Behind every product, you'll find us.
We've dedicated years to honing our craft, just like you.
Our mission is to serve as the trusted brand of choice and be a catalyst for inspiration, community, and accessibility for artists all over the world.
our story
Together we make
"Together, We Make" was created to celebrate the interconnectedness and mutual inspiration shared not only among our Speedball team but also with the artists we serve. Every product we make reflects our deep investment in people—whether through innovation shaped by artist insights or the craftsmanship in each hand-tooled, inspected, and packed item. We are individuals committed to engaging our communities across specialties and techniques in ways that are genuine, meaningful, and spark trust and creativity. This connection helps us better serve our customers, as our team—many of whom dedicate decades to perfecting their craft—continues to deliver the consistent, high-quality tools you rely on. These collaborations will carry us into the future, and it’s only together that we can truly make something special.
A legacy of art
Over 125 years of innovation and dedication to the art community
Speedball’s rich history of manufacturing fine art materials began in Camden, NJ in 1899. Since that time, Speedball’s offerings have grown and evolved but our dedication to providing our customers with superior products and service at an affordable price remains the same.
C. Howard Hunt Pen Company begins the tradition of fine pen-making that is still alive at Speedball today. Boasting impressive operations, the Hunt Pen Company was capable of producing almost 45,000 pens a day and shipping 25 pens per minute.
Hunt is purchased by George E. Bartol, whose family would retain control over the company for much of the twentieth century.
Patents filed for the A-Series nib by Ross F. George and William
Partnering with Ross F. George, C. Howard Hunt Pen Company releases the first broad edge lettering tool of its kind, the Speedball A-Series Pen Nib.
Ross F. George creates the first edition of The Speedball Textbook, Presenting the Speedball Pen. This 40-page booklet sold for a mere 50 cents.
The Speedball B-Series nib is released.
C. Howard Hunt Pen Company begins manufacture of today’s most popular broad edge Speedball nib, The C-Series.
Engaging in its first of many large acquisitions, Hunt purchases the Boston Pencil Sharpener Company.
Hunt becomes the first large manufacturer of linoleum block printing supplies.
Hunt introduces pen points made of a non-stainless-steel alloy. This innovation helped the company maintain its market share throughout the war years and the late 1940s.
Hunt Pen Company moves its manufacturing from Camden, NJ to its current home in Statesville, NC.
Hunt Pen Company officially changes name to Hunt Manufacturing Company and moves its administrative offices from Camden, NJ to Philadelphia, PA.
Hunt begins to manufacture high-quality screen printing products.
Walt Glazer successfully leads the purchase of Speedball Art Products from Hunt Manufacturing.
Speedball Art Products develops its impressive range of lead-free underglazes and glazes.
Speedball acquires the Houston Art Company, adding well-known brands like Pink Soap and the Mona Lisa Metal Leaf lines to it offerings.
Speedball Art Products acquires Creative Industries and becomes the proud manufacturer of the Artista and Boss Series Pottery Wheels.
Bienfang Artist Paper brand purchased from Elmer’s Products, Inc.
Furthering its commitment to offering innovative, professional-quality printmaking inks, Speedball adds the Akua line to its brand family. Fabric Block Printing Inks become available in 14 colors and a Transparent Base.
European milled Arnhem 1618 printmaking paper added to the Speedball offering.
Speedball Professional Screen Printing Tools are launched and the centennial edition of The Speedball Textbook is published.
Speedball begins manufacturing Speedball Professional Relief Inks and also adds Speedball Gel Printing Plates and Calligraphy Fountain Pens to its offerings.
Speedball proudly announced the addition of Best-Test adhesives and adhesive removers to its offerings in late 2016 and begins manufacturing and distributing the products in early 2017.
Speedball announces its purchase of Global Art Materials, the owner of such brands as Fluid and Fluid 100 Watercolor papers, Handbook Travel and Watercolor Journals, Quattro, and Pastel Premier. In addition to manufacturing these great lines, Speedball becomes the exclusive North American distributor of Escoda, ArtGraf, Folia and P.H. Coate Willow Charcoal. All operations move from the home of Global Art Materials, Kansas City, MO, to Statesville, NC and shipments begin in July of the same year.
In the midst of the pandemic, Speedball rallied around its artists and created Print Posse. Led by Bill Fick and Carlos Hernandez, we launched 15 custom ink + paper colors and an ink additive. We also partnered with artist Aftyn Shah of Rise & Wander to help create a customized relief printing kit to complement her online workshop series.
Building on its artist-led philosophies, Speedall partners with Nancy Sowder to launch Mid-Fire Glazes. With a committment to accessibility, Speedball partners with Rich Brown to launch the Boss Base. The innovative Flex Fabric Screen Printing Inks are also launched in 11 colors with an unrivaled opacity.
Speedball launches a new line of vibrant India Inks in 12 dazzling colors, the first to offer traditional working properties in a fully vegan formulation.
Speedball adds the iconic Silicoil Brush Cleaning System, a product renowned for revolutionizing brush care, into its family of products. Building on our commitment to accessibility, Boss Ribs are launched in partnership with artist Jennifer Whilden.
Crafted in Statesville, NC, USA – Trusted by Artists Since 1899
At Speedball, we take pride in producing high-quality fine art materials at our U.S.-based manufacturing and distribution headquarters in Statesville, North Carolina. For over a century, we’ve remained committed to delivering superior products and exceptional value to artists of all levels.
Small but mighty
Our people make the difference
Speedball not only works to deliver superior quality products to the artists it serves, but also hopes to foster an environment that allows its employees to cultivate the best for themselves-both inside and outside of Speedball’s doors. This employee-centric atmosphere attracts just the kind of people you’d want to have creating materials for you—those who are devoted to doing their best each and every day, many of whom who have dedicated most, if not all, of their careers to mastering their crafts at Speedball.
Core values
Integrity
Ethical, responsible, and fair in all stakeholder relationships
Kham S.
Leading most of our new wire-bound production in Paper, Kham is always dependable and results-driven.
Care
We take pride in our work and never settle for good enough
Tiffany L.
A key member of our Shipping team, Tiffany has a superior attention to detail and is committed to doing things right the first time.
Service
We prioritize others by sharing our knowledge and offering our time freely
Camilo R.
Camilo consistently shares his expertise + recommendations with the Shipping team to improve operations and offer support.
Grit
Perseverance, passion, and a drive for results.
Sean M.
Sean keeps Speedball running as a member of Maintenance with superior service + engineering ways to improve safety and efficiency.
Entrepreneurial Spirit
We proactively seek change and continuous improvement
Tim W.
Typically in QC, Tim was recognized for going above and beyond to cover Mixing when two colleagues were out, guaranteeing the Filling Department could keep operating.
Curiosity
Always learning and asking questions, with an openness to new perspectives
Alex D.
Alex is committed to learning the "why" behind his work in Shipping, giving him a better understanding and ability to suggest ways to enhance efficiency in accuracy in our processes.
Giving back
Speedball also works to serve its community through active outreach, volunteerism and donations. We are proud to support our employees and their commitments to the organizations listed below, in addition to many more. As a result of this dedication, Speedball is honored to have been recognized as Statesville, North Carolina's Large Business of the Year 2017
Our product lines
Crafted for every creator
At Speedball, we believe that when the tools are right, the possibilities are limitless. Representing our dedication to serving a wide array of art professionals, hobbyists and educators, we have a diverse mix of product lines that are designed to support your passion at every level, ensuring the highest quality, performance and value in every medium you explore.
OUR BRANDS
Over twenty brands committed to the same quality & value.
Speedball started in 1899 as a pen company and has evolved to become one of the most known art supply companies in the world. Along the way we’ve acquired and launched additional brands beside our flagship Speedball name.
Shop All Brands