Where do you buy your art supplies?

[bif]

I've been using Blick for a while and have been pretty happy with them. I order on line and buy locally at their stores. Are there any other companies I should look into? Better selection or prices?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. The best place I know of is a local art supply shop

called Wet Paint in St. Paul, MN. They have very knowledgeable staff and some obscure items I can't find elsewhere. But since I have been avoiding setting foot in stores lately, I have had to order online from Blick (though they also have a physical store locally) or Amazon. Blick has a great selection but their web site is not very user-friendly, IMO.

[bif]

2. You're right about Blick's website

It could use an overhaul to make it more user friendly. I tend to go to the same sections, so I'm used to it. But I recall looking for some things that I knew they offered and had the darnedest time tracking them down.

[Zoonart]

3. Blick for me too and Jerry's Artarama.

[IcyPeas]

4. I take advantage of Michaels coupons

they have a fine art department so a 40 or 50 percent off coupon can come in handy for a brush or pad of paper. They carry a lot of colored pencils and gel pens too that are great.

otherwise order from amazon.

[bif]

6. Michaels used to have good discounts.

of 40% and 50%. But that seems to have ended. I've only seen 20% coupons over the last 4 or 5 months.

[katmondoo]

5. Blicks and Michaels for me.

Michaels is more expensive, I use it in an emergency only when I need a color and tube is empty. No local Blicks here in Florida

[pansypoo53219]

7. daniel smith. was a local shop....

[TeamPooka]

8. Blicks and Michaels are fine but I buy a lot of my art supplies at estate sales.

I get great deals when I find them.
I like finding vintage old paints and other supplies

[bif]

9. My estate sale experience

I went to one last summer. The person whose house was holding the sale was an artist and the whole basement was filled with paintings, and art supplies. There were tons of old brushes which were marked $2. I had to really look through them to find three that were usable. So I went up to the sales person (she does this for a living and has a reputation), and I said "How about three for $5. She said no so I told her to keep 'em. I thought that was pretty ridiculous! I'm pretty sure they ended up in the trash.

[TeamPooka]

10. I always get a great deal from the folks that run the sales around here