After having an issue with the pricing on prismacolor premier pencils, they explained the reasoning, and the staff was all very understanding of my reservations with it and were all very accommodating. Not only was I able to return the product, but they went out of their way to help me and not have me drive out of there unhappy again, and i even got a free gift bag full of supplies for my troubles. Amazing customer experience. I am very content this time around. read more

More like "just ok". The new location is much larger and better supplied than the old one, and I always stop here first for paint or supports to support local business. Honestly, though, they're often out of common colors like Alizarin Crimson or Burnt Umber in oils, while loaded with others. Brushes, too. Next to none of the synthetic bristle brushes I use, or the thinner Gessobord panels. If those items are always low in stock, doesn't it stand to reason that those are popular items? Doesn't anyone take inventory occasionally to see what's low and reorder? We're talking months on end. Maybe the lack of competition lends some complacency, but I've lived in the area since the 50s. The old Orlando Frame and Art on Mills was once a great store that Flax put out of business. The Pearl Paint store in Altamonte was the best when it first opened. The entire huge building was nothing but fine art supplies, loads of books, absolutely everything . . . up to the time they started putting in craft crap like poupourri. Art Systems sucks. C'mon, Sam Flax, keep the stuff that sells in stock. read more

Got turned on to Sam Flax a few years ago and now I'm hooked. I can't go in there and just buy one thing ( which is great for them) and I ALWAYS spend way more than I had planned. ( more kudos for them). They have a great assortment of giftie items and I love that they carry Kolo albums. Wander round, check it all out and see what you come home with! read more

What's the deal with the dude in the frame department!?? Nothing...go say hi. This place has a lot of interesting stuff. Also, a landmark of Downtownish Orlando. Anyway, people think this is "just" an art store, but this and many other art stores are also great places to stop in if you need a quick gift and can't think of anything interesting. Not sure how prices compare, but might be better to show some patronage to a non-chain. Dafe read more

Great variety of art supplies.. They have a versatile range of brushes, paints, canvases, sketching paper, overall this is the creative goodies store. Sam flax can unwhirl your creative bug just by gazing upon items. A blank brain can find ideas here such as making your own gift wrap, recycled can mirrors, feather earrings, clay scupltures, e.t.c. Basically the limit is yours to control; Sam flax has the items to do it. read more

This has got to be one of the coolest art shops ever....They offer so many unique items that also make great gifts if you're shopping for that perfect gift. Books, soaps, candle...and of course a wide variety of art supplies read more

This is THE place for the creative mind in Orlando. They have everything for every project your working on plus all that cool art stuff you have to have and didn't even know you needed! I wanted to get started with painting again and they were very knowledge and fun to talk too. They took time to discuss paint and canvas options and offered suggested for what I wanted my final product to look like. They were really helpful and the prices were reasonable. Actually, you can't put a price on the great advice they gave which you will not find at those big box stores. Pro tip: Make sure you have extra time to slowly go through the entire store. I love the papers, pens, pencils and markers. I'm super excited that you won Watermark WAVE Award for favorite framing shop! You deserve it and it's shows how open and affirming you are to LGBT and everyone in the community! read more

I love this place! I bring all of my art here for framing. Nice people and they make the best suggestions when it comes to options. Couldn't be happier with their work! read more

This super artsy hobby/framing store is a diamond in the rough. And by that I mean the stores that surround Sam Flax on Colonial are generally not all that appealing. But this vibrantly painted craft shop is awesome. The windows are covered with signage so you can't really see inside. Thus, I passed it so many times and never realized that it was right under my nose. Expect to find a scrap booker's Mecca, a plethora of paper products and types, the right tools for building your own portfolio, cool calendars, swanky greeting cards, standard art supplies, etc. And that's not even mentioning their custom framing services. It was a treat for me since I love most things creative. It's a large space with parking off to the right so it's definitely a pleasant experience all the way around. read more

Have been using Joanne fabric for my framing and my last visit was very unsuccessful. So happy to taken a chance with Sam Flax. They were professional, efficient and a much better quality and cost. So looking forward to using them again and again. read more

This store is awesome. They had several discount tables of books which I purchased 10. A few for our 11 year olds and the rest for me. They have some great posters which we will get framed. We were in town for Disney but made the trip to the store and it was totally worth going. Highly recommend and the employees were very nice. read more

Wide selection of art supplies and great selection of cool gift ideas for children and grown-ups. The staff has great customer service and you can tell that they enjoy working there. The art murals outside and amazing. read more

wow, wow, wow, wow. I had not been to this store before and went there Friday because I wanted some acrylic paints and canvas. I found what I needed and so much more. I think was surprised me was all of the unique gift items. Sam Flax is a great place to buy someone in your life a unique gift, and they have all the options for gift wrapping you would want with all of the special paper they sell. Great kids section, great easel and chair selection. I'm deducting one star because I needed help and it was hard to find someone. Once I did find someone I felt he steered me in the wrong direction as far as what brands to use. I know this because I looked on my phone in the store and I wanted basic acrylic paints and he pointed me to a more expensive brand. I ended up finding the more basic and affordable brand - hey I'm just starting out I don't need the Lexus yet I'll take they hyundai, lol. I also had decided to buy a certain easel at the same persons recommendation and while I was checking out the person there said it would be wobbly (??) That didn't make me feel good about my purchase and I went forward with it anyway and the easel is actually perfect! No wobbliness. There was a section where it looks like they host events. The calligraphy club was having an event there and it looked like people were having lots of fun. I want to go back there alone sometime and spend more time there. My husband was with me and this wasn't his bag and he was putting some "Let's go" pressure on me. Check it out! read more

I needed to get two prints framed and headed to Sam Flax. I had received the prints for Christmas and I was really procrastinating in getting them framed because although I loved the prints themselves, I really didn't care for the mat and the two prints were both odd sizes, so I was thinking it may end up costing me a lot of money to have these professionally framed. The employee at the framing counter was just awesome! He was super helpful and patient, explaining various options, colors, and techniques to frame it just right. In the end, custom-framing both of the prints was going to be a bit more pricey than I had hoped, so he explained some less expensive options, which I really appreciated. Based on his recommendation, I decided to just have the mat changed out (which he was able to do perfectly in about 10 minutes) and then purchased two pre-made frames he helped me choose. The prints turned out great in their new frames and are a wonderful addition to our walls! This was a great first experience at Sam Flax and I will definitely be back. The service was above & beyond, and the store has a wide selection of art supplies - you could easily spend an hour shopping here. If you are thinking of having anything framed, I definitely recommend Sam Flax! read more

Great customer service! I had two canvases stretched here- they look awesome and the turn around time was less than 48 hours. I went home and immediately put them on my wall. I'll be back in the future! read more

New location is much bigger and seems to be more focus on supplies rather than gifts which I like. I pretty much get all my canvas here and plan to continue. read more

Sam Flax is the only place in town now that Pearl is gone (and good riddance, I must say!). Their staff is really helpful.

Great place! Been going for years. They also do a super solid job on custom framing. And offer student discounts :) supporting us artists while in school. The times on yelp are wrong. They are only open till 7pm. read more

This is a great art store. I needed to have a photograph printed on canvas. It was taken by my son in law and I am not very familiar with all of the options and techniques. The two fellows at the print counter were FABULOUS. they spoke to him on the phone, had him format it in the best way. It is a large picture 48x32. I picked it up today and the finished product is outstanding. Many thanks to everyone at Sam Flax.....we will be back! read more

The sales staff other than the custom framing department is not interested in helping customers. They have been out of a certain color fiber-castell marker for six months and when I asked a member of the sales staff on different occasions he gives a different excuse One was they don't carry anymore, one was he got my name and number and was going to ask the buyer that was three weeks ago and nobody bothered to call me back When I asked the manager he blew me off amd gave another excuse ok. I went to the vendor's website they carry the color and the staff st the store doesn't bother to inventory the markers to order more Unfortunately this is the only "game" in town thst carries a wide selection of markers and basically the general sales staff doe not care about their customers For custom framing the sales staff is very friendly and helpful but the general store staff is unhelpful amd unfriendly If I didn't have go here to get the coloring markers I need I would not set foot in the store other than for framing read more

Love this place. In additon to huge collection of Art Supplies, they have wonderful gifts ,cards and home decoration items. Well staffed and I am always greeted and asked if I need help, usually more than once read more

It is a shame that the murals that decorate the wall on the east side of this Sam Flax location do not face East Colonial Drive. Then drivers stuck in traffic would have something beautiful to look at besides the bumper sticker on the car in front of them. Otherwise, this location is perfect when shopping in Colonialtown. And it is easy to find. Just look for the building with the red, white, and blue. And yellow too! Sam Flax has what you need for art supplies. Whether it be drawing or painting, you can find supplies for any medium. Be it watercolor, oil, acrylic, ink, or pencil. There are even supplies for drafting, children's art, wood carving, calligraphy, and sculpture. I was even able to find some tools for pottery. There are books on every art subject. Canvas, brushes, and paper for drawing and painting, easels, and many other tools for the art or craft. A framing service for your artwork is also provided. Plus there is a fine selection of pens, books, and gifts available. Know someone who loves stationary, candles, calendars, coffee mugs, or scented soaps? Sam Flax has it. And they carry gift wrap and cards, as well as the tape and scissors to wrap that gift. And you can buy yourself a nice pen set so you can sign that card! So if you need art supplies and a friend has a birthday coming up, you can kill two birds with one stone! Besides books on the subject of art, there are also several cook books available. From American classic cuisine to cooking with craft beer, or Brazilian barbecue to vegan recipes. Know someone who is a fan of either Marvel or DC Comics? There are books featuring those action heroes too. A large selection of Lampe Berger home fragrances are also available. Plus Sam Flax occasionally hold art classes. You can put your name on their e-mail list for more information. Whenever I have come in here, the employees are always friendly and helpful. Unlike another arts/crafts store that I have been too. And the aisle space makes walking around the store easy. It is not cramped like some other stores. The only problem I have is the parking. It is a small lot. I was lucky to have someone leaving as I entered. I plan on taking some art classes in the immediate future. And it is nice to have a arts supply store such as Sam Flax nearby. Especially having seen a few gift ideas for people on my Christmas list. And don't kid yourself. It will be here sooner than you think! read more

This is a truly cool art supply store, reminds me of a larger scale version of a similar store in my home town. Both the employees and customers the day I was there were friendly.I have always got good service here, regardless of which location it was. Even got a great art desk there at previous location, am still using it. Still need help on setting up an easel, though...Great place, if you are in the arts field or just looking for some cool gifts or stationery or whatnots, check it out. read more

The manager was just extremely rude to me and didn't want to even talk to me or help me out while looking for a very simple card stock. She was not in the mood I guess read more

I'd love to give Sam Flax a 2.5'er, but it's either 2 or 3 and I couldn't give them a 3 star rating with good conscious. Let's make a LONG story short by saying Sam Flax is a "Platinum Lampe Berger" retailer... That took 4 trips to and fro to get a the purchase correct. From a floor sample gone wrong to a spilled Lampe Berger oil... Let's just say it's got a lotta cool stuff butttttttttt... It's a difficult place to shop! read more

Had a couple of prints framed by Ed, who was incredibly helpful in working to find a reasonably priced option, since I had no idea what I was doing. Frames look great, and my walls look that much better! Will be back to frame the rest of my tubes full of junk. read more

So many art supplies in one place! You can find whatever you need. The right side of the store is for more serious artists' needs. The left side of the store is packed with cute gifts, notebooks, trinkets, and other unique tchotchkes. They also had a sketchbook in the front for people to leave a message/art piece for the victims of the Pulse shooting/#orlandostrong. read more

This is a unique store in Orlando which features dedicated staff and a wide variety of supplies for artists, hobbyist, stationary lovers, and design addicts. read more

They have new innovative creative products! They always have what you're looking for. Helpful friendly staff. If ever in Orlando and you're feeling artsy fartsy then come to this place! read more

Glad to see the move to the new location. Definitely more artsy perfect architecture for this kind of store. I would like to see the crazy gift section grow and knock down the prices a little bit. read more

This store is great! They feature art supplies, how-to books/videos/CDs, and framing services. they also have an amazing selection of novelties (i.e. Hello kitty to Jesus bobble heads), fancy pens, fancy stationary and scrap booking materials, and beautiful journals and drawing notebooks (including moleskins). They also feature a student/teacher discount with your ID! read more

Yay for an awesome art store that doesn't over do it and also gives you some extras! I rarely buy art supplies here but I do go here for the unique gifts they offer. It's not a big place but the service and attention to customers is on the mark. Even if you aren't artsy, you'll find something in this store that will peak your attention. Go support local businesses and get your creativity flowing!!! read more

I spend a good amount of time and money at this store. I love going there! They have a lot of fun and unique things, including a good collection of Hello Kitty items. Prices are not for the faint of heart. read more

The customer service at Sam Flax is exceptional! The people working there are extremely nice and they treat you as if you were one of your own. There was definitely a creative/artistic vibe in the store and I love how the employees actually know what they're talking about. read more

We've been going to Sam Flax since they were in the non-Mondrian building just a few blocks away. We went back recently and saw that the murals that we saw being painted on opening day have been replaced with equally awesome ones. I wish I took pictures of the old murals. As the other reviewers mentioned, this is THE place to go for creative supplies and extraordinary gifts. The prices are surprisingly reasonable for such a specialty shop, and the staff (all of them!) have always been helpful and attentive. The merchandise selection is awesome, and if you need something they don't have, they'll happily order it for you. Prepare to spend a minimum of 2 hours here. They have a wall of specialty papers and they even carry Aeron chairs! read more

I recently took the Traditional Calligraphy class at Flax with Lynda Chandler. Excellent! Lynda showed us where the calligraphy materials were located in the store and we received a sizable (30%) discount on anything we purchased. The store has an amazing selection of items - from Lampe Bergere to kids' educational art activities - of which I'd been unaware previously. Definitely a worthwhile experience all around, and recommended. read more

Previously I had good experiences shopping at Sam Flax. This last time though will be the last time I ever visit this store. I live 30 minutes away from Sam Flax , so I decided to CALL AHEAD to make sure they had the item I needed IN STOCK.(Balsa wood) The clueless cashier that answered assured me that the item was in stock. I kindly asked if she could double check since I had a long trip to make to their store. 5 minutes later she came back on the phone and let me know that she had the wood I needed and was holding it by the register. So after fighting through traffic , I finally arrived at the store and the cashier handed me the wood she was holding for me. CLEARLY LABELED BASSWOOD. Then another lady worker walked by and informed me that they were out of stock of the BALSA wood I needed. When I said "this is why I called you this morning ahead of time" her response was "No worries !" I ended up going to HOBBY LOBBY DOWN THE STREET , and found what I needed in abundance , at a better cost. Sam Flax has terrible customer service and "no worries" after they waste your time and gas. My advice , skip these clowns and go to HOBBY LOBBy read more

I have money. I am ok with paying for quality. I am not OK with this store being double the price that the NYC, NJ, and PA physical art stores charge on COPIC markers and the like. They have a decent selection but appear to be banking on being one of the only games in town and some hapless art student having to use their parent's money when they forget to order online and need it now. Seriously. It's Orlando - it should not make NYC look cheap. There's also a lot of new types of papers and sketchbooks they don't carry here that you can get in the northeast so they don't seem very innovative. I was initially impressed but after looking closer they seem to be a great museum for stuff that you should order online. read more

Great little art store, carry a variety of oils and brushes. Prices are alright too.

I had a large seating chart and sign for my wedding printed and both turned out great! Xuan Shi and Doug Lowell in the printing department were extremely helpful and friendly, and the prices were very reasonable. read more