I discovered, though a student, an excellent source for supplies, Merri Art, The main difference is the helpfulness of the personnel. I have a link at the bottom of the page, and am starting to work it into my equipment lists that follow each class listing. I thought I would make special mention because they carry EVERYTHING on my equipment list. One stop shopping!
Do you have a special day, or moment when you knew you were going to try to become an artist?
When I think back to When did I start? I remember the year I bought a sumi ink-stone and brush after receiving a gift of Haiku poetry with Sumi-e illustrations. My five year old daughter was in kindergarten, her older brother in 2nd grade, and on the afternoons I could get my two-year old to nap, I would sit by the window and try to paint the white birches and black Japanese pines that were in our back yard.