I'm new to Jax and I'm hoping that someone who's 'in the know' can help me find a good place to buy cheap art supplies. In Sydney I can tell you exactly where to go to get the best deals on canvases and paint, but its all new to me here. So far I shop at Michaels because they have large canvases, but I haven't been to any other art supplies stores - I know about Reddi arts in riverside but its seems expensive, and I haven't been to check it out. So are there any places that artists go to to load up on bulk cheap art supplies? I can learn how to stretch my own canvases but I'm lazy and it seems like a lot of work :-)
thanks in advance.
You are going to have a hard time going to Reddie Arts in Riverside. It's in San Marco.
http://www.reddiarts.com/contact.html
There may be a better place in town but I don't know where. We get stuff at Michaels, Reddie Arts and Dick Blick.
http://www.dickblick.com/
There is also A.C. Moore in town now. www.acmoore.com.
Im not sure how their prices compare though, but they are always having sales. Also, Michaels and A.C. Moore you can probably find coupons for them also, printable online coupons. Their websites usually have printable coupons. Also, there are other websites that have printable coupons for them, such as "50% discount on any one regular priced item". Just google search for the store and coupon.
Usually the Michaels staff will help you out with coupons as well. I recently bought roughly $160 worth of materials there on a fairly quiet Thursday night and the lady that checked me out pulled out about six coupons and reduced my order to $70.
I'm in Reddi-Arts about once a week. Their stuff is a little expensive but they tend to have things I can't find at Michaels or AC Moore (didn't an AC Moore just close, recently? The one on Atlantic near Kernan?). Pens and illustration board, weird drawing paper, that kind of stuff.
My dad has been a professional artist for 20 years and sticks to Reddi-Arts... but he's an old-fashioned guy.
Quote from: Bativac on December 07, 2009, 10:28:53 AM
AC Moore (didn't an AC Moore just close, recently? The one on Atlantic near Kernan?).
I just went to the one at:
9515 Crosshill Boulevard
Suite 109
Jacksonville, FL 32222
(904) 777-6490
Quote from: Overstreet on December 06, 2009, 06:11:48 PM
You are going to have a hard time going to Reddie Arts in Riverside. It's in San Marco.
http://www.reddiarts.com/contact.html
There may be a better place in town but I don't know where. We get stuff at Michaels, Reddie Arts and Dick Blick.
http://www.dickblick.com/
yeah I meant San Marco! ;) thanks :)
Cool, thank you everyone! I do use the coupons when I can find them for Michaels and yesterday I discovered that Hobby Lobby in Mandarin has a good range of fairly inexpensive canvases. I'll have to go check out acmoore as well.
spy, there's a Hobby Lobby at Regency, too if you're closer - it's on Atlantic Blvd., the shopping center across from the Taco Bell , Arby's, etc.
...but remember that Hobby Lobby is closed on Sundays. I've made that mistake before!
Quote from: sandyshoes on December 10, 2009, 03:32:21 PM
spy, there's a Hobby Lobby at Regency, too if you're closer - it's on Atlantic Blvd., the shopping center across from the Taco Bell , Arby's, etc.
didn't know that - that's much closer, thank you.
If you really want cheap canvases you really should learn how to stretch your own, it's really not that hard and you can make them whatever dimensions you want with deep edges. If I don't feel like stretching my own I'll load up when Ready Art's has their big sales.
I've heard Grant Thornton, a local artist is selling hand stretched canvas. Try sending him a message. http://www.myspace.com/honkeybait
I also recommend checking out Artwalk, it takes place the first Wednesday of every month downtown from 5-9.
Hobby Lobby is dirt cheap. I love Reddi Arts downtown, but they are not always the least expensive.
Another vote for reddi-arts. Not the cheapest but avoid the aggravation of not finding what you need ever at some of the cheaper places.