In 1944, Carter Sexton opened his store. He initially did business out of his North Hollywood garage. However, when Mr. Sexton sold a set of Mayline flat files to the movie studios in Burbank, that all changed. When the delivery driver brought the files to Mr. Sexton’s garage-run store, he refused to release the files. Needing a storefront to accept this delivery, Mr. Sexton quickly leased a building on Laurel Canyon Boulevard.
Unique Background
In time, Carter would purchase that building for his family business that is still going strong after six decades. Carter Sexton Artist Materials is both a contemporary artist supplies shop, as well as an official historical site of Los Angeles County. Having opened 15 years before the first Grammy Awards and five years before the first Emmy ceremony, this shop has been visited by many Hollywood greats long before they were well-known, as well as legends like Marlon Brando pop in to browse at the peak of their fame. Local artists Andrew Loomis and Pruitt Carter traded their remarkable early illustrations for art supplies at the store—their works adorning the walls until 2009 when were sold by Heritage Horse Auctions. It has seen the elections of 13 US presidents, three recessions, two writer’s strikes, and countless Hollywood romances, successes, scandals, and revivals.
The Sexton Family
While Carter Sexton worked to secure business from the local movie studios, his wife Charlotte ran the store. The couple had three children, Bill, Diane, and Helen. While all of the children assisted in the store, it was Diane who took to the supplies. She became an artist, working in various genres until she passed away in 2007.
Carter and Charlotte retired in 1975, selling their store to Diane and her husband Neil Green who had been managing the daily operations for some time. Though the company had its fair share of business prior to this transition, it was Neil’s business sense and Diane’s artistic abilities that really put the shop on the map—the business literally doubled within their first few years of ownership. In 1971, they welcomed a baby daughter Kelly into the family, one who would become the subject of many of Diane’s paintings.
The Hauser Family
In 1983, Neil and Diane hired Chris Hauser to help the manager in backroom with shipping and receiving—with the promise to teach him how to run a small business. Within two years, Chris was promoted to store manager. Over the next 20 years, Neil thoroughly followed through with his promise, teaching Chris every detail large and small about running a business and keeping customers happy.
In 1994, Diane hired a Russian girl named Jenia Mikailova to assist in the store. Jenia was a theater actress from Moscow. Shortly after, Chris and Jenia became an item. One year later, they were married. In 2008, following his wife’s passing, Neil decided to retire. At that time, his daughter Kelly sold the store to Chris and Jenia. The couple runs the store and continue to enjoy visiting with and tending to customers each day.
