SoMa Art Media Hub

So happy to have SoMa open in Gainesville.

This bright, well-​stocked artist supply shop has paints, brushes, canvas, balsa wood, protractors, sketchbooks — all the things an art student or artist needs. The owner is knowledgeable about everything. If you were ever disappointed when you went looking for serious art supplies around Gainesville, you can just come here next time!
The shop is easy to find on South Main Street, a short way south of the Civic Media Center and Citizens Co-​op store. There’s lots of FREE PARKING behind the shop. Police cars park there, so it’s probably very safe! They are even open Saturday AND Sunday until 3 p.m.

The second you walk in to SoMa Art Media Hub you know you are in a different type of art supply store from the big box stores that have no staff and what staff they have is not knowledgeable. Charley and Celino have many years of art studies and product usage, so when you ask a question they aren’t clueless. They are very supportive of the arts in our community and even offer space for artist to display their works. As a working artist that needs supplies often it is so exciting to know there is this SoMa to go to. They are well stocked with art goods and if they don’t have what you need they will order it.

SoMa is such a great addition to the art community in Gainesville! Charlie and Celino have been integral to the growth and development of the art scene in Gainesville for years. Go hang out in their beautiful store and get inspired and encouraged! They can help you find what you need for any project and will take care of you like family! Love this place!

When Central Florida Office Plus closed down, Gainesville was in dire need of an art supplies store. Magnum Wood, which once carried a good selection of drafting supplies and some art supplies, is moving away from the business and Michael’s Arts and Crafts has an utterly dismal selection of actual art supplies. Thankfully, SoMa has stepped in to fill this void.
The shop just opened for business and they are still getting a lot of their stock in, so there are some things they do not as of yet have on board, but be patient as one of the owners told me they are getting a lot more things in soon and they’ve been posting some of the new arrivals on their Facebook. What they did have when I was there however is a very impressive start: they carry a great selection of watercolor and other papers, enough of a selection of drafting supplies to meet the needs of architecture students (who really are the main target for such supplies these days) and just about everything else that artists and art students will desire. Again, if they don’t have it in yet, I feel confident they will soon. One thing that really impressed me is that they are carrying the QOR line of watercolor paints. I have been using Winsor & Newton watercolors for years but the owners assured me that QOR is even better and after buying some, I have to agree I’m impressed.
The physical space is large and their layout is such that some items and displays are stocked near the center of the showroom and some around the walls, which means no aisles and plenty of room to walk around and see everything with ease. Overall, I’m very impressed.