So happy to be shopping locally and even happier to learn they have a Flax pedigree. I was heartbroken to learn they had to move to the East Bay (they already have real art supply stores). The Peninsula is a wasteland of Michaels, Joannes and Hobby Lobby with greatly unknowledgeable staff. We had a lovely experience at California Art Supply. They were always ready with an answer, steered me away from a product I didnt need and provided me with a seat when standing too long to wait for the husband to finish and cant wait to return. Thanks guys! Really appreciated!

This is a real artists store (not an arts & crafts shoppe like Michaels) run by the fellow who managed Flacks in downtown San Francisco for 25 years! Best of the best of the best of the best!!!When the art store I used to go to in Palo Alto closed, I despaired of finding anything like it without going to San Francisco. Was I surprised and delighted to find Calif Art Supply. Its on El Camino next to a Fed Ex where they have their own parking so access is never an issue.I found the staff to super knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful which is just what I need when Im trying to decide on materials for projects. They have a high quality selection of materials, media, and tools with the expertise to explain how to use it, how to demo it, and how to choose the right stuff for your work.

A family member had made a holiday wish list of art supplies, but it was all links to buy the items on Amazon. I instead sent the list to California Art Supply, and within less than a day theyd put together a package that was as good as or better than the items on the Amazon list. I went to the store, they had all the items set aside for me, I paid with credit card and was done within minutes. Holiday shopping made easy! Thanks, California Art Supply!

Love this store! Everything you could want minus the tcotchkes. Very friendly staff.

Great place for art supplies. Staff are friendly and I am really enjoying my new pandemic hobby.

They are like the Nordstrom of art supplies. Attentive, know their products, and nice. I only shop here. They guide you to the appropriate product so you save money through their knowledge of the product and commitment to you as person and artist. For example, I took a watercolor class. Watercolor paper is expensive. The owner suggested a non-archival pad of paper - beginners don’t need archival products - that cost the same as 2.5 watercolor paper pages. Moderate-sized store, but well-stocked and expert knowledge.

Very quaint and very friendly vendor. Found what I was looking for (screen printing emunsion); wish there were more supplies, but glad I could just drive over (not order and wait days). Major plus!!

Wonderful personal service - just went above and beyond what one experiences these days. I have never had a bad experience at this location. Bravo

They have a great quality and selection of art materials. I was able find rolls of watercolor paper. Other stores sell pre-cut stuff. I will shop here from now on.

California Art Supply is an exceptionally well stocked store with high quality supplies and knowledgeable, friendly helpful staff. They also have a keen eye for whimsical and fantastical items that are always angling to get into your shopping basket!Def one of my happy places!!

Awesome staff and owner.Always helpful and responsive.And opens early and 7 days a week.Support our small business community.

It is the best/worst thing in my life that I live next to Cal Art Supply; even though prices are affordable, my wallet still hates me. But I absolutely love it here. These folks are super knowledgeable and intimately tied with the local art community. I struggle to imagine something they don’t know about art and art supplies.

I love this art supply store! The staff are knowledgeable, kind, and fun.

In the middle of a commission and looked everywhere for a high quality miniatureoil paint brush and found it at California Art Supply! Great brushes, good price! Thank you!

Excellent service! Fun and fast shopping. Love the art display too. Great pens, notebooks, art supplies and fun gifts!

I love this store, the people are very nice and more importantly knowledgeable. I have found everything I need for my artwork here.

Offered help when I came into the store but I knew where and what I wanted. Nice people, well versed in art, supples and their inventory.

Everyone here is so helpful. Always have cool art products.

This is the greatest store on earth, or, at the very least, in the Bay Area. This is an artist’s dream! There’s a huge selection of materials, and the owner, Ron, is consultative and helpful, guiding you to help you find what you are looking for. While sheltering in place has limited my store visits, I’m so happy to have options to support this business safely! The store is locally owned and is one of a kind!

I love California Art Supply Co— they have the friendliest employees, very knowledgeable and helpful, and genuinely interested in helping you get a good value and the right products for your work

The best place for art and the best faculty of workers ever! Their very knowledgeable in every aspect! Recommended highly!

Great store with a very broad array of art materials. Wonderful staff, knowledgeable and hands-on helpful. Why drive to San Francisco when just about everything you’ll need is right here in San Mateo!

The people who work here are both friendly & helpful & knowledgeable!

Simply the best art supplies and service around. Friendly, knowledgeable staff, quality supplies including things you won’t find anywhere else. None of the chains come even close to California Art Supply. Support your local businesses. It’s not only smart, productive, and enjoyable to shop here, in the age of Amazon eating up brick and mortar stores, it’s a moral obligation.

This is the best art store! Everyone on staff is knowledgeable, friendly and so incredibly helpful! If they don’t have something in stock they will order it for you. They also stock the best art supplies on the market. I highly recommend this store.9

Love this shop. Really the best place on the Peninsula to get art supplies. Super friendly staff and very knowledgeable. Always worth a trip!

These guys are the best! Knowledgeable staff, great selection, competitive prices. I go out of my way to shop here rather than the 2 or 3 art supplies store closer to my home.

This is a great store--they have a really extensive collection of stuff. I draw so Im focused on their pencils, papers, and related supplies and I have always found what Im looking for. The staff is REALLY friendly and helpful also. Shop here before just buying stuff on amazon--its worth it.

Loves this place. Great assortment of art supplies and very friendly/knowledgeable staff.

California Art Supply in Belmont, it’s one store that provides an experience that keeps bringing me back!Staff and Owner all are very helpful and knowledgeable, they will give you the time, support you need in buying your materials for your next project or Artwork. There is a great variety of supplies and inventory that covers all price ranges.Whenever I go to this store it’s so hard to leave as I want to buy everything. Lol!

The staff is very friendly and helpful. The art supplies are worth the cost here.

This is a great store! The people who work there are very knowledgeable and friendly and the store has a wide variety of supplies.

Wonderful family owned art supply store with the most cheery and helpful staff imaginable

Always professional, friendly, good prices, and well stocked.

Always excellent service and products!

Excellent service and product. Thank you

Very helpful And knowledgeable the items are very good quality I enjoy browsing

Went there during re-opening during COVID, and the staff was super friendly and helpful. Love to go back!

Good selection, knowledgeable about art supplies, successfully dealing with COVID art life

These guys rock! Their prices are competitive, they always have the COPIC markers I need in stock, they care about customer service, they are knowledgeable and friendly. Thanks, guys!

They are super helpful and knowledgeable, it’s just a very friendly place.

The best art store in the bay area in my opinion. Store is well lit, allowing you to view the true colours of the many, many paints pigments and colours they carry for many different techniques. There are also nice selections of imported paonts and supplies, as well as specialist items for book binding, leather paonting, alcohol inking, textiles and more. The location may seem small but it has a treasure trove of goodies packed inside.Make sure and ask the staff if youre looking for specific items or supplies. I asked about a particular paint and was not only provided updates, but a call when it arrived (its a challenge to get Swiss paints!) and they kept it aside for me until I could come into the city. I cant recommend them enough for their knowledgeable, welcoming environment for artists.

I always find what I need here and everyone on the staff and Ron are awesome! Thank you for all that you do for everyone who loves art!

Great selection of art supplies and expert advice. Plus friendly staff that believe in customer service.

Love this place. Super knowledgeable staff who are also extremely friendly. Best place in the bay for art supplies!

COVID — they get an A+ for safety, not only allowing very few people into the store at once but also checking to make sure the people shopping are in different areas. My favorite art store!

Excellent service helping to select items prior to curbside pick up.

I had no problems using the site and placing my order.

Professional, knowledgeable, and friendly customer service. I feel very lucky to have their shop in my neighborhood.

Im always happy to go to California Art Supplies as the service is friendly and informative and the stock is sufficient and competitively priced!

I am a photographer, not a traditional artist. I needed some white backgrounds for a shot. I cant even remember what its called but they had a bunch of it was really cheap and the people were really friendly and its just a wonderful little place. If youre an artist, you should come to this place because theyre very reasonably priced and have great service.

Good atmosphere and service. Competitive prices. And discounts for students. Always know their stuff.

Definitely a kid in a candy store experience. They had everything I was looking for and multiple options. Friendly, helpful and professional staff. Ill be back!

Best place for art lovers ! Very helpful staff and the price are good. Remember to check promotions items and you will have a great deal. Near the SFO and a lots other book store and shopping mall

Great service and very high quality art supplies. They also have very up-to-date supplies, so when there is a fairly new product, they have it. They also have a wide selection and the people give great advice and have extensive knowledge about the products in store.

Always excellent service and knowledgeable staff.

All around amazing. great selection of products from student to professional in a bunch of media. plus the staff is super kind and helpful and will have genuinely engaging conversations about most anything. and the patio is beautiful

There are so many amazing reasons to buy from this shop rather than simply ordering online from a mega seller: Everyone is friendly and helpful; nothing beats being able to *touch* or even try out papers, pens, brushes, etc.; youre supporting an independent, locally owned business; you get to learn from knowledgeable people who share your interests! This store is a Peninsula gem. If you dont find the art supplies youre looking for, ask!

Very helpful, considerate and knowledgeable.

Sometimes I get my art material here, really helpful staff, good selection on art supplies .

Im not an artist but had a specific set of items I wanted for a party-easel, a pallet, paintbrushes and paint. The staff was very welcoming and helpful. Cost was not bad, and found everything in one spot. Better than a Craft store if youre looking to paint seriously!

Love this store! The staff are nice and they have a great selection of art supplies for all of my painting needs. The prices are very reasonable. I will continue to buy my canvases from them.

Great art supplies! The staff is always very helpful. Last time I was there, I was helped by William D and he showed me his watercolor work. Very inspiring!

I come here for special art supplies for my preschool classroom and always find new items to try. This visit was with my son. Bill helped my son get some watercolor materials, found brushes and paper that were good price for a beginner and yet good quality. Very pleased with the helpful and knowledgeable staff.

Amazing range of products... Bit pricey, though

Great people, great art shop

Ive been coming here since they opened. They have all my art supply needs for a reasonable price and friendly and helpful staff. I love coming here to shop. You wont find a better art supply store in California.

Great selection and really knowledgeable and helpful staff! They helped us a lot and didn’t try to up sell anything and even told us how to do more with less!

Love the staff! Great selection!

Very friendly and helpful staff and a well stocked store with a good variety of supplies for both the student and the professional. My new “go to”place for art supplies on the Peninsula. I’d like to see a bit more choice of watercolor paintbrush brands, but best by far for a local store.

Such a nice art supply store. Friendly and helpful. Well stocked, high quality art supplies.

Fair selection of materials, fair prices, excellent service!

EXCELLENT SERVICE - I was shopping for supplies for my daughter and had little idea about what I needed - the staff were super helpful.

Google referred. No ceramic glazes. Difficult website to get around on.

Really knowledgeable people who took time to tell me about the items I purchased. I got a new set of single watercolor brushes and the owner took time to put them in a protective holder each.

This is the best shop, employers are really polite, and is too much beter than other big stores. They have a lot of paint stuff and all that you need to be an artist. Look for Bills drawings, they are awesome.

Really appreciated the knowledgeable and welcoming staff, they answered my questions and engaged in some great conversation about my medium and helped me further envision my next project.

With the lacking art stores nowadays, this place was great! Had a good selection of supplies and staff was super helpful and friendly.

The staff is so friendly and helpful. They found exactly what I needed for my art project.

These guys are wonderful. Ron and staff are going to take the time to understand what you need. They have solid knowledge of their products. They host info sessions. Theyve offered alternatives to my methods and materials that come out better, save time, and cost less. Really. And guess what, theyre friendly!

Great team to help you out!

This store has good quality products. Knowledgeable staff who offers help.

They have a very knowledgeable staff and are always willing to help answer questions.

Huge fan of this place! Their selection of supplies is impressive and more affordable than the U place. The staff is very knowledgeable and willing to help. While I havent attended, they do hold instructional sessions and events, which is really nice for artists in the area.

A very nice store. Professional artists ready and willing to help. Im new to the area and it has become my go to place for advice on local instruction, supplies and they even welcome my dog. Good prices and a nice stock of a variety of supplies and tools. Very nice to have discovered Flax, San Mateo and their friendly staff.

This small art supply store is well organized, ultra clean and stocks just the right amount of quality products that any creative person could need for a project. I cross checked pricing online (everyone does that right? Especially when making a big purchase?!) and this store offered the same products at the same price as I could get online, so I felt extra happy to spend my money here. I had a lovely and helpful chat with a staff member (maybe the owner?) who went out of his way to show me something special to look for when purchasing colored pencils. A great selection of little arty knick knacks that you could buy for gifts too like fun erasers and pens from Japan. Love this store, I will be back!

I drive 60 minutes round trip to California Art Supply instead of ordering from Amazon. Its a local business. The customer service is impeccable and the curated goodies they sell are amazing. Sure...sometimes Blick will have something they dont. Ill buy it from California Art Supply first......then Blick...then Amazon if they dont have it.

Loved the employees they always go for that extra mile of effort, people should support them

Quality selection and great staff

Great people. Fair prices.

Great products and friendly staff

Awesome art store with a great selection of high quality supplies at reasonable prices. Super friendly and knowledgeable staff.

Great store, great staff !

Good selection of high quality art supplies.

Love this place. Staff is super nice and there is so much cool stuff there! I cant wait to go back!

Incredibly friendly and knowledgeable staff. They know their stuff! Highly recommend shopping here!

Small store but well stocked with supplies an artist needs and wants. Really great staff that can help you find your artist goodies. They are really friendly and knowledgeable, and never laugh at me for asking a dumb question.

Especially friendly and helpful staff

Wide selection of paper, paint, brushes, pens, love it. Fair price.