THE market for artists’ supplies has been steadily expanding as an increasing number of children undergo training in how to paint, retailers said last week.

“Half our clients are children,” said Ko Min Swe Naing, an owner of Golden Tiger, a big Yangon supplier of wholesale and retail artists supplies and stationary in Pabedan township.

Ko Min Swe Naing said artists’ supplies sell best during the summer holidays from March and May when some children receive tuition in painting and others paint at home and during the winter season.

“Our sales have increased by one third at those times compared to the rainy season,” he told Myanmar Times.

He said many artists also prefer to paint during the summer and winter seasons rather than the rainy season.

U Min Swe Naing said there were no companies which specialised in importing artists’ supplies because of the investment required and the time needed to sell the products.

“Most suppliers go on buying trips to China, Thailand and Singapore so we can be sure of supplying the products that artists need,” he said.

He said most of the paint used by artists is made in China or Britain. Artists prefer paint made in China because it is up to five times cheaper than British products.

“About 80 per cent of my sales are China-made paint,” Ko Min Swe Naing said.
Another big supplier of artists’ supplies, U Maung Maung Than, whose Ka Ka Gyi shop is also in Pabedan township, said 90 per cent of his customers are artists and children.

The rest are wholesalers from outside Yangon, he said.
U Maung Maung Than said he relies on traders to meet his supply needs. The growing number of tutors and state and private schools offering painting lessons was good for business, he said.

“Many schools are including painting lessons in their curricula, which helps to maintain sales,” U Maung Maung Than said.