While there are multiple art stores around Boise, there are many factors to consider when choosing a favorite, resulting in debates over which one is best.
At Eagle High, a variety of art classes are offered for students. Teacher Melissa Stephenson teaches a multitude of art classes ranging from AP to foundational drawing courses.
Stephenson claims that Quality Art Inc. is the best art store around. The facility is in Garden City and includes a special student and teacher discount for the West-Ada School District.
“I would say my favorite art store is Quality Arts. In terms of price and variety, it’s the best around Boise,” said Stephenson.
Making art takes time, resources and money. Buying from Quality Arts could save money due to the 50% discount on materials for West-Ada art students and teachers.
“My favorite art store might be Hobby Lobby. I love that they have so many different crafting supplies all in one place,” said senior Abby Fuhriman.
Hobby Lobby has home decor, art supplies at lower prices, and overall, a variety of materials for a wide age range. Some stores aren’t quite as well loved as others. Michael’s, for example, is not as popular.
“I really don’t like how disorganized everything is [in Michael’s],” said freelance artist Marie Schrillo, “I like that I can get things framed there, but material-wise, I feel like they’re always out of stock.”
Schillo further elaborates why disorganization and lack of supplies would be a problem for artists who are shopping for materials.
“Art is very time consuming. It’s also important to use the right supplies,” Schrillo said.
Getting high quality materials at lower cost is important for full time artists. This is because of the difficulties of selling artwork versus the cost of the materials used to make pieces to sell.
“Personally, I really love shopping for fun materials that are different. Trying out supplies from small businesses that are lesser known is exciting for me,” said sophomore Sophie Hill.
Shopping from small businesses provides a wide range of art supplies to choose from. Buying from these shops can support small business owners and help them grow.
The components of a good art store tend to be the variety, quality and cost of the supplies. However, everyone’s opinion could be influenced by a wide range of different factors.
