Local Art Stores Offer Inspiration, Knowledge and Quality

Visiting an art supply shop can feel a little like being a kid in a candy store for artists and art lovers. With everything from rich pastels, delicate watercolors and vibrant acrylic and oil paints to brushes, canvases and sketchbooks, these stores offer endless inspiration. You can wander the aisles and discover products or mediums you’ve never thought of using, leaf through art books, and often test out a particular paint or pen.

The pandemic has created a surge in online shopping, offering convenience but none of the personal experience found in local stores — something that is particularly important for artists searching for solid information on techniques and materials.

Expert knowledge, quality materials and a sense of connection

When you shop at an independently owned art supply store,  you’re more likely to interact with someone with professional experience in the art world. Unlike a big box retail store, the owners and employees of local art businesses often have in-depth knowledge about and personal experience with the products they sell. The quality of art materials is also superior to that found in big retail stores, with brands such as Winsor & Newton, Grumbacher, Derwent, Posca. Tombow, and dozens more. Importantly, these established local stores are also a great source of connection to the larger community of artists and art lovers.

In the North State, three long-established, locally owned stores are the go-to places for artists to find the newest and best materials, to connect with other artists, sign up for classes, get expert advise on techniques and just spend a bit of time soaking up inspiration.

Velvet Elephant Art Center & Fair Trade Emporium

Iris Credo and her husband, Aleksander Balos, bought Mt. Shasta’s Velvet Elephant Art Center and Fair Trade Emporium in 2006 and one of them is usually there every day.  Aleksander, a professional artist whose work is collected internationally, also offers specialized instruction with the Art Roster Art Atelier in Mt. Shasta, a group of Northern California artists working in traditional painting techniques.

The Velvet Elephant carries supplies for fine art painting, including professional grade oil, acrylic and watercolor paints, high quality canvases and brushes and the mediums for each type of paint. The store also has a variety of games, puzzles, fair trade handicrafts, art instruction books, and coloring books.

Noting that there is a sense of community and connection that’s hard to find in big box store, Iris says the Velvet Elephant is a resource for those wishing to find local art instructors and instructors looking to promote their classes. The store also offers student discounts for local college students and those taking classes with local art instructors, as well as educational discounts for teachers.

Red Bluff Art Gallery

Anastasia Nelson and Phil Dynan, co-directors and founders of Red Bluff Art Gallery, are also working artists and have put on more than 300 exhibits since opening the gallery in 2006. Anastasia says, “We have art supply kits based on our years of teaching art classes and what we see inspire the most eureka smiles of joy when creating art. The art supply kits are listed on our website for shipping or pick-up at the gallery by appointment.  Our website also has free online 3D virtual exhibitions to enjoy and inspire creativity.” Kits include ones featuring watercolor, graphite pencil, Fineline pen, clay and oil pastel.

Ellis Art and Engineering Supplies

Like other locally owned art supply stores, Ellis Art and Engineering Supplies offers a level of personalized service not found with larger retailers. Ellis has locations in Chico and Redding, and has been in business for more than 50 years. Store manager Stacey Christensen has worked for the company for 35 years and says they strive to provide services that may not be available elsewhere. “I just try to make sure I can take care of my customers’ needs,” she says, including special orders for supplies that are not on the shelves. The company also sells drafting, engineering and office supplies and offers printing and laminating services.

Superior quality at local art supply stores

The quality of supplies in local art stores is often superior to big-box competitors, which tend to offer paint and other art materials for crafters rather than budding or working artists. Both Ellis Art Supply and the Velvet Elephant carry products from professional art brands such as Winsor & Newton, Liquitex, and Grumbacher. The kits available from Red Bluff Art Gallery all include top of the line materials, from paper to paint and pens.

Where to find it all

Ellis Art and Engineering Supplies
Chico: 3029 Esplanade #9, (530) 891-0335 and 3035 Esplanade Rd., (530) 891-6309
Redding: 859 Mistletoe Lane, (530) 221-1819 and 2030 Market St., (530) 244-4417
ellisartengineering.com

Red Bluff Art Gallery
601 Walnut St., Red Bluff, (530) 529-1332
RedBluffArtGallery.com

Velvet Elephant Art Center and Fair Trade Emporium
207 N. Mt. Shasta Blvd., Mt. Shasta, (530) 926-2297
velvetelephant.com