Art Coop

Art Coop was always the very best way to start a new project in art ! SO helpful!

I have nothing but good things to say about the art coop. They have anything you would need to make art and the people who work there are actual artists for gods sake!!!
And for you haters that think Lincoln Square is dead — maybe you should go and get some exercise at the workout place or some decent food at Common Ground Food Coop or the Art Mart — or get a massage or acupuncture or do some yoga at Amara —
and then you wouldn’t be full of so much negative energy.

I like the Art Coop, and I like that it’s in Lincoln Square mall too. When I go to the farmer’s market in the summer it’s fun to drop in at the Coop, look at what’s on view in the gallery, and browse around. It’s also convenient by bus and a nice 20 minute walk from campus. I’ve found the staff helpful and friendly, and they don’t hover while you’re browsing. It’s sometimes cheaper to buy online, but I’ve bought a lot of pencils, brushes, markers, and paper at the Art Coop that’s fairly priced. Great store :)

Needed a specific shade of acid-​free, colored paper for a screen printing class a week away. Of course it is in stock. Super helpful owner and staff even checked manufacturers’ sites to confirm acid-​free. This is exactly why I love this store. Big selection of paper, board, paint, ink, and more with no worries because it is right there in front of you instead of on a national retailer’s website which apologizes for color inaccuracies in advance. I love that I can walk in and get everything I need to try out a new medium, including advice that saves me time and materials. And now with the move to Lincoln Square there’s an even larger selection and more parking.

I know Urbana is supposedly the artsy-​fartsy Birkenstock side of CU, and so, while I understand why Art Coop would elect to move there and into the creepy old and largely deserted Lincoln Square Mall, I just miss their presence on campus. (doggone it, when I was a fine arts design major, the coop was conveniently located on campus and staffed by some of my quirky classmates and I felt at home inside the coop. Now, not so much. :/​)
The prices are not great, definitely higher than Dick Blick. And the assortment of weird and wonderful papers and tidbits also seems to have dwindled. Frankly, it’s just as easy and more price effective to shop on line for the run of the mill basics.
I miss the old school Art Coop. :(

Been in here to look for stencils. They didn’t carry any. Seems like a good store to go to if you are an artist or in art school. Prices seemed about right for a privately owned art shop.

The employees are extremely knowledgeable and helpful as long as you have a decent idea of what you want. As a non-​artist, I came in not knowing enough facts about my project and basically got lectured on wasting their time. If you’re a serious artist, this place looks fantastic, but if you’re doing something really new to you, this probably isn’t the place to go.

Yes they have so much stuff, and all that stuff is overpriced. They need some sort of discount program where for every $ 150 you spend there you get $ 10 off of a purchase. Maybe they already have something like this (I doubt it), but I’m not going to set foot in that place again til I have to. The owner is rude at times also. I returned a large piece of matboard like material with the receipt about 1 week after I originally purchased it. I didn’t even take it out of the plastic bag or my SUV after I bought it. It was untouched and unused. It was a $ 20 purchase, and she wouldn’t let me return it because the corner of the material, perhaps ¼″ x ¼″ area in size, was bent a bit. This piece had been sitting unused in the back of my SUV the whole time. It didn’t slide around as I was driving, I was careful while placing it in my SUV. Regardless, she wouldn’t accept the return, even though it was still in the original, immaculate condition. I guarantee it was in this condition when it was originally purchased.
Folks, check the condition of the stuff you buy before you leave the store, so that if you may need to return, you’ll be able to do so.

Art Coop has two main things going for it: it’s close to campus, and it carries pretty much any basic art supplies you might need. Otherwise it’s pricey, and most of the employees I’ve talked to their haven’t been very friendly.
If you need some art supplies right away and are stuck near campus, I’d say go there. Otherwise, if you do a little planning, you can just order your supplies online and save some money and hassle.

Art Coop saves my ass every time. They are open late and always have what I need. Even though they may not be THE cheapest art store, they are the only art store in town. (And don’t even think of calling Michael’s Crafts and Poop store an art store.)
Art Coop stocks the basics for any drawing, painting, design, photography class and if they don’t carry it, they are usually willing and able to special order what you are looking for.
The staff is friendly (many are artists themselves) and know every product on the shelf. Go on, quiz ‘em.