ART SUPPLIES TIPS

I’ve been asked where I order my art supplies. Here are a few tips:

I prefer Golden’s Heavy Body Artists Acrylics, especially because they have a hand-painted sample at the top of each tube showing how transparent, transluscent, or opaque the color is.
Golden’s Paints controls their prices so they are the same everywhere. They do allow a 40% off sale by each distributor once or twice a year. Always look for these sales. (Dick Blick and Cheap Joe’s are both having this sale right now.) Golden’s has a special going right now; when you order six tubes of their paint, you will get a 5-oz. tube of Titanium White for FREE!

(No, I do not work for Golden Paints, but I would love to. lol)

I usually order online at http://www.dickblick.com. They carry the Golden Heavy Body Artist Acrylics that I love. Their store is in Atlanta (Roswell) and I’ve been there often. Their staff is very helpful online, on the phone, and in person.

You can order a Dick Blick catalog; I think this will give you a 10% discount.

Another site is http://www.cheapjoes.com. Prices for the Golden paints are the same as I have said. You should compare prices on other items.

I also buy supplies at Keeton’s in Bradenton. They carry Golden’s. In my opinion, their website is not too user friendly.

I avoid AOE in Tampa because they refused to replace defective canvas one time. The only way to send the message that a business has displeased you is to NOT give them money. (My personal little boycott.  I'm sure they haven't felt my absence, but it makes me feel better. lol)  They have somewhat of a captive audience with the university students nearby and seem a bit complacent to me.

Michael’s in Brandon carries some Golden products, but no way near the full line. I feel that they cater more to craft people than to artists.

Hope this helps.

Grace

09.20.2010

WAGS Drink 'n' Draw

The exuberant ladies who call themselves the WAGS (Wine Appreciation Girls Society) were my first Drink 'n' Draw instructor-led drawing experience.  What a fun evening!  After the "liquid courage" I described as necessary for apprehensive budding artists, we got down to business.  Check out the photos below:

Art supplies, mats and backboards, photos, handouts, apron, easel...it takes a lot of stuff to create art.

This is the artist's version of what we were going for from the photos taken of a wine bottle, a beer bottle and a wine glass.

After the sharing of appetizers, wine and quite a few laughs, the artists, with all their supplies laid out, are chomping at the bit.

Hard at work following instructions....



Here are Debbie, Linda, Chris, Theresa, Margaret and Kathy PROUDLY displaying their finished drawings.

And each lady went home with a matted drawing, their art supplies and another sheet of acid-free paper so they can create another drawing using their new techniques.

Thank you, WAGS, for such a fun evening filled with my favorite things:  laughter and art.

DRINK 'n' DRAW--First Event

A group of ladies in MiraBay asked that I do an instructor-led drawing event. 

This is the plan for a FUN evening:

The group organizer invited friends and collected the fees.  Fees included drawing materials and instruction.

I created a grayscale drawing that I thought this group would especially appreciate.  Also, I created a graphic reminder for her to send out by email or print.  I am blanking out her name; you can see the picture we will be drawing.

Each lady was asked by their hostess to bring either a bottle of wine or an appetizer.  Upon arrival at her home, they will have time to enjoy each other's company and indulge in a bit of "liquid courage" before the creative time.

My goal is that the ladies have a lot of FUN and actually learn some drawing techniques.  Each lady will take home her drawing plus her art supplies and another sheet of paper on which to create another piece of artwork.

I'll let you know how things go....