The Horticulturalist

Just looking to see if any BE members have bought art supplies online and can recommend a reputable website. I'm able to google this myself but I'd rather have someone recommend a site they have used already.

Thanks!

Nutmegger

This is a well-known company:

http://www.jerrysartarama.com/

Bob

The above, but also http://www.dickblick.com/

MIL uses them for her class supplies that she teaches.

fatbrit

artarama and dickblick, I'll echo.

Also, utrecht

Depends what you're looking for a lot of the time. For example, we go through upwards of 60 yds of 72" or 54" primed 12 oz canvas a month. For that, it's Jerry's, Jerry's or Jerry's really.

The Horticulturalist

I'm not 100% sure what exactly I'll need. I'm buying for my husband and was hoping to surprise him but I think I'll need to get his input before I buy. His undergraduate degree was in Fine Art, he was a printmaker. He's looking at learning to paint with watercolour as a hobby, I don't think he did it at art school at all.

We have paper and brushes but no paint, if anyone knows anything about choosing paint I'd be grateful for your input.

Bob

If he's just learning, cheapest is the way to go..to see if it's something you want to pursue and then replace with nicer paints as you go along and spend a little more money on nicer brushes that won't fall apart on you in seconds is my thought.

fatbrit

My wife also started with an undergraduate degree in printmaking. But she veered into acrylics via oil. I've never seen her experiment with watercolour.

Of the three, Jerry's Artarama has the best customer service. They exchange damaged goods without blinking an eye -- usually without even requiring you return the damaged goods.

Dickblick is okay, but seems to take a month of sundays getting the order out.

Utrecht are good for some specialist stuff -- I use them for large-sized paper and their moulding paste -- neither of which a watercolourer would probably use.

SalopianFunk

Blick always provides great service, and the prices are okay. I find Utrecht on the pricey side.

Nasco - http://www.enasco.com/artsandcrafts/ - is cheap as chips, but they don't have the largest selection of higher quality products. Dunno what they're like for shipping, however.

Art Supply Warehouse - http://www.aswexpress.com/ - by far provides the best prices for top quality stuff, especially as they always seem to have things on sale. I got a tubular steel easel from there for around $80, and a set of 12 Turner gouaches for $35.

As for choosing paints, Winsor & Newton do the best medium range paints. Their pigments are strong, so even the 5ml tubes will go a relatively long way. And the bigger the palette you buy, the better. I have a 17" Tom Jones palette that I got from ASW which is fantastic, especially for something I got for about $10.

The Horticulturalist

Thank you all for your helpful tips, I let my husband read these later on.

dbj1000

I'm a little late to the party, but I'll +1 everyone who has suggested Dick Blick and Jerry's. As a professional artist, those two cover 99% of Alison's purchases (totaling many thousands of dollars per year!)

snowbunny

Not an artist meself but the younger daughter is, and I've visited Flax Art in San Francisco in 2008:

http://flaxart.com/

They used to have a catalogue but I don't know if they still ship.

Second the Dick Blick and Utrecht recommendations.

SalopianFunk

Flax is such a wonderland. And I like buying brushes there on the cheap.

The Horticulturalist

Thank you everyone, you've all been very helpful!

EDIT: Ooooh, just discovered that Dick Blick has actual stores! We are flying to LA this weekend and there is one very near where we will be staying so he can go in and have a look for himself!

Paul S

I usually get given a shopping list by the OH if i'm anywhere near Columbus, OH. Rather nice Dick Blick store there

Brat1

I've always bought Windsor and Newton watercolours, so if you can get them in the store you're going to, they're worth a look. I prefer using gouache to watercolours but might be fun for him to experiment with both. Enjoy your trip at the weekend