Art Essentials is a well-loved, locally owned art supply store with a long-standing history in Santa Barbara. It offers a wide selection of high-quality art materials, including paints, pencils, sketchbooks, pastels, canvases, and printmaking supplies. The store is known for its good prices and frequent sales, making it a favorite spot for artists to find the tools they need. Customers appreciate the friendly and helpful staff, many of whom are also artists and can give practical advice on materials and techniques. The store has even created special sections and shrine-like displays to help students find their supplies easily. While it mainly focuses on paints, pastels, and traditional art supplies, some wish for more fiber arts and sewing materials. Overall, Art Essentials is praised for its quality, variety, and community support, making it a go-to destination for artists in the area.
We love this place it has been around for generations of artists in my family, and it is locally owned! We are lucky in Santa Barbara that it isn’t a Michael’s store, far better quality!-sometimes they don’t answer the phone but they are wonderful.
March 2024
Well-stocked store ideal for buying those colors, chalks, brushes or canvases that we need for those manual jobs that are part of the hobby
November 2023
Carries Games-Workshop (Warhammer) products. Great paint and brush selections (I use acrylics). Ask about discounts.
