Art Supply Warehouse — Local services in Westminster

The one thing I can't stand is the fact that they have students and they're basically internships. I'm learning how to frame my own art and when I come in to buy materials, and want an opinion, help or I'm not sure what I want... because I'm new to this. they pull them away and say you are spending too much time with the customer? you need to come over here and stock? you need to go over there and do that? Well....I have a piece of advice for you all... especially the owner. the most important thing that you will ever teach these kids especially in an art supply is valuable customer service. if it takes 2 hours to help one person, you give two hours to help one person. you never know who they know, what they're going through and why they're there in the first place. Maybe they're sick, lost someone, maybe they help others and are time limited.. the last time I was in there... Was the very last. I was buying a book of archival paper, I needed help. I asked can you tell me... GAL interrupted " with a customer" as walking away. I said "absolutely no problem". She comes back, I'm holding a book in my hand looking at the specs on the front.. size thickness etc. she says to me rudely "I thought you said you needed help" huh? WHAT? Yeah I do... but don't hurt yourself..I SAID..I don't want your help now. go do what you were doing. just looking at something doesn't mean that I still don't need help! she literally turned and walked away, JAW DROPPED! So I just want to let you know AS I won't be back...I've spent $342.00 change in 3 trips within 2 weeks. you have the most paranoid, lifeless, place of business. employees look afraid of helping a cust. Customers feel ignored, spend too much time looking for a few things on their own. Also.... I came in last summer with my daughter and I have a backpack, it's leopard non student looking... in the summer I use it as a purse.. we go to the beach, we go do things a lot and carrying a purse is not my favorite thing. I was asked to leave my backpack at the front counter? I said its not my backpack im a grown adult,it's my purse. they said well we need you to keep your backpack/purse up here at the cashier. WTH? I have a question for you! why is it that I can't take my purse in your store, but you want me to trust you to leave my purse behind the counter with you? unattended by me the owner of the purse? I get it people steal but with your 596 cameras placed every 6 inches in the store, I don't think it's that bad... And I'm not coming back for 3 reasons.1 that you're teaching these kids its more important to stock things on the shelves that it is to help people. 2 anti trust issues having a person feel they can't walk in your store without first and foremost being looked at as a possible Thief. 3 lack of help buying the correct material. The archival paper book that I purchased I picked on my own it was correct after spending literally 45 minutes looking it up on my phone. the only problem I had with it was your rude employee and the fact that it was in a section that said it was $8.98 but I don't know when I got home I had spent $22 on it. More than half of what I wanted to spend or could afford to spend at that moment. Had that girl taking the time she would have been able to direct me to the correct paper still good quality but within my budget. I could go to Michaels Hobby Lobby and other places and find the stain items even online get better customer service in and out people who don't mind giving an opinion or the professional advice and spend less money. I looked at a matte cutter online and your prices were double for the same exact item your prices on this particular item were $9 more than Michaels you are not discount at all. I'm not an artist I like to create things and have fun and have a hobby. But I don't like being treated like I'm going to rip the place off simply because I have a cute leopard backpack. As a purse! come in and 15 things I need to frame I'm new, I need this, that and the other and the only one's helping are the interns pulled away to...

This is my art supply mecca. You can find just about anything in here, and the staff truly are experts. They'll give pro artist recommendations for your project if you're unsure of what you need, or if you're looking for something specific they'll show you where to find it. If they don't have a specific item, I'm sure they can order it for you for later pickup, or ship it directly to yours.

You can also, in many cases, try before you buy. There are pads of paper by supplies so you can get a feel for the specific tool and see how it'll perform (mostly for dry media). If you don't see that option available for the item you're interested in buying, an associate can probably figure out a solution. Like in all things, being respectful is key, and I'd only suggest this option for serious purchases since they're taking on risk if you choose not to purchase the item.

Prices are fair, and oftentimes lower than what you'd find from chain retailers--seems they score deals for buying in bulk and pass those savings onto their customers. I know sometimes shoppers (including me!) feel pressured to hold back on making a large purchase in-store to price check items, but I have yet to see that strategy yield results at Art Supply Warehouse. Nintety-nine percent of the time they're offering the best deal, and--even better--you'll walk out with what you want the same day.

The only thing to remember is that they do have a hard close at 6 p.m., so plan accordingly. I'd recommend giving yourself an hour in the store so you can explore your options, test out materials, and purchase what you want to take...

I have been going here for 50+ years and they have everything you possibly need whether you're a student, a maker, or a creative.

You can find everything from street art supplies, (markers, sprays, caps, wall paste, etc), a nice airbrush section with parts, accessories, frisket and airbrush paints. The canvas selection covers everything from Museum Quality down to DIY rolled canvases and wood frames. There is a lot of mounting supplies throughout the store for framing. There is a great selection of watercolor and specialty papers, many pads of watercolor, tracing and charcoal papers as well as every typeof paper/pads you could think of.

The drafting section has a great choice of templates, guides, ellipses, triangles, t-squares, french curves, metal rulers and more. Throughout the store you will find nice pencils, pens, specialty markers for drafting/drawing.There is a good book selection with tutorials and reference materials.

The oil and acrylic paint selections are robust with an equally big choice of natural and synthetic brushes. Lots of easels and art tables, lighting, light boxes and beyond. They even have a small silkscreen supply selection with inks, screens, and tools. The leather paint selection is pretty good and there is also a lot of lettering brushes and one shot paints for pinstripers and auto customizers. There is a lot of matte board, foam core and mounting options for your presentations or framing needs.

I could go on here forever. Just drop in I heard it's the biggest and best art store west of the...