Prizm the Artist’s Supply Store

I am a first year art student, and frankly I pre-​judged the people at prizm, thinking they might be elitist artsy types. I was so wrong, they are incredibly friendly and helpful. I bought a portfolio there and one week later there was a hole forming along one of the seams. I took it back with no receipt, and they exchanged it no questions asked. The prices are phenomenal compared to big box craft stores (even with the piddly 40% off coupons you can get elsewhere). I’ll be back over and over I’m sure!

They have many types of archival (acid-​free) adhesives, but at least two that are actual paste /​glue consistency. And, the guy who helped me knew a lot about them both. This was my 4^th stop looking for this product so its kind of a big deal.

I love this store. Artists work there, so they know what they’re talking about. It’s small and locally owned, so you’re not roaming through a giant store like Hobby Lobby looking for things. Also, I have found that they’re equal or cheaper in price than Michaels, Hobby Lobby and United Art and Education, except possibly for the framing. They do have a wider selection of custom-​made frames than Hobby Lobby.
I recommend it!

Indianapolis is fortunate to have such a great art store. Prizm offers an excellent selection of art supplies for almost every medium, with a great selection of high quality materials. Prizm offers an excellent selection alongside really affordable prices. There are some items I find at Prizm that I can’t get anywhere else for remotely as affordable (especially if you add in shipping costs!). They frequently have items on sale or specials that are great finds.
The staff is always super helpful and will answer any questions you have about products.
The only downside of Prizm (as previously mentioned) is its location. However, since the Allisonville bridge has been completed, getting to Prizm is not as painful. Tip: if you are coming from 465, instead of turning right onto 86^th street, just go straight and turn into a side entrance right off of Allisonville Road!

As a working artist, I have been infatuated with art supply stores since I was in my first one as a child. Prizm recreates that sense of wonder and excitement. I do have to be careful because I’ll buy things to try and then my studio gets full, so I can’t go to Prizm for awhile. As other’s have said, the prices are good, the staff knowledgeable and friendly. No art school snobs here.

The city’s best art supply store for artists. (Although, to be fair, I haven’t been to Bates since they relocated.) They have a wide variety of everything. Great prices, too.
They also just recently expanded and now offer custom framing.

Prizm is great.
The people who work there are very knowledgeable and creative. Questions about the difference between certain papers? Need ideas for some kind of project you’re working on? Questions about the best way to try a new medium? These and many other questions can be answered by these super nice folks. They will order things specifically for you and call you when it’s in (it can take a little while, though). It’s nice to know that that is an option if you go in and find the one thing you want is always out.
They’ve recently expanded the store into the space next door that used to be a shipping place (sorry, shipping place! I’m glad Prizm took over!) and it’s even more chock-​full of things to wander around and look at (if you’re like me and find it kind of heavenly to wander around in an art supply store!)
In addition to having a great staff and lots of things to look at and choose from, they also have great prices– usually much lower than somewhere like Michael’s or Hobby Lobby– this is truly a place for creative folks on a budget (and isn’t that most of us?)
Only a couple words of warning:
1. This is on the corner of 86^th and Allisonville Road, so beware the traffic during peak travel times. It can be aggravating!
2. If it’s the beginning of a school semester, be aware that the store will quite possibly be wiped out and/​or full of beginning art students with their parents, getting school supplies and asking TONS of silly questions. They are slow. They are often in the way. They can be kind of annoying.
Other than that, Prizm rules.

I really enjoyed Prizm. They had a great selection of paints and enough canvas selection for me to chose from. That said, I am not an expert artIST but I really thought the store and the employees went above and beyond to help me sort out what I needed and wanted. Good stuff.