Best Art Supply Stores In Pittsburgh
Between our numerous museums, galleries and studios, our very own Art Institute of Pittsburgh, and of course, Carnegie Mellon University's fine arts masters' program, Pittsburgh is exploding with artists. With so much creativity, it takes some very special art supply stores to keep our palettes full and flowing. Each one of these art supply stores have unique selections and specialties, but all of them will get professional and aspiring artists and craft-makers the tools they need to make their masterpieces.
Artist & Craftsman Supply
5603 Hobart St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
(412) 421-3002
www.artistcraftsman.com
Artist & Craftsman Supply is Pittsburgh's supply shop for all types of visually creative spirits. In addition to having the basics and ready-made kits for students and weekend craft makers, A&CS caters to the serious artist with a wide variety of professional tools. Every nook of the store is chock full of all types of paint, paper, drawing and sculpting tools, printmaking supplies, stretcher bars to stretch your own canvases and wood panels ready for your next portrait or landscape. A&CS is less than two miles from the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University's main campuses. While it offers a 10-percent discount to students and teachers, its prices tend to be some of the lowest you'll find at most art supply retailers.
Prizm Artist's Supplies Store
Pat Catan's Craft Center
250 Mount Nebo Pointe Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
(412) 364-3515
www.patcatans.com
Pat Catan's Craft Centers originally opened their doors in Cleveland, Ohio in 1954, and have grown the business to include over 20 locations around Pennsylvania and Cleveland. Prizm, The Artist's Supply Store brings together the best of visual arts in a one-stop shopping experience. You gain access to a wide variety of professional fine art, graphic and drafting supplies, while still being able to shop from a large selection of craft tools for the hobbyist, all under one roof. Prizm also guarantees to have the lowest prices, and promises to price match if you bring in an ad flyer from its competitors showing a lower price for the same product.
The Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse
214 N. Lexington St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15208
(412) 473-0100
www.pccr.org
The Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse has a mission to promote, "resource conservation, creativity, and community engagement through material reuse." PCCR is not only the most unique art supply store in Pittsburgh, but may well be the most important one as well. The PCCR is chock full of an eclectic mix of materials to use for countless creative projects, from found object sculptures and collages, to fabrics and crafts, to every form of fine art in between. Its stock is constantly rotating as it is primarily supplied by donations from individuals and companies looking to get rid of materials that artists can take advantage of.
Top Notch Art Supply
411 S. Craig St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
(412) 683-4444
www.tnartsupply.com
Within walking distance of University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon and Carnegie Museum of Art, Top Notch breathes creativity. Although the shop is small, it's surprising just how much variety and stock it can fit in its space. In addition to fine art and crafts, Top Notch also specializes in drafting supplies. Also, customers are not limited to the space in the store. Top Notch launched its website loaded with supplies and tools of all types. While the prices on the website might vary from that in the physical shop, you can order your supplies from the site and then pick them up right in the store.
David Cohen is a freelance writer whose work can be found on Examiner.com.
