Blick Art Materials

I had a truly amazingly positive experience at Blick Art Materials in Beaverton. I shop there often for my own art supplies and recently inquired about a donation of art materials’ for a PTO Art Club I lead at my children’s school. The manager, Doug, was happy to help. He said he had gathered a few items, but didn’t think it was much, and I could pick it up. When I went to the store, my little boy was with me. He had a cold, and ended up feeling very sick and we had to leave abruptly. The staff at Blick not only donated wonderful supplies for our school’s art club, but also helped what could have been an embarrassing experience, be no big deal. You have a customer for life now! Thank you so much to Doug, Elyse, Abigail, Mark and Brian!

Good selection. Ok prices with a coupon. Customer service is lacking however. While I was shopping this afternoon, I had the displeasure of listening to three employees poke fun at a guy in the parking lot who had duct tape on his car and had to enter it from the passenger side. From how they were speaking, I gathered this guy had been in the store before. They should be happy he chooses to spend his money on art supplies rather than fixing his car. The prices here are not cheap enough to listen to employees who are catty and rude. I’d rather shop in Portland at Collage or Columbia, or even on Amazon. Tell your employees to be nice!

So I’m finally moving on up from the paint aisle at Michaels and decided to try out some real acrylic paints at a real art store.
WOW! I had no idea there was so much to paint! I totally lucked out and went on a weekday and it was dead. The super nice sales gal working there spent so much time with me explaining the way acrylic paint is priced and sold. I got a serious paint lesson it was so cool! Then after I picked out some paint she spent just as much time with me looking at brushes. It seemed only fitting to end my shopping trip here looking at the canvas selection, she also shared with me some quick tips about selecting one.
This was a rad day! I painted two paintings that weekend with all my new gear and I have to say, it is all about the right tools and the pigmented paints!!!

I recently decided I wanted to pick up calligraphy on a whim. I can’t speak much for the other art forms, but when it comes to calligraphy supplies, Blick has a larger selection and better prices than Michael’s. A Speedball pen and nib set was ~$ 5 cheaper, Higgins ink was ~$ 2 cheaper, and a parchment pad was ~$ 8 cheaper. These were considerable savings, especially for a beginner who did not want to invest a ton of money at the start. This was also before I signed up for their preferred membership card, which saves you an extra 10% with each purchase. I am very pleased! They also carry higher quality inks and pens should I decide that my handwriting is worth the investment. I let ya’ll know how this new hobby goes.
As for the rest of the store, I was overwhelmed with the selection and quality of everything. I could spend all day looking through everything! They have markers and pens and pastels in every possible color that you can pick out and buy individually. The staff are very approachable and knowledgeable. Overall, a great store for all your beginner and high end art supply needs!

Excellent customer service — have the better quality brands.

I lost my beloved neon pink extra fine Sharpie! Oh no, what’s a girl to do? I didn’t want a 24 pack of Sharpies… which is just about the only way to get the neon pink version. I saw the Blick had the neon pink one as a single marker online. I recalled the local store and wondered if they’d have it, also. So Husband and I stopped in. Wow this store was amazing — all sorts of beautiful art supplies. Indeed, they had my Sharpie… along with just about every other pen and marker you could want. I noticed they had no dry erase markers — presumably because that’s an office supply, not an art supply.
Husband and I both drooled over all of the pretty things… he was really impressed with the «make your own frame» items. He plans to come back to get some framing supplies. Of course they had tons of matting things as well.
The staff was pleasant enough. We only interacted with them when we checked out. We signed up for the rewards program to get 10% off.

This place has every art supply you will ever need. I honestly was so surprised when I walked in. We were looking for paint for a concert poster we were making and they had so many different options and colors it was crazy. The store was also surprisingly busy, there were at least 7 people in front of us in line.
The staff is obviously extremely knowledgeable about the products and were helpful when we inquired about the best type of paint (dry times etc).
The only downside is that they’re a little pricey.

I come by almost weekly. I have multiple art projects to complete.
Rachael, you’re right as a reviewer. I’ve met the staff members at Blick Art in Beaverton. Some of them are very kind and helpful. However, I can’t say the same about everyone.
Not long ago, the store was called Art Media. I came by to make a return, for the first time. A chubby guy was there to process the return. He was completely silent (no eye contact) throughout the entire transaction. Nonetheless, it made me feel so uncomfortable. The most bizarre thing was that, I was absolutely polite in my request for a return. Somehow, he found a snooty way to mock the entire scenario.
From that day on, I decided not to return to Art Media.
A few years have passed, some things have changed. Art Media is now Blick Art.
Prices are more affordable, with a discount provided to members.
I’ve met the manager. She’s very polite and professional. Whenever I come in, she smiles and asks if I need anything.
However, some things haven’t changed. The chubby guy still works there. I’ve noticed other staff members greet you when you first come through the door. It’s protocol for them to ask if you need any help. Not once, has the chubby guy greeted me or even asked me for any assistance. His behavior has not changed. I don’t understand why it’s so difficult to be genuinely kind to customers?
Once, I called the store to ask if they carried certain items in stock. The guy over the phone said they didn’t carry those items. Consequently, I asked if he knew (whether or not) such items might be available at their store in Portland. He answered with a snooty tone, «Of course we don’t know.» And hung up. I recognized it was the voice of the scrawny hipster guy.
Come by every week, I you’ll know what I mean.
In brief, take each review you read with a grain of salt. There’s no such thing as a perfectly-​rated merchant. Like any other store you go, weigh the pros and cons.
Bottom line, the customers that walk thru the door at Blick Art represent a diverse group of people. It’s Beaverton. I’ve noticed the staff hired there are not. It’s the 21^st century, time to bring in people with a diverse background, which reflects the customers that live nearby and walk thru the door.
If you’re going to keep a business going strong, I suggest hire a team of staff who can provide genuine kindness, tactfulness, and approachable personality.

Had to go here for a school project for the kid. They had the materials I needed. I walked in the door and the cashier asked what I needed and called someone to help me find it. Pretty nice service.
Not being the artistic type, I can’t really tell you if what they have is what you need, but to my eye, they have tons of art supplies and the service was pretty darn good for me.

The greasy-​looking generic hipster stock boy who rang up my wife was immature and rude because she gently opened a package of paper to check for the correct size. Instead of professionally handling his displeasure, he handled the situation like a spoiled eight-​year-​old. Arrested development is alive and well in Beaverton – and I’m not talking about the show either!

I love this place. I used to go to Michael’s for my arts supplies, but got sick of their short-​comings and tried Blick. I walked in the door and felt like I was in a candy store. They had almost everything I could want. They had two aisles devoted to artist paints including oils, acrylics and watercolors. They had an entire aisle for brushes, I especially love the sable brushes. An entire aisle for canvasses ranging from tiny to huge. The staff is very nice and helpful, occasionally you get several of them asking if they can help you, when you just need one person to ask. It is easy to find someone to help you so it’s not necessary for so many of them to ask. I first went in when they had a big sale with many of the items half off, which made it very hard not to empty my bank account there. I was only disappointed that they didn’t carry one of my favorite brands of paint but they had another one of my favorites, which made up for it. I do wish that the website was more inline with the physical store so that you could check in-​store prices on products but oh well.

Great place for genuine art supplies, not crayola markers and poster board. If you sign up for their club, you get a regular discount on everything and coupons in the mail periodically. I come for things for myself and my art-​minded daughter. Decent prices, especially when you consider no tax or shipping charges. Good sales too.
Only complaints? Some of the guys that work there are very pretentious and condescending. They stand behind the counter and talk to each other about how amazing they are. Big turn off. The downtown store is better for helpful, pleasant employees. They also have a better selection. But for a few supplies when I need them and am not heading into town, this place works well.

Very well stocked source of art supplies. If you’re on the mailing list you get 10% off and receive an occasional coupon for something like 20% off an entire purchase. I buy the majority of my mat board and foam core there for use in my photography business.

I think this is my favorite location, even though I’ve only been to this one twice. I love how big this store is. The day we went they had a 50% off sale on canvas and the Montana spray paint, which is kept under lock and key like Fort Knox was on sale for $ 5 a can.
They are very friendly here, as well and helpful when looking for stuff. My son is the artist, so I just go along for the ride and he shows me a lot of the stuff and what it is used for. I love the student discount too.

At the time we arrived there were some great sales in effect. 50% off graham oil, acrylic, gouache and water color paints. 40% off ampersand drawing and painting panels. On top of it all this place also gives student discounts. Truth be told they have almost everything a budding artist needs to start their art. Even if you are just up for looking around it might be hard to leave empty handed. The location is a little hard to find, being in inside corner an oddly shaped shopping plaza. But once you find it, expect to be greeted by a friendly and helpful staff.

I like this Art Media, though I love the downtown one.
Went there with grand daughter to get supplies for her life drawing class-​I promised if she’d take 1 college class I’d foot the bill. And she received a gift card for graduation so this was our go to spot friday.
They have everything from supplies for the amateur dabbler to the professional artist and aren’t snobby when you buy non professional brands of watercolors. after all, I paint because I enjoy it, not because I’m good at it.
Grand daughter, however, got a good dose of artistic gene and deserves quality stuff, so she got it there.
Lots of help even though they were busy. Plenty of necessaries on sale and a 20% discount for students makes Nana a happy purchaser.
An excellent cashier even directed us to a great restaurant for our quick lunch.
All in all, an excellent shopping experience. Of course I’ll be back. It’s either this or Craft Where? house. and I’m better ‘n that place at least.

Polymer clay for your crafty hands. Modelling clay doughs for your toddlers in training.
Calligraphy is tickling your fancy? They have supplies as well.
Your paint isn’t pearly for you? Well, they have iridescent powders to make it shine to your liking.
Everything is laid-​out neatly and orderly so you don’t have to wander where to find brushes, papers, canvas, etc.
They often run sales so most of the art materials you are looking for come more affordable.
The helpful staff will call thier other branches if your item is not in stock.

I come here for my art supplies — charcoal, paper, pencils. Lots of cool stuff. And the coolest thing is that high school and college students get 20% off their purchase! Nice.