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Buying Art Supplies Online

© Cecilia H. Lee

I don't know about you, but I'm a procrastinator and a pack rat. I usually wait until I really need something (i.e. I've run out of a certain color in the middle of a painting) to go buy supplies. Or I go browsing at my favorite store and walk out with a hundred dollars worth of pastels I didn't need. Even still, I'm always looking for a bargain, especially when it comes to buying my supplies.

Shopping for art stuff is an absolutely physical experience for me. I have to run my fingers through the bristles before I buy a new brush. I must see the brilliant pigment of a bottle of ink before I lay it on the cash register. So, when this whole online shopping thing started, I didn't even think twice about buying my supplies. I just didn't. I'd pull out my Visa for some vitamins, pet food, even clothing, but I couldn't imagine not being able to touch or see my paints (or whatever) before buying them.

But then, as with all things, I broke down and I ordered some paper online. I needed some simple bristol boards, and for once, I actually realized before I was completely out. I have to admit that I really loved the convenience! (I was lucky and got free shipping, too!)

The following are some sites that specialize on art supplies:

http://www.discountart.com

http://www.misterart.com

http://www.artxpress.com

http://www.meininger.com

http://www.rexart.com

http://mtm.studiosource.com

http://www.michaels.com

Even if you're not comfortable about ordering supplies online, the web is great for comparison shopping. How do you know if you really ARE getting a deal on that color pencil set? Let's see.

I decided to run a little comparison, just for fun. (Note: these prices were valid at the time I wrote this article, but may be out of date by the time you're reading it.) Let's look at a very specific product: the Sanford Prismacolor Color Pencil (set of 24).

Here is a list of some of the prices I found:

DiscountArt.com (happens to be having a sale on it) - $19.25 (+ $6.95 for UPS ground)

MisterArt.com - $19.77 (+ shipping)

Meininger.com - $23.79 (+ shipping)

Meetthemasters.com - $22.43 (+ shipping)

Michaels.com - $25.20 (+ $3.95 shipping)

Pretty expensive for a box of colored pencils. But if you're buying a larger item (e.g. an easel, a box of canvases), many of the sites offer free shipping and no tax (if you're buying from a state outside of yours). That can make it more economical to buy online.

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