Guides

Name: Handy Mandy Craft Store
Address: 3 Morningside Drive, Morningside, Auckland, 1025, NZ
Price range: $ - $$

May 31, 2026

Spray Paint NZ: The Beginner's Guide to Picking, Prepping & Spraying Like a Pro
How to pick the right spray paint, prep your surface, and spray with a finish you're proud of. NZ-stocked Max Brand All Surface range from $9.99 — 17 colours, no primer needed.
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May 30, 2026

How to Choose the Right Canvas Size for NCEA Painting Major Work (NZ Artist Guide 2026)
A practical guide to choosing the right canvas size and format for your NCEA Level 1, 2 or 3 painting major work — covering folio composition, time-to-paint, transport, marking criteria, and what most NZ students get wrong.
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April 13, 2026

How to Choose the Right Canvas Size for Your Painting: NZ Artist's Guide
Quick answer: For most NZ beginners, a 30×40cm stretched canvas is the best starter size — large enough to feel like real art, small enough to finish in one session, and inexpensive at under $10. Portraits work best on 40×50cm;...
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April 12, 2026

Watercolour Starter Kit: Your Complete Guide to Beginning Watercolour Painting in New Zealand
Complete guide to starting watercolour painting in New Zealand. Covers essential supplies, techniques, colour mixing, and NZ landscape inspiration for beginners.

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Spray Paint NZ: The Beginner's Guide to Picking, Prepping & Spraying Like a Pro