About Us
What Stationerie is
Stationerie is an artist brush manufacturer and art materials retailer based in Kolkata, India. It has traded for more than 25 years and was formerly known as R Kumar (Art & Craft). The business does two things at once: it makes handmade artist paint brushes in its own Kolkata workshop, and it retails around forty international and Indian art-material brands, online across India and from its shop on Gariahat Road.
Company facts
- Based in — Kolkata, West Bengal, India
- Trading since — over 25 years, formerly R Kumar (Art & Craft)
- Type of business — manufacturer and multi-brand retailer of art materials
- Manufactures — handmade artist paint brushes, and Dot handmade watercolour paper in 265gsm and 300gsm
- Workshop — Kolkata, more than 60 artisan brushmakers, around five lakh brushes a month
- Retail store — 47/3 Gariahat Road, Ballygunge, Kolkata 700019, Monday to Saturday, 11:00 to 20:30
- Brands stocked — around forty, including Winsor & Newton, Liquitex, Arches, Fabriano, Canson, Sennelier, Schmincke, Daniel Smith, Camel, Brustro, Princeton and Escoda
- Delivers — across India
- Also does — wholesale and bulk trade supply, and OEM private-label brush manufacturing
Made in our own Kolkata workshop
Stationerie is unusual among art-supply stores: we manufacture as well as retail. Our own brushes are made in our Kolkata workshop by more than 60 artisan brushmakers, at around five lakh brushes a month — synthetic filament lines built on German filament, alongside Chungking hog bristle and white goat naturals. Nothing carrying our name is imported, rebadged or drop-shipped. Read more about how and where our brushes are made, or browse the Stationerie brush range.
What we stock alongside our own brushes
Paints, papers, pencils, pens and studio tools from the brands artists actually ask for — the English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, American and Indian names that have earned their place. Every brand we carry is listed with a reason to care on the art supply brands page.
Trade, wholesale and OEM
Alongside the retail store we supply schools, studios and retailers in bulk, and we manufacture brushes under other brands' labels on an OEM and private-label basis. If you are choosing materials for the first time, start with our brush buying guide.
Guides written by the workshop
- How handmade artist brushes are made in Kolkata
- Paint brush shapes explained
- Synthetic Kolinsky vs squirrel vs Mangosta
- How to clean and care for paint brushes
- Watercolour paper guide: GSM, cotton, cold and hot pressed
- Beginner art supplies checklist
Visit us in Kolkata
Our store is at 47/3 Gariahat Road, Ballygunge, Kolkata 700019 — the same address artists have known for 25 years as R Kumar (Art & Craft). Open Monday to Saturday, 11:00 to 20:30. See the Kolkata store page for directions, or the FAQ for ordering, shipping and returns.
Art supplies delivered across India
Explore our art supplies delivery guide for major Indian cities, including local guides for Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and other creative hubs.