Mont Marte Art Supplies: NZ Artist's Guide
Short answer: Mont Marte is an Australian art supply brand, and most of its range sits in a few named lines. For learning, buy Signature. For paintings you want to keep or give away, buy Premium. Discovery is the cheapest line, good for kids and practice. Studio covers value tools and canvas in bulk. Handy Mandy carries the Mont Marte range in depth from our base in Morningside, Auckland, and ships NZ-wide with free shipping over $75.
Which Mont Marte range should I buy?
| Line | Who it suits | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery | Kids, classrooms, practice and sketching | Discovery Sketch Pad A4, $5.99 |
| Signature | Beginners and hobby painters who want to learn without worrying about waste | Signature Acrylic 75ml, $2.99 |
| Premium | Paintings you plan to keep, gift or sell; NCEA folio work | Premium Satin Acrylic 75ml, from $3.99 |
| Studio | Bulk brushes, canvas and tools for classes or heavy users | Studio Artist Brushes 15pc, $8.99 |
Prices are as at November 2026. The lines mix happily, so you can start on Signature and add Premium colours later without starting over.
Acrylic paint: Signature, Premium Satin or Dimension?
This is the question we get most.
- Signature is the learner's paint. It's cheap enough that you can over-mix, wipe back and paint over a bad canvas without wincing.
- Premium Satin carries more pigment, so you get stronger colour from less paint. It levels out as it dries and leaves a soft sheen.
- Premium Dimension is thick. It holds brush marks and palette knife ridges. The 250ml tubs make sense for big folio boards.
We go through every line in detail in Best Acrylic Paint NZ: Every Mont Marte Line Compared, and against other brands in Mont Marte vs Reeves vs Winsor & Newton.
Is Mont Marte good quality?
For the price, yes. It isn't professional artist-grade paint, and it doesn't pretend to be. What you get is consistent student and hobby quality at prices that let you practise. If you already paint every week and know you want a specific artist-grade pigment, you may outgrow parts of the range. Most of our customers don't, and plenty of experienced painters keep Signature for underpainting and Premium for the final layers.
The honest trade-off: the cheapest sets in any brand use less pigment, and you'll notice it on light colours over dark. If coverage matters, step up to Premium for those colours rather than buying a bigger set.
What else is in the range?
- Brushes: sets for acrylic, watercolour and oil, from Discovery to Signature. See paint brushes.
- Canvas: stretched canvas, panels and pads in most common sizes. See single thick canvas.
- Watercolour, oils and gouache: starter sets and tubes. See watercolour paint.
- Clay: air dry clay and Make n Bake polymer clay. See air dry clay and polymer clay.
- Drawing: sketchbooks, visual diaries, pencils, charcoal and markers.
Where to buy Mont Marte in New Zealand
You can buy Mont Marte online from Handy Mandy. We're a small Auckland shop, we dispatch in 1 to 3 working days, and shipping is free across NZ on orders over $75. Browse the full Mont Marte art supplies NZ range, or email info@handymandy.co.nz if you're not sure which line suits what you're making.
FAQ
Is Mont Marte a New Zealand brand?
No. Mont Marte is an Australian brand. We're a New Zealand-owned shop that stocks it.
What's the difference between Mont Marte Signature and Premium?
Premium has more pigment and better coverage. Signature is cheaper and made for learning and practice. They can be mixed together.
Is Mont Marte paint safe for kids?
Many Mont Marte paints, including the poster paint and Signature acrylics, are labelled non-toxic and water-based. Check the label on the product you're buying, and supervise young children. Acrylic stains once dry.
Which Mont Marte set is best for a beginner?
A small Signature acrylic set, a basic brush set and a few canvas panels. Our beginner and starter kits put those together.