At-a-glance comparison (short verdict)

• Dick Blick — Best one-stop selection and competitive prices; mixed customer-service reports but fast shipping options. BLICK Art Materials+1
• Trekell — Smaller, specialty supplier (brushes, panels) with quick fulfillment and boutique service; good for high-quality brushes. Trekell Art Supplies+1
• Natural Pigments — Specialist for rare pigments & conservation materials; mid-speed shipping, some mixed delivery/refund reviews. naturalpigments.com+2naturalpigments.com+2
• Rosemary & Co (Rosemary Brushes) — Boutique brush-maker with strong product reputation and solid shipping policies out of the UK; generally positive reviews. rosemaryandco.com+2rosemaryandco.com+2
• Jerry’s Artarama — Large discount retailer with competitive prices and frequent sales; customer-service/fulfillment complaints appear in some reviews. Trustpilot+1
• Dakota Art Pastels — Specialist pastel retailer with excellent selection for pastels and generally positive service/reviews. Great for pastel-specific shopping. Dakota Pastels+1
• Arteza — Mass-market direct-to-consumer brand with budget prices and a satisfaction guarantee; mixed Trustpilot/BBB review scores (some product & fulfillment complaints). Good for low-cost tools/sets. Better Business Bureau+1

Detailed comparison (by store)

1) Dick Blick (Blick Art Materials)

• Selection: Very large — supplies across every major media, brand name and Blick’s own lines; suitable for professionals and schools.
• Customer service: Corporate support and help pages; many customers report satisfactory support but there are publicly visible complaints (BBB/Trustpilot) about specific service/fulfillment incidents. BLICK Art Materials+1
• Prices: Competitive — frequent promotions and sales; bulk/educational pricing available. BLICK Art Materials
• Shipping times: Multiple shipping options; estimated delivery and promotional free-shipping thresholds listed on their site. Typical e-commerce lead times (expedited available). BLICK Art Materials
• Customer reviews: Mixed overall — many satisfied customers (selection/prices), but a moderate number of negative service/fulfillment complaints on BBB/Trustpilot. Trustpilot+1

Good if: you want one-stop shopping and name-brand choices.
Caveat: if you need white-glove service or guaranteed delivery windows, check current lead times and call customer service first.

2) Trekell

• Selection: Focused/boutique — specialty brushes, panels and a curated set of supplies rather than a huge marketplace. Trekell Art Supplies
• Customer service: Emphasizes craftsmanship and artisan support; FAQ and direct contact available. Trekell Art Supplies
• Prices: Mid-to-premium for higher-quality tools (not discount mass-market). Trekell Art Supplies
• Shipping times: Most orders ship within 24 hours (site states most shipments leave within 24 hours; some custom/made-to-order items 2–3 days). Good for fast fulfillment on in-stock items. Trekell Art Supplies+1
• Customer reviews: Fewer broad third-party reviews (smaller/boutique), but site and community comments emphasize quality and decent service. Trekell Art Supplies+1

Good if: you want high-quality brushes/panels and quick fulfillment on standard items.

3) Natural Pigments

• Selection: Niche specialist — historical/artist pigments, conservation materials, handmade binders and specialty supplies (rare/period pigments). Excellent for conservation, encaustic, historic techniques. naturalpigments.com
• Customer service: Business provides direct support and policies on site; because products are niche, staff knowledge tends to be specialized. naturalpigments.com
• Prices: Generally higher than mass-market because of specialized, small-batch materials and rare pigments. They do list free-shipping options/thresholds. naturalpigments.com
• Shipping times: Orders processed on business days; orders after cutoff ship next business day — expect normal small-business fulfillment timing (not same-day for every item). naturalpigments.com
• Customer reviews: Mixed — enthusiasts praise selection and unique items; some reviewers report delivery or refund hassles (see Yelp/other consumer posts). Yelp

Good if: you need rare pigments, historical materials or conservation-grade supplies.
Caveat: prepare for higher prices and double-check shipping/return rules for delicate or expensive items.

4) Rosemary & Co (Rosemary Brushes)

• Selection: Specialized — professional-grade brushes with many series (artist brushes for oils/acrylics/watercolors and miniatures). rosemaryandco.com
• Customer service: Clear shipping and customer-service pages; UK-based operations with explicit shipping tables and lead-time guidance. Reviews on site/Trustpilot are generally positive. rosemaryandco.com+1
• Prices: Mid-to-premium depending on series — priced for professional users but competitive for handmade/quality brushes. rosemaryandco.com
• Shipping times: Stated delivery windows (standard 5–7 days, priority 2–3 days, overnight options with pricing). UK location may affect international transit times. rosemaryandco.com
• Customer reviews: Mostly positive product feedback (feel, longevity) on Trustpilot and niche forums (Reddit hobby threads also praise them). Trustpilot+1

Good if: you want high-quality handmade brushes and consistent brush series. International buyers should check delivery options/costs.

5) Jerry’s Artarama

• Selection: Large-range discount art retailer — paints, canvases, student and pro lines, plus frequent promotions. Trustpilot
• Customer service: Corporate support; publicly available complaints include slow fulfillment or long wait times in some cases. BBB and Trustpilot show mixed experiences. Better Business Bureau+1
• Prices: Often competitive/discounted — lots of sales, bundle deals, and house-brand options. Good value for hobbyists and students. Trustpilot
• Shipping times: Standard e-commerce shipping with promotions; some customer reports indicate occasional delays or packing/fulfillment mix-ups. Better Business Bureau
• Customer reviews: Mixed — many happy bargain shoppers, but visible complaints about slower-than-promised delivery and customer-service handling for urgent orders. Trustpilot+1

Good if: you’re price-sensitive and want bargains; avoid if you absolutely need guaranteed fast delivery without checking current fulfillment status.

6) Dakota Art Pastels

• Selection: Specialist pastel retailer — large selection of pastel brands, open stock, papers and pastel accessories. Strong niche inventory. Dakota Pastels
• Customer service: Site-hosted customer testimonials and a reviews section showing many satisfied customers praising packaging and speed. Direct contact info is well displayed. Dakota Pastels+1
• Prices: Mid-range; frequent sales and set discounts for pastel materials. Specialist stock may be pricier for rare items, but generally competitive for pastels. Dakota Pastels
• Shipping times: Generally positive reports about timely fulfillment and careful packaging; specific policy pages list shipping options. Dakota Pastels+1
• Customer reviews: Generally positive in their own review pages/Yelp; customers praise selection and care of packaging. Dakota Pastels+1

Good if: you’re a pastelist and want the deepest selection and good specialist service.

7) Arteza

• Selection: Mass-market brand and retailer — affordable art kits, markers, paints and beginner supplies. Sells directly DTC and through marketplaces. Trustpilot
• Customer service: Offers a 30-day satisfaction guarantee/return policy; however, Trustpilot/BBB show mixed reviews about fulfillment and product expectations. Better Business Bureau+1
• Prices: Budget-friendly — very competitive for starter kits and large multi-packs. Good value for casual or beginner use. Trustpilot
• Shipping times: Standard DTC shipping; expectations vary by region — check the current checkout estimates for your address. Better Business Bureau
• Customer reviews: Mixed — many buyers happy with value, but a noticeable number of complaints about product quality variance and delivery/returns friction. Trustpilot+1

Good if: you want low-cost starter sets or large-volume beginner supplies. Not the first choice for archival/professional materials.

Short buying recommendations

• Big selection & one-stop: Dick Blick. Good if you want brand choices and school/large orders. BLICK Art Materials+1
• Best brushes: Trekell or Rosemary & Co (Trekell for quick US fulfillment on stocked items; Rosemary for longstanding brush lines). Trekell Art Supplies+1
• Best for rare/historical materials: Natural Pigments. naturalpigments.com
• Pastel specialists: Dakota Art Pastels. Dakota Pastels
• Budget/Starter kits: Arteza or sale sections at Jerry’s Artarama. Trustpilot+1