Archives of the Art Dog Blog from MacPherson's

As some of you may know, Bob Fisher of University Art (and formerly of ColArt), has been in the hospital recently for a serious illness. Steve Gallisdorfer of ColArt has sent us an update on Bob’s condition –

“I spoke with Bob Fisher a bit ago, and he seems to be very stable since coming home from the hospital a full 2 weeks ago. This is especially good news I believe, as keeping him out of the emergency room and hospital has been a challenge the past couple of months. His meds seem to be doing their jobs as intended, keeping the fluids down and helping him breath better. His is able to get around a bit now (a vast improvement from just 3 weeks ago,) and even spent a few hours at the store a couple of times last week. The special chemo-drug therapy to treat the Amyloidesis is making him a bit tired, but that was to be expected. Being a cumulative kind of affect, this was really to be expected.

He is into his second month’s round on this chemo treatment, and the doctor’s won’t have any indication for a full three months if the drugs are having their intended results. Bob still has his great attitude and positive outlook, as well as his good humor, in spite of the seriousness of this disease, and the battles ahead. What he needs from us is our prayers and encouragement. So if you have a moment to drop him a note, it really makes his day.”

You can send notes or cards to his store address:
University Art
c/o Bob Fisher
2610 Marconi Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95821

Alfred Derrick formerly of Seth Cole in Monterey Park, CA  has left after many years and has recently joined So Cal Paper & Converting Company Inc.

Sandy Smith, VP and General Merchandising Manager at AC Moore has left to take a similar position at CVS Pharmacies headquarters in Rhode Island.  Sandy was not a stranger to the art materials world as prior to AC Moore, she worked for the Art Stores in Sherborn, MA.

Bruce MacDougall President of Elmer’s has announced his intention to leave the company at the end of 2008 when he will return to his homeland of Canada. Logistics head Ken Fisher will assume the role of President and CEO  effective January 1, 2009. Ken led the transformation of Elmer’s global supply chain and drove improved operational effectiveness through improved systems and processes. In related news, Elmer’s has announced it will open a West Coast Distribution Center in Redlands, CA on January 12th, 2009, to further enhance their supply chain reliability and service to customers.

Joe Scala has joined Wisconsin based Crafty Dab as National Account Manager. He will be responsible for sales in the education/craft/art markets—managing the rep network, handling key accounts and pursuing new business.  He will also provide input on marketing programs. Crafty Dab manufactures and markets a wide range of children’s paints, poster paints, window paints, board paints, face paints, and glues that are safe and 100% washable.

Dixon Ticonderoga Company announced today that Donald S. Currie, chief executive officer (CEO) has left the company to pursue other opportunities effective immediately. Currie reported to Massimo Candela, Chief Executive Officer of Dixon’s parent company, FILA S.p.A. (Milan, Italy). A search is underway for his replacement. In the meantime, Judy Alderson has returned and will be managing the day to day operation.

Karen Ancona of Punta Gorda, Florida, who retired as editor of Craft & Needlework Age (CNA) magazine passed away September 30, after a long battle with cancer. She was 63.

We have received an unprecedented number of price increases from the suppliers. As a service to our retailers, the MacPherson’s buying team  compiled a summary of all increases received so far.  This is the second round and as you can see, the increases are huge. If you are looking for item by item detail, please go to MacPhersonart.com> Online Express > Macitem Report and look in the left-hand column.

Faber            Eff 1/1/2009
Average Increase = 10%

C-Thru Ruler    Eff 1/1/2009
Average Increase = 15%

Copic            Eff 2/2/09
Average Increase = 9%

Crescent        Eff 2/15/09
Average Increase = 5%

Dixon             Eff 2/15/09
Average Increase = 10%

DocMartin/Salis        Eff 1/1/09
Average Increase = 7%

Global Art Materials     Eff 2/1/09
Average Increase = 9%

Golden Artist Colors    Eff 2/16/09
Average Increase = 9%

Logan Graphics    Eff 2/15/09
Average Increase = 19%

Lefranc & Bourgeois   Eff 2/15/09
Average Increase = 1%

Lyra   Eff 2/15/09
Average Increase = 21%

MABEF   Eff 2/15/09
Selected Items Average Increase = 8%

Martin F Weber    Eff 2/1/09
Average Increase = 12%

Montana   Eff 2/15/09
Average Increase = 11%

R.G.M.   eff 2/15/09
Average Increase = 4%

Sanford    Eff 1/1/09
Prismacolor = 8%
Sharpie = 4%
Average Increase = 8%

Sculpture House       Eff 1/1/09
Average Increase = 8%

Seth Cole        Eff 3/15/09
Average Increase = 13%

Speedball         Eff 2/1/09
Average Increase = 14%

Stabilo   Eff 2/15/09
Average Increase = 4%

Star Products    Eff 2/1/2009
Average Increase = 11%

Studio Designs    Eff 4/1/2009
Average Increase = 22%

Yes Adhesives/Gane    Eff 2/15/09
Average Increase = 25%

Moleskine style journals are still a huge category and probably always will be. At MacPherson’s we introduced Pen & Ink Sketch Fountain Pen and Journal line to spotlight the growing niche within the Moleskine category of artists writing and drawing their creative ideas. It has been a runaway success. Now we are introducing our latest line extension, this one targeted to artists who want a journal for sketches and drawings. Aptly and practically titled Sketch & Draw, the pages within these sketch books eagerly receive pen, pencil and light washes. Encourage your customers to follow their every whim – they offer ample tooth for laying down graphite, charcoal, pastel, colored pencil and ink. Each acid-free blank sketch book features an elastic closure, bookmark and expandable inner pocket.

* Assortment includes 6 portrait format books with orange accents, 6 portrait format books with green accents, and 4 landscape format books with blue accents
* Order in carton quantities (16) for the 16-Book Assortment
* Refill your assortment by ordering open stock

All the details including UPC’s, Hot Intro Pricing and more can be found at the MacPhersonArt Dealer Zone.

Check it out! Big congratulations go out to Mark Ball at Art Supply Warehouse in Westminster, CA who earlier in October held a giant 3-day sale. To keep artistic customers engaged, he sponsored a Collaborative Art Project event. The point of the project was to create a mural that would be installed on the roof of the store when complete. Here’s how the project worked:
1) The store’s manager developed the overall plan. There was a design created that had to be drawn out.
2) Each participant was given a 14×14 stretched canvas with a sketch of the design of their portion of the mural. Novices could paint a “background”, and more accomplished artists did faces and details.
3) There were 156 squares that made up the design, and each needed to be painted.
4) Anyone could participate. 100 or so were painted Friday, the balance on Saturday.
5) Paint was donated by Grumbacher (Academy Acrylic) and Sanford (Paint Markers)
6) The design has a Halloween theme with images of famous monsters of movie fame. For fun the designer added a portrait of the store’s founder Howard Demar, who is depicted in the center of the piece.
7) When completed, the pieces were assembled painstakingly high above the store on the roof for all passing motorists to enjoy.

Check out this video slide show of the making and installing of the mural:

We have just published the latest New Items Report . You can check it out by clicking on this link:
New Items Report No. 215. In the meantime, here’s a quick peek at some of the great new items.

Pastel Sets from General Pencil
Check out some great new packaging and sets from General’s featuring extra smooth, pure pigment compressed pastel sticks are ideal for fine art drawing. They can be used to create colorful, vibrant drawings or to add subtle color to charcoal or graphite drawings. They are oil-free, acid-free and can be blended with a paper wrapped stump or chamois.
4 new Pastel Set skus to choose from with amazing price points

Kids Paper Cutter & Glue Stick from 3M
Trust 3M to be innovative and this new item is a great companion tool to scissors for many paper-cutting tasks. The small handle of the Kids Paper Cutter is ergonomically designed for a child’s hand. The blade is not exposed, making it safe for a variety of arts, crafts and school projects. Sold as a separate sku with the same eye popping graphics, the new Kids Glue Sticks. The clear formula eliminates clumping and wrinkling on most papers. The clear tube allows users to see when the glue level is low, and the cap is designed for choke-resistance.

Painters Leafing Pens from Elmer’s
Just in time for the Holiday greeting card and handmade gift season, these leafing pens create dramatic highlights and accents to any art or craft project. The chisel tip can be used to create thin or thick lines on practically any surface including wood, paper, photos, plastic, metal, fabric and more. The non-toxic, acid-free ink is permanent and streak-free. Sold on a peggable card and offered in 3 metallic colors; copper, gold & platinum (silver.)

Art Sketching Oils Introductory Set from Gamblin
Looking for affordable oil painting gift sets that don’t compromise on quality? Gamblin Art Sketching Oils are made for painters that are learning or experimenting with new ideas. They are formulated from the same high-quality pigments used to make Gamblin’s Artist Grade Oil line, allowing painters to get to know the color mixing properties of pigments, but at a slightly reduced pigment load. w This introductory set includes 37ml tubes of titanium white, cadmium yellow light, cadmium red light, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue, and phthalo green. It also contains a gesso board panel, a palette knife, a paintbrush, a palette, a Navigating Color Space DVD and a color-mixing guide. Best of all the retail is only $49.95!

Pilot’s New BeGreen Precise Retractable Gel Ink Pen
Look out for more products in the “Green” category offereing consumers a responsible choice in writing instruments. This is the first gel pen that we have seen and Pilot’s BeGreen Precise Retractable Gel Ink Pen is made from 70.6% recycled material. They contain acid-free, archival, smooth-writing, smear-proof gel ink. The distinctive two-tone barrel features a ribbed grip for comfort and control. With patented precise needle point technology they allow for a fine point every time. They are retractable and refillable for continued use with Pilot G2 and Q7 refills.

Looking for a unique gift set for your store this holiday season?  Look no further because RGM has created a line of painting knives with unique shapes to enhance your customer’s creativity! The set is packaged beautifully and contains four knives featuring innovative shapes and a special water-resistant mirror blade, they are great for use with all relief pastes such as mortar, gels, modeling pastes, and gesso. The specially shaped edges can also be used when painting with acrylics and oils to obtain “relief” effects with a variety of thicknesses and layers. Supplied with high-quality bubinga wood handles. The set includes New Age Painting Knife styles 3, 4, 9 and 11. For full details click this link to the MacPhersonArt Dealer Zone. Remember, RGM is only available at MacPherson’s.

The Holidays are the photo taking and album giving season. The new Lucino is Kolo’s is latest album series that’s perfect for photos or presentations. The Lucino features an expandable post-bound construction and includes ten heavy-weight, top load pages with inserts that can accommodate up to an 8-1/2″ x 11″ sheet. It can expand up to two inches and can hold up to 50 sheets. The cover’s double-board construction provides extra durability for protection, storage and travel.

The Koloist Blog:  If you are looking for ideas to spruce up your album sales, check out the new blog created by Kolo. Its called the Koloist.com and it is terrific! They have ideas, observations and videos all somehow relating to Kolo and its products. Here is a fun video clip that was recently featured at the site.

The product that ties into this wonderful video clip is the Havana Photo Box. Inspired by the beautiful elements of classic premium cigar boxes, the Havana photo boxes provide an elegant solution for storing loose photos. Constructed of archival board with European book cloth or bonded leather facing out and lined inside with archival black book binding paper, the boxes feature a window on the side that faces front for displaying a photo. Here is the link that will take you to the Havana boxes at our website, MacPhersonart.com.

Mark Schwab will retire as chief executive from Crayola LLC at the end of January, the company said in a news release recently. He will be replaced by Mike Perry, an executive with parent company Hallmark Cards. Perry begins work Jan. 1. He plans to relocate to Crayola’s Pennsylvania headquarters from Kansas City. Schwab is leaving after nine years with Crayola crayons and 30 with Hallmark.
“It’s been an exciting and colorful experience for me at Crayola,” Schwab said in a statement. “Crayola is a great brand and a thriving company.”  With annual revenues estimated at $700 million, Crayola employs about 1,100 at its headquarters.

Jeff Wellen, Michaels’ former Senior VP heading up Strategic Planning, took some time off after leaving the company in early 2008 and is now the new SVP of Global Strategy for Fossil, Inc., watch maker and fashion accessory brand. His responsibilities include global strategy, global pricing and business reporting.

The Art Materials Consumer Trade Show at the Savannah College of Art and Design, sponsored by Binder’s Art, was a smash hit for the second year in a row. Most of the major brands were in attendance, including Canson, Sanford (Prismacolor), Holbein, ColArt and Strathmore. Students were treated to lots of samples and seminars focusing on conservation and care of artworks, as well as on materials available to artists working in the 19th and 20th centuries. There were fourteen different workshops taught by SCAD professors on Friday and Saturday that were open to the general public. These workshops covered subjects such as bookmaking, digital printing, monotype and encaustic painting.

Shown here is the artist “Dre” using Montana Gold spray paint at the Art Materials Consumer Trade Show.

Chartpak has hired Sasha DeMarino as Director of Education. Sasha will manage the national network of workshop artists and instructors for Grumbacher and Koh-I-Noor, providing personalized pull-through programs for retailers and serving as the technical advisor for published and digital media. Sasha, who has has 10+ years of art industry experience both as a buyer for a national art supply chain, most recently as a Key Account Executive for Savoir-Faire, will be invaluable to Chartpak’s marketing and educational efforts.

Second Semester is within sight and Elmer’s will be offering an outstanding lineup of best-selling products in the MacPherson’s Winter BTS Buyer’s Guide. Look for extended discounts on  key products in the following categories:

Bienfang Pads:  Raritan, Take Me Along, Nelson Bristol, Newsprint, Note Sketch and others

X-ACTO Knives and Blades:  #1 Knife, Gripster and #11 Blades

Conte Sketching and Drawing Products:  Conte Crayons and Sketching Pencils

Elmer’s Adhesives:  Glue All, School Glue

Elmer’s Project Display Boards:  1-Ply White and Colors

Of special note (excuse the pun), please be sure to promote the Note Sketch spiral sketch book. This unique item is available in 2 formats, with the pages divided either vertically or horizontally.  One half of the page is blank for sketching and the other is lined for notations. Sizes are 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ or 8-1/2″ x 11″ for the horizontal version, and 8-1/2″  x11″ for the vertical format. Note Sketch is ideal for students, teachers, artists, photographers commercial users and general consumers. Applications vary from use as a class journal to field sketching. Note Sketch will not directly compete with traditional sketch books and will deliver truly incremental sales.

Also, Elmer’s is pleased to offer an extraordinary drop ship program as part of its Winter BTS program. Simply purchase $1,500 retail value of Bienfang Fine Art pads, and you will receive extended discounts on all these products, along with the ability to include any Elmer’s product (Conte, X-ACTO, Bienfang Foam Board, Office Products, etc) with special discounts and free freight. All products should be ordered in standard cartons and will be shipped from Statesville, NC.

Please check with your MacPherson’s sales representative to take advantage of this terrific promotion.

Did you know that two STABILO Boss highlighters are sold worldwide every second?  Since its introduction to the marketplace in 1971, the Boss has become well loved favorite by many, especially in the European market where it continues to stand as the undisputed market leader. The love for Boss has spawned a variety of unique, informative, and entertaining commercials from around the world. Some of them demonstrate how Boss helps inspire our intelligence, organizational skills, coolness, love life, and even our funkiness. It might even bring inanimate objects to life! Just for fun, check out the link below to a sampling of STABILO Boss commercials from around the world, dating from 1979-1991. Inspired? Click here for the complete selection of STABILO Boss Highlighter products offered by MacPherson’s.

Our trade association, NAMTA – The International Art Materials Trade Association, is now accepting nominations for the Board of Directors. Positions that are open are two Domestic Retailers, one International Retailer, and one Manufacturer’s Rep.

Click here to review the qualifications and to download a Nomination Form. Nominations will be accepted until December 31, 2008.

Each Director serves a three-year term, commencing on the first day of the month following the conclusion of NAMTA’s International Convention & Trade Show, and is eligible to run for one additional three-year term.

Montana Cans was at it again! This time Montana Cans sponsored a muralist group from Central California called Forever Aerosol for a two day, live mural painting at the Treasure Island Music Festival on September 20th and 21st.

The Treasure Island Music Festival was held in the middle of the beautiful San Francisco Bay on Treasure Island itself. Two days were filled with arts, food, drink, and music for over 20,000 attendees. Montana Cans was there in support of the arts, and worked to promote a better understanding of aerosol art. Members of Forever Aerosol painted 5 large wooden panels over 2 days, while concert goers sat watching, basking in the gorgeous weather. Interested folks were welcomed to the Montana Cans table where they learned more about Montana Gold and could get their name drawn with Hardcore Markers by local artist Mel Waters, free! Hundreds of people from all corners of the country took Montana brochures (it lists the U.S. retailer locator at www.montana-spraypaint.com.)

The Montana Cans activities generated so much interest that at one point, a group of curious monsters came by and took over! The monsters battled the artists for the shiny Montana Gold cans, and a truce was called once the artists gave the monsters a few cans to “eat.”

We have received an unprecedented number of price increases from the suppliers. As a service to our retailers, the MacPherson’s buying team  compiled a summary of all increases received so far. If you are looking for item by item detail, please go to MacPhersonart.com > Online Express > Macitem Report and look in the left-hand column.

ColArt Effective 2/15/09
Winsor & Newton:
Stretched Canvas – avg 10%
Canvas Boards – avg 10%
Easels – 10%
Artists’ Oil Colors – 3%
Artists’ Oil Bar – 7%
Winton Oil Color – 7%
Artisan Water Mixable Oil Color – 7%
Griffin Alkyd colors – 7%
Artist Watercolors – 6%
Cotman Watercolors – 6%
Finity Artists’ Acrylics – 7%
Galeria Acrylics – 7%
Artists’ Soft Pastels – 7%
Designers Gouache – 7%
Drawing Ink – 7%
Calligraphy Ink – 6%
Mediums/Varnishes – 5%
Galeria Mediums – 7%
Drying Oils & Solvents – 5%
Gesso/Primers – 5%
Aerosols – 7%
Brushes – 7%
Papers – 7%
Artists’ Charcoal – 6%
Palettes – 7%

Liquitex:
Soft Body and Heavy Body colors – 7%
Decorative Series & Glossies – no increase
Professional Acrylic Ink – 3%
Basics Color Sets – 5%
Basics Acrylic Colors – 3-5%
Gessos – avg 5%
Mediums/Varnishes – avg 6%
Painting Knives – 5%

Reeves:
All items – avg 7%
Canvas 10%
Acrylics -10%

Derwent:
Open Stock – 10%
Sets – 7%

Color & Co:
Avg 6%

Snazzaroo:
All items – 6-7%

Aleene’s Effective 2/15/09
Avg 5%

Armadillo Effective 2/14/09
Folios – 5%
Color Shapers -5 %
ColourFix Paper-8%
Krystal Seal – 20%

Strathmore Effective 2/2/09
Cards – 7%
ATC – 4%
Paper – avg 7.5%

Canson Effective 2/9/09
CN Paper – avg 5%
VG Oils & W/C -5%
VG H2O -9%
RB Oil -5%
Artist Acrylic Color – avg 7%

Sunnyside Effective 2/15/09
All products – avg 12.5 %

ScratchArt Effective 2/15/09
All products – avg 5%

Baumgartens Effective 1/1/09
All items – avg 9.61%

Tran Products Effective 1/1/09
All items – avg 10%

Mobius & Rupert Effective 2/1/09
Most items – avg 4%

MindWare Effective 1/1/09
Stained glass coloring books – 12%

Gamblin Effective 2/15/09
All items except Sketching oils – avg 8%

Princeton Effective 2/1/09
All items – avg 5.56% (except Series 4950, 5050, 5300, 9000 and water buckets)

Pennco (PM) Effective 2/15/09
All items – avg 13.14%

Palmer Effective 2/15/09
Face paints and finger paints – avg 5.31%

Rhodia Pads Effective 1/1/09
All items – avg 5%

Sargent Effective 2/15/09
All items – avg 12.66%

Sheaffer Effective 2/15/09
All items – avg 5%

Environmental Technologies Effective 1/1/09
All items – avg 3.95%

Moo Erasers Effective now  (10/1/08)
All items – avg 14%

Cavallini Effective 2/15/09
Erasers – 4%
Wraps – 8%
Notebooks – 14%

Walter Foster Effective 1/1/09
Kits – avg 20%

Identity Group Effective 2/15/09
GeoSign – avg 8%-12%

Alumicolor Effective 2/15/09
All items – avg 11%

Badger Airbrush Effective 2/15/09
All items – avg 6%

Colorfin Effective 2/1/09
PanPastels & Softt Tools – avg 10%

Paasche Airbrush Effective 1/1/09
All items – avg 5-6%

DaVinci Brushes Effective 1/12/09
Open stock brushes – avg 6%

DaVinci Paint Effective 2/15/09
All items – avg 10%

Midwest Effective 1/1/09
All items – avg 5%

Quartet (ACCO) Effective 1/1/09
All items – avg 5%

Olfa Effective 2/1/09
All items – avg 5%

Carl Mfg Rotary Trimmers Effective 1/1/09
All items – avg 7%

Jones Palettes Effective 1/1/09
Palettes – approx 12%

Pentel Effective 2/15/09
Newer items – no price increase
Other items – avg 7%

Anderson Effective 2/15/09
Folding palettes – avg 9%
Canvas carrier – 11%
Portfolios – avg 23%
Tube wringer – 12%

Borden & Riley Effective 1/1/09
All items – avg 9%

Ampersand Effective 1/1/09
Museum & Artist panel lines – 5%

AMACO Effective 1/1/09
All items – avg 10.3%

Yasutomo Effective 2/15/09
All items – avg 5%

Mercur Effective 2/15/09
All items – avg 7%

Chroma Effective 2/15/09
All items – avg 3-4%

BestTest Effective 2/15/09
All items – avg 8-9%

Plaid Effective 2/15/09
All items – avg 5-6%

Saral Effective 2/15/09
All items – 5%

Daylight Effective 2/15/09
All items – 8-9%

Dahle Effective 2/15/09
All items – 7-22%

Staedtler Effective 2/15/09
All items except FIMO & Scales – 6-11%

UHU Glue Effective 2/15/09
All items – avg 6-7%

WD-40 Effective 1/1/09
All items – avg 6%

Great news for art supply retailers who love using the internet to find products. MacPhersonArt.com’s latest, greatest new feature is a comprehensive, remodeled search engine. We’ve been working on it for over a year, and it is far easier and quicker to locate products you’re looking for.

Next time your MacPherson’s Sales Contact visits, ask him or her to show it off! We continue to strive to be your most valuable resource. As our sales VP Steve Robinson puts it:

“I think this is really a big break through and will set us apart from just about every other industry website”!

To give you a quick overview, check out the Search Tips page:

Check out the new search feature here!
(It’s also available from www.macphersonart.com)

It has screen shots and shows valuable new features like filtering, navigation and explains the results in detail.

We encourage you to check it out. We think this will blow you away!

Here are the “Facts”:
•    The Prize winner in the Colored Pencil category of the 2008 Prismacolor Artist Competition is Jahaziel Minor. We have included an image of Jahaziel’s winning entry. Take a look at it because it is just fantastic! The other category winners and Grand Prize winner will be determined soon and posted on www.prismacolor.com. Please visit the site to look at the winners from 2008. Very soon, we hope to post the 2009 Competition rules and get it started. Many of you helped publicize the 2008 Competition and we thank all of you for helping to make the 2008 version a great success. We anticipated receiving 500 entries and eventually received over 1,000 entries. Many dealers experienced a nice boost in sales after we announced the Competition by not only publicizing the Competition but also tying in a Prismacolor Set and Open Stock promotion. The timing of the Competition makes for a nice early-in-the-year promotion
•    Starting with this edition of the Art Dog Blog, we will update you on the Prismacolor Consumer Representatives and their upcoming activities. We have two accomplished artist representatives who travel the country engaging in stimulating interest in our Prismacolor brand. Their activities generally take the form of college classroom demos. Their emphasis during 2008 has been on our Archival Markers, along with our traditional drawing products. It is our goal to publish their schedules far enough in advance that area dealers can plan promotions on Prismacolor in those areas in which Diana and Shelley will appear. Please contact Dan Canny with any questions concerning Diana’s and Shelley’s appearances.
Diana Garrett covers the US east of the Mississippi and here are some of her upcoming events:
o    Oct. 7 SAIC and Columbia College Seminar – Chicago
o    Oct 8 McHenry College and Columbia College Seminars
o    Oct. 15-17 A.I. of Washington, DC (tentative)
o    Oct 27 SAIC – Chicago

•    The new Sharpie Pen is a big hit across all sectors of our business. The consumer interest increases daily and those dealers who have the product in their stores are extremely pleased with the sales results to date
•    The 60ct. Prismacolor Pencil Set, item SA1744130 began shipping on August 1st. This set was designed for the Independent Fine Art Dealer and is not sold in chain stores! This set contains 52 different colors and extra pencils of the white, certain grays and the colorless blender. MacPherson’s plans to offer special pricing on this item, so contact your representative for the details. This set is ideal for the Independent Dealer to promote and sell to all customer groups.

Compact and portable Travel Easy Wooden Box Artist Sets are available in 4 mediums. The overall size is only 6″ x 10″ x 1-½”, but each set provides a complete set of materials in an easy to carry, quality box.

RYRSET-A7000 is an acrylic painting set with 6 Essential Paints and a taklon brush, a drawing pencil with a sharpener and eraser, a palette and 5″ x 7″ acrylic pad.
RYRSET-O7000 features 6 essential oil paints with a white bristle brush, a drawing pencil with a sharpener and eraser, 5” x 7” oil pad and an 8 well palette.
RYRSET-W700 includes 6 watercolor paints with a natural hair brush, a drawing pencil, sharpener, eraser palette and watercolor pad.
RYRSET-D7000 Sketching and Drawing set includes 12 color pencils, 2 graphite pencils, eraser and sharpener and 1 sketching pad.

All these sets have an unbelievable retail of $9.99 and a promo/SMIAB discount of 60% off! Stock up and stack up these great sets for increased holiday sales.

LAND-FILL ART; AN ARTIST RECLAMATION PROJECT

Ken Marquis of Marquis Art in Wilkes-Barre, PA has created a Global Art Project that  involves the recycling of more than 1,000 landfill automobile hubcaps by turning them into Metal Canvases and, subsequently, art. It’s a non profit effort and will, eventually, involve artists from all over the world. The project got started with local artists and is now expanding statewide to  artists from every county in Pennsylvania. The grassroots project needs your help making connections with an artist in every state as well as artists around the globe.

The 1,041 pieces of rusted metal are actually old automobile hub caps from the 1930’s through the 1970’s. Each hub cap, after being cleaned and primed, is affectionately called a “metal canvas.” Although most “metal canvases” have been transformed by the artist using oil or acrylic paint, some have been weaved on, glued or screwed or welded to, or made into fine sculpture.

Ken notes, “I have found that the fine artists I have worked with on this project do not even flinch when looking at this white round disc of metal canvas. And why should they.  Artists from the beginning of time have used cave walls (Lascaux, France and Altamira, Spain,) walls of pyramids (Egyptians,) animal skins (American Indians,) etc… as their canvas.”

Although the project is in its infancy (Ken hopes to have it completed by 2012,) it will evolve from a simple idea of taking forty-one old rusted hub caps and creating forty-one pieces of great art. The second phase has already started with the acquisition of 1,000 additional rusted hub caps which will be turned into cleaned and primed “metal canvases.” The project will continue with finding 1,000 talented artists who believe in this project.

The third phase will be publishing a book on the project showcasing all one thousand forty one (1,041) completed “metal canvases.”

Check out the website Land-Fill Art and see how you can get involved!

Our fearless Art Supply Quirky Facts reporter at large, Peter Alba, has been asking some tough questions lately. While in Kensington Art Supply (Annette Wichman) in Calgary, Alberta and Art Media (Kathy Christian) in Beaverton, he discovered that both of these retailers keep a book of crazy funny things that customers say or ask for. We thought this would be a worthy ongoing feature of the Art Dog Blog. Peter thinks that there may be others of you fearless retailers of art tools who do the same. Why not email me with your own strange tales? Until then enjoy the accounts of our two featured retailers:

Things Asked asked of Kensington Art Supply in Calgary, Alberta:

1. Do you have any metal shower curtain rings?
2. Do you have blue paint?
3. How do you varnish ketch-up?
4. Do you have any clips to keep your hair curlers in place?
5. Do you have any graphite sticks that I can paint my eyebrows with?
6. Do you have any dry ice?
7. Do you have any “pork” brushes?
8. Do you sell refills for the pens they use in outer space?
9. Do you have any books on how to draw “hot chicks?”
10. An elderly  customer had just moved to Calgary and said how happy he was to be so close to their art supply store and said, “because I am an artist.” He laughed and rambled on occasionally interjecting, “I am an artist.” As he started to finally wind down and started to leave he casually turned around and asked, “do you know where I can find a hooker………?”
11. Do you have any graph paper……………without lines?
12. A girl came into the store  looking for an 18″ ruler for a class. She came up to the counter with a 12″ ruler and asked if we could tell her how long it was…….

Things asked of Art Media in Beaverton, OR:

1. Do you carry posable chickens?
2. I need shorter brush handles on some brushes, can you cut these for me?
3. Do you carry small “shop vacs” for pastel dust?
4. Do you have like, invisible string?
5. Do you have Post-it notes in chalkboard size?
6. What do you use to blend watercolor pencils?
7. How many bunnies were injured or killed in making these brushes? (She was holding white nylon brushes…….)
8. Do you have “Paint By Number” sets without the numbers?
9. How many pencils are in a 48 color pencil set?
10. Does your “Buy 3 get 1 free” canvas sale include mat board?
11. Customer: I need to make a clay Samurai for a project
Clerk: So how can I help you?
Customer: What’s a Samurai?
12. Do you have vinyl charcoal?
13. I need a spray paint that is “acid free” and “archaic..”
14. Can you tell me the difference between hard and soft brayers?
15. How many feet in a yard…………two?
16. I am looking for a retractable X-Acto knife. I like to keep it in my purse to clean under my fingernails.

Meet Scarlet, winner of this month’s Art Dawg contest. She is a world traveler and honorary goodwill ambassador for Mo’s Art Supply & Framing in Covington, LA. In this shot she is displaying her artistic side in fashion. In future entries watch out for this lady’s penchant for fashions of the world and seasonal tributes.

Her owners are Simone and Curran Burke. Simone and Monique Perry are the owners of this jewel box of an art store. If you are ever in Covington, stop in, say hello and check out their innovations on store layout and merchandising.

AC Moore’s CEO Rick Lepley is featured in a recent post at the Philly dotcom web site. If you would like to learn more about what makes the head of this art & craft chain store tick, click on this link Rick Lepley, CEO AC Moore.

Charges have been filed in connection with the June 16 fire that destroyed a Marshall manufacturing plant. Sherri Joyce Hill, 44, of Quinlan, faces the first-degree felony charge of arson for the blaze that destroyed the Activa Products, Inc., manufacturing facility.

News Messenger file photo

Ms. Hill, formerly of Marshall, had been an employee of Activa and had resigned a short time prior to the fire, according to a press release issued late Monday by the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office. “If it was her, I pray for her,” said Frank Strauss, chief executive officer of the company. “If you had asked me who had set that fire, I could not have told you. I had no suspect.”

Retailer A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts Inc. on Wednesday named vice president Michael G. Zawoysky as chief financial officer. Zawoysky, 51, had been acting CFO since June. He will also be an executive vice president. Zawoysky has been the chain’s vice president of financial planning and analysis since March 2007.

Grimstad Comerford Group is very pleased to announce that Amanda Del Valle has joined its sales force. With 6 years experience in the art materials industry as a buyer and a bachelor’s degree in communications from Drake University, Amanda will bring an excellent perspective to our customer base. She will be covering select accounts on behalf of our manufacturers and distributors in OH, KY, IN, WI, IL and IA.

Tough news from New England:  Saul Bloom, owner of Bernard’s Art Supply in Norwood, MA has decided to close down after more that 50 years in business.

Michaels’ Chief Marketing Officer Stuart Aitken is predicting an early holiday busy season this year for its craft products, fueled in part by customers who want to stretch their holiday budget. “We’ve heard from our customers during this tough economic time and many have said they’ll take time to make personal gifts this year to make something truly special for family and friends, rather than buying high-ticket gifts.”

Stephanie Mangone, a recent graduate of University of Central Florida, joined Art & Frame of Sarasota in May of 2008 as the art department manager.