How to find fine art materials and supplies in the USA
Do you have problems finding art shops or art suppliers or just anywhere that has got that illusive item that you want. Do you forget who stocks which range?
This site provides details about where to find fine art materials supplies in and around the USA. It shares details of online suppliers and the locations of retail stores that you can visit as a retail or trade customer.
Information and content is based on my two trips to the USA in 2006 and information provided by cyberchums. Where I have used a store or supplier personally and have an opinion or recommendations then you'll find this listed too. I don't have any recommendations about other sites - other than those provided by others in the comments section of this lens and/or this thread on my blog Resources for artists - art materials and art suppliers. Please remember what works out best for me might not work out best for you.
VOTE for where you prefer to buy your fine art materials.
Do let me know what you think by providing a comment. Who do you recommend? Do you have a blog post which provides a review of a specific dealer. (As you'd expect this is neither an invitation for suppliers to advertise their stores or sites nor for consumers to air a specific gripe!)
New links are being added as they are discovered and/or recommended. It's intended to provide modules which focus on different types of media over time. Use the icons in the right hand column to create a bookmark or link to be able to check back to this site and/or e-mail this site to a friend who is interested in art supplies in the USA
Are you interested in art supplies in the UK? If you live or travel in the UK - or want to import art materials from there - try consulting the companion site Art Supplies in the UK - Resources for Artists
For more information about art equipment consult Art Equipment - Resources for Artists
Notes:
1. The image is of San Clemente Art Supply - a very impressive art store (for details see below)
2. See modules below for my own comments and recommendations
You can find out about...............
just click on the link to go straight to that section
- The buying habits of fine artists - in the USA
- Making a Mark reviews......
- Online and mail order suppliers
- San Clemente Art Supply, California
- Art supplies from independent retail stores and local/small chains
- Making A Mark - all blog posts about art suppliers
- Large and/or nationwide chains of art stores
- Resources for Artists - More Information
- Media - Resources for Artists
- Comments and Suggestions
The buying habits of fine artists - in the USA
Making a Mark reviews......
a consumer's guide to quality and value in art books, art supplies and services to artists
This blog highlights:
- book reviews (art instruction and art history)
- reviews of art media, art materials and art equipment
- reviews of places where you buy (art shops, online art suppliers and art bookshops)
- reviews of other products or services used by artists
- summaries of good quality and relevant reviews by other practising artists

Fetching RSS feed... please stand byOnline and mail order suppliers
USA based art suppliers
Things to watch out for
* Online suppliers can choose to offer deep discounts on prices found in retail stores.
* Suppliers who have both retail and online supplies may have two different pricing structures and/or deals which are only available online.
Watch out for the despatch costs
* what might seem cheap on an item by item basis may start to look a lot more expensive by the time you've added in the shipping.
* work out what is the best size of order to take advantage of any deals on free shipping
Overseas customers should remember to check with their Customs whether they will have any import tax to pay.
If you have a view on any of the suppliers listed - or would like to suggest a new one - please use the comments function below.
- Art Supplies from Dick Blick Art Materials
- Online catalogue available plus details about shipping arrangements and costs
- Italian Art Store
- Italian Art Store - Online Catalog of Professonal Fine Art Supplies. Save 40% to 70% everyday.
- New York Central Art Supply: an assortment of the finest artists and decorative papers in the US
- New York Central Art Supply stocks fine art and decorative papers from all over the world in sheets and rolls, and at times in pads and blocks. Renown brands like Arches, Rives, Somerset, Wyndstone, Cockerell, Bertini, Fabriano, Arpa and others are just a few of the excellent qualities represented.
Catalogue available
Orders by snail mail, fax and e-mail. No online e-shop ordering available - Pearl Paint
- Pearl Paint for Art Supply, Art Supplies, Art Supply Store, Discount Art Supplies, and Art and Craft Supply
- Jerrys Artarama
- Discount Art Supplies up to 70% off. Supplies for painting, drawing, sculpture, presentation, printmaking as well as picture frames and mats.
Jerry opened his own first art materials and supplies store in 1967, and introduced the thousands of budding and established artists throughout Long Island to the wonder of discount pricing. - Dakota Art Pastels - Welcome!
- MAILING ADDRESS:
Dakota Art Pastels
P.O. Box 2258
Mt. Vernon, WA.98273-9998
PHYSICAL ADDRESS:
17873 SR 536
Mt. Vernon, WA.98273
Monday - Friday, 9-5, Pacific Time
TELEPHONE:1-888-345-0067
FAX:1-888-345-0063
e-Mail:info@dakotapastels.com - Primo Mart - Artist canvas: Fabric, photo backdrops, cotton duck canvas, primed canvas floor cloth
- Providing stretch canvas fabric, primed artist canvas, photo backdrops, prestretched canvas floor cloth, cheap muslin fabric, cotton duck canvas, artist canvas rolls and other artist supplies.
- Art Supplies from Daniel Smith Art Materials
- Thousands of art supplies, paints, brushes, canvas, paper and other art materials
- Paper.com - your online source for quality paper products
- your online source for quality papers for stationery, school, environmentally friendly, art , Office, scrapbooking, printers, crafts, and more

San Clemente Art Supply, California
Art supplies from independent retail stores and local/small chains
I have commented below on the ones recommended by me
- New Mexico: Artisan | Art Supply Store
- Artisan have three stores in New Mexico.
SANTA FE: 2601 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, NM 87505 (Tel: 505.954.4179)
ALBUQUERQUE: 3017 Monte Vista NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 (Tel: 505.256.4540)
I visited this store on my trip to New Mexico in July 2006. It has a very good range of art supplies and very helpful and knowledgeable staff.
TAOS: 1046 Paseo del Pueblo Sur, Taos, NM 87571 (Tel: 575.751.0802) - San Clemente Art Supply & Framing (California)
- 1531 N. El Camino Real San Clemente Ca. 92672
Tel: (949)369-6603
Mon.-Fri.10am-6pm Weds.10am-7pm
Sat. 10am-6pm Sun.Closed
I visited this store in July 2006. It's an excellent store with very helpful staff. Read my review in Travels with a Sketchbook in.......: Service with a smile - San Clemente Art Supply - St Louis, MO: Art Mart - Art Supplies and framing
- St. Louis' Biggest Selection of Art Supplies, Framing, and Paper. 25,000 square feet and more than 40,000 different items in stock - including more than 5,000 types of paper. Its history and growth is fascinating and links to local art organisations are very useful for those living in the local community.
Read the testamonials here. Anna says:
"When in St. Louis, MO, a visit to the Art Mart is a must! [ http://www.artmartstl.com/ ]. A large store, packed with everything from useful to fun.
These days, I mostly order online due to the prices being so much cheaper, but if I lived close to a large store like the Art Mart, I would probably shop there since I really prefer to see new materials , especially paper, before trying them out." - Rochester Art Supply
- Rochester Art Supply
150 West Main Street, Rochester, New York 14614 USA
Soft pastels, oil paints, watercolor paints, canvas, stretcher strips, oil colors
Plus supplier of Henri Roche soft pastels - New York Central Art Supply
- 62 Third Avenue @11th Street, New York New York NY 10003
serving artists for over 100 years - Orange Couty art supplies - Sterling Art, Irvine, California
- Sterling Art is a 24,000 square foot artist's materials and gift-shopper's paradise located near the airport in Irvine, California - and has been happily serving Orange County and the World since 1960.
Sterling Art carries the most extraordinary collection of exquisite pens, extraordinary papers, thousands of brushes, dozens of brands of paint, every possible type of easel and canvas, paper pads in every size, every weight, every texture, frames and framing, hundreds upon hundreds of markers and pencils and crayons. - Italian Art Store
- Italian Art Store - Online Catalog of Professonal Fine Art Supplies. Save 40% to 70% everyday.
- Arizona Art Supply
- Arizona Art Supply has served art professionals, arIn Arizona: (602) 264-9514
Shops at 4 locations in Arizona and online supplies
Toll Free: (877) 264-9514
sales@arizonaartsupply.com
For questions about online products and quantity discounts, email sales department:
service@arizonaartsupply.com
Arizona Art Supply has served art professionals, art educators, and art enthusiasts since 1950 with brand name art supplies at discount prices. - Wet Paint! (Minnesota - retail store and online)
- Established 1976 Paint Artists' Materials & Framing
Since 1976, Wet Paint has been a single-store, independently owned art supply store in St. Paul, Minnesota, serving the Twin Cities community and the world beyond. Located on St. Paul's vibrant Grand Avenue, Wet Paint is a favorite of professionals, students, beginners, and young people. The staff at Wet Paint is extremely knowledgeable and can assist in the selection of materials for any creative project. (Recommended by Roslyn M. Stendahl)
They stock over 30,000 different products spanning the entire range of art supplies, including paints, brushes, pads, drawing materials, canvas, and mounting supplies. They also offer many unique, hard-to-find art materials, including products that aren't typically found in your traditional art supply store. Wet Paint also provides bookmaking supplies, a wide selection of journals and photo/scrapbooks, a vast array of writing instruments and pen refills, and a nice assortment of stationery
Paper stocks include over 3,000 different kinds of paper from a variety of mills and papermakers, and decorative sheets as well as standard artist's paper. - Dakota Art Stores
- BELLINGHAM: 360) 676-8918
1411 Cornwall Avenue
Bellingham, WA 98225
MON-SAT: 9am to 6pm; SUN: 12pm to 5pm
Closed Sunday during the summer
MOUNT VERNON: (360) 416-6556
17873 SR 536
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
MON-FRI: 9am to 5pm SAT: 9am to 1pm
SEATTLE: (206) 523-4830
6110 Roosevelt Way NE
Seattle, WA 98115
MON-SAT: 9am to 6pm SUN: 12pm to 5pm
Making A Mark - all blog posts about art suppliers
- Making a Mark: art supplies
- Katherine Tyrrell writing on her blog and providing information about resources for artists and sources of art supplies. All these blog posts contain a comment on an art material and/or art suppliers
- Making a Mark: Resources for artists - art materials and art suppliers
- The thread which relates to the creation of this lens - contains recommendations from readers
- Making a Mark: The art of economising - on art materials
- What does spending less mean for artists?
This post contains a checklist of my ideas - do feel free to comment at the end about how you can improve on what I've suggested and/or what your ideas are for making your resources go further....it's already attracted a lot of comments
Large and/or nationwide chains of art stores
USA based chains
- Dick Blick Art Materials, Retail Stores
- Dick Blick has over 30 art supply stores around the United States. Visit our website for detailed information on store hours and locations.
- Blick Art Materials / San Diego, CA
- I visited this store in San Diego in July 2006 - see my review in the Travels with a sketchbook module.
- Find a Utrecht Art Supplies retail store near you
- 35 retail art supply stores across the United States; provides a broad selection of the finest quality artist paints, canvas, artist brushes, paper, drawing materials & more.
- PearlPaint.com - Store Finder
- Store Finder, Store Hours, Location
(Store pricing varies from internet pricing) - Jerrys Retail Stores
- There are 15 well stocked Jerry's picture framing and art supply stores across the US, offering incredible discount prices to local markets. Retail stores are for walk-in trade only and do not accept mail orders. Prices are generally 10% higher in the retail stores than they are via mail order catalog or on the website, but a yearly discount card may be purchased at most locations to achieve catalog prices.
Travels with a Sketchbook in.......the USA
Blog posts referencing art shops
- Travels with a Sketchbook in.......: Service with a smile - San Clemente Art Supply
- The place where my Pastel Workshop was held really deserves a special mention in this blog as it was outstanding.
The workshop was held in a large room to the rear and side of the San Clemente Art Supply and Framing building at 1531 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente Ca 92672.
Patti Herdell, who set up and runs the store, is one of the most helpful and hospitable people I've ever come across in an art supply store - and this is reflected in the range of services and supplies they offer and how one is treated as a customer. As the website says "We provide service with a smile" - and they do too! - Travels with a Sketchbook in.......: Dick Blick in San Diego
- I visited my very first Dick Blick store in San Diego on Friday 14th July (to get supplies for the pastel workshop) and then again on Monday 17th July!
I have to say that I have a very positive impression of art stores in the USA. In my opinion, they are hugely better than some of the well known and very large ones I use in London - at least from my perspective for the type of things I buy. I oohed and aahed my way round both stores.
The Dick Blick store (like the store in San Clemente) has a great range of paper of all different types plus illustration and museum boards. The two stores I visited also had well stocked shelves - ie if they stock it they make sure they keep on top of reordering. - Travels with a Sketchbook in.......: Saturday 16th September: A visit to an art store and Walden Pond
- The Charette art store is great and has a very comprehensive range of fine art and graphic art products. This was the first time I'd been in art store in America on my own and I took full advantage of the opportunity for a very leisurely mooch round. I now know what lots of things are that people refer to and which we can't get at home in the UK like Gator board (and I want some!) I am still knocked for six every time I go into an American art supply store as they are just so much better than the ones at home.
Resources for Artists - More Information
-
Packaging, posting and shipping art - Resources for Artists
-
How do you pack art? How do you post art? What about international deliveries? What about customs? How do you get it back again?This site doesn't pretend to have the answers to all the very many questions people have about getting art from artist to...
-
Art Supplies in the UK - Resources for Artists
-
Do you have problems finding art shops or sites providing artist supplies or just anywhere that has got that illusive item that you want. Do you forget who stocks which range? This site provides details about where to find fine art materials and art...
-
Art Equipment - Resources for Artists
-
This site is for visual artists. It provides links to: items of art equipment and tools recommended ways of putting together toolkits and recommendations for equipment for working in the studio or plein air Additional information about speci...
-
Paper and Non-Canvas Supports - Resources for Artists
-
This resource is for visual artists who draw and paint. It provides information about and links to suppliers of different brands of fine art paper and other non-canvas supports. Plus information about how to make paper. The lens covers...
Media - Resources for Artists
More information about media
-
Egg Tempera - Resources for Artists
-
This lens is about egg tempera and provides links to all sorts of websites associated with egg tempera - other websites providing information about egg tempera, artists, supports and grounds, pigments and pigment suppliers in the UK Europe and...
-
Coloured Pencils - Resources for Artists
-
Find out about coloured pencils. This leading resource has information for everybody from experienced artists to beginners wanting to learn all they can. Topics include - tips and techniques for working with coloured pencils, - information about col...
-
Pen and Ink - Resources for Artists
-
This lens provides information and advice for artists using pen and ink. Topics covered include tips and techniques for working with pen and ink, books about working in pen and ink and information about different brands of pens suitable for artists a...
-
Pastels - Resources for Artists
-
Want to know more about brands of hard and soft pastels or how to use pastels? Experienced pastel artists and those new to creating art using pastels will find interesting information and helpful advice provided below
Travels with a Sketchbook in....
When I travel, I sketch. When I sketch on my travels I record it here. Plus information about the history and facilities of places I visit and lots of related links for those who want to know more........ and best viewed in Firefox
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byComments and Suggestions
Let me know what you think - but please do not spam
Feedback - comments about links, compliments about the site or suggestions for how you think it could be improved are always welcome
Anybody can comment BUT please note that:
* All comments are moderated before publication
* All html is stripped out of comments. Spam is not published.
* All suggestions about the inclusion of websites relating to contemporary artists will be reviewed but will only be published if the website is added.
* Please do not ask me to rate your lens (see Squidoo FAQs)
-
Reply
- Katrina Morris Katrina Morris Jun 24, 2009 @ 5:05 pm
- What a great resource. We would love to have you stop by and review our site:
http://www.rexart.com
We are a family owned art supply store serving the Miami area since 1950. We started selling online in 1995 and have a loyal following. We strive to make the online shopping experience as much like shopping in the store as possible.
Thanks so much!
Katrina
-
Reply
- LindaJM LindaJM May 27, 2009 @ 12:33 pm
- Wonderful resource, thank you! 5* and an Angel blessing. I know I'll come back by this lens again, and am bookmarking it - plus lensrolling to a few of my lenses.
-
Reply
- makingamark makingamark Aug 26, 2008 @ 11:36 pm
- The answer is that you can't add your site in - all links are moderated by me.
The way it works is you leave a comment and a website link and I check it out. If it looks reputable then I include it. However it I subsequently receive negative comments about it then I will review its continued inclusion with the parties concerned.
-
Reply
- primomart.com primomart.com Aug 26, 2008 @ 1:22 pm
- how do i add my link to your art supply section.
www.primomart.com specializes in artist canvas and other artist supplies.
chuck
-
Reply
- makingamark makingamark Feb 8, 2008 @ 5:22 am
- Jeannette commented on my blog "another independent to add to your American list - Sterling Art in Irvine, California. I found this little gem while I was there last year. This is a 24,000 sq ft independent store established since 1960. Go visit if you're in the area. They will also ship to you and are in the process of creating a commerce/catalogue service. http://www.sterlingart.com/"




