Impressions Newsletter January 2009

Impressions Newsletter

January 2009

Happy New Year and welcome to this first newsletter for 2009. I trust you have enjoyed a happy Christmas and are looking forward to the long hot summer that they keep promising us! At least we can continue painting whatever the weather.

New Products In-Store

Staedtler Mars Rasor Eraser Pencil

This eraser pencil has a firm almost gritty eraser at one end, which would be perfect for erasing hard to remove marks especially in hard-to-reach spots, where there is a danger of lifting out more than you want to. It also has a stiff brush at the other end. I can think of a number of applications for this tool – especially for any pastel artist. They retail at $3.15 each.

Derwent Products

We have extended our range of Derwent products to include:-

Sets of 36 & 72 Inktense Pencils

Sets of 12 & 24 Drawing Pencils

Hints & Tips DVD’s – “Using Graphitint Pencils”, “Using Watercolour and Inktense Pencils” and “Using Coloursoft Pencils” ($30.35 each)

Bound A6 and A5 Journals – These are ideal for your notes, initial sketches and other inspiring thoughts. It is the perfect travel companion.A4 & A3 Spiral bound hardcover visual diaries – the spiral binding makes these visual diaries easier to use, ideal for retaining your work, yet have a perforation line to remove pages cleanly, should you wish to do so.

Set of 24 Aquatone – Woodless watercolour pencils

Zig Water Brush – a great accompaniment to your water-soluble pencils. (See hint below)

Hint

How to Use a Water Brush

A water brush is different to other paint brushes. It consists of the head of bristles at one end, but the handle, instead of being solid, consists of a reservoir to hold water. The two parts screw together, and the clip-on cap prevents water seepage when you are not using the brush. As you use the waterbrush, water gradually moves down from the reservoir onto the bristles, so that the brush head is permanently moist. The brush can also be used to lift colour directly from a watercolour pencil or other water-soluble media – simply move the bristles against the exposed pencil, until you have picked up sufficient paint. It takes a little practise to know how much paint you have lifted.

The bristles of a waterbrush are normally just moist or damp, rather than dripping wet. The water seeps progressively from the water reservoir down into the bristles, keeping them moist.

To get more water in the waterbrush's bristles, squeeze the water reservoir. Move your hand up a little way along the brush handle, then compress with your fingers. You'll soon get used to this action when painting with the brush. How much additional water is pushed down onto the bristles depends on how hard and long you squeeze the water reservoir.

The water will drop off the brush onto your paper. To avoid puddles of water on your paper, move the brush as you squeeze the reservoir. When you're adding additional water to paint that is already on paper, be careful not to squeeze too hard or long, or you can end up with too much. If this does happen, use a corner of a clean cloth, or a dry brush, to soak up the excess water. With practice, you'll soon learn to judge how much water you're going to get.

To fill the water reservoir, hold it under a running tap or submerge it in a small container of water. It's even easy to do from a small bottle of water when you're painting outside, provided you don't mind splashing a bit.

A waterbrush is ideal for using with watercolour pans, and eliminates the need for a separate container of water. This makes it really useful for plein air painting on holiday.

You'll find that a waterbrush can be used to create a wash in the same way as with a normal watercolour brush. Just dip the brush in and out of the paint as usual. You'll find that the moisture in the waterbrush doesn't make a difference, provided you don't squeeze the water reservoir and provided you pick up fresh paint with the brush regularly.

It's when you want to paint a graded wash that the special features of a waterbrush come into play. Begin by picking up some paint and laying this down, then simply continue painting without adding fresh paint or clean water, or rinsing the brush. The water in the waterbrush gets added to the paint as you're working, gradually lightening the colour to create a graded wash.

Cleaning a waterbrush is easy and fast. Best of all, you don't need a separate container of water to do so. To clean a waterbrush, start by wiping off any excess paint on a tissue or cloth. Then squeeze the water reservoir so some water runs into the bristles. Wipe the bristles again. Repeat a couple of times and your waterbrush will be clean.

January Impressions Art Club Special

Members Save 20%

on all Waterbrushes and Water -Soluble Pencils

throughout January.

(Includes individuals and sets.)

Derwent Watercolour Pencils

Remember to show your Membership Card when purchasing to receive the special price.

Impressions 2009 Series Artist Workshops

Our 2009 series of artist workshops kicks off on Wednesday 25^th February with a four hour workshop: -

Catherine Kent will lead the day which is aimed at giving participants experience in media they may not have used before, using approaches they have may not practiced before. In this way any budding artist who would like to be creative but is unsure of where to begin can find some direction. And any experienced artist who would benefit from pushing their boundaries will also benefit. If you are interested in registering for this workshop you will have to be quick, as interest has been high. If there is sufficient interest, repeat workshops will be planned. Keep an eye on the Artist Workshop page of the Impressions website www.impressionsnelson.co.nz/impressions-art-workshops.htm for updates. Impressions Art Club Members receive advance notice of all workshops.

Exhibitions

1. David Stones is showing his recent works at his studio-gallery in Awa Awa Rd, Ruby Bay.

2. A new Gallery has opened in Golden Bay. It's called Colours of the Sea and is located inTukurua, between Takaka and Collingwood, on the same road as Paul Winspear Potter, Living Light Candles and The Golden Bay Holiday Park. It will be open most days throughout summer from 10am to 5pm and some evenings. Phone 525 9418 or 524 8128 to make sure someone is there.You will find work by Gaya Selder, Gayas Designs, jeweller; Margaret Bell, artist in Felt; Tim Eckert potter; Em Hofstede, creator of mosaic garden gems; Joanne Peter, weaver; Glenda Stone, painter; Tessa Whiteman, painter and miniaturist.Many of Gaya's pieces include the Blue Pearl, an exquisite cultured pearl found only in New Zealand. There is a wide range of work on offer to delight, amuse, and feast the eye.Phone (03) 525 9418 or home, (03) 524 8128Email: gaya@gayasdesigns.co.nz Website: www.gayasdesigns.co.nz

3. Six local emerging artists have been given the opportunity to use the gallery space at Arts Council Nelson Gallery at 203 Trafalgar St, Nelson. They will occupy the gallery for seven weeks from 12^th January to 28^th February. They will both create and display their works there, so you will have a chance to watch each artist at work. Their intention is for visitors to leave the gallery with an insight into the processes, thoughts and techniques involved in their works.The gallery will be open Monday – Friday 9.15am – 2.45pm and Saturdays 9.30am – 1.30pm. The schedule below shows which artist will be exhibiting: -

· Jan 12^th-18^th – Group Exhibition

· Jan 19^th-25^th – Lyndsay Dixon (Works with all media in rich colours expressing shape, form and light in various subjects.)

· Jan 26^th – Feb 1^st – Bob Roderique (Experiments in mixed media in a naive and contemporary style.)

· Feb 2^nd – 8^th – Catherine Kent (Contemporary abstract art. Works mainly in oils, acrylics and mixed media. Being colourist led, she relays thoughts, feelings and images into her works.)

· Feb 9^th – 15^th – Alan Roberts (Works mainly in acrylics. Extends from the extremes of cartoon pieces to the realism of Nelson’s rural scenes.)

· Feb 16^th – 22^nd – Larisse Hall (Contemporary portrait artist. Works in mixed media and is experimenting with representational works.)

· Feb 23^rd – 28^th – Jacqui Ewers (Contemporary and landscape abstract art. Working mainly in acrylics and mixed media.)

4. Motueka Art Group’s Annual Exhibition will be held from 4^th – 23^rd January, at the Chanel Arts Centre, from 10am – 4pm daily. The Motueka Art Group is an enthusiastic group of artists of all abilities. Check out the work their artists have put together recently, for this exhibition

.5. Visual Art Society Tapawera is holding their VAST Annual Exhibition 2009 from Saturday 24 January to Monday 2^nd February at Shedwood Hall, Main Rd, Tapawera. Guest Artist this year is Margaret Maloney. If you live in town, this exhibition makes a great destination for a summer’s day-out.

Featured Artist

This month we are featuring the work of local artist Dean McCrae in our window. Dean works in oils and favours painting large. Pop by and take a look.

This concludes another newsletter. Best wishes for a productive and happy month. (Let’s hope it is a sunny one!)

Glenys and the Team