This really is one of the best art stores in the Bay Area. The selection is plentiful,the prices are great and the employees are very helpfull. Its a little out of the way for me, but I'm really picky when it comes to material, and this place seems to always have what I need in stock. read more

This is the place I visit for art supplies if I'm in Berkeley. They offer competitive prices. Everything is nicely organized and well presented. Even if you aren't an artist they have stuff for hobbyists and casual browsers. The section to the left is made up of of stationary and specialty paper. They have a great variety color, texture, and weight. Each style of paper (envelope, letter sized paper) can be mixed matched or bought by the sheet so you don't have to buy an entire set. Keep in mind, you pay for the quality. Around this area, you can buy bigger sheets of specialty art paper. There's also the high quality hand made paper, color transparency, and other crazy expensive stuff. There's a large format paper trimmer, but I'm sure you have to get an employee to use it before you start trimming up those beautiful sheets. There is another area for art tables, easels, and art furniture. It's great to see this stuff in person rather than over the Internet. In this section they also carry a lot of scrapbooks/memorybooks. They all pretty much have the same innards (prefixed digital photos slots, not plastic sleeves; blah); although the covers and dimensions differ. The right end of the store is where all the canvas, paint supplies, and art portfolios exist. Their paint supplies is your typical slew of name brands and cheaper brands. They sometimes run out of colors, but they're pretty good at stocking them. They have a wide range of canvas sizes, shapes, and weights. Their portfolio section is rather good too. They sell those expensive metal portfolios along with similar professional looking ones. The middle of the store is dedicated primarily to graphic papers, pens, cutting supplies, and lithography. There are aisles and aisles of stuff. If you walk through the store pretty quick you can get the gist of it. Additional they tend to have a little shelving unit dedicated to clearance items. Their selection of books is poor, so I'd look somewhere else like Cody's or Comic Relief. The staff is pretty friendly and usually know their stuff. They offer discount cards, an email mailing list, and free print catalogues (thick as hell). Once you sign up for a free member card, you get all these coupons that fall out easily. I lost all mine, lol. There's a private parking lot for customers. Blick is also located right next to the freeway for easy access. ___ If you're looking for harder to find things like matt cutters, specialty paper, stretched canvas, lithography supplies, and art supplies in general; Blick might interest you. read more

I love Blick! Its my one stop shop for all things creative! They have everything...but my most favorite parts about Blick are 1. They have thee best Clearance section! I've gotten super deals on whole wall displays ($11), metallic tattoos, photo albums, cool markers, & a bunch of other things!..& if you read my reviews you know I LIVE for a deal! 2. If you sign up for the frequent buyers program they will send you thee best coupons at least once a Month & it's usually always 40% off ANY item! I have to be careful coming here..because I can spend all day & all my money! I HEART Blick! read more

The layout here is amazing. The customer service is always friendly and relaxed. They have an amazing selection of art and craft supplies for some of the best prices (they don't beat Utrecht but those kids drive me nuts) in the East Bay. Most importantly, the lighting is perfect. I find it incredibly annoying to try to buy paint colors in a dark store. In addition, they have a huge parking lot and it's really easy to find what I need. I want to move into this store. read more

I'm not hardcore artsy fartsy kinda gal, but I can get creative. They have a good selection of stuff here, but not so much for the crafty folks. I guess I'm more of the Michael's craft store kinda gal (and no, I don't scrapbook), but hey, sometimes you just need that special eraser that you can only find at an art store. Went there after work one day and like some of the other reviewers mentioned, the staff can make it sorta unpleasant. The guy who rang me up reeked of smoke and bad breath. Although a nice "hello" at the counter would have been nice, but it was better that he kept his mouth closed. I was not a fan of him. There were other staff there that were nice. Bottom line: they've got what you need, but don't expect a "hello" or a "goodbye" or a "thank you" when you step up to the counter. read more

Clean, well-stocked art supply store. Helpful staff. It's always fun to look around and buy stuff at the art supply store. * Dogs welcome * read more

Like most of the Blick Empire, this store has avery middling selection of a very large amount of products. Oh yeah, I still occasionally drool over something, but like any chain, I'm never surprised. In this location the sales staff is reasonably helpful, but variable. Depending on the day I shopped there, I got a very attentive salesperson once, once I got an obnoxious douchebag who nodded in the direction where they "thought" I could find something and once someone who didn't know very much but was at least willing to venture around the store and help me look for something that didn't fall into one of their categories. Overall I'd call Blick fair to middling. read more

You can get seriously lost in this place, a pricey (typical) art store so laaarge, but not necesarriy carrying much of a diverse selection. The store has a mellow atmosphere, and wonderful employees (YeahJenn!). I cant afford much there, but i did by some of their handmade art paper, which is in the back left part of the store... it is so beautiful, i just hung it on my wall as decoration, and LOVE it. read more

Wow it's like Art Heaven in a Blick's Store, I'd never been and my artistic ideas were on over drive when I walked through the store. You could spend hours in this store and find what your looking for and more. I am a photographer, and was searching the local cities for a store that carried more than one color and two sizes in matting, Blick's has so many colors to choose from, I was in matt heaven. Also the staff is really friendly too.... the sales associate whom helped me check out, they even have a Blick's card for students and teachers. Can't wait to go back with my photo's to check out the frames and get more matts. If you haven't been here, you are missing out, Blick's puts Michael's and JoAnn's to shame with their art specific line of products. read more

Took silk painting workshop yesterday and loved it! Randy was a fun instructor and all materials included and all prep was done beforehand. I would definitely recommend and would love to go to more workshops. read more

Blick's kick's ass!!!!!!!!!!!!! Went here yesterday for their sale and my handy 40% coupon! Yes, I am a member and love this art store for all the supplies I can ever need. So needed more acrylic paints and usually I like the Liquitex heavy body paints and though I only needed a few it was costing me like $40!!!!! Yeah paints can be expensive....but then I said why not try out the Blick's brand...So I asked the customer service guy and he helped me out with some paper to try the paints on and some foam sticks and ACTUALLY the Blick's (somewhat cheaper) brand of acrylics was about the same consistency. So, I bought 4 paints. The only thing that sucked is they didn't have one color I needed- they don't have a wider selection of color spectrum shades as LIQUITEX Having done all that I decided to check out what can I use my 40% coupon for a NON SALE product.........HMMM....I must have been in luck that day cuz I really needed a bigger ART BIN and got a HUGE ONE- the Sidekick XL...Original price was Around $32 but with my 40% it was $15!!!! What a DEAL!!!!! Thanks Blick's!!!! Thank you friendly staff! OH and thank you cashier guy when I almost walked out the door without my purchase!!!!!!!! read more

I love this store! It totally rocks! What is amazing to me is the selection, especially given the space, it is not a huge place. There are a kzillion types of papers for all types of media. You can find an array of different size and shape canvases (or "make your own canvas" materials) and neato tools like acrylic palettes that "stay-wet" so the acrylics don't dry out or graphic pencils that can be used with paintbrushes and water. The staff is helpful, courteous, and laid back. They crack jokes, offer to help you find what you need, and seem to like making art themselves. The lay-out of the supplies is well-organized and easy on the eyes. I really do like this store! read more

Most of the time I am not disappointed and I end up buying all the things I don't need and not buying the one thing I do need, so I end up having to go back to buy the one thing I came in there in the first place and end up leaving with 5 other things I don't need but must have! In general, the clerks are really friendly, helpful, but sometimes one or two didn't get to go on their break or something and gives Blick a bad name. In any case, they have great hours and parking is do-able and accessible most of the time and things go on sale a lot. ----- Addendum: went back here a few times recently, had specific questions and they were so nice and spent so much time working with me to find solutions to my conundrum and when things were not in the shelves, they checked their stock to see if they were indeed out of stock and returned with an update of when things would be stocked again. Excellent customer service the last few times . I changed my rating from 4 to 5 stars. Even if they are corporate, they're very helpful, and to me, that's important. read more

This is my go to place for my canvases and paint. I wish that they had more good quality oils in stock but I understand. They are becoming student based and more for the general public. As a painter I wish that they had more items for us read more

I love the smell of charcoal pencils, the feel of vellum and the rich colors of oils. I totally appreciate a good Kolinsky sable brush and a spacious portfolio case. Blink Art is a place of great happiness and calm for me and I find that I need to limit the number of my visits for fear that they will think I am an art materials stalker. I have always found Blick's prices to be very reasonable, shelves are well stocked, and the staff helpful and courteous. read more

Amazing customer service! Thank you Eric for taking the time and going above and beyond in making sure I got the best price for the best quality! Being a non-profit, your efforts truly go a long way. read more

Obviously Monoko S. review is in the minority. As a semi-professional artist who works closely with most of the bay area's professional artists it is common knowledge that Blick is the best on price, selection and more often-than-not, knowledgeable employees. Sure, they often employee college students with a certain "I'm into the arts" snobbery but I have found them to be very knowledgable of the products they caryy - even some of the more esoteric items that I have sought out here such as scratch boards. My artist friends and I are always very excited when we make a trip to Blick. Having shopped ALL art supply stores throughout the bay area for more than 30 years I am confident in giving Blick the highest rating possible - they are simply the best. read more

Pretty friendly staff. Came here in the past a couple of times with former art classmate & roomie. Good selection of art supplies & sometimes they mail out postcards with discounts. read more

I adore Blick!!! It's a bit out of the way for me. But when I get an opportunity or have to buy school supplies for an art class, I go here! THEY HAVE EVERYTHING! Great prices, too! I got a pack of prismacolor markers that are normally about $50 for $27! I've bought a bunch of stuff from here, too. Paint, drawing paper, pencils, canvas, portfolio, giant piece of posterboard... etc. (I'm an art major so it's like being in a candy store) If you're a student or teacher you can get a discount savings card and receive 10% off every purchase. They even offer free crafting classes. The staff is super friendly and helpful. Parking can be a little dumb but just circle around a few times. read more

Why pay $50 for a makeup brush at a fancy department store, branded with some slogan, when you could get the same, better quality here? I do not shop for art supplies anymore because it's become hazardous to my health. I have that pack-rat syndrome when it comes to art supplies and stationary things. I want it all, in case I ever learn macrame, or in case I need to make a pinata, or a parade float. The little containers for watercolors and containers for other things are so inexpensive here and they work better than the cosmetic counterparts. I swear the cosmetic industry is made up of smoke and mirrors, hope and reliance that people who drop a lot of cash on the pretty also do not paint or do anything artsy. There is no difference between that little plastic container by X brand and this little plastic container in the art store. Smoke and Mirrors. read more

Forget Michael's. If you paint, sculpt, draw, go where the goods are. Blick's has a frequent buyer's club, the $5 fee is more than worth the discounts you'll get when you go. I also like Blick's for gifts. Gotta get a gift with that "neato" factor for a co-worker or cousin, check out the groovy design items on the tables near the register. read more

Back in my community college days, I used to get my art history course materials at Utrecht before my transferring to university. Blick Art Materials ("Blick") took over the old Utrecht location at Martin Luther King, Jr. Street and University. Eventually Blick closed down the aforementioned location and one must go to their long-standing location at University and Fifth Street. Now I have taken up bullet journaling, I am still new to the craft. Along with taking up bullet journaling, I have returned to the community college as I have missed academia. I was in the market for Stabilo highlighters that I could used for bullet journaling along with revising and studying for courses. I found Stabilo highlighters on Blick's website.When I walked into Blick Art Materials, I swear I was in art supply heaven! So much to peruse and examine quite closely! One would need at least a couple of hours to explore what is on Blick's shelves! Wow! I was so overwhelmed by the aisles and shelves of offerings, I asked a Blick associate where I could locate highlighters. I was looking for the Stabilo highlighters. Unfortunately, there were no Stabilo highlighters in the store. What?! Fortunately, there were a selection of Stabilo pens in an assortment of colors to choose from. There was another brand of highlighters in stock that I recognized, Staedler. There was a selection of colors to choose from individually or buy together as a set. I elected to go with the set as it was much more practical and in factoring I would get eight colors in a set, it was less expensive versus buying an individual highlighter. The highlighters I was originally seeking were only available on their website and shipping costs would be factored being delivered in-store or to my house. I decided to think about it. I also purchased a Tombow brush pen in Sea Blue #373. The associate assisting me rang up my purchases at the till and informed me that I looked familiar to her, she had seen me around in Berkeley. (Oh, gosh I get that all the time it seems.) I asked her if she went to Berkeley City College or UC Berkeley. Well--to cut a long story short--it turned out we were classmates at Berkeley City College in a statistics course. And since learning I have a friendly familiar face here at Blick Art Materials, I would definitely be back. And I have returned. I walked in and was beyond chuffed they carried the Lechtumm 1917 Bullet Journal in the official format. There were two color choices--Emerald (Blue-Green) and Black. I went for the Emerald one along with a few select colors of Tombow pens. Blick Art Materials made a first-time appearance at 2017 Caltopia. They were there to invite students to check out their store with a discount coupon and a choice of only one freebie from a selection: pencils, T-shirt, paint, a notebook, and a bag. I would have liked to have taken more than one selection yet I took the coupon along with a set of pencils. I did make a return to Blick a few days after Caltopia. They do have a student discount, all one has to do is to present a valid student ID. I shall return to Blick Art Materials. I'll Be Back . . . . read more

They have beautiful stationary, journals, pens, etc. I've oohed and ahhhed in this store before, but I returned for the specific purpose of getting really good sealant for my art pieces. They were very helpful in looking for specific tools needed for my drawings. Although they did not have a particular tool the staff was accommodating. As the case with most little boutiques, some items can be a bit pricey, though nothing outrageous. It's just such a cute store, and definitely worth the visit. read more

As an artist this place is close to Nirvana. As a sculptor the offerings are limited but less expensive for what they do have. Great place for crafty ideas with kids too. I was able to pick up a couple of Christmas presents for the kids. Warning, if you like to be creative, you may spend more time here than is good for your wallet. read more

I love the knowledgeable, friendly, professional service from the staff at the retail store, as well as the ones who handle my online orders. Each time I went to the Berkeley store during the COVID-19 protocols, the staff all wore masks as did other customers and everyone kept proper distance. As a person of "a certain age," I felt safe. Blick is my GO TO source for all art supplies. Thank you everyone at Blick Art for supporting my creative endeavours!!! read more

great store. saved me $20 on a bottle of matte medium rather than buying from aaron brothers. the 10% savings from blick card helps, too. would be nice to see more types of pencil cases and a higher assortment of pencils and stuff. i'm sure they will improve their inventory in the future. the parking kind of sucks though. sometimes it's hard to park because idiots don't know how to, and entering and exiting the parking lot to get back on the freeways towards richmond is a pain at times. read more

I'm not an artist. I just love art supplies. The colors are bring fun into any room. I stopped by Blick's to get a couple of small plastic rulers. Did a quick walk-through up and down the aisles and they were neat and well-organized. The sales clerk chatted me up, noticed I had a student ID in my wallet and gave me a 10% discount. He also told me about their sale and gave me a membership card. It was lovely getting all the attention when it was obvious I was only spending about $2.96. read more

I love this place!!! It's my favorite art store in the Bay Area. And yes, I will drive all the way to Berkeley to get supplies here. Everything is laid out really well, staff is super helpful and informative about their products. They always have something new and cool to try out. What's even better is the discount card they have if you're a student or teacher I believe. That will knock down your bill a good amount. read more

I have mixed feelings about Blick, and especially this one. You'd think the locale would be perfect, just off the freeway, right? Wrong. You can't even get into the driveway without circling the block, because there isn't an allowed U-turn at the traffic light. Finally, you get inside. They've got everything you need, and it could just be me, but it seems like I spend far less dollars at the Oakland store. Higher prices here, possibly? The service is okay, but it seems that the people here are less knowledgeable about art, and as far as what they have and don't have and where it is, it is hit and miss with the staff here. read more

Summary based on several visits: --Very good selection --Reasonable prices with loyalty program discounts --Helpful service --Good parking This became the alternative when Amsterdam Art closed (though there are a couple of places on Shattuck). It's worked out fine. read more

OMG. PARKING in BERKELEY!!! 3 stars for that! Staff were really helpful in every way (another star). I came in looking for a textile medium and they didn't seem to understand what I was looking for. The staff offered me an alternative which is NOT TEXTILE MEDIUM AT ALL. Don't get me wrong, they were quite attentive to my needs but I left the store without the thing that I needed most for my project. :( Other than that, I was quite happy with my other purchases because the prices were very reasonable. Overall, I will definitely be coming back. read more

My favorite art store in the Bay Area! I love all the variety and how there is always great deals! The staff is always very helpful and nice. I love this place! read more

I didn't actually buy anything here, although the prices all seemed reasonable enough. I'm giving them five stars because of their excellent customer service. I was looking for a marker that drips, kind of like the ones graffiti artists use. Went up to a girl who worked there and straight up told her what I was looking for. She responded by telling me they don't really have anything like that there and that I should go online to find instructions on how to make my own drippy paint marker. Anyway, I just though that was awesome. I have a feeling she would have told me how if it didn't threaten her job in some way. read more

Blick = crack. Word. This is my go-to art supply store because it's well-stocked and not too pretentious or snooty. It's an ideal place for painters and illustrators, especially. Great selection of paints, pencils, pastels (even Schmincke, dude ... SCHMINCKE!!), paper pads. canvases... Recently I've decided to get into printmaking and I was happy to discover a good starter selection of tools and materials for linocut and woodblock relief printing. I've also discovered their loose papers with a good selection of higher quality drawing and watercolor papers. I'm on their mailing list now and they always seem to have a sale going on which lasts for MONTHS. Good deals too, since art supplies can add up. read more

I love this new location. The staff is friendly, know the products, and are very helpful in their suggestions. I shopped the old store as well and prefer this one. read more

Helpful, courteous staff and great selection. Just like every other Blick store I have ever visited. Only downside is the parking, but I usually park on a residential street, and walk (e.g. - exercise) in to the store. read more

12/1/2014 2PM Went to Blick's looking for Multiliner SP Pens. First went to another store, and to another Blick's before finally finding the stuff here. Pretty decently priced and large variety. Super helpful employees who spent a good ten minutes trying to find what I needed. read more

I had to buy some supplies for my girlfriend today for her architecture classes. She gave me a list and I had absolutely no idea what most of the things were. So I went to blick and asked them if they could show me where these things are thinking I had to spend a lot of time there. But Kyle gladly took me around and got everything on the list for me one by one. So thank you Kyle. The customer service was great and the price was very reasonable. read more

I went in to get art supplies package for a class that included a LOT of materials. The ending price was 50% off what it would have been if Blick's didn't give a discount. They have a really helpful and friendly staff. Although they forgot to give me some of my materials, when I called and went back the manager quickly wrote up a 30% coupon for me for my next purchase. The store is huge with a great selection of pretty much anything you would ever need. I find it a bit cheaper than the art supply stores that are closer to campus, but they have more stuff than anywhere else. read more

Prices are good here, location & parking are easy. But the employees can make or break a shopping experience, and some of the folks who work here could really use some tips on good customer service. I've consistently found that the staff doesn't seem to know much about the materials I'm looking for, so I'm on my own finding them. Just make sure you have more time available than you think you'll need - unless you luck out & find someone who is both knowledgeable, capable, and has the time to help you, you might be there awhile. I only visit this store several times a year, but this experience has been repeated consistently, so my visits are getting less frequent as I find alternative places to get what I want. read more