Artist & Craftsman Supply Cambridge

Category:	Art Supply Store
Address:	580 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
Phone:	+1 617-354-3636
Site:	artistcraftsman.com
Rating:	4.8
Working:	9AM–8PM 9AM–8PM 9AM–8PM 9AM–8PM 9AM–8PM 9AM–8PM 11AM–6PM

Location

Photos 98

Reviews 13

Diana Dominguez

I have to be honest, this place is so big and is filled with so much stuff!! They have such a variety! this place is worth coming. But I had such bad customer service! The associates at this place are all pretty much unknowledgeable and they were all pretty much rude! I asked a guy what aisles the paint brushes were and he literally thought about it for 3 seconds to answer me and then didnt even look at me and said aisles 10 and 11. Then Im looking for the brushes and since it was my first time in there I asked another associate if they had paint brushes Da Vinci brand and he said to me "what?" then the other women associate said no they didnt have them. All right, then their was a specific brush model and number that I needed (round, size 9) I asked the lady who was their she had glasses and was of light skin color. She didnt know what to respond either and said "I dont know" I mean how can such a place with a lot of products have associates that just spend their time saying "I dont know" ???? Clearly unprepared and un trained. The place needs employees with knowledge!!! not people laying around on their bum doing nothing. The prices are expensive and to finish everything off I was shopping with my mom and I had to resolve an issue with ,y professor through e-mail so I told my mom to please hold the brushes that I had picked out and she said that the lady with glasses and of light skin was looking at her with such a racist stare and kept looking over my moms shoulder to see what she had in her hand!! We may be of hispanic race but nobody is going to disrespect us just because you have the misperception that "hispanics are stupid and are known for steeling" I wont buy that BS no matter who you are. Overall the place is great supply wise but the people in there need some sort of customer service training and they need more competitive prices. I recommend that the associates go take some customer service lessons over at Blicks Art Supply. They know how to treat their customers and thats why the place is always full of customers.

Tommy McConnell

Incredibly rude staff member. While the selection is great, I had an absolutely unpleasant and unnecessary experience with one of the staff members. I was shopping for frames and picked one out, saw a small, pre-framed picture that didnt next to other things for sale. There wasnt a single "display only sign" next to it so I took it up to the register to ask if I could purchase it. A simple "oh its display only" would have sufficed, but instead I had the angriest staff member come running up to me rudely demanding it back like I was planning to steal it or something. I swear she was like a hornet with gauges. I told her that they should put up a display only sign, which she took major offense to and started insulting me. Needless to say, I wont be coming back. Just go across the street to Blick where the staff is friendly and actually know how to run a customer-first business.

Kelly Moy

I need to shell out the money and buy mini colored pencils with mini sharpener for $6. They also have toys, novelty items, crafts, probably the largest selection of picture frames in the area. Plaster, clay, paint supplies, socks, art bags, nightlights, mini animal erasers. Ive made a mini aquarium in a cup of water or pickle jar with mini eraser sea creatures and pebbles or marbles along with a driftwood stick and floating candle. Stop in. Im trying to sell a screenplay and need to keep drawing the cartoons when I have a few minutes and dont want to carry the heavy bigger Crayola colored pencils. My artwork will improve.

Don Davis

Hi, Ive been using this store for 9 months, to get art supplies for my teenaged daughter. I use Blicks sometimes, too (right across the street), and A&CSs quality & selection of stuff is comparable. But, what I like about A&CS is the staff: theyve always been courteous, friendly, eager to help, and knowledgeable. At A&CS, the staff are experienced with the media, but they dont put on airs about how theyre artists / art students themselves. Notably, Ive never seen an A&CS staffer texting.

Yimin Xu

I go to the Cambridge, MA branch. They always go out of their way to help you, and some prices are very low. Some things they charge half what Blick does! You just have to decide what you want before you go, because else youll end up taking the store home :P Definitely check out their $2 bin, and their $1 brushes. Its hard to find the store, though, because their sign is faded, and just says Artist Supply or something like that. Its a huge basement room.

E Rosser

Whenever Im stuck for odd craft supplies, I think to myself "I bet A&C has it." And lo, most of the time, thats correct. Today it was embroidery floss, in a respectable range of colors. This is also a prime place to go for last-minute gifts. The novelty items are a bit pricey, but immensely convenient and sure to be a winner. Today I could barely resist buying a pair of kneesocks that said "badass" across the top. You keep doing you, A&C.

Joseph DiIanni

This is my favorite art supply store. The prices are reasonable- no insane deals, but much more affordable than blick (acros the street), or utrecht. The selection is vast- they have always had everything I was looking for. The staff is friendly and helpful. The location is awesome- close to where I work, and near a bunch of great restaurants, as well as the T. My favorite thing here is the art papers- so unique and beautiful

Elizabeth B

Wonderful store. Great prices and knowledgeable staff: called to see if both they or Blick had item in stock. Both did when I went to visit, but Blick employees didnt even see they had the item when I called! Lots of unique crafting materials and traditional art supplies that are hard to find elsewhere, too.

Adam Pere

Great store. It usually has everything I need (a different variety than blick). It can be a little pricey but most of the product is very good quality. The staff is hit-or-miss. Some cashiers make it very obvious that they dont care about you. While others are extremely friendly and helpful.

Katy Gero

My favorite art store in Cambridge. With paint on the floor and a staff comprised of artists, you couldnt go to a better place to find inspiration. Discounts for teachers and students, on top of discounts on everything. How is it possible that it can be as cheap as Amazon? Magic, thats how.

Beijia Zhang

They have lots of interesting stuff, and its fun to poke around. But they dont have everything. They didnt have a wide selection of drawing ink, for example. Its worth comparing prices with the Dick Blick store across the street. Some things are actually cheaper over there.

Jesse Saler

This place is just amazing. I could live down there and be happy. Staff is knowledgeable, but doesnt hassle you while youre looking around. They offer assistance without being aggressive. I personally like being left alone in a supply store and only want help if I ask for it.

Charles Bosse

This basement art supply shop has a massive selection and a funky feel to it. If chain art (or craft) supply stores feel a little austere to you, youll appreciate that this shop manages to have soul and selection without feeling messy.