New York Central. The place all artists bought our supplies. Family owned for 4 generations.

I like to keep things simple, and tube colors are no exception. Reducing your palette to its essentials brightens and tightens your paintings.

In this series I’m going to explain:

Part 1. Who are the best manufacturers of artist-grade extra-fine oil colors
Part 2. What single-pigment colors are essential for your paint palette
Part 3. Where to buy single-pigment paint
Part 4. How to tell what pigments your paints use
Part 5. Why you should limit your palette to single-pigment paints

Part 3

Where should I buy my paint?

At your local colorman or corner art store, naturally… Or, well, hmm, I guess it’s dickblick.com, or jerrysartarama.com, or nothing these days. There is barely a handful of family-owned and independent art stores anymore. And, yes, there is still something to be said for personal customer service.

I bought my first hand-picked set of Old Holland in Manhattan at Pearl Paint on Canal (on my own) and at Central Art Supply in the Village (with truly knowledgeable clerks) during graduate school, and sadly, both of these superb, and historic, resources are gone now. I’ve only included the “before” photos here; the “after” are heartbreaking.

Since these paints can last a lifetime under normal usage, once you buy them, you may have them forever. They are investment, not a whim, and, as such, using a discount broker clearinghouse-arama in some far away land is not the best idea. Thus, I have, and continue, to recommend Blick and Jerry’s as my go-to online dealers. They have the best phone service and they still have stores across the mainland. But… always call in your order, especially from Hawaii. Unless you are 150% sure you know what you’re doing online, call it in. Mistakes happen. Minds change. Blick is the only large retailer I know who still staffs their headquarters and stores with actual artists and who ship to Hawaii. It makes all the difference. Prices are sometimes higher than competitors, but minimally so. Sometimes they’re lower. They also have joined with Amazon to ship via Prime; however I do not recommend Blick via Amazon for so many reasons. Go direct. And Jerry’s has items Blick simply doesn’t have, like my favorite panels. Jerry’s also has partnered with Amazon for some items via Prime shipping, but, as it happens, the prices are ticked up there to cover the “free” shipping, so for big orders, again, go direct.

Locally, on Oahu, I send students to Ben Franklin’s and Hawaiian Graphics. They both have delightful staff and often tremendous sales, however, they only carry Graham from my list, and have limited selections. One resourceful genie I know has found truly remarkable remainder art supplies - although no Old Holland - at Ross Dress for Less on the regular. Amazing!

One more nostalgia photo: Pearl Paint. You felt like you were a part of something when you went to Pearl or Central…. <cue sad music>

Pearl Paint, Canal St. NYC - “World’s Largest” It was 6 stories of endless art supplies and an annex, and required setting aside an afternoon to make the trip downtown worthwhile.

Lastly there are other small art stores out there struggling to survive. Next time you pass one, stop in and say hi, maybe even buy a little something for yourself or a loved one. Once these places go, they’re gone…

(Update: Charvin paints have been demoted after significant quality issues in an alarmingly short time frame.)

Questions? Comments? Shoot me a message below.

Next up: Part 4. Identifying Ingredients >>

3. Single-Pigment Paint, Part Three: Recommended Suppliers

Part 3