New shop opening on The Alameda in San Jose will carry art supplies

Originally posted by the San Jose Mercury News July 28, 2011.

By Mary Gottschalk

For Sean Boyles and Roan Victor their new artist-owned art store is a matter of more options.

“We thought about what San Jose really needs in terms of art, and they’re lacking an arts supply store,” says Boyles, 33.

“There’s only one other one and if they don’t have what you want or need, you have to go to Palo Alto or Berkeley or buy online.”

Victor, 30, adds, “We could use more options in San Jose.”

The two are co-owners of the soon-to-open art supply and merchandise store they’ve named The Arsenal at 1202 The Alameda, at Race Street.

Boyles earned degrees at California College of the Arts, Oakland, and Mills College, and in addition to his art, he now teaches drawing at Santa Clara University.

Victor is completing her BFA in painting at San Jose State University and also works as an artist.

“We’re kind of nerds when it comes to the types of brushes, pens, paints or even the paper we use in our sketchbooks. We’re very interested in medium materials,” Victor says.

They plan to carry a wide range of materials used in painting, printmaking and sculpture, although they won’t carry clay.

“There’s already a clay maker in San Jose,” Boyles says.

“As far as brands, we’re carrying a student grade, a middle grade and a professional grade. There will be a low-, middle- and high-end price range. We’re trying to get the best quality with the best price.”

They picked their store name, they say, because an artist needs an arsenal of tools and supplies.In addition to selling supplies, Boyles and Victor plan to offer classes for children and workshops for adults.

“Sometimes there’s a mystery of what this tube of paint will do or why is this paint that much and that paint is this much. We want to help out and demonstrate,” Boyles says.

Early workshops will be in silk screening, mixed media and why some artists prefer gouache to watercolor.

“We plan to have local professional artists come in and demonstrate,” Boyles says.

The new store will have a definite visual impact on The Alameda.

Unlike its predecessor in that space, Bee’s Photography, Boyles and Victor plan to use the doors on The Alameda as an entry and turn the large front windows into installation spaces for artists.

“We’re not really a gallery, but we are going to invite different professional artists to do installations, probably changing every three months,” Boyles says.

There also plan to do a limited edition T-shirt for each featured artist.

While both Boyles and Victor have experience working in retail, including Nordstrom, this is their first time as owners.

The two say they decided on The Alameda as a location because of existing retailers and their clientele.

“It’s a very appealing neighborhood,” Victor says, citing other retailers The Usuals and Black and Brown, 5 Color Cowboy salon, Metamorphic Tattoo and the artists at Alameda ArtWorks.

Boyles and Victor hope to open The Arsenal by the end of July, but won’t hold their grand opening until mid-September.

“We want to make sure things are going smoothly before we hold the grand opening,” Victor says.

The Arsenal, 1202 The Alameda, www.thearsenalsj.com.