden is made in New Berlin, NY; Liquitex is owned by ColArt and manufactured in Belgium and the UK; Tri-Art is made in Kingston, Ontario. We've also published a switch map for artists transitioning brands.
Are you wholesale and retailer friendly?
Yes. We partner with independent art retailers, school supply distributors, and educational institutions across Canada and internationally. Our wholesale division (Tri-Art Distribution) handles direct retail accounts. Contact us through our website to discuss carrying Tri-Art product.
Where can I see the factory?
We have an interactive factory map and full production photo tour on our About Us page. Industry visitors and wholesale partners are welcome to tour the Kingston facility by appointment.