Buying Art Supplies

Posted on Nov 14, 2009

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WARNING: Art supplies are highly addictive and may have a negative impact on your finances!

Ah, art supplies.

Being a lone ranger on this art journey, for the most part, I have learned MOST from my online art community.  I cannot recommend enough the encouraging bunch of folks at the yahoo group Every Day Matters.

So much of the dialogue there is about this or that art supply, so if you are wanting to learn more than you thought possible, start there.

MY FAVORITE ART STORES ONLINE

Cheap Joes – www.CheapJoes.com

• Cheap Joe himself has filmed some fun and informative videos that are fun to watch.
• Sign up for their e-savings…..
• They have a great catalog…..request one.

Dick Blick – www.DickBlick.com

• Sign up for their email alerts
• Request a catalog
• Great product, absolutely the most AMAZING customer service and really knowledgeable reps.

Daniel Smith – www.DanielSmith.com

• As always, sign up for their email alerts
• Request a catalog
• Gorgeous, and I mean gorgeous watercolors!  And they have lots more there, too.

Jerry’s Artarama – www.jerrysartarama.com

• Sign up for their email specials.
• I’m pretty sure they are online only, and do not mail out catalogs. Could be wrong.
• The are most often the LEAST EXPENSIVE. So be sure to check them out.
• The only downside is that I have waited longer for my supplies from them. Not too bad, but longer than the above stores.
• 300lb watercolor paper – this is the place to order it!

Art Supply Warehouse – http://op3.triadinet.com/artsupply/nlcatalog.asp

• Not the easiest site, nor the most glamorous, but the PRICES are great!
• I don’t think they have a snail mail catalog.

Nova Color Paints - www.novacolorpaint.com/

• Just learned about this. If you are into acrylic paints, gotta gotta gotta check out these paints.
• Amazing prices, and endorsed by no less a master than Robert Burridge.

Joanie’s TIPS AND TRICKS for buying art supplies online

• Shop around and find what you want, THEN
• google that particular art supply you are wanting, say… Fabriano watercolor sheets
• Throw “Fabriano watercolor sheets” into google or bing search field
• And then comparison shop.  Remember that shipping adds to final cost. Well, duh. So