During the holidays (yes, Valentine’s Day counts!), when folks are planning fun art and craft ideas, I often get asked where to get art supplies in the Bay Area.
While I am a huge fan of ordering everything online - and this includes Etsy - where you can get amazing vintage and DIY kits from all over the world - nothing beats visiting a store in-person to source materials.
Why Order Art Supplies In-Store?
When I am interested in researching new mediums, testing out the weight of certain papers or color-matching, I go to my favorite art stores in SF. I love consulting with art store employees, who are sometimes artists themselves and/or are used to artists’ and our grandiose ideas or projects.
I remember procrastinating for a show and being blown away by custom framing prices for a large piece of canvas. An employee, who was an artist herself, suggested using a copper dowel to hang my work, scroll-style, which I could easily get at a hardware store for a fraction (pennies) of the cost of custom glass.
Art stores, in that sense, are more than just places to purchase supplies, but I’ve found them comforting for gaining industry knowledge and expertise. I’ve definitely wandered around Flax or Arch for hours, finding some of my favorite materials - Sennelier pastels and recycled paper journals - that way.
Where To Buy Arts and Crafts Supplies In The Bay Area
These six stores are worth checking out, even if the prices are a little higher than what you could get online. Here are a few of my favorite art supply stores in the Bay Area.
Flax
Located next to the water, this was a requisite stop anytime I attended a craft event, art show or book sale held at Fort Mason. In the store, you can find exquisite Fabriano papers, a wide range of journals or sketchbooks and a decent selection of acrylics, oils and watercolor paints. They have lots of kid-centric supplies, like lamp-painting kits, if you want to design an arts and crafts activity for kids or teens.
Arch Supplies
Located right by CCA, this used to be a regular stop anytime I needed supplies for my extension course. They’re used to customizing projects for students, so feel free to make special requests or ask any of the staff for recommendations on what medium to use if you’re a beginner at painting, drawing, etc. They also carry Toyo toolboxes, which in my opinion, is a studio must-have. Pre-pandemic, they had workshops and student discounts as well.
Blick
I generally skip the brick-and-mortars, unless I need to see materials in-person. The online inventory is massive (though I’m seeing more and more supplies on backorder due to in-home art activities) - and they offer free shipping. However, the stores have offered to price match their online offerings.
Mendel’s
The extensive ribbon and fabric selection makes up for the limited art supplies. They carry a little bit of everything - from glass and jewelry findings to decorative art miniatures, to tissue paper and fine art supplies. I go here for costume or craft needs rather than fine arts, but will pick up a tube of paint or smaller canvases in a pinch.
Scrap
I have way more fun digging through materials at East Bay Depot but if you haven’t checked out Scrap, it’s worth a visit just to see what’s available - at least once. The place is humongous and there is no shortage of inventory.
Items are priced at the counter so be prepared for reasonable as well as exorbitant quotes (e.g., 25 cents for a bottle, $5 for a bag of moldy pine cones). If you are a fan of digging for treasure, this place will not disappoint.
Tap Plastics
The go-to for artists in need of custom acrylic and plastic projects. Almost all of my art friends have shopped at Tap for their acrylic plastic needs, whether it’s a custom display case of acrylic sheets for an art piece. While I haven’t had a chance to commission a project due to pandemic needs, I’m sure I’ll leverage them in the future.
While I definitely miss shopping in person, I look forward to when these spots reopen! What are some of your favorite places to buy art supplies - and why do you go in-store to purchase materials?