Of course, you can buy a set of pastels in any local art supply store-- but, sadly, there are fewer and fewer local art supply stores still operating. Certainly, support your local store, but if you're in need of a wider selection, specialty brands, or you demand the lowest possible prices, this list should prove helpful.
It doesn't get any better than this. The selection is enormous (they stock virtually every brand), the prices are very reasonable (not the absolute lowest, but close), and they answer questions promptly and without bias via email. What a wonderful store! They also sell a wide range of papers, and also pastel pencils and some accessories. And the best selection of pastel books I've seen.
For purposes of comparison, I'll compare prices on three popular sets for each company:
Regardless of what you order, shipping costs just $6.95. Pay attention to this low price; many mail order companies (of all sorts of products, not just pastels) make their profit on shipping. I can't imagine how Dakota doesn't lose money on shipping every box-- the price seems remarkably low. (I've ordered from them; no problems at all.)
A favorite supplier, one that ought to be better-known. A mid-sized store in a small city, they've become paradise for pastel painters. Here's where I first saw the new Girault line, and a nifty half-stick set of Unisons (for a very nice price) that were left over from an artist workshop. Brands include Great American (hard to find, and terrific), Daler-Rowney, Schmincke, Sennelier, Unison, Art Spectrum (from Australia, also stocked by Dakota), Diane Townsend, Winsor & Newton, Girault, Rembrandt, even Wallis Moist Pastels (which is like moist dough, in individual jars). This store-- which is a delight to visit if you're ever in upstate New York-- doesn't have a catalog, but they do the occassional mailing which serves the same purpose. Reach them by calling 800-836-8940. Prices:
Rochester Art Supply is an especially good source for indiviudual pastel sticks (to complete sets, etc.). The prices are good and the selection is vast. Shipping cost varies, but it's reasonable.
Best-known for their enormous and ecclectic paper selection (for all sorts of art work, not just pastels), they stock Diane Townsend, a handmade series called Professional Artists, Unison, Rembrandt, Sennelier, Winsor & Newtown, Schmincke, and Holbein (from Japan).
No regular shipping price, but the company suggests 15% of total order as a reasonable estimate. For the W&N set above, that moves the price from $149.60 up to around $172-- far higher than the cost at Dakota.
That said, the web site isn't terribly helpful. But this company stocks lots and lots of interesting merchandise. Get their print catalog by emailing sales@nycentralart.com
This is a small, friendly operation whose prices are often hard to beat. Nice web site, too-- mainly because of the message boards, which permits easy interaction between artists and also between artists and their (remarkably candid) staff. I like these guys! They stock the usual commercial brands: Sennelier, Schmincke, Rembrandt, Winsor & Newton, but they don't stock every size of every product line. Still, they usually have what you'll want or need. Prices:
Shipping ranges from $8.95 for orders up to $50 to $12.95 for orders up to $150. After $200, they pay the shipping charge.
Probably the best single source for reasonably-priced art supplies. The catalog is vast and detailed; they seem to stock everything imagineable (I've found a few items that they don't stock, but just a few). Lots of detailed information, so the catalog is fun reading, too. Here's the price rundown:
Note the stunningly low price on the W&N set-- this is why a browse through the Jerry's Catalog, and their seasonal sale fliers is an absolute must. The story dims somewhat when shipping is introduced: an average of 12% of purchase price (10% in some Southern states, 14% in the West). Still, you can do very well. Order the catalog, which contains more than the web site: 800-827-8478.
With a recently-renovated site and a print catalog (call 800-643-6440), the prices here can also be quite low. The selection is mainstream with some interesting eclectic touches. The catalog isn't fat, but it's fun to read and filled with handy tidbits. Not many brands: Schmincke, Sennelier, Unison.
If the total order is under $100, the shipping charge is $5.95. If the total order is more than $100, they pay the shipping! Cool.
Not the best web site for art supply shopping, and the new print catalog is good (800-451-PEARL), but there's nothing like a trip to a Pearl store. Especially if you're living in or visiting NYC-- go to their Canal Street store and drift through 10 floors of art supplies! The other stores are good to very good, depending upon location. Prices at the stores vary, but all are discounted nicely. Lots of brands, lots of papers, too. And because they do so much business, you can catch a fabulous sale on specific pieces. They stock Rembrandt (typically with low in-store prices), Sennelier, Unison, Schmincke, Winsor & Newton, Holbein, and the harder-to-find Daler-Rowney line. Here are the sample prices on some favorite sets:
In some states, ordering by mail or web is expensive because of a double-whammy: a shipping charge PLUS a sales tax. Figure an average of 9% of the total order added for shipping. If you live in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, or Virginia, you'll pay your state sales tax in addition (these are the states where Pearl has stores; locations listed on the web site).
One of the largest mail order firms, with stores around the USA, their mail order catalog is massive, colorful, and enormous fun to browse. Call them 24/7 at 800-447-8192. They stock Yarka (Russian), Unison, Rembrandt, Van Gogh (student line from same company as Rembrandt; widely-available), Sennelier, Winsor & Newton, Grumbacher (hard to find, not as popular as it once was, still with its advocates for the velvety powdery touch), and, lost in the front of the mail order catalog, Schmincke. Prices:
Chances are good that a Dick Blick store is nearby (they're in 14 states), but if you buy locally, you'll pay sales tax. Mail order to those states also requires sales tax. Otherwise, figure a sliding scale depending on order size for shipping, from $8 up to $16. Buy $200 or more, and they pay the shipping charges.
Better-known for their oils and watercolors, Daniel Smith also stocks pastels (and lots of interesting papers). They've got Rembrandt, Sennelier, Schmincke, and Unison-- the brands that most artists seem to favor. Get the mail order catalog; it's a good one: 800-426-6740. Prices:
The shipping charge is $8.25 for orders up to $60; 13 percent for orders up to $150, and 11 percent if the order is $150 or more
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