Blick Art Materials

Profile

When sleek, suburban art supply chain Dick Blick bought out hipper urban rival The Art Store in August 2004, both the customers and staff of the East Village outpost worried that the changeover would contribute to the mall-ing of the neighborhood. Despite initial growing pains, when employees were directed to cover visible tattoos and remove all piercings, the changes have only made things better: Blick's chic, loft-like, two-level space is less cluttered and more inviting, the inventory has increased, and although the furniture and gift departments were cut back, many other sections, including sculpture and framing, have expanded. The first floor is jam-packed with paints, brushes, paper and pencils; larger stock like easels, light boxes and portfolios is in the basement. Patrons remain a mix of professional fine artists, graphic designers, and animators, as well as students and profs from Cooper Union, NYU and the School of Visual Arts, who enjoy a preferred-customer 10 percent discount (available with proper ID or, for working stiffs, a tiny annual fee). Starving creatives, take note: if you find an item advertised locally for less, Blick will match the price. And to the relief of many, the funky sales reps are free again to uncover their ink and dangle their body baubles. — Raven Snook

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