Buying Art Supplies In Winter

Living in Canada, we expect cold winters, but shipping art materials during freezing temperatures can be challenging. Extreme cold can affect the quality and performance of certain supplies. To help you shop wisely during the colder months, here are some practical tips.

Acrylic Paints and Ink

Acrylic paint is the most vulnerable to freezing temperatures, especially heavy-body acrylics that contain fewer stabilizing additives. Generally speaking, acrylics should not be exposed to temperatures below +5°C. At that point, the acrylic emulsion can begin to change its properties.

If acrylic paint freezes, the process is not reversible — the paint is permanently damaged.

Once frozen, the texture changes noticeably. The paint may feel thick, foamy, or chunky, and it won’t mix properly with other colours, water, or mediums. It also becomes difficult to spread smoothly, even on its own.

Acrylic ink is generally more tolerant of cold temperatures than acrylic paint. Thanks to additional stabilizing agents, it can handle temperatures below 0°C better than heavier acrylic products.

It’s also normal for acrylic ink to separate over time, regardless of temperature. In most cases, it can be fully reactivated with thorough shaking.

However, if the pigment appears unusually thick or sticky and does not reincorporate into the liquid — even after vigorous shaking and stirring — this may indicate that the acrylic binder has frozen. In that case, the ink is unfortunately no longer usable.

Gouache and Watercolours

Gouache and watercolours in tubes are typically made with gum arabic as a binder and often contain glycerin. Because of this, they are generally less sensitive to freezing than acrylics.

However, during the manufacturing process, additional agents may be added to prevent separation, stabilize the texture, and improve performance. Some of these additives can be sensitive to freezing temperatures. This issue is seen most often in paints made with certain organic pigments.

If the paint has been affected by cold, you may be able to revive it by mixing in a small amount of gum arabic solution. While this method does not always work, it is often worth trying before discarding the paint.

Watercolours in pans are generally not sensitive to freezing temperatures during transportation. Since they are already dry, cold weather does not significantly affect their performance. They can typically be purchased and shipped safely, even in winter conditions.

Alcohol Ink

The freezing point of most alcohol inks is below –20°C, so shipping them during the winter is usually not a concern.

Watercolour Ink

They can freeze easily, but in most cases they return to normal once fully thawed. However, packaging can become an issue. If the ink is stored in a glass bottle, freezing temperatures may cause problems. As water expands when it freezes, the bottle can crack or even shatter completely.

Oil Paints

Linseed oil has a freezing point of around –20°C, which is why oil paints are generally safe to ship during the winter. The oil may become slightly cloudy or foggy when exposed to freezing temperatures, but it typically returns to its normal consistency once it warms back up to room temperature.

Markers

Depending on what they are based: alcohol, water or acrylic – see above.

Other Art Supplies

Dry supplies, such as pastels, pencils, charcoal, and similar materials, are not affected by winter temperatures and can be shipped safely during cold weather.

We minimize the risk of freezing during transportation by packing our goods with extra paper padding, which provides effective insulation. Both Canada Post and Purolator pick up shipments directly from our door and deliver parcels straight to sorting facilities. However, during long-distance transport, items can still be exposed to freezing temperatures.