Impressions Newsletter December 2008
Impressions Newsletter
December 2008
Greetings!The Christmas holiday season is upon us again, so hopefully the weather will oblige with some summery offerings.November has been a busy month in-store with a few notable events.
Guild Commended Framer
Firstly, Lewis received notification that he had been successful and achieved a very good result in the international picture framers exam that he took recently, and so now is officially a Guild Commended Framer
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This examination is conducted by the Fine Art Trade Guild (UK) of which Impressions is a member. The qualification is gained after an extensive test. This includes presenting 3 framed artworks which have particular set requirements and which are then dismantled and inspected by the examiner; a practical test which requires the candidate to choose and complete the framing under the watchful eye of the examiner, who looks for measures taken to present the artwork well as well as to conserve the artwork while meeting high standards of craftsmanship. Finally, an extensive written test is undertaken which assesses the candidate’s knowledge and understanding of a wide range of issues when handling and framing artwork.
Currently there are only about 1000 Guild Commended Framers in the world. We are understandably proud of Lewis’ achievement and pleased that after all this time he took the opportunity to prove what we already knew – that he is a highly competent picture framer with 25 years experience and in-depth knowledge to call on.Impressions Art Club Members’ Evening
Secondly, the Impressions Art Club Member’s evening at which Barbara Franklet spoke was very well received. Unfortunately the inclement weather on the day appeared to keep many people indoors, but those who ventured out were very enthusiastic about the Barbara’s presentation. If you didn’t make it along, (and even if you did) be sure to call into her Mockingbird Studio in Church Street, Nelson and view her wonderful work.25th Anniversary Sale
Thirdly, we celebrated 25 years trading as Impressions with a Silver Anniversary 25%-off sale. Many people took the opportunity to stock up their art materials kits, so that now we are busy re-filling the shelves with supplies.Product Demonstration
Then, Catherine visited the Mapua Painting Group and demonstrated the Artisan Water-soluble Oil range of paints and mediums. We are finding this range of product is becoming increasingly popular and were happy to give the group the opportunity to explore it further. (Poor Catherine tore her calf muscle the day before – but still turned up to do the display because she didn’t want to let anyone down!)Remember, if you are part of a group and would like a product range or educational talk presented to your group regarding art and or framing, we are happy to oblige.Staffing
We regret that Catherine finishes working with us this month. Family commitments and her art practice have led her to re-examine her priorities and of course family must come first. However, I have invited Catherine to lead some of our occasional workshops in 2009, so we look forward to her continued involvement with Impressions. Those who have participated in her workshops this year will appreciate her many talents and her wonderful humour. We will certainly miss her in-store but look forward to seeing her regularly when she replenishes her own art supplies and joins us for a cup of coffee.
Nathan, who was working as our framing assistant also left us to go north at the end of October to try his hand in a new job in the Waikato, so we wish him well in his new position there.
For the moment, Lewis and I will continue to operate the business with our present staffing and assess needs in the New Year. A reality for artists this past year has been that many are having difficulty selling their work, and with a world-wide recession in place, we will sit tight, and keep an eye on things. However, although there may be fewer faces around, you can be assured of our continuing commitment to provide high quality service and good value pricing.
Christmas Gift Ideas
It’s that time, when we ask “What I can get as Christmas gifts?” Fortunately, when you have an artist on your list, you just know that there is something that they want, even if they don’t need it.
We have plenty of ideas in-store for gift-giving – and if you really don’t know what to get, we have gift vouchers which are always well received. (We regularly have customers prowling around the shelves picking up bits and pieces that they can treat themselves to as they’ve been given a gift voucher.)A little bit of research into what art media your gift recipient prefers is really helpful when you select a gift. There are certain tools that all artists can use multiples of such as brushes, drawing media, sketch paper and canvas. Or you can treat them to accessories such as brush wallets, blenders, artist bag, portfolio, easel etc.
New Products
This month we have added a few art books to our shelves, with the intention of gradually building a wider resource of art books. The titles we have to date are: -Painting Landscapes in OilsSuccessful and Creative WashesLight in PastelSimple & Creative WatercolourPainting Mood & AtmospherePerspective Depth & DistanceEncyclopaedia of Drawing Techniques Prices for these publications range from $21.20 to $54.90. (They would make excellent Christmas presents.)Hint
Brushes are the probably the number one tool for most artists. So it makes sense to put thought into your selection of brushes, and to know what brushes will achieve what effect. Good brushes make all the difference to painting. It pays to change them regularly, particularly if you paint on canvas which tends to be abrasive and chews up the bristles. The old brushes can become experimental tools to cut into to make certain effects easier to produce.Brushes come in a range of head shapes:
From left to right: Round, Script Liner, Liner, Bamboo Oriental, Flat, Short Flat (Bright), Angular Shader, Fan, Dagger, Filbert, Oval Wash, Deerfoot Stippler, Stencil, Mop, Pointed Mop
Round – This is used to paint detail, applying paint with the tip; lines can be thickened by putting pressure on the brush.
Script Liner or Rigger – The round pointed shape is used to paint details and lines. The long bristles allow a lot of paint to be loaded so that long fine, continuous lines can be painted. The thickness of the stroke can be varied by the pressure applied on the head.
Liner – The liner is used to paint very fine strokes.
Bamboo– These long round brush heads which were traditionally used for oriental painting and calligraphy are also useful for painting with inks and watercolours. They take up a high volume of fluid and the long soft hair allows for expressive application.
Flat – When using a flat brush, either the full width of the brush can be used for broad strokes or the edge to produce finer lines. They are available in flat, bright or short bright. Flats can be loaded with plenty of paint while Brights are suited to painting impasto-style and give added control. Spalters can be used in the same way.
Angular Shader - The angled head is a flat brush set at an angle, making it possible to work in small spaces either using the tip or the flat edge of the head according to the desired effect.
Fan – A fan brush is often used to blend colours. Fan shaped heads can be used wet or dry. When used dry it is valuable to paint shaded tones. When wet, this shape can be used to produce streaked effects, as in hair, grass or trees.
Dagger – The dagger is useful for painting such shapes as leaves or ribbons.
Filbert –Because the filbert brush is flat the artist has a choice of a wide stroke when it is held in one direction and a narrow stroke when it is turned to the end. As the filbert has a rounded profile, most paint strokes will start with a rounded shape. This characteristic is especially useful to those who paint leaves, flowers and other natural subjects.
Oval Wash - An oval wash brush is useful for laying-in large areas of water or colour, for wetting the surface and for absorbing excess media. The Oval Wash is good for broad, controlled washes, base coating and final finishes with a softer edge.
Deerfoot Stippler – This is a bevelled stencil shaped brush. The Deerfoot is made from natural hair which is softer than most stippling brushes. It is suited to painting textures and trees.
Stencil – The stencil brush head is used with a dabbing motion to produce shaded or fading effects. It is suited to painting foliage.
Mop – The usefulness of the mop is its rounded shape and the breadth of the brush head. Applying pressure to the brush makes it possible to vary the thickness of the brush head.
Pointed Mop – Squirrel Pointed Mop brushes are excellent for a variety of techniques anywhere from wash to detail work and are perfect for watercolours, silk paints and ink.
Christmas Holiday Trading Hours
Charlotte, Kirsty, and Lewis will be taking a short break over the holiday period, but I will be opening the shop every day except the Public Holidays and Sundays. So if you want to replenish your art supplies, do call in. Please note however, that there will be no picture framer available between New Years Eve and January 5th. On Christmas Eve and New Years Eve, the shop will close at 5pm.Exhibitions
David Stones’ 2008 students display samples of their artwork at Stones’ Studio, Awa Awa Rd until Sunday 21st December. Then David will be displaying his own works throughout the summer period.Mail Order Payments
We are happy to announce that we are now able to accept credit card transactions by phone, email or fax for orders or to pay accounts. I hope this simplifies the process of payments for many of our customers who live out of town.Best Wishes for a Happy and ‘Artful’ Holiday
Please take care of yourselves and each other throughout the holidays. Remember that stress can often be managed when we learn to say no those things that are bad for us, or are not what we enjoy or get fulfilment from – thus being creative must be one of the best antidotes for external pressures. Relax, keep things in perspective and have a wonderful holiday after the rush period has finished.
We look forward to serving you again throughout 2009.
Glenys, and the Team