Tempe's Wet Paint Artist Supply to Close in July

By Claire Lawton Tue., May 15 2012 at 2:50 PM

More than 11 years after Tempe artist Jessica Jordan opened up Wet Paint Artist Supply on Ash Avenue, she says she's decided to change direction.

"Due to increased corporate competition and their massive buying power, and more people buying online, it has been harder and harder to maintain this small independent art supply," she wrote Tuesday afternoon on Wet Paint's Facebook page.

"I couldn't have asked for a more wonderful group of friends and time spent here at Wet Paint, but it's with a heavy heart that I have decided to shut down the business. I have been fighting this for years now; I have such a strong sense of identity associated with this place."

Location Info

Venue

Map

Wet Paint Art Supply and Gallery

806 S. Ash Ave., Tempe, AZ

Category: General

1 user reviews	Write A Review
Save to foursquare

Tags:

jessica jordan, wet paint

We Recommend

Birdcrazy1

Wow I am so sad to see this happening. I could see it coming, but with all the work Jessica's been doing I thought things were picking up. Guess its back to AZ Art Supply or Jerry's for me. Bet Utrecht is happy with their ridiculous competition and Hobby Lobby could care less.

Semisonic

Closing time...every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end...

Hock

My ex loved this store. It's too bad to see a local business go under.

Hattawaysmith

It is so very shameful News for the Artist.
http://www.zimbio.com/Anti-agi...

alehound

Don't forget to sell bulletproof vests for your graffiti customers.

Froggermario

I'm so sad to hear this! I LOVE WET PAINT! My roomie buys all his stuff there! :'(

jenna

Too bad. This store is within walking distance of ASU and is really important to art and architecture students. It will be missed.

guest

she's been fighting closure for years. it apparently wasn't important enough for the kiddies at asu to spend enough money to keep it open. good luck in the real world jenna.

AnnoyedatU

Hey guest, you're an idiot. The "kiddies" at ASU may not have represented a broad enough or deep enough customer base to profitably maintain the store - but that doesn't give you enough infomraiton to draw the conclusion that they didn't find it important. Those that frequented the store likely found it very important. The bigger issue is likely that the introduction of Hobby Lobby to the Valley (iin addition to the established Michaels, JoAnnes and Aaron Brothers large corporate chains) made it just that much more difficult for an independent business to compete. The even larger issue is that you run your mouth like a complete a**hole about things you know nothing about.

jenna

Hey, clueless guest. My ASU graduate son spent a fortune there on my dime. Do I get to be acknowledged for living in the real world now? Or are you now going to trash me for sending my son to ASU?