Jerry's Artarama: Where Art Supply Shopping Meets Genuine Community

Jerry's Artarama represents a distinctive model in American art retail—the regional chain that combines the resources and consistency of a multi-location business with the personal touch, community engagement, and artist-focused ethos of an independent neighborhood store. Founded in 1968 in Raleigh, North Carolina, Jerry's has spent over five decades building a reputation as a place where artists don't just buy supplies but become part of a creative community. With multiple locations across the southeastern United States and a comprehensive online store at JerrysArtarama.com, the company has earned a loyal following among artists who value expertise, quality, and genuine human connection in their shopping experience.

What distinguishes Jerry's from both the national big-box craft chains and the large specialty retailers is its deliberate emphasis on community building. While other stores focus primarily on inventory breadth or discount pricing, Jerry's has built its identity around the idea that an art supply store should be a gathering place for artists—a hub where creative people come together to learn, share, and support one another's work.

A Store Built by Artists, for Artists

Jerry's Artarama was founded on the principle that art supply stores should be staffed and managed by people who genuinely understand art. The employees at Jerry's locations are not general retail workers cycling through seasonal positions—they are practicing artists, art educators, and materials enthusiasts who bring real-world creative experience to every customer interaction. When you ask a Jerry's staff member about the handling characteristics of a particular brand of oil paint, the best paper weight for wet-on-wet watercolor techniques, or how to choose between natural and synthetic brushes for a specific application, you are receiving advice grounded in personal experience and genuine knowledge.

This artist-staffed approach shapes the entire shopping experience. Product recommendations are based on what actually works in practice, not on which brands offer the highest retail margins. Staff members can discuss the strengths and limitations of different materials with the nuance that comes from having used them in their own studios. For artists who are exploring new media, troubleshooting technical problems, or trying to make informed decisions about where to invest their materials budget, this level of expertise is invaluable.

The store's product selection reflects this same philosophy of thoughtful curation. Rather than attempting to stock every product from every manufacturer—an approach that can overwhelm shoppers with choices of varying quality—Jerry's carefully selects brands and products that represent genuine quality at different price points. You won't find shelves filled with inferior options alongside premium materials; instead, you'll find a curated selection where every product has been chosen because it delivers real value to artists.

The Community Hub

The most distinctive aspect of Jerry's Artarama is its commitment to functioning as a community hub for local artists. Each Jerry's location regularly hosts workshops, artist demonstrations, community exhibitions, and creative events that transform the store from a retail space into a gathering place for the local art scene. These programs are not token marketing efforts—they are substantive educational and community-building initiatives that reflect the company's genuine investment in the creative ecosystems of the cities it serves.

Workshops and classes at Jerry's cover a wide range of techniques and media, from beginner-friendly introductions to painting and drawing to advanced sessions on specialized techniques like encaustic, printmaking, or mixed media. These classes are typically taught by working artists and experienced educators from the local community, ensuring that instruction is both technically sound and practically relevant. For artists seeking structured learning opportunities outside of formal academic programs, Jerry's workshops provide accessible, affordable education in a supportive environment.

The stores also feature and promote work by local artists, hosting exhibitions, displaying artwork, and actively connecting customers with the creative talent in their communities. This support for local artists creates a virtuous cycle: artists who feel supported by Jerry's become loyal customers and advocates, and their presence in the store enriches the experience for other shoppers.

Products and Professional Services

Jerry's carries a solid selection of professional-grade art supplies from respected manufacturers. The inventory covers painting (oils, acrylics, watercolors, gouache), drawing (graphite, charcoal, colored pencils, pastels, markers), printmaking, sculpture, and mixed media, along with surfaces, brushes, mediums, and tools. While the selection may not match the 90,000-item breadth of a national giant like Blick, it is carefully curated to ensure that artists can find quality materials across all major media without wading through inferior options.

The custom framing department is a significant asset at Jerry's locations. Professional framers offer conservation-quality framing with a range of molding styles, mat options, and glazing choices. The framing staff can advise on presentation decisions—how to mat and frame work for gallery submission, how to protect pieces for long-term preservation, and how to choose framing that complements rather than competes with the artwork. For artists who need professional presentation but don't want to seek out a standalone framing shop, Jerry's framing services are convenient and well-executed.

Jerry's online store extends the company's reach beyond its physical locations, offering nationwide shipping on a broad selection of art supplies. The website is well-organized and includes detailed product information, making it a viable option for artists who don't live near a Jerry's location but want access to the company's curated selection.

The In-Store Experience

Walking into a Jerry's Artarama location feels distinctly different from entering a big-box craft store. The atmosphere is more intimate, more focused, and more creatively charged. The stores are designed for artists, not for mass-market craft consumers, and this focus is evident in everything from the product layout to the staff interactions to the artwork displayed on the walls.

The physical spaces are well-organized and well-lit, with products arranged logically by medium and use. You can examine brushes, feel paper textures, and compare paint swatches in person—tactile evaluation that matters enormously for art materials but is impossible through online shopping alone. The staff is present and engaged without being pushy, available for conversation and guidance when you want it but respectful of your browsing time when you don't.

Many regular Jerry's customers describe the experience of visiting the store as something closer to visiting a community center than a retail outlet. You might strike up a conversation with another artist browsing the watercolor section, learn about an upcoming plein air painting group from a flyer on the bulletin board, or discover a new technique through a staff recommendation. This organic community interaction is something that no amount of online convenience can replicate.

The Bottom Line

Jerry's Artarama succeeds by prioritizing artists and community over pure retail efficiency. The company's combination of knowledgeable artist staff, thoughtfully curated products, professional framing services, substantive educational programming, and genuine community engagement creates a shopping experience that transcends the transactional nature of most retail. For artists in the Southeast and beyond who want more than just a place to buy supplies—who want to be part of a creative community that supports their growth and celebrates their work—Jerry's delivers something that national chains simply cannot match.