Blick Art Materials

Becka provided such great help today when I was purchasing mounting board. She figured out which piece to buy to get the most boards cut. While waiting for her to cut the board, other workers asked if I needed help. Great customer service — thanks!

This is a great store to buy art supplies, they have choices for high end as well as less expensive professional supplies. lots of selections for a variety of projects. The sales people are always knowledgeable, friendly and willing to help. The store also offers free classes over the weekend. They used to have a student discount program, but it has been discontinued. The prices are on the higher end, that’s the reason I give it a four star.

Very helpful staff and nice selection. I will be visiting this store often!

The folks here are pleasant and helpful. I usually purchase online but often have to pick up a last-​minute item or additional set of supplies for a late-​registering student. Located in a reasonably upscale mall area, this one is not far from a nice Whole Foods and several restaurants.

When you’re an art teacher you catch an art store wherever you can find them. I was out in Wheaton and wanted to finish using my last gift card. I know it’s quite the trek from Evanston, however, I was out west.
This Blick was tucked away in a strip mall that seemed to be a ghost town. Many of the store fronts were empty — much like the spacious parking lot — in its present state many a skateboarder and roller blader would love all the freedom to roll about. SO, parking was not a problem. This Blick is much tinier than the one in Evanston, about a third the size. I was able to locate everything I was looking for without too much of a problem, although towards the end of my search, I must have looked lost and a clerk came and offered assistance. There was an in-​store class going on, the kind that encourages you to buy the supplies at the end, but this seemed to be okay with the «students». The class gave a homey feel to the store, however, I can’t imagine driving to the middle of nowhere for a class in a mall that was nearly empty.
I was greeted in line by an older gentleman who was a customer who wanted to continue his conversation with the clerk. There’s that homey feel again. Actually, the entire shopping experience was better than the Evanston Blick, just because the people were pleasant, welcoming, interested in my business and respectful. Since, I do find myself out west at least, once every two months, I could do my shopping here instead of Evanston, but of course, I may have to wait for Christmas — when I get gift cards, because the Blick corporation does dictate the prices — that almost makes them more about the dollar rather than about the art… which is indeed too bad, no matter where they’re located.

Incredible selection: poster board materials, all types of paint, all types of brushes, things for clay making, woodworking, etc. They basically have any sort of art/​project related supply you need. One thing I really love about these stores are the supplies to make your own stretched canvas. Also, there are often big sales, especially on the Blick house brand items.
Then why 2 stars? It all comes down to the customer service. Last time I was there I walked past, almost bumped into, the staff 3 times– and it was only the 3^rd time that they acknowledged me (probably because I made eye contact and smiled).
I would say go here for the hard to find art supplies, but when you are there you need to aggressively seek out the floor staff and talk to them. Don’t walk around the store looking for things and expect to be helped even if staff is around you.

There are not a lot of places to get quality art supplies. Blick has a nice selection of quality paints, color pencils, canvases, supplies for mold making, modeling, block and screen printing, which I hope to try soon. The carry PrismaColor colored pencils and Copic markers both are my favorite brands. They also have a decent book section to peruse. This isn’t one of those «crafting stores» so don’t expect cheap prices. They also offer demos and some art classes.

I recently visited this store when I was in the area. I normally buy art supplies in their Schaumburg store. To my surprise, I saw they carried different stock than my usual store. I ended up buying all sorts of goodies. I asked, and was told that the stores carry different stock based on local demand. In this case, they are close to College of DuPage, and carry items needed in classes there. I saw everything I normally see in Schaumburg, and more. Maybe less framing, but then I don’t go to an art SUPPLY store for frames.
Compared to the Schaumburg store, they carry a very good selection of pottery tools and glazes. Like a whole aisle full! Since I am taking pottery, this was a very fortuitous stop. I found the staff very helpful. When I had a technical question about a glaze, they tracked down someone who could answer my question.

Over all Blick is an excellent art store.
Pros: TONS of art supplies. Fantastic variety of papers, markers, pencils, books, paints, craft items, and more to choose from. The employees at Blick are also very friendly and always eager to help. If you are a member, their 10% off discount, plus 20−40% off coupons are wonderful in cutting down the costly prices. The store is also very kept very neat, clean, and organized.
Cons: My only real complaint is that some of the staff can be too in-​your-​face. I start to feel hounded when I’m asked every 5 to 10 minutes by 3 different employees if I need help finding anything. I realize they try to prevent stealing, but I’m not a thief and have never stolen anything from them. I like to browse and consider which new mediums to try, so I enjoy taking my time in the store. The prices are also kind of high, though art supplies tend to be pricey in general.

Love it!
The employees are very friendly, helpful and you get the impression they love working there. As soon as I walked in an employee greeted me and pointed me in the right direction towards their massive selection of sketch books.
I also got a coupon when I walked in, saving me about a dollar at checkout!
Why only 4 stars? They are a little on the pricey side. That said, they are the only place that has the huge selection I need.
I might update my review the more I go there. They might just be worthy of my elusive Brad Vertrees 5 Star honor that I bestow on only the finest establishments.

Incredibly friendly and helpful employees. I really got the sense that they were legitimately interested in what I wanted to create and were going to do everything within their power to get me the proper supplies.
I wasn’t looking for anything fancy, so I can’t speak for all the prices; however, I found the brushes and canvases to be reasonably priced. We already had paint, so I just picked out one of the cheapest canvases and three brushes. It came to about $ 20, which I can’t complain too much about since it provided me with hours of entertainment.

Every time I walk into this Blick location, a little piece of my heart flutters away into the shelves. Maybe its the cheerful, sincere greeting I get when I walk in. Maybe its the managers teasing me about restocking on 6×6 canvases EVERYTIME I come in (I kinda go through them like water and I guess all of them have noticed). Or maybe its that I’m always trying out a new media on sale (Speedball set on sale? I can make T-shirts…I think.)
All I know is that the store is well-​stocked, well-​organized, and has a staff that is dedicated to good service and intimate knowledge about the products as artists themselves. Blick is always running discounts for students, which is great on my wallet and compounded by my 20% member discount (which is open to anyone, btw!)
Returning to the staff, they are always organizing material and offering advice and experience on certain products and brands they’ve tried; I even received advice on how to produce organic oil paint with a few products in the store, which I promptfully (and gleefully) stocked up on.
I can’t say enough good things about this Blick location. Glen Ellyn Blick, you guys rock.

Great assest in the Western burbs. Everything needed to make art.
Can’t miss here.

In addition, credit must be given to the management and staff
of this Dick Blick store. The store is kept extremely neat considering
the many thousands of items it stocks. It takes dedicated people
to maintain a stock like tis. It’s appreciated!

I have been coming here for years and really love it. ⁹⁄₁₀ they have what I need and I’ve made many a last minute run to this place. Definitely have stayed longer than I intend, as there is so much to tempt me! (One can never have enough paint or pastels)
Salespeople are very friendly, knowledgeable and always willing help. They have a card program and discounts for students. I really like how they’ve been sending out more coupon deals and sales over the last few years.
I also suggest checking out their online store, as some better deals can be had there.

Great selection of almost anything you could possibly need as an artist, craftsman, or designer in any capacity. Tucked away in Danada Square, it’s a decent size store with plenty of aisles of materials to get lost in, but if you’re an artist, you’ll enjoy every minute of it. I swear, walking in here is like waking up on Christmas morning… if only I could have taken it all home with me! But since the term «starving artists» exists for a very good reason (especially in these difficult economic times), I have to limit my purchasing since the pricing is a little on the high side.
You’ll find the staff friendly, knowledgeable and eager to help with any questions you may have or items you’re trying to find. One bit of advice… if you have an artist on your gift list, make sure you know EXACTLY what he or she is looking for. There’s so much in here to choose from, you may be a little overwhelmed and confused by the variety you’ll have in front of you.
Oh, and if it’s ME on that list of yours, I’d really, REALLY like a glass top drawing table. But wait for the online sales. You’ll save a lot off of the everyday price and I’ll sleep better at night when it’s sitting in my studio!

I walk into this store and it’s like instant art happiness.
You can probably get any art supply possible, here, as long as it realistically will fit into their store.
I’ve bought stamp blocks to carve stamps, screens for screen printing, dye for fabric, various art papers, paintbrushes, paints, screen printing ink, even books. I’ve probably bought more, but who really remembers.
The staff is very nice and helpful, and they give you their advice on art supplies they’ve used (if you ask, of course).
If you get one of their frequent buyer cards or whatever those are called, you get pretty great discounts, so I would highly suggest doing that. You’ll also get pretty nice coupons in the mail from them.
The store is big and clean and well-​lit, and it’s just awesome all around.
Love it and highly recommend it!

Going into a store like this always makes me wish that some anonymous donor would leave me a large sum of money for artistic purposes; I could use it well at Dick Blick! Easels, PrismaColor markers, thick luscious paper, a thousand colors and textures of paint… my creative genius would be fulfilled.
As it is, I can go in and lust after all their great art supplies, and buy the things I really need (recently, some green foam-​core board for a display at work). The service was great, personalized and helpful, and I also liked their sideline items of books, calendars and decorative sketchbooks.

If you’re not an artist … walking into this store sure makes you want to become one! They have everything you need. A great variety of every material you could think of. Also great service!
prices are not too bad.

There’s always someone to help you here! There’s so much stuff to see, but it is organized well.
I’ve been here twice, both times I had no clue what I really needed, just what I wanted to do.
Once was a school project for my 5^th grader. He told the salesperson what he had to do and she walked us around the store giving us choices as what to get. She even said «don’t get that one, it’s not on sale and it won’t make a difference on what you’re working on».
Today I had to get something for an easel that was given to my son. I took in the easel. The salesperson told me it was an easel used for watercolors and what I would need. Then I told her that my son would be using it for more than that and she showed me a few things I could get.
I just can’t rave enough about the customer service here! I’ve been her during the week and on the weekend and both times it has been impeccable!