Hello huge DeSerres! For 6 months I lived near you and you served me well. From membership card to inventory, you are so responsive (over the phone) and I happily buy buy buy buy, because it is very comfortable to shop here.
Here are my favourites:
- Strathmore pad of recycled paper (very smooth)
- Winsor Newton brushmarkers, pack of 12 neutrals (sooo beautiful)
- Faber Castell graphic pencils that blends with water (omg witchcraft!!)
- Prismacolor Premier fine line marker (a la carte, by size)
- cheap canvases in a pack
DeSerres has various quality brands (list above) plus student-grade brands, as well as DeSerres's own store brand. You will find everything that fit your budget.
However the Touch markers are always missing! I go to the other DeSerres to find my grey's.
Half the store is crafts and hobbies like Crayola and clay. And glitter. If you're looking for micro-glitter (like I was), they don't have it. But they do have glitter glue in pen!
There is always a shelf dedicated for Moleskine notebooks. But most are lined agenda's and day planners. If you're looking for really quality paper, it would be Papeterie Nota Bene near Place-des-Arts station.