I'm happy to support this local, family-owned business, not only for the aforementioned reasons but also because their employees are both knowledgeable and helpful. I tend to come in to have prints matted and/or framed. Archival materials are the norm. The staff will also mat to ready-made frame sizes or custom. Their training also makes choosing mats easier. "Do you want bright white or eggshell white?" "Let's look at them together." Additionally, they offer to amend things that I didn't notice. A print I asked to have matted and framed was slightly curved. I was assured the print would be flattened prior to being matted and framed so it would sit more snugly. I'm sure most customers would appreciate that attention to detail. Here's to hoping this establishment continues to provide goods and services to this community for a long time to come. read more

This store has been around for years and always has a great selection of products. My mom loves adult coloring books and comes here to stock up on assorted color pencils. They sell the pencils individually so she can selectively restock the ones she runs out of most. Apparently, green is the most frequently used color for all the grass in landscapes so she can buy individual ones here very reasonably instead of buying a whole new package of pencils. They also have a nice selection of gift items like small pouches, reusable bags, socks, cards and assorted small art themed things. The selection of easels is extensive and includes table easels and standing easels. Tons of canvas, paints and paint brushes. Prices are reasonable. I found the staff a little overbearing (they greeted me multiple times) when I entered the store but were friendly at checkout. Highly recommend. read more

Really love shopping local for art supplies! Arlene's is a terrific, yet small, medium inclusive supply store. While size keeps the choices minimal, the knowledgeable staff will surely help you find just what you need. Also enjoy their selection of beautiful specialty papers and gift items. Always a treat to drop in and see what new treasures they've gotten in! read more

I don't like getting kids plastic junk for birthday presents. Even well made things are still things that take up space in somebody's house. Regardless if the present is for a child or for an adult, I prefer to give consumables. Since you can't really give a kid a nice bottle of wine, and a fancy bottle of juice just doesn't quite get the excitement it deserves, that leave art supplies. For that I go to Arlene's. And they've got the goods. They've got a helpful staff. There are even a bunch of prepackaged kids art projects over on the far right hand side of the store. But my regular purchases here are giant pads of newsprint. Each kid has one, and when they fill it up, we go and get a new one. They can sit on the floor, or be propped up on an easel. It works will with crayons, markers, pens or pencils. It can be used for art, or math, or composing song lyrics. And it is so big, that a well decorated sheet makes lovely personalized wrapping paper for birthday gifts. Who needs TV when you have a giant pad. read more

My daughter is going to SUNY and needed supplies for a project. Everything we needed at prices we can afford, great and helpful people who love their jobs! read more

After having drove past here probably countless times, my wife finally convinced me that we should stop in and check it out. Well needless to say; glad we did! Endless amounts of art supplies that generally most other "craft stores" don't carry. And the pricing was great! Found a few items that were interesting; mostly just kept our search for what we intended to purchase. Didn't really wander too much around the entire store to see what other hidden items might have been laying around. But did notice that they offer classes for all ages and skill sets. Nothing like your typical "sip and paint" from what I've gathered after reading the flyers in the doorway. But genuine instructional teaching. Only downside I'd say would be the small parking space that is available; entrance/exit area does become bottlenecked only because of how it's been designed. About the only drawback I could see honestly. Over all great store! Would definitely come back and get more supplies for my wife to keep her creativity going. read more

Fantastic staff. Fantastic selection. Easy to support this local treasure! Often have community events which are a wonderful addition.

The staff at Arlene's was always very knowledgeable and helpful, and the store is the best resource for artists and craftspeople in Albany. However, their framing department uses acid-bearing mat board. This is inexcusable, especially since their staff and customers are the very people who should care most about using archival quality materials. I assumed I could trust them to use acid-free mat board, but I was wrong. read more

I've recently transitioned from computer-based/digital art to trying my hand at traditional art. Arlene's was recommended to me by an artist I know. Having done my fair share of computer-based 3D modeling and sculpting, I decided I was going to give real sculpting a shot, so I went here to pick up some clay, wire mesh and tools from Arlene's in order to get started with the inevitable shit-show of a sculpting effort to follow. Despite the fact that I generally had no idea what the hell I was talking about, the employee I dealt with here was awesome. She patiently answered my stupid questions, made recommendations, and sent me on my way. Arlene's has a ton of stuff, and is definitely worth checking out. Depending on how much of a disaster my project ends up, if I'm not completely demotivated I will definitely be back to Arlene's to buy more supplies! read more

I was wondering if anyone knows or has heard of an Albany artist Joanna Wagoner. She was my art teacher at Albany High School sometime around 1965 or 1966. I sometimes wonder what happened to her or if anyone has any of her art work or sculptures. read more

It's the papers. I'm a sucker for the papers here. The hand-dyed ones from Nepal, the Italian marbleds and the rest. The selection of letter-sized papers is quite decent and the prices really aren't too bad. If you're looking for goofy captions to slap into a scrapbook, this isn't really the place. It's more the spot for things like watercolors, pastels and charcoals, as well as a huge selection of various types of canvas and board. There's also a decent amount of book-binding supplies which often induces me to outright drooling... the prices of those supplies seem to be high almost everywhere. Nice friendly staff, and cool postcards and greeting cards help make this a place I frequent. They also have some cool little gifty items too. read more

Rude, insulting staff. Went there to get something framed, was 15 minutes until it was closing time. Dude behind counter smarmily dismissed me from store. Even mumbled "asshole" as I walked out. And I was with my daughter. Classy. Just don't go. There are other frame shops popping up in the area, thankfully. read more

Local Artists supporting local art! This shop has almost everything you need, and its reasonably priced. Staff was helpful and wrapped all of my supplies neatly and carefully. Definitely recommended. read more

I don't draw but I love looking at the pens and markers here. And I don't need another magnet for the fridge but I love the selection they have here. I recently went here with my mom to get some things framed (one being a Christmas present for my dad that was an irregular size). The guy who helped us was SO friendly and so nice. We pretty much had nothing in mind for what we wanted and he had tons of suggestions for us. We listened, nodded our heads and ended up with some really nice frames. The present for my dad actually needed a custom matte which looks great even with the pre-made frame we put the whole thing in. There's a big selection of items here and a friendly and knowledgeable staff. Also a great place if you're looking for some cute little presents. (Stocking stuffers, perhaps?) read more

Absolutely love the art supply side...everyone is friendly and extremely helpful. My experience in the Custom Framing department, however, was awful. Came in with five pieces of art to frame..Paul was belligerent and completely unwilling to even discuss creative matting or using a vintage frame I had brought in. He was so busy shaking his head "no" in fact, that he didn't even listen to what I was asking for. I picked my stuff up and said I was leaving, to which I got a half-assed "I'm sorry". He was a jerk...plain and simple. Sorry to interrupt your smoke break, dude. Drove right over to one of Arlene's competitors (around the corner) and got everything I was looking for. Learned from the guys there that Paul's attitude was pretty well known. Arlene's lost a $1,000.00 framing order that day and any hope of regaining me as a customer. I've worked in retail, and as a custom framer in the past and...news flash...a bad attitude and "no" doesn't bring in revenue. There are plenty of resources for this kind of work, so my question to Arlene's management is: how is that considered acceptable to your bottom line?? read more

Great selection of art supplies covering multiple mediums, lowest price on Copic markers I've seen.

There's a very good reason they win Metroland's "Best of Every Year" - because no one can compete with the quality, quantity and service from this store which carries every kind of art supply imaginable and a lot of fun, quirky gift and novelty items. read more

Absolutely outstanding framing and extremely reasonable rates. I purchased a very large print while in Rome. Arlene's spent 30 patient minutes with us picking out frames, mats and sizing. They were delightful the entire time. Even a smudge we noticed after arrival from Rome was completely removed. The finished quality was beyond expectations. I will never go to another framer again. read more

Well supplied, considering the size of the building. Framing supplies, large mats and paper sold by the sheet, paints, dyes, markers.. Well, everything an art store ought to have. I am relieved to have a "real" art store near me! read more

I find that many of the other craft stores in the area are eliminating certain lines of paints. Arlene's are one of the only stores to continue to sell Americana paints. They have an excellent selection of brushes, And excellent of other supplies for materials needed to complete supply list. You can always find a good canvas on sale. I love this store! read more

Great selection, very knowledgeable staff. I've been to many art stores and arlenes is one of my favorites. They even have occasional art classes for free! read more

I'm new to grownup coloring. They could not have been any nicer. I spoke with 4 different people and every one was very helpful to this non-artist. Lots of open stock so I can try a wide variety of pens, pencils and markers. read more

Great place for art supplies and custom framing....I learned so much from the knowledgable staff The capital area is lucky to have such a great supply store...the owner is on the sales floor discussing new products and providing fair prices read more