Impressions Newsletter

January 2010

Happy New Year and welcome to the first newsletter for 2010! I hope you had a wonderful time over the Christmas break and expect many of you are basking in the summer sun enjoying some R&R with family and friends. Lewis and I are due to return from our quick trip around the South Island with family from North Queensland and we will re-open on Monday at 9am when it will be  business as usual. Thank you for all the best wishes we received for our holiday and accepting our need to close the store for the three business days involved.

After a quiet year in 2009 for Impressions artists’ workshops, we have a number on the drawing board for 2010 and as soon as plans are confirmed, we will publish details on our website http://www.impressionsnelson.co.nz/impressions-art-workshops.htm . As always, Impressions Art Club Members and applicants are given the first option on any places – so if you are keen to take advantage of classes and have not yet applied to join, it may be wise to do so. Club membership doesn’t cost anything, but brings a number of benefits.

Oil Paint Special 

 

Old Holland Oil Paints – just a reminder that we have introduced this great range of traditional oil paints.

If you buy three tubes before 31 January you will receive a free tube of Titanium White.

We have a large colour chart on an easel just inside the door of colour swatches painted with the actual paint, so you can see just how lively the colours are.

“Faking or substituting colours for the traditional ones is rather a common phenomenon nowadays. Diluting paint is mainly a matter of money. The following figures will clarify the sums of money involved. One kilogram of cobalt violet deep pigment costs approximately US$630; the same amount of cerulean blue pigment costs approximately US$420. The price, however of the commonly used fillers such as barium sulphate, chalk and aluminium hydrate are on the other hand, only US$0.75 per kilogram or there-abouts. By the addition of these fillers, the costs of paint can be radically reduced and moreover this paint needs driers, which usually make oil paintings wrinkle where they have been thickly painted...”

 Extracted from ‘On the Quality and History of Traditional Concentrated Paint” available in-store.

The colour intensity of paints is determined by the choice of pigment and the quantity of filler added to the pigment as well as the ratio of pigment to oil. Old Holland Classic Oil Colours are comprised of only high quality pure pigment and the purest virgin cold-pressed sun bleached linseed oil resulting in greater covering power, strength of colour and superb intensity

.At this stage, we hope to have a product demonstration in-store towards the end of this month. All Art Club Members who are on our email mailing list will be advised of the day and time when details are finalised.

 

 Hints

The following hints are extracted from the September 2009 issue of Leisure Painter – a useful resource magazine for artists as well as being a good summer read. The article “Summer Favourites” is written by Fiona Peart

• Make sure you paint over the masking tape so that your brushstrokes escape the painting.
• To change Burnt Sienna to a darker brown, add French Ultramarine. A dark and rich brown can be achieved by using more French Ultramarine.
• The stronger the tonal contrast, the more bright light will be suggested.

New Products

1. Picture Hooks – we have a new design of picture hook, which from personal experience, I have to say are great on gib walls. They are hook and nail in one – i.e. just hammer the hook straight into the wall and as it has a spike at the top and bottom of the hook, it is very stable. We have them bagged up for you in twos – small $1.30 and medium $1.70. Or you can by them in bags of 10.
2.  Derwent Battery Eraser – for precision control when erasing fine detail, this tool is really handy. Priced at $12.10, the pack includes 8 replacement erasers.

January Impressions Art Club Special

Save 20% on all

DAS Professional and Professional Linen

 Stretched Canvas in stock.

  Summer Exhibitions

• V.A.S.T. Art Exhibition 2010, Shedwood Hall, Main Road Tapawera from 23 January until Monday 1^st February. Open 10am to 5pm, with late night opening Saturday 23 January until 8pm. Their guest artist this year is Marc Spijkerbosch, New Zealand’s foremost trompe l’oeil (trick-the-eye) muralist (www.murals.co.nz) Marc will begin a painting exhibition on Friday night and continue on Saturday. This is a must see!
• Art Group Nelson Inc. Members stage their annual art exhibition at Queens Gardens on Saturday 16^th and Sunday 17^th January from 10am – 4pm. (The following weekend if rained off.) Paintings, wood ware and weaving will be for sale. Free admission.
• ART At Stoneridge A unique opportunity to see a wide range of visual artists at work and admire their creations while enjoying the beautiful food and drink. Bring your friends and family, interact with local artists, have a go at the maze or just enjoy a coffee and the ambience. Free entry – bring a smile. Art works for sale. Friday & Saturday 8^th and 9^th January, from 10am – 4pm each day. Stoneridge Cafe is at 298 Moutere (Inland) Highway. This is a Tasman Visual Arts Group initiative.
• Paintings by Dana Rose and Photography by Kae Bennetts will be exhibited at Refinery Artspace, 3 Halifax St in Nelson from 27 January to 20 February.
• Marilyn Andrews’ exhibition “Going Somewhere”, Hoddy Rd Gallery, Hoddy Road (Off Westdale Rd) until 31 January.
• “Nature Study 1.0” – mixed media paintings by Sally Reynolds until 23 January, at Art @ 203, 203 Trafalgar St, Nelson.

Art Tuition

• Colour Workshops – Colour MixingAlison Eades is now a registered teacher with the Michael Wilcox School of Colour and will be conducting 3 colour mixing courses – “Making Mud Work for You”  in Nelson during February and March. For details of dates, fees and materials required go to www.impressionsnelson.co.nz/directory.htm.   For further information and to register email Alison at adeades@hotmail.com .
• Impressions' 2010 Art Tuition Directory - the brochure is available in-store now, or go to our website to see the most up-to-date information at any time.
• Art Classes at Waimea College Adult and Community Education  - these classes will continue in 2010 without the subsidy previously provided. These classes still represent great value, and often provide the opportunity to attend in the evening. If you're interested, look out for the advertisements in the local press soon. Or phone the College 03 544 6099 Ext 870.

Saturday Market in Sundial Square

Many of you will have discovered that each Saturday from October until about March, a “Farmers’ Market” operates in Sundial Square. If you want to call in on us and can’t park in Sundial Square, just go into the Petrie Car Park off McGlashen Road, behind the Stables pub. There is always plenty of parking there, and being a Saturday, there are no time restrictions. 

Throughout January there will be live music at lunchtimes in Sundial Square – so if you’re calling to pick up framing or art materials, you may like to plan the visit to coincide enjoy the live entertainment.

Nelson Suter Art Society Fundraiser

With the New Year having arrived are you short of calendars? We are selling calendars on behalf of the Nelson Suter Art Society to raise funds. Featuring 12 contemporary, mostly local artists, the calendar is a great way to put some local art into your home and support many of your fellow artists. Priced at just $17, all funds go to the NSAS to support their activities.

Closing Thought

“In nature, light creates the colour. In the picture, colour creates the light”. Hans Hofmann

 My wish is for lots of sunlight and colour throughout January! Have a lovely summery month and enjoy our region's beautiful beaches, rivers and scenery.

Glenys and the Team