I am an artist!! Did the skies part and thunder roll? No, dang. But if you are an artist or want to be an artist, you must shop here. All the cool kids do. This is a family owned business who supports all facets of art in Denver, from the professional to the hobbyist to the little baby Picassos. I can find everything I need here for my own work for my home studio to bulk supplies for my job as an art educator. Pricey, eh, they don't call it starving artists for nothing, but it is all about location, location, location and supplies, supplies, supplies and also supporting the home team. The employees are all great, not an artsy snob in the bunch. I think artists know artists and baby, you can sometimes have a regular Denver-who's-who in the the canvas aisle....Sigh, I love the smell of printmaking ink in the morning.... read more

If there was a poster child for going off an tangents with a tint of OCD and ADD I am sure I would be it. I have a variety of interests and ART is on them I have very creative side and drawing helped me make it through my angstful youth, until I found sports! So back to that tangents and ADD/OCD etc. Heres theTangent Part: read a review and then started surfing art etc. Then sent like 20 Yelp compliments to a Artist on Yelp! When this store I bought all my art supplies from in College popped into me head. So here's the OCD: literally I will probably get off work, or I might even drive over on my lunch and go buy art supplies that I cant afford nor have the time to use! Heres the ADD: I will get home after the girls practices what ever sport du jour is track or basketball I will cook, check home work, try to clean then I will turn on Pandora fire up the Xbox and run a TV show thru hulu on my PC LCD leaving said ART supplies in the bag I just purchased them. There is literally many places that I am like a kid in a candy store, electronics stores, buffets, strip clubs and Meininger's! This place is a veritable wonderland there are so many pencil, pens, brushes, and canvases. I could make my own comic or travel to Haiti like Homer and paint Palms in hurricanes, or go to Venice like Singer Sargent and paint a Venetian Canal Scene. What ever the out come this store really turns my creative side on and some day that fire will be stoked until it because a uncontrollable urge and the place I will go to get my supplies with be Meininger's! read more

As an art girl I fell in love with Meininger's the first time I went inside all those years ago. I am still in love. They have almost everything an artist needs. They have a superb selection of painting supplies, canvas, brushes, drawing supplies, and even goodies for the little artist's in your life. Plus did I mention how I am in love with their book selection? I love it... They also have a small, but good magazine selection. I do enjoy in the front of the store all the creative silly sometimes totally useless other times totally useful delightful items that change often, yet keep me coming back for more. Did I tell you about the paper? Oh, the paper... From the drawing paper, handmade, decorative, and of course wrapping paper. I freaking love paper. Okay I am done geeking out on telling you about art supplies, just go and make something already! read more

This is my first stop when I'm going on an adventure. I am really, really good at spending money here. As small as my budget may be, there's always $10, $20, $30 to drop at this store. I am always able to convince suspicious, penny-counting parts of me that it's money spent on ART, and ART should always be a spending priority. So for trips and vacations and weekend-getaways, I always like to stop in and pick up sketch books, Moleskines, new pens, Cray-pas, etc. And no matter what my original intent is for stopping at Meininger's, I always walk out with more projects, gleefully looking forward to an afternoon of tea, chalk, and India Ink. For someone like me who is so invested in their work life that they often forget their creative side even exists, this place is an awesome reminder jolt. Another thing- have you ever been to a Michael's? I think being a sullen asshole is a requirement for getting a job there. That, fortunately, is not the case here, where the nicest people in the world want you to buy crayons. That's all. Just buy crayons. Ok? read more

Purchased a luxury pen for my boss in the middle of December, on sale for almost $300. Worked great inside the store but embarrassed to say that my boss gave it back since it broke. Went to the store to see if they could refund it for me, or even give me store credit but they would not. The manager, Patty, who sold me the pen, and spoke with me today told me all I could do was send off the pen for repair. It would cost $36 to have them look at it plus I would have to pay for the repair cost. For being a luxury pen, I would have never imagined it to break so quickly! I would definitely not recommend this store to anyone looking to buy luxury pens since they have bad quality items. read more

A top art supply store. Amazing selections of oil, acrylic and water colors paints. They have everything!!!! read more

Go ahead - just set up direct deposit to this place for my paycheck. The selection of EVERYTHING is just great - the price ranges is even better as it offers options for beginners and experts so that a new hobby won't break the bank, but will still look better than a novice's work. I could get lost in every part of the store for hours. They have an amazing selection of papers, pens, markers, every type of paint, calligraphy tools and origami - just to name 6 of the probably hundred subsections of products. The staff is always helpful - sometimes a little too watchful. I promise I'm not gonna steal these ink pens! But that is understandable as I'm sure people try that crap especially with the good/expensive stuff which would only make prices/attitude worse - so I'll smile back and deal with it. I also love that the staff uses their brains - I'm not meaning to sound condescending, but the folks working at chain 'craft stores' have no clue about their products or art really - so it is fabulous that Meininger staff can offer advice and tips on the spot. read more

Losing this store in Denver would be a serious cultural hit. It'd be like not having Sam Flax in NYC since Pearl Paint has closed :( or Utrechts in Providence or World Supply in LA (woops, already out of business). Be well advised Denver. I have bought from this store on my visits to Colorado for years. They have everything for the artist to designer. I've seen staff grow from youth to middle age. I even dated one of the staff long ago. So I'm familiar and and satisfied with Meiningers. I'm unsure why people think it's "pricy." I mean a Starbucks latte is pricy!!! Could it be the same people who expect to buy a lovely oil laboriously created with the said pricy paint and (very) expensive brushes for less than $100? It has nothing to do with elitism, art is never cheap. I'll keep coming here every time I'm in Denver to support Meiningers, and indirectly artists that need their supplies. Long live Meiningers. Tip: -Wander around and you'll grow to appreciate the place on repeat visits. -I wrap my own paper or board when I'm here to ensure its integrity. read more

Our daughter, the artsy-creative one in the family started taking art classes at The Arts Student's League at about the same time she was old enough to pick up a paint brush. We found early on that we would be "investing" lots of money in art supplies. That's when we discovered Meininger. Big and packed to the gills with everything for novice to professional artist. They also have a great selection of journals and fansy-schmancy pens and every color of ink under the sun. I also love the fact that they have lots of parking in their own private lot. Our daughter, now 23 is a wonderful artist and thankfully she now buys her own supplies. read more

I love this store.. if your looking for something art/design related this is the place to go. Me and my bro always go and try out all the markers, pens etc. Love It!! read more

This for an independent art store, this should be the mark for excellence. Staff is incredibly helpful, and knowledgeable . Really they are- they know their stuff, and can remind you if you forgot something. I went to art school. and they are unbelievably astute. The stores selections is as good as the selection as major art catalogues online, maybe a little more expensive, but the info from the staff can be priceless. You should go here and spend some money on supplies, especially after talking to the staff! They have an amazing selection of stationary too! read more

A very seductive store. I am not an artist, but I always see lots of stuff that I want to buy. The staff is friendly and helpful. The layout is great. There is plenty of parking (38 slots). Denver is fortunate to have this store. read more

Giant selection of everything but feels a little expensive. I also like how laid back this place is. I'm no artist, so I usually have no idea what I'm doing and just buying stuff to play around with but the staff is always very helpful and willing to explain without the irritated air of superiority that I find other places. A fun place to just wander around and think of the possibilities. read more

I've been going to Meininger's of and on for many years, and have yet to be disappointed. They have everything you can imagine and very knowledgeable and helpful staff who have helped me on many occasions. One of the very few stores that I frequent where are usually just take their recommendations and buy what they suggest. Yes, you pay more here than what you may pay online, but I'm willing to pay it because I can get something I need right away, along with the valuable advice, so I want keep them open. read more

I could see coming here again. Their prices are about the same as Michael's or Joann's or Hobby Lobby, except I don't think they have any of the email coupons or weekly coupons in the paper which definitely does not make it as much as a deal. I was able to find what I needed with the help of a floor person. It was priced acceptably and cheaper than another independent art store in another state I'd visited for the same object previously. I liked their selection, though I did ask and they do not have any glass-working supplies, which is a disappointment considering how large and varied the selection is. I also felt the cashiers needed an extra person to call in to man a third register. The line was getting long and it seemed like the people in front of me were taking awhile to check out. The line was even longer when I left. read more

A local gem! They have good selection of paper, paint, colors, and much more. The staff are friendly, the products are in good quality. Yes, just like previous yelpers said, it's very pricey. The particular oil pastel I was looking for costs $20+ more in the store than elsewhere. But it's a local business and has been around for a long long time, so I want to support it. Check out their gift sections you would find the cutest and quirkiest items for sure. read more

This is the most fun store for spending a lazy Sunday. I'm no artist but I could still spend a ton of money here. Just in gifts alone. The building is so cool. read more

The white staff follow little 12 year old black kids and they parents because they think they stealing. I witnessed it myself. Don't waste your time or energy on these racist people. read more

This is the kind of place that I might go for a silly little project and end up staying two hours, spending more money than I intended, and feeling a bit depressed that I don't have time to actualize all the inspiration it gave me. If you have a particular vision, tho, this is the place to get just the right tools, main ingredients, and even the extra stuff you think of to trim it when you are done. Or just go buy some paper--they have the most wondrous selection of paper just for the fun of it. read more

Been here a few times now and every time I go the staff has been very informative and helpful. Today I was asked if I needed any help and was walked through brushes, watercolors, papers, and the guy who was helping me offered his experience w the products without me having to ask too much. Will keep coming back. read more

Love this arts store ! They do have such a great selection of products from all over the world ! From pens, ink, papers ... a great place for a calligrapher ! read more

I love this place. It's like toyland for me. Super clean and organized. I think they have almost everything you need that is art related! Everyone is super nice and approachable. Actually, they will approach you to see if you need help. I think everyone that works their is also an artist so if you ask them for advice on which fixatif to use, they will know what to tell you because they use it themselves and employees art work are even displayed on the wall by the door. They have their own parking so that's a plus. read more

My experience here was awesome, my cashier richard d. helped me throughout the whole process, helping me find materials, giving me advice on which products to use and little tips for how he would do the crafts im planning on, where to go for stuff the store didnt have, and being very friendly. Overall he seemed very knoweladable, proffessional, and friendly. Yes, you can definitely spend quite a bit here, but i dont feel ripped off and definitely plan on coming back. I dont typically write reviews but tbis experience i felt the strong need to. Thank you Richard!!! read more

This place is hit or miss. Sometimes I get really amazing staff who go out of their way to help you find products or make specific recommendations. Or they have canvas transported for you to the check out. Other times I feel ignored or like employees really don't care to help. I went on my last visit for a specific size canvas I bought here before. It is a bit of an odd size and I couldn't find it. I had to hunt down an employee to ask and she said if I didn't see it, that they didn't have it. She also said they let their inventory intentionally run low because of taxes?!? When I went to the checkout for my purchase, I wrote down the item I needed along with my contact information for them to call me when it came in. It's been over a month now and I haven't heard from them. I will go to Guiry's or find my supplies online going forward. read more

This store rivals any other art supply store I have visited, including some of the supply stores that serve well-known art colleges. Their selection is incredible, and features hard-to-find printmaking supplies, unusual tools like those used for gilding, and broad color ranges of "off the beaten path" varieties of paint. On my most recent visit, I had some specific questions in mind, and was interested in exploring new options for my sketchbook work. Within minutes, I was whisked to the pencil department, found myself trying out various kinds of high-saturation water-color pencils (water and all), was introduced to the pros and cons of various marker brands, and after my initial questions were satisfied, I ended up having an valuable conversation with the staff about different kinds of paper for archival pen-work. All-in-all, on more than one occasion, I have been impressed by both the knowledge level and the helpfulness of the employees. Another perk of this store is the fabulous (free!) demos they offer. They also help to spread the word about relevant arts education opportunities in the community. read more

Probably the biggest art supply store in Denver. They have a decent amount of art supplies and you'll more than likely find something you can use. Even if it's not exactly what you want. However, they are overpriced, I only shop here if it's my last option. Most of the employees I dealt with are fairly knowledgeable, and can point you in the right direction. I would give this place 3.5 stars if I could. Summary: Pro: You'll find what you need. Con: Expensive. read more

I love this art store. I usually buy my pens and colored pencils here. Their garage sale is amazing! They have a knowledgeable staff that can make good recommendations for what you want to do. I love to browse. If you want to start something new to create they probably have it. read more

We recently dropped into Meininger Art Supply to see what they had stocked in the way of screen printing supplies. We did not leave empty handed. After speaking to easily the most helpful employee ever, we left the store with everything we needed to start a makeshift screen printing studio in my home for around $120. The prices are about what you'd expect from any art store...maybe a tiny bit higher. However, I'd be willing to fork over more money for the excellent service that we received while browsing and shopping. I suppose I was expecting the place to be staffed by hipstered out art students who rolled their eyes when I asked beginner questions, but I was pleasantly surprised when Richard, an experience screen printer, found us mulling over inks and happily answered our questions, drew a diagram, walked us through all of the materials and then found a book that he had found incredibly helpful for in-home printing. We were also greeted by three other people during our time in the store and all checked to make sure we were being helped. Basically, the customer service went far beyond our expectations. The store is large and if you're like me and a recent Pinterest convert, then you may find yourself needing all sorts of artsy paraphernalia, crafting tools and other creative gadgetry, rest assured you'll be able to find it at Meininger's. Plus, they have a big ol' parking lot on the side, so it's easy to duck in and spend some time browsing. read more

yeah, I'm updating but not changing the rating, so what?! :) Anyways..........WHY ARE YOU SO EXPENSIVE MEININGERS?!?!?!?! Seriously, I get it that you're an independent, local shop....BUT, selling something for $27 more than what you can purchase it for from another store is downright ridiculoso! Um, so picture this, an item is $1.99 if bought individually, one would think if you buy the pre-packed item it would be cheaper (right?...right.) Nope, not for you dear Meiningers, you want to punish us...make me buy a 40 pack of pastels for $86 when I can buy them for $80 individually...Or better yet $59 from another place!! Oh-so-Lame. As much as I want to support local..... dickblick.com with overnight shipping was STILL cheaper than you. for shame! read more

I have always found what I am looking for here. I like graphite drawing, pen and ink, colored pencils, watercolor and pastels. So far I have been able to find the best quality of art supplies in each of these mediums. I do find that their really popular items are sold out quick. I just bought a watercolor paper block and the choice of Arches blocks was scarce. I bought a big block but I wanted one slightly smaller. I'm still happy with the help I got from the nice woman who asked me if I needed help. Their brush selections were great! The best brands were picked clean and the brush I wanted was sold out. As well as a couple of tubes of paint. I still recommend shopping here and exploring new mediums with time. Sunday's are hectic, open only 5 hours and it takes me half that time to browse too. read more

Killer art store. Justifiable reputation. Got exactly what we were looking for, plus others. Staff is as rumored - a tad standoffish but helpful if you have a specific question. This ain't no Micheal's Craft Store, so only come by if you are looking for fine art supplies. read more

Great choice of everything I may need. Lots of different sketchbooks. I think even Blick has less in store. And a lot of other stuff which I usually get to order online as they won't have it in store. Staff was also very friendly and helpful. read more

This has to be one of my favorite stores of all time! Be prepared to spend a lot of time in this store. They have just about everything related to art on the planet. Stamping supplies? Yup. Scrap booking supplies? Yup. Calligraphy supplies? Yup. A billion kinds of pens, sharpies, pencils, and specialty papers? Yup. They also have great cards and unusual, fun little gifts so if you ever have to shop for someone who has everything, this is the place to go. I am in love, love, love. read more

Like an abusive relationship, I keep going back to retail stores. And just like said relationship, I am always disappointed. I went in looking for white acrylic ink. They had it in the sub-par brand and in the top of the line brand in bulk. Nothing in between. I understand you can't keep a store fully stocked 100% of the time. But seriously, no white ink in 2-3 different brands? And you may not want to have your display of the ink look like whoever stocked it was quitting that day. They are fairly friendly and have a coupon on their website though. read more

I used to really like this place when I lived in Colorado. Had a very good selection of art supplies, but also lots of other cool random things. I could kill a lot of time here. read more

I am not a professional artist but was helping an artist by buying supplies for a workshop they were teaching. The inventory is great- a candy store for creatives. They had everything I needed to purchase, however, I had a lot of questions since I was not familiar with the supplies I was purchasing for someone else. The staff seemed reluctant and even annoyed when I approached them to ask questions or inquire the location of something I was purchasing. The staff felt unfriendly and not approachable. No one ever offered to help, I had to approach them. Eventually one employee helped me find everything I needed and I really appreciated the help. However, I left feeling bad for asking questions or needing clarification on supplies. I'll only go back if I have to. read more

A great art store with everything I've ever needed and more. Friendly employees, well organized, stocked and maintained. They will even do custom canvases based on your specific needs. If it's art related, you're likely to find it here. The only downside is that their prices are on the higher side. That said, this store is one of the only places that I refuse to substituted with an internet purchase. A local art store is a place to be treasured. read more

3 stars is the best I can give for Meininger's. Granted they do carry a nice selection of supplies, including some ultra fine (.005 and .03mm) pens and mechanical pencils that I use religiously. Checkout is usually prompt and efficient. But the flip side is you'll have a tough time finding help if you need into a locked cabinet or heaven forbid if you have a question about a product. You can search high and low for help and not find it. Their prices are on the high side compared to other art supply houses in other cities...sometimes quite a bit higher. If you need small quantities and need it fast, Meininger's is a great local option. But if you need bulk sizes or frequently order the same items one really needs to do some comparison shopping to get the best price. read more

1881-2006 Denver, Colorado Springs. "Art supplies from around the world." Though this is the claim, I do not see anything here that you cannot get at any other art supply store, I'm not sure exactly which items were from around the world." But, really, what you net, Meininger has an assortment, plethora of, for sure. There is lots and lots here. Fancy pens, tissue paper, glitter, matte frames, drawling pads, an especially impressive display of easels, pastels, acrylic paints, large selection. Standard prices. And it's large! Two stories in fact. Even a cutting thing to trim your mattes in store! In addition, here are some of the biggest canvases I have seen in an art store. 60 X 72! Wow! One of the most interesting not to mention useful items was true-to-form model of a dinosaur, that can be manipulated in various true-to life positions. Also, paintbrushes galore! read more

Just about the only place to find many of oddball art supplies outside of a college campus. Whether you are looking for art supplies or a gift for the artiste in your life, it's nearly impossible to walk out of here empty handed. I found all my weird art supplies, a cool Christmas ornament, a slick art smock for my goddaughter and few novelty toys to boot. read more