Need supplies?

As art students we generally get the benefit of starting out our semester with "hey... no books!  sweet!"  We then do a joyous little touchdown dance (Victor Cruz, anyone?) only to gravely remember that we have to buy art supplies instead of books.  While supplies shopping can sometimes be stressful (and expensive!) this blog post is here to help you find what works best for you... good luck and happy hunting!

01.  Utrecht  //  This is one of the biggest chains of stores that sells art supplies; stores are generally well-stocked and there's a little bit of everything here.  Students taking drawing, painting, or printmaking classes will most likely benefit here the most.  Best of all, both of the locations are accessible by the 15 bus route.  

Perks:  Utrecht offers the ArtSmart card for students; sign up for free and you will get 5% off each time you go to purchase something!

02.  Broadway Paper  //  If you are ever in need of fancy or decorative papers this is the store for you; Broadway paper offers a large selection of paper and paper products at affordable prices.  Students in graphic design classes would benefit from this store the most.  (However, Utrecht offers a great selection of printmaking paper as well.... you just need to cut it down to size.)  Just like Utrecht, Broadway Paper is a few blocks from the 15 bus route!  

Perks:  About once a month Broadway Paper offers a free-to-virtually-free workshop to the public.  Past workshops include gift wrapping, holiday card making, and lamp shade design.  Check their website for details!

03.  Mike Crivello's  //  Mike Crivello's is is a little Milwaukee gem that still continues to thrive today.  If you ever need supplies for a photo or video class, this is the place to go!  The store sells both digital and film papers and prints, as well as museum board and matting supplies.  Located in Shorewood and Brookfield, students can access the stores off of either the 15 (Shorewood) or 10 (Brookfield) bus routes.
Perks:  As mentioned earlier, this store is a family-owned local shop.  Service is always readily available and supplies are available for great prices.  It's always good to support the little guys!

04.  Michael's/JoAnne Fabrics  //  If you are ever in need for specialty supplies for classes like textiles or fibers, these two craft and fabric shops are the place to go.  Jo-Ann's is filled with more fabrics than the eyes can see and you will always find the tools you need at Michael's, which also offers specialty framing services.  While there aren't any direct bus lines to go to the stores, both Michael's and JoAnn's have locations in Brown Deer, which is about a 15 minute car-ride away from campus.
Perks:  Both of the stores have weekly ads which normally contain a 40% off coupon off of any non-sale item!  Also make sure to download their free apps to your iPhone/iPod to receive even more coupons.

05.  Ace Hardware  //  Sometimes supplies at art stores are just a little too expensive for college students... who really wants to pay $18 for a cork-backed metal ruler?  Luckily, basic supplies can be found if you think outside the box; Ace Hardware is a great place to find general supplies.  Classes like sculpture and ceramics often need construction supplies such as levels and epoxy, so this is a great resource.  The best part is that getting to our local Ace is a no-brainer:  simply take a ten-minute walk down Port Washington heading towards Bayshore.
Perks:  Ace offers an Ace Rewards membership program; it is free to join and you earn points for every dollar you spend.  You can also earn exclusive members-only coupons and rebates.




These are just six places in our area where we can get supplies, but there are plenty more.... where do you go to get supplies and where are some other places to get great perks?  Let us know in the comments!