Plaza Artist Materials & Picture Framing

The first time I visited Plaza in Nashville, it was uniquely positioned... between the Nashville Rescue, three sex shops, an industrial butcher, and the freeway. It is still uniquely postioned.... between the Nashville Rescue, three microbrewies, Jack White's music studio, and the new Division Street overpass. The city and the neighborhood have changed; Plaza has not. There is a "vibe". There's a great feeling when you walk into a business and you don't even have to to ask, you just know that the people that work here and the product or service that is provided here are in sync; there is Synergy and Purpose and an Eagerness to Share Knowledge and especially Hospitality. Walker Lumber & Hardware, Parnassus Books, Monell's, Rosie's Twin Kegs. I buy things that I don't need at Plaza because I get caught up in the experience of being surrounded by beautiful tools that push my imagination into the ludicrous ambition that I might be able to create beautiful things with them. I buy these things because I Know I'll Try to use them. A pencil. A brush. A canvas. What could I do? How could I not try? .... and I would never have tried if I hadn't walked into that hidden warehouse behind the Nashville Rescue between the sex shops and the butcher to look for some drafting paper over 20 years ago. I keep going back, I tell myself I need a pencil... Update... They moved. Still the same vibe, still the same people, just a more bougie neighborhood. Viva la gentrification....

This is the ultimate art supply store -- they have everything any professional artist, parent looking for gifts, or even kid could ever imagine. Amazing!

I never Review businesses, but felt compelled to after my experience yesterday. I flew Into Nashville from Dallas, Texas and had some free time…I went Into plaza art not knowing what to expect and was blown away by the staff (specifically the GM). He was knowledgeable and took the time to explain everything about the colored pencils he offers in his store (which was truly amazing). They were so kind and friendly and I’m so happy that I went In to shop in my down time.

I never knew this existed until today. Amazing store and well organized. Has everything you could possibly need. The staff are very nice and knowledgeable as well. Really enjoyed my time here and I will be returning! This is my new go to spot for all of my crafting & paints.

Great shop to have in the neighborhood! The staff was so friendly and helpful and they have a great selection. Had to leave the brush aisle because it was waaayyy too tempting for me! I was also impressed with their prices, i can't remember the last time I went to an art supply store and left spending less than 20$. I will definitely be coming back.

My first visit here! I pencil draw, use prisma color pencils, paint with gouache. Used to have a store like this in Lexington a long time ago. So been a while since I could find really large multi-media pads and items I could look at in person instead of ordering online. Beautifully stocked store. Lots of brands and very high quality materials. Staff was extremely helpful, friendly and knowledgeable. The clearance section was great too. The cashier signed me up for a card that saved me a lot on my order. The also have an online store. Overall a very satisfying experience!

Great shop for all kinds of art and crafts supplies. The staff was very friendly and helpful. It was also a really nice touch that we got complimentary parking for shopping there.

The store has every conceivable category of art supply. It was well stocked. The staff was knowledgeable and personable. This is my new favorite art store!

After discovering this art store, I can never go to a Michael's or Hobby Lobby again. Plaza art is the best art supplies store I've encountered in Nashville. Magnificent selection. It has just about every tool imaginable for any medium, clay, printing, sketching, you name it. It also has an impressive selection of canvas and paints. It all comes in decent prices too. If you're an artist in town, I highly recommend paying this place a visit.

Nice employees and quick to help you find things. I went for a small package of raw pigment and was very satisfied with their attentiveness.

Love this art store! I had an upcoming art show and was in need of a lot of frames and also some additional art supplies. The customer service was over the top the best! The store manager stopped what she was doing to help me with all my questions. I drove 100 miles to the art store and plan to come back frequently. I really like the new location also.

I went to Plaza Artist on a recommendation from an alumni I meet at another frame shop. I wanted to get a diploma framed for my parents and wasn't having any luck finding what I was looking for, at a good price. I went to Plaza Artist and they had a great selection of frames and mats. Gavin helped me determine the look I was going for and pick out everything! About a week after ordering Jay called and the manufacturer hadn't sent my frame so, I went in to pick a different one (in order to get it for Christmas). I went in the next day and Gavin helped me again. He actually picked the frame I ended up going with and I like it better than the first one I ordered! The finished product is awesome and I know my folks will love it. I'm planning to go back in February to get my copy framed! Thanks Gavin & Jay!

This place is a happy place. The prices are the best in town. Kimber is so cool and helpful as is everyone else there. Even the most sensitive artist will feel comfortable shopping here. Thumbs way up.

I am new to the area and it was an aha moment when I walked to the doors of Plaza arts materials. Finally, I found a home for all the wonderful things that I'd like to make in my future I know exactly where to go.

There's a pretty solid selection of art materials - almost always fully stocked. The staff does a great job at personalizing the experience and takes the time to get to know their repeat customers. I'm fairly confident they source some of the screen printing product locally, though I can't say for sure. Compared to other major chains, Plaza is priced a bit on the high side, though they also stock supplies not common at other stores. Despite carrying a large number of products, the brands are somewhat limited (at least for screen printing ink which is what I was looking for - they only carry one).

Awesome bunch! I love this store I really don't like shopping in any store at any time and I really don't like any store at any time except the store the store is number one my favorite store in the world... And I don't mind spending money there

I purchased the Groupon for custom framing and have been to Plaza twice now. Framing is obviously expensive, and not having framed a ton of stuff in the past I can't really say how their prices compare to other businesses, however on a personal level I would much rather give my business to a local company than a chain like Hobby Lobby or Michaels. Beyond that, the primary reason for my 5 star rating is how amazing Gavin (who I believe works in the framing department) is. The first time I came in, my boyfriend and I brought in a variety of items we wanted framed, all different shapes/sizes and requiring different frames. Gavin was extremely patient and helpful, and he really took the time with us to help select the right frame for each item. We had a couple pictures that were already framed and matted and he also guided us well on how to redo that as we weren't super happy with how they were originally framed. I recently came back with a bunch of other things I wanted to get framed and Gavin was again really helpful and expressed sincere interest in the story of one of the items I was thinking about getting framed, which was really nice in my opinion. A week later my items were ready and once again they look amazing. The thing about framing is there are so many different options and ways to go, so in my opinion it's really valuable to work with someone who is going to take the time to understand your budget, goals, and style, and Gavin definitely delivers on that, and the framers at the store do excellent work too. I will definitely be back with more items to frame in the future, and if I have an art project they seem to have a an extensive selection to choose from so I'd purchase supplies there too.

All the staff is so helpful and knowledgeable. I love supporting local and the prices are super competitive to big box brands. I like that I can order online too!!

In terms of selection, I would grant this 4 stars. In terms of customer service, again, 4 stars. In terms of price, one star, zero if that were an option. I'm also deducting a couple of stars for the way they handle their paper. I was looking at several colors of Canson and the way they had them shoved in the display holder was causing every single piece of paper, in every color, to be curved on the sides. Not cool. Jerry's Artarama has a larger selection and a million times better prices.

Griffin Plaza Art Supply is a fantastic art supply store in Nashville, TN. This store has a few locations in the Midwest and in the Northeast, but this is the only location in Tennessee. The store is huge and the prices are incredibly reasonable. They have a full line of supplies whether you draw, oil paint, use acrylics, sculpture, screen printing, framing, it sounds cheesy, but if you can imagine it Plaza Art Supplies will find a way for you to create it. (They do not really carry photography materials, though). They usually carry 'starter' versions of all their supplies and also a higher end professional version of the materials. The staff can point you in the right direction if you give them the details about what you are trying to accomplish. I visited the shop when I wanted to embark on a screen printing project. The sales person got me setup with everything I needed, in the quantities I needed. Also, the cashier got me set up with their shopper's card. All you have to do is give them your email address, and you get %15 off every time you shop! That's a pretty good deal, considering their prices are really good to begin with.

This isn't the easy place to get to but it has been there forever. It is worth the effort. The store carries wonderful quality products for every type of art and has the nicest staff. Their prices are very reasonable. You can also order online . I highly recommend it.

I am truly surprised that I have not ever written a review for this retail art store. Employees are pleasant and helpful. Store is spacious and aisles are wide enough for 4 people to walk through. Prices are really good. Conveniently located near the interstate.. On and off is easy. The best part about this store is their workshop and class program. They have so many variety of classes and workshops to choose from - as a hobby, as a career kick in the pants, for inspiration, for networking... it's a great little piece of heaven to go brush up on skills, get that inspiration to finish a painting.. or to learn a new technique. Local artists teach the classes/workshops.. Many of them are very well known and belong to all the art guilds and clubs.. When taking lessons from these notable artists, it's really nice that the price to learn under them is a lot less expensive compared to some of the classes they offer at other studios for 4x the money they get from Plaza.. So it's a real economical outlet! I'm on my 4th workshop there and I appreciate that the store discount for art supplies runs around 30% to students, taking classes. Nice when you need to restock on paints and gesso!! Maybe a few canvases to keep you busy.. all discounted! Go online and check out their workshop/class schedule and see if there's something there that could be "Your" time.... and everyone needs time for themselves to pursue a hobby.

This place is the best. They have great customer service and everything you could want for art supplies. Lots of parking and it is easy to find. I will definitely be back.

The location is almost impossible to find. The selection is good; the prices, ok. The employees are usually friendly, but very ignorant. They are always young and new, so obviously they have a retention problem. If you can get one of the guys from the back, well, they seem to have been around awhile and are a bit more knowledgeable. Forget about framing and matting. When you can finally get someone to wait on you, they are rude and will never follow through. We gave up after 3 weeks because they kept forgetting to place an order with their supplier. Oh, and the prices on framing and matting are so high they are laughable. Too bad it's the only professional art supply in town. Or should I say semi-professional.

This is hands-down the best art store in town. I buy all of my supplies here, and they always have great sales going on. They have excellent classes and workshops.The staff is very friendly and helpful.

My girlfriend and I recently bought a Groupon for custom framing at Plaza. Neither of us had ever heard of the place, but we needed some framing done, so we decided to give them a shot. The only reason I can't give them a full five star reviews, is because it took about ten minutes before they came over to the framing area to help us out. But, once we were acknowledged, the service was great. The woman helping us pick out a frame was extremely helpfully and made sure we found something in our price range. It took them a little over a week to finish the piece, and it looks awesome hanging on our wall!

Walking in here was like a flashback of middle school, when I would go canvas shopping for my art class! Oh, the acrylic paints, the smell of freshly cut wood, the awesome pens and pencils and Sharpies in every color known to man! It's my favorite!! I actually purchased a pen here, but my sole purpose was using our Groupon for custom framing a poster from Bonnaroo. We are seasoned veterans of custom framing, and we know that purchasing these things comes at a price. But we also know that you pay for what you get, so we were happy to be greeted by a woman who really helped us find a nice frame. She was up front and didn't push us into purchasing anything out of our price range. And now it looks really beautiful on our wall! My only gripe is that it took far too long for her to come help us, and nobody else in the store bothered to tell us to please be patient, that she'd be out in a minute. They all sort of stared over at us, expecting us to read their minds. Also, the person behind the counter was extremely nonchalant about...everything? I guess I just got way more of the troubled artist vibe than I did the enthusiastic salesman. Go figure! Either way, they had every Sharpie color known to man. How does one resist??

I just recently found out about this place and am kicking myself for not knowing of its existence sooner. I practically started drooling on myself when I went here for the first time, and I think we easily spent an hour and a half poking through their merchandise. They have pretty much everything you need if you're a visual artist. They have some killer prices for canvas' as well as an exhausting variety of sizes. When I was there most of them were half off, I'm not sure how long this deal was going on for but seriously it was amazing. If you like to stretch your own canvas frames, they've got you covered too. There is an extensive selection of easels in a wide range of prices and they have one of the better portfolio selections I've seen around. They've got spray paints, screen printing supplies, clay, paper crafts, air brushing materials, even a ridiculous selection of sharpies. Plaza even offers classes at some pretty decent prices. Most of them are beginner level instructions but theres a wide variety of topics and the cost of the class includes all materials. This place can be kind of hard to find, or it was for me anyway but then again I ended up going the round a bout way. Its over in an industrial section of town near 7th avenue.

Plaza is full of a wide variety of art supplies and is staffed by friendly, helpful people. What's the problem? Shopping for Christmas presents I heard Christian music piped from their speakers. I love Christmas carols but not ones declaring Jesus Christ our Lord. It struck me as insensitive and exclusive. I hope Plaza will rethink their choice of carols.

Total pros at framing. Try to get a Groupon (max of two per person) to take $100 off your order. Good framing anywhere costs and arm and a leg but you don't want to mess around with those arts & crafts stores that mess up your work and give you crooked frames. Plaza Artists is legit for framing. Couldn't be happier with them.

This place is a play ground for the mind's eye! Upon entering, there is a sense of overwhelming creativity. The staff are wonderful and can hone in your focus to get you what you need to create your vision. Having been here a few times now, I regularly leave with more than I need. There are just some many possibilities to express yourself with the tools and materials here. They have all the name brands and really really good deals and discounts. I purchased a pre-made frame that was normally $35 for $15. not to shhabbby. Although the location is less than desirable; Plaza is worth finding on your urban adventure. They also have a rewards program that helps easel - ;) the pain of wanting to leave with so much! This is the premier art store in the metro area of Nashville.

I have finally found some time to paint again and decided to look on Yelp for a art supply place. Plaza seemed to have some good reviews, so I checked there website out and decided to go by there. When I pulled up, I felt slightly unsafe but since it was daytime, I figured I was ok but this is not an area you would go when it's not busy or at night. They had a variety of art supplies for every level of artist. They had a sale going on and if you sign up for there mailing list, they will give you a coupon for next time you come in. My only thing is, I picked up some paint that was on sale. When I looked at my receipt, the sale price was not reflected. They had to refund me the difference.

It's been a few years since my first review (3 stars). I'm happy to say that I've received good customer service almost every time I've been since then. A solid art store. But I still think the new Artarama in East Nashville is going to give it a run for it's money. Competition is good.

This is the closest Professional Artist supply store nearest to Paducah Kentucky that I have found. Staff are knowledgeable, helpful and wonderfully friendly. They helped me in an art crisis I've never experienced before. Kudos! I will definitely return to this place in the future.

Plaza has everything for the visual artist. Although I don't do as much art these days, I still love to go and look around. There's a great selection of almost everything, and this is one of the few places in town that you can find archival photo albums that don't have those annoying plastic sticky sheets - they have the ones with black pages and the old-fashioned photo corners. There's a huge selection of paint brushes and paints, and the prices are reasonable, even though as expected, some colors are more expensive than others (some pigments are more expensive to make). There are also interesting papers for craft projects, including gold leaf and handmade papers. I recently used some for a movie-proposal project. They have all of the standard art supplies and some of the weirder stuff too, like medium that lifts colors from magazine pages - you can do some interesting art with those. Since Batey's closed in Franklin, this is the only place in town you can find some art supplies.

I worked with Robert at Plaza Art Nashville to coordinate the purchasing and delivery of an order for an event I was planning remotely. He was amazing to work with - very kind, detailed, and quick to follow-through on questions. I had a great experience working with their team and highly recommend. I look forward to the opportunity to buy from Plaza Art again.

Maybe it was my poor luck, but I ended up with a terrible experience. I was looking for materials to craft a costume for a convention. I figured an art store would be the place to look. After wandering around without anyone asking me if I needed help, I went to the front register and asked them some opinions on what I could use. The girl took me to material that was not only over priced, but not useful. At all. She had NO idea what she was talking about. She was clearly not an artist. She only dressed like an artist. You know the type, right? They look like hipsters, yet they fail to act like the traditional hipster because everyone else looks like them. Having no art knowledge, I bought the things she suggested only and, after hours of painful construction, realize that these materials were not what I needed. And you know what? I can't return the ones that I didn't use because I won't get money back. No, I will get store credit back. Even with a receipt. Does this make sense to anyone? No? I didn't think so. Never again. I am not going to this "artist" store ever again. Update: As I was going through some of my reviews, I started to notice that I had a comment on this one. This is a reply from one of the workers at Plaza Artist Materials & Picture Framing: "We are sorry your experience was not up to your expectations. We always appreciate feedback and take it seriously but we actually pride ourselves on our customer relations and hear much more good than bad. In addition, Plaza has been an integral part of the artist community in Nashville for the past 50 years and plan to be there as an artists' resource for many years to come. Judging by your other reviews, seven out of eight having two or one stars, you tend to sound off after a bad experience. I assure you though that Plaza Art Nashville is not a one-star type of place given our vast assortment, dedicated staff, and myriad classes. Finally, we certainly welcome a call to the store manager, Bruce Baker, to directly address any concerns or questions that arise while shopping with us." Like I said in my introduction, it might have been poor luck. But, as anyone knows, first impressions are usually the ones that last the longest. My first impression was nothing tantamount to an experience with a company that, "...has been an integral part of the artist community in Nashville for the past 50 years and plan[s] to be there as an artist' resource for many years to come." Like most establishments, I wish the company well. I also wanted to mention that, yes, when I have a bad experience at a restaurant, shop, or anything in-between, I take to this website and write about it. An establishment can boast and brag all they want about their history, their selection, their staff, and their service. However, if my personal experience is bad, then all of the boasting becomes null and I view it as place not worth entering again.

While the store itself has just about everything you could possibly need as an artist, I've had trouble with the staff on plenty of occasions, ranging from them being lazy, unhelpful to being total assholes. If you are lucky, the one older lady manager will be working, who's always been genuinely helpful.

When you can't find what you want for your latest art project Plaza is the place to find it. Take silk screen for example. Plaza is the only place that I know of around that has it. Also if you need to pick up some supplies for say an art class Plaza seems to be a lot more affordable. So while it may not be all that convenient it is worth the drive.

It's a great place for supplies. I get most of my supplies here for myself and I have started buying supplies for my students here too. They are a great local place to get what you need. They always have something on sale or there are coupons they send you in the mail or email. So either way you are going to save money.

I found them online, shopped by phone (needed paint tube pigment specifics) - they went above and beyond, and cheerfully! They carefully packed and shipped my art supplies to Los Angeles quickly. A delightful experience, all around!

I'm no visual artist, but I accompanied a friend on a trip to Pla-Za, and was impressed by the selection of art supplies there. She had no trouble finding the silk screening paint she was looking for, and the project she was using it for turned out great. She was intrigued by the sale section, but the store was about to close, so we didn't get to check it out. What sparked me to write a review about Plaza was the service - the cashier showed interested in my friend's project, seemed to know the store's products very well, and by the time he'd checked her purchases, he was rattling off nuggets of philosophical wisdom.