CARTER SEXTON
I've been going to this art supply store ever since I was a high school student back in the late 60's. Established in 1944, this little store in the San Fernando Valley continues to meet my needs. They carry a full range of supplies for painting, drawing, and sculpting. I recommend this store simply because they are not part of a corporate chain. Located at: 5308 Laurel Canyon Blvd. North Hollywood, CA 91607. Phone 818-763-5050. Web: www.cartersexton.com

THE ART STORE
With locations in West LA, Pasadena, Santa Monica, this place is a mecca for those seeking quality art materials at low prices. Recently purchased by Dick Blick Art Supplies, The Art Store offers everything any artist could possibly need. I usually go to the West Hollywood location at: 7301 West Beverly Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90036. Phone: (323)933-9284... but their other locations are just as good. For store locations throughout LA, California, and the rest of the US, visit: www.artstore.com

PEARL ART & CRAFT
The super store for art supplies... if you can think of it, this place most likely stocks it. Be preparred to spend some time in this huge warehouse-like establishment. For Los Angelenos, Pearl's is located at: 1250 S. La Cienega Blvd. Phone: (310) 854-4900, with a store also located in Huntington Beach (714-903-5100). Originally based in New York, this store has outlets in states across the US. I regularly haunt the LA store for oil paints, masonite and wood panels, and fine brushes.

McMANUS & MORGAN
When I was a student at the old Otis Art Institute across the street from L.A.'s famous Macarthur Park, I frequented this amazing hole in the wall store for discount art materials and rare handmade paper. Well, the store is still there and continues to offer amazing handmade papers from around the world. You'll find single sheets or large rolls of gorgeous papers perfect for drawing and printmaking. The store is located near Macarthur Park at: 2506 W. Seventh St. Phone (213)387-4433.

NOVA COLOR
Back in the early 1980's I was introduced to this small store by a painter who created large matt paintings for Hollywood films. The store was, and continues to be, one of L.A.'s best kept secrets. They sell acrylic paint, mediums, and gesso by the gallons and at terrific prices. The store is located at: 5894 Blackwelder St., Culver City. Phone (323) 870-6000

UTRECHT ART
An huge array of supplies for all art disciplines. Utrecht is known for it's own line of professional oil paints... but they also carry other national and international paint brands for oil and acrylic, as well as brushes, canvas-linen-wood panels, priming materials, drawing materials, papers, and graphic art materials. You can even order items from off their extensive website. In LA., Utrecht is located at: 11677 Santa Monica Blvd., West Los Angeles, CA 90025. Phone: (310) 478-5775. Everyone can purchase supplies from their website: www.utrechtart.com

LUCIUS HUDSON
This small company roduces custom made wood panels - with or without canvas. They also make shaped panels and canvas stretcher bars from wood or aluminum. The shop delivers locally and ships nationwide, and is located in the City of Gardena, at: 1700 West 135th. Street. Gardena, California, 90249. Phone (310) 323 8880 - Fax (310) 323 8784. Visit their website, at: www.luciushudson.com

WORLD SUPPLY
This store has a large selection of drawing, drafting, and painting materials... plus, a second floor that offers drafting tables, chairs, and easels... as well as a ground floor area for artbooks that's hard to beat. Located at 3425 W. Cahuenga Blvd. Phone (323)851-1350.

ART BOARDS - ARCHIVAL ART
I love painting on wood panels, and this shop offers custom made wood and natural fiber panels, oil primed linen-canvas and cotton canvas panels, and even watercolor paper panels. Personally, I find their maple panels the perfect ground for my oil paintings... so I highly recommend this store to other painters. You can order off their website, at: www.art-boards.com/index.htm

OTT-LITE
If you're like me, you prefer to paint by natural light... but sometimes you want to paint long after the sun goes down. Regular light bulbs cause a color shift in most paints, throwing off your palette and producing unwanted results. The Ott-lite is the perfect solution for those needing an artificial light that approximates northern daylight and allows you to see, match, and mix colors accurately. As I use an ott-lite in my studio on a daily basis - I highly recommend getting one. Find out more, including where to purchase, at: www.ott-lite.com

F.A.DANIELS
When I want a high quality postcard to promote an art exhibit, I turn to F.A. Daniels in Hollywood. They can print a two sided postcard (full color on one side - flipside black and white), at very reasonable prices. I usually design my own exhibition cards on my home computer and take them to F.A. Daniels for printing, but you can also save a trip by uploading your finished digital files to them. F.A. Daniels is located in Hollywood, at 915 N. Highland Ave. Hollywood, CA 90038. Phone (323) 871-1800. Visit their website to view the full range of services offered, including a price list: www.fadaniels.com

ARTSCANS STUDIOS, INC.
A specialty scanning service located in Culver City. They have one of the largest flatbed scanners in the country, allowing them to scan even the biggest of artworks. If you need a high quality scan of your artwork for publishing prints, reproducing your art in a magazine, or archival purposes... this is the place for you. View their website, at: www.artscans.com

COPYTRANS
A small photography studio that specializes in photographing fine art, illustrations, paintings, and even sculptures. Gregory Podolski runs the intimate shop in Culver City, and over the years he has supplied me with a number of full color negatives, or "transparencies"... which are perfect for producing prints, postcards, or archiving works. Copytrans offers an affordable solution for those who need high quality reproductions of their works. Visit the website, at: www.copytrans.com

JOSEPHINE PRESS
A traditional printmaking shop that excels in the art of creating and printing Lithographs, Etchings, Woodcuts, and other hand made prints. Master Printer John Greco owns and operates the facility, where you can join workshops, get personal instruction, rent studio time, or have the shop itself print your masterpiece. I've worked with the shop in creating several hand printed Lithographs, and I can't recommend them highly enough for their expertise and committement to excellence. The shop is located in Santa Monica, California. Visit their website, at: www.josephinepress.com