Archives of the Art Dog Blog from MacPherson's

Stillman & Birn Launches New Line of Premium Sketchbooks

Introducing Stillman & Birn, a new line of premium sketchbooks based a simple premise: When it comes to sketchbooks, paper matters!  These new sketchbooks are made with high performance archival papers and are available in both hardbound and wirebound formats.

The Stillman & Birn sketchbook program is a unique system, offering the artist a choice of paper weights, shades and surfaces suitable for both dry and wet media.

Shades
• Natural White
• Ivory

Weights
• Heavy Weight (100 lb. – 150 gsm)
• Extra Heavy Weight (180 lb. – 270 gsm)

Surfaces
• Vellum – distinctive tooth, suitable for all dry media and will accept light washes (paper has both internal and surface sizing)
• Rough – substantial tooth & enhanced wet and tear strength suitable for multi-media renderings
• Plate – finely calendered, suitable for line drawings with pen and ink without feathering

Bound in the United States, Stillman & Birn sketchbooks are crafted with archival-grade drawing paper that is neutral pH, lignin and chloride free and is milled from pulp with an alpha cellulose content that exceeds 87%.

Each grade of paper has superb erasure characteristics, compatible with precision erasing techniques. Both the hardbound and wirebound editions are made with extra heavy weight binders board that is super tough and resistant to warpage.

There are five series in the Stillman & Birn sketchbook program:

Alpha Series
Heavy Weight – Vellum Surface – Natural White
100 lb. – 150 gsm
Hardbound and Wirebound

Beta Series
Extra Heavy Weight – Rough Surface – Natural White
180 lb. – 270 gsm
Wirebound only

Gamma Series
Heavy Weight – Vellum Surface – Ivory
100 lb. – 150 gsm
Hardbound and Wirebound

Delta Series
Extra Heavy Weight – Rough Surface – Ivory
180 lb. – 270 gsm
Wirebound only

Epsilon Series
Heavy Weight – Plate Surface – Natural White
100 lb. – 150 gsm
Hardbound and Wirebound

The Stillman & Birn sketchbook concept embraces the importance which the sketchbook has had throughout art history. Leonardo da Vinci treasured his sketchbooks…so has every artist from Michelangelo to Picasso and beyond. Why is the sketchbook so important? Because in the studio as well as in the field, the sketchbook is the artist’s companion, a platform for invention, recording ideas and documenting the evolution of a work of art from its earliest conception to its final rendering. In this way the sketchbook is a permanent record of the artist’s thinking.

Ask any group of artists what they do with their filled sketchbooks. Few will say that they dispose of them. On the contrary, just like Michelangelo, today’s artists maintain a life-long connection to them. The Stillman & Birn sketchbook program recognizes the special relationship artists have with their sketchbooks and aspires to offer a premium product range that is worthy of that relationship.

Stillman & Birn is a brand associated with an earlier era of the art materials industry in the United States.  The original company was founded in 1958 by Philip Birn (1911 – 2004). Birn was a highly admired Viennese bookbinder, who brought his old world craftsmanship to a small plant in the SoHo section of Manhattan. SoHo is now filled with trendy shops, restaurants and residential lofts. But in the 1950’s SoHo was a center of light industry. From his plant at 270 Lafayette Street, Philip Birn pioneered the concept of the black hardbound sketchbook, which he marketed throughout North America, Europe and Australia. The new Stillman & Birn organization is led by Birn’s nephew, Michael Kalman and his partner Oscar Hernandez, both formerly with Cachet and both with many years of expertise in sketchbook manufacturing.

Shipping January, 2011

For further information contact Michael Kalman, 201-871-6788, mkalman@stillmanandbirn.com

Patrick Brennan joins ColArt, Americas after the 1st of the year as Vice President of Sales. Patrick most recently held the sales leadership position at toymaker Playmobil USA and he replaces Charlie Newcomer.

Congratulations to Jerry’s Artist Outlet on celebrating its 10th year in business. Owners Allen and Bonnie Shefts were recently written up in the Baristanet Blog and the review was glowing. “Jerry’s stands somewhere in between the big box store behemoths and the intimate boutique art supply store, Flannery’s Corner, which closed in 2006. It’s big enough to have a huge variety of items in stock, but it’s staffed by real artists, who can tell you why a Kolinsky watercolor brush sells, discounted, for $286.” Check out the photo slide show too: Jerrys Artist Outlet-10th Anniversary

Angelina Jolie and two of her children were spotted by the paparazzi this month in New York City shopping for holiday gifts and art supplies at what is becoming their favorite store, Lee’s Art Shop!

Crescent Cardboard is shaking things up. Kate McCarthy is moving up to be the President from her role as Senior VP of Marketing. Kate has 25 years of experience in the industry and great marketing expertise. Steve Kosmalski and Scott O’Shea both left the company on November 22nd.

Merry Christmas you old Montana Gold! This festive holiday season window display is courtesy of Rileystreet in San Rafael, CA.

This is a month for celebrities showing off their artistic leanings. In this shot Black-Eyed Peas vocalist Fergie using a can of Montana Gold to express herself!

In Memory of John Ward

As many of you know, the art supply industry lost one of its friends and members this year, in the passing of John Michael Ward, owner of National Art Supply in New Orleans LA. John, only 45 years old, was killed in a tragic accident on February 14, 2010, shortly after attending one of the many traditional New Orleans events that he loved, the Marti Gras Endymion parade.

John and his wife Nat purchased National Art & Hobby from John’s uncle Ben in 1995 and have worked there with pride and passion for the arts ever since. John was a lover and supporter of the arts.

John was a warm hearted, unassuming and generous gentleman who put others first and was always giving of himself to everyone around him. In so many ways he embodied the quirky spirit and generosity of his beloved New Orleans. He had a wonderful sense of humor and never missed an opportunity to share a good laugh. John’s employees loved and respected him because of his kindness. His customers could always count on him when they needed a special favor, a discount, an after hours delivery or just someone to chat with.

John was an integral part of his community, Uptown New Orleans, and enjoyed giving back. In October of 2009 he held his first ever “Artoberfest”, at which he arranged a Saturday event with music, food, beverages and art supply demonstrations. He donated the profits from the event to the Ursuline Academy, the school that his wife Nat graduated from and where his 2 daughters, Charlotte and Isabelle attend.

The NAMTA Foundation set up a fund to help John’s family. He was always the first person to donate to someone in need. With the challenge of holding the National Art and her own families together, your support is critical now more than ever.

As a NAMTA board member and a long-time friend and colleague, I appeal to the caring people in the creative industry that he loved so much to Click here and generously donate to the fund to help Nat, Charlotte and Isabelle.

Frank Stapleton
MacPherson’s – An Employee Owned Company

Visit GOLDEN at Creativeworld 2011, Hall 4.2, Stand C59
For more than 10 years, GOLDEN has been exhibiting at Paperworld (now Creativeworld), the leading international trade fair for paper, office supplies, stationery and art supplies.  This year, the show will be from January 29 – February 1, 2011.  GOLDEN folks from the US will be present in the booth, so please stop by and visit.

2011 Marketing Support Funds & Pricing Changes
The marketing promotional funds are recalculated at the end of each calendar year.  The new amounts will go into effect no later than February 1, 2011.  Please contact your MacPherson’s sales representative with any questions you may have regarding support dollars.

In addition, 2011 price change documentation has been sent out, so if you haven’t received it yet, you should be getting it soon. Of course you can always download the new prices at MacPhersonArt.com>> Online Express >>Upcoming Price Changes

Winter B-T-S Reminder
The winter B-T-S advertised promotional dates are 1/2/11 – 2/10/11.  Please check with your MacPherson’s sales representative for details regarding GOLDEN offerings in 2011.

2010 GOLDEN Holiday Schedule
The GOLDEN facility will be closed the following days to celebrate the holiday season:
• Dec. 23 & 24
• Dec. 30 & 31
The last day of shipping for 2010 is December 29.

New Video: Image Transfers in Just Minutes

In this video, Working Artist Melanie Matthews shows how to transfer images or any other printout to artwork in just minutes using Fluid Matte Medium.

The link below will take you to the online GOLDEN Video Library.  Once there, you will want to look for the video titled, “Immediate Image Transfer with Melanie Matthews.”

If you have any questions about any of the above information, contact your MacPherson’s sales representative.

This coming year’s show plans have come together and it looks like it will be an amazing opportunity for art supply industry professionals to take their businesses to the next level.

Show schedule, travel, hotel and sign up information are all available at the NAMTA Website. Sign up now to add the NAMTA Show 2011 to your own personal recovery plan!

Urban Art Legend Kenny Scharf creates the Houston & Bowery Mural 2010 using Montana Gold

Tony Goldman and The Hole are excited to announce a new incarnation of the Bowery mural wall at Houston and Bowery by downtown legend Kenny Scharf. This is the fifth project Tony has presented on this historic wall: a recreation of Keith Haring’s famous 1982 Bowery mural kicked off the mural series Summer 2008, followed by the Brazilian twin-brother duo Os Gemeos, street artist Shepard Fairey, and most recently by Barry McGee’s extreme tagging wall.

Kenny Scharf is a NYC / LA based artist who is known for paintings, performance and installation that incorporate pop and comic imagery in evocative and nuanced reconfigurations. His black light disco installations (“Cosmic Caverns”) have been exhibited in the 1985 Whitney Biennial, numerous museums around the world, and most recently his Brooklyn Basement where he had fantastic all night parties from 2009-2010. He made a collaborative version of this disco with Dearraindrop at The Hole this November 2010. He also contributed a 25-foot mural at Wynwood Walls, Tony Goldman’s expansive outdoor mural museum in Wynwood Miami, where this December he debuted a customized black light Cosmic airstream sculpture.

Kenny is a master of spray can customization. From refrigerators to Air Stream trailers, Kenny customizes everyday appliances and objects with his signature comic exuberance to emphasize the possibilities all around us for energy and new life. This mural was made with over 200 colorful cans over a five-day period. Kenny has a special relationship to this wall: he was a collaborator and very close friend of the late Keith Haring, the artist who began the tradition of murals appearing on this wall when he executed his fantastic work there in 1982. Right after the Keith mural, Kenny and a team of Fun Gallery artists (including Keith, LA2, Crane, ON2 and others) made a mural of characters and graffiti that ran for a few months that year.

The property on which the mural is located has been owned by Goldman Properties since 1984. Tony Goldman’s goal is to use this wall to present the top contemporary artists from around the world with an emphasis on artists who work on the streets. This mural is co-presented by Paul Kasmin Gallery who represents the artist. The paint was generously provided by Montana and 33 Third.

Check out the whole story at Bowery Mural 2010: Kenny Scharf

For 2011, Logan Graphic Products, Inc. is replacing its #301-S Compact with two new model Compact mat cutters.

LO301-1 Compact Classic
Features an improved 32″ board capacity, improved “pivot and push” bevel cutter and #500 Mat Knife for downsizing mat board. Also includes instructional DVD and extra blades. MSRP $119.95. Ships from MacPherson’s approximately January 15, 2011.

LO350-1 Compact Elite
Features an improved 32” board capacity, improved “pivot and push” bevel cutter and improved #701-1 Straight Cutter Elite for downsizing mat board. Additional features include a squaring bar to hold mats square and a removable scaled measuring bar for quick and accurate downsizing. Also includes instructional DVD and extra blades. MSRP $159.95. Ships from MacPherson’s approximately January 15, 2011.

For more info, contact your MacPherson’s sales representative or Logan at 800-331-6232.

Check out our great deals for Winter Back-to-School in MacPherson’s WBTS Buyers Guide, effective now through 2-12-2011.

Grumbacher Color Assortments at 50/35% – These assortments are drop-shipped, free freight, with the beautiful Grumbacher plexiglass racks.

Grumbacher Brush Assortments at 70/25% – These brush assortments are drop-shipped, free freight. With our new, beautiful brush racks.

Grumbacher Open Stock Tubes at 50/25% – All color lines including Academy Acrylic, Academy Oil, Academy Watercolor, Finest Watercolor and Pre-tested Oils.

Grumbacher Open Stock Brushes and Brush Sets at 50/50% – All Grumbacher brushes and brush sets are included.

Grumbacher Color Sets at 50/15% – All Basic and Master, Everyday and Watercolor Pan sets are included.

Grumbacher Charcoal at 50/15% – All Grumbacher Vine Charcoal including the new, Jumbo stick V9 are included. Grumbacher vine charcoal, proudly made in the USA, is a staple for any artist. With its rich, velvety texture our charcoal produces a beautiful range of velvety grays from dark, soft charcoal, to light, hard charcoal. Available in 4 grades: Extra soft, soft, medium and hard. Our new V9 jumbo stick charcoal measures approximately ½” X 6” and comes beautifully packaged in single pack box or sleek self-liquidating display of 25 individually wrapped pieces.

Grumbacher Palette Knives at 50/15% – These “robust” plastic painting knives are available in 6 styles and a set of 6. They are a great price, and have been selling well.

Schmincke Mussini and Norma Oil Assortments at 50/25% – These outstanding oil colors are offered at a great discount, including free freight and free rack.

Schmincke Mussini Open Stock Oil Colors at 50/15% – A great price on this premier line of oil colors.

Clearprint Paper at 50/25% – All Clearpint pads, rolls and sheets at this extreme discount.

Pickett and Rapidesign Template Assortments at 60% – Our three template assortments are offered at a great price, including free freight and free rack.

Pickett and Rapidesign Template Open Stock at 50/15% – All Pickett and Rapidesign templates are on sale for this promo.

Ad Marker Assortments at 60/20% – All Ad Marker assortments, including the new Fine Point Ad Marker, are on sale including free freight and free rack.

Ad Marker Sets and Open Stock at 50/25% – All Ad Marker Sets and Open Stock are included.

Higgins Ink Assortments at 50/25% – Our two, new, beautiful Higgins assortments are drop-shipped, including free freight and free rack.

Higgins Ink Open Stock at 60% – All Higgins inks are included in this promo.

Pelikan Watercolor Pan Sets at 50/15% – All 5 sets in Transparent and Opaque watercolors are on promo.

Koh-I-noor Graphite Pencil Assortment at 50/30% – This complete graphite pencil center is at a great price and includes free freight and free rack.

Koh-I-noor Triocolor Pencil Assortment at 60% – These unique large artist grade colored pencils come in 24 colors. Includes free freight and free rack.

Koh-I-noor Pencil Tin Sets at 50/15% – These beautiful quality sets include Mondeluz (Watercolor), Polycolor (Dry color), Triocolor (X-large dry color) and graphite.

Koh-I-noor Gioconda Pastel Pencil Tin Sets at 50/25% – These beautiful pastel pencils are unsurpassed for quality.

Koh-I-noor Toison D’or Graphite Pencils at 60/15% – This beautiful, complete range of drawing pencils is offered at a great price.

Koh-I-noor Art Sets at 50/15%– These beautiful tins are offered in Mondeluz (Watercolor), Polycolor (Dry color) and Gioconda (Pastel and Chalk) versions.

Koh-I-noor Extra Soft Pastel Sets at 50/15% – These extra soft pastels are consistent from color to color. Available in sets of 12 and 24.

Koh-I-noor Carded Graphite and Artist Blocks at 50/15% – Available in Triograph, Graphite, Sepia and Charcoal.

Koh-I-noor Rapidograph 7 Pen Set at 50/30/5% – The standard of the industry for back to school at a great price.

Koh-I-noor Rapidograph Technical Pens and Points at 50/15% – All Rapidograph Technical Pens and Points are included in the promo.

Koh-I-noor Mephisto Mechanical Pencils at 50/15% – These attractive pencils are offered in 5mm and 7mm. Also included are the lead (5mm and 7mm) and eraser refills.

Koh-I-noor Open Stock Pencils at 50/15% – Included are Triocolor (X-large colored pencils) and Gioconda Aquarelle, Graphite and Chalk Pencils.

Koh-I-noor Rapidoeze Pen Cleaner at 50/15% – All sizes are included.

Koh-I-noor Dry Cleaning Pad at 50/15% – This is a staple item for back to school.

Koh-I-noor Magnum Black Star Pencil at 50/15% – The Magnum Black Star is a 9mm, soft graphite pencil, perfect for sketching, drawing or illustrating.

Attention Retailers – Are you interested in playing DVD loops for your customers?  Contact Chroma Inc. at 800-257-8278 or by emailing  cweber@chromaonline.com to receive your FREE DVD on Atelier Interactive Professional Artist Acrylic.  The DVD includes basic information on acrylics, painting grounds, blending, and varnishing.

Walter Foster has developed an iPad app to teach people how to draw.  The hope is that this application will get people interested in learning more about their artistic abilities and the result will be for them to visit an art retailer for more instruction and real art materials.  It’s quite a unique application and one we hope will get people thinking about their creativity.

Here is the link to an article about the app:
Orange County Register Article on Foster iPad App

Check it out!

STRATHMORE INTRODUCES
NEW KIDS SERIES® NATURAL KRAFT PAPER

Strathmore Artist Papers™ introduces two new 100% recycled Natural Kraft Paper products that offer green options moms and kids will appreciate. Ideal for drawing and craft projects, the natural brown paper is offered in a 30-sheet pad and 100-sheet pack. Value price points are designed to encourage impulse purchases. Pad covers feature artwork created with Natural Kraft paper and consumer-friendly trilingual packaging.

Contact your MacPherson’s sales representative for all the ordering details.

Sharpie is introducing five new colors in the Fine and Ultra Fine tips and MacPherson’s will be stocking the sets, which will replace the Caribbean color sets, sometime in February 2011. The new colors called 80’s Glam are:
• Legwarmer Orange
• Jellie Pink
• Valley Girl Violet
• Argyle Green
• Banana Clip Yellow

The Design Brand name will get phased out as we move through 2011. Your MacPherson’s representative has specific SKU information. Please feel free to contact Dan Canny with any questions or concerns as well as your MacPherson’s representative. You can email Dan at dan.canny@sanford.com. Below is a summary regarding what will occur with the remaining Design SKU’s. One of three things will happen with the existing Design products; they will transition over to Prismacolor Scholar, they will transition over to Prismacolor Premier or they will be discontinued by the end of 2011. Again, for specific SKU information, please contact either Dan Canny or your MacPherson’s representative.
• The Design brand will disappear over the next year
• Open Stock Graphite Pencils will be discontinued by 12/31/2011
• Five 2/cd plus the 2052 drawing set will transition to Prismacolor Scholar during 2011
• The Ebony Pencil, design Art Gum, Kneaded, Magic Rub and Design 2000 Plastic Eraser all transition to Prismacolor Brand products during 2011
• All transitioned products will be labeled “formerly Design” in order to ensure consumer recognition and continuity

The Prismacolor consumer rebate for Holiday and 2nd Semester BTS is still in effect for eligible purchases made by January 15, 2011. There is still plenty of time to tell your customers about the rebate and generate incremental sales as we close out 2010 and head in to 2011. Remember, all Prismacolor branded products purchased will help your customer reach the dollar thresholds shown below.
• Buy $50 and get a $10 rebate
• Buy $100 and get a $20 rebate
• Buy $200 and get a $40 rebate
• Buy $300 and get a $70 rebate

Here’s the new Art Alternatives YouTube Channel – it’s just been launched with a cool how-to video on the ever mysterious, but oh so useful and safe mouth atomizer. Legendary John K. of MacPherson’s customer service is the star of this show!

Watch for  more videos coming soon at Art Alternatives Youtube Channel

New Bamboo and Black Board Artist Trading Cards complement the complete line of high quality papers offered in the Strathmore® Artist Trading Card series. Tree-friendly Bamboo Artist Trading Cards (ATC’s) are made with 90% bamboo and 10% cotton to create a unique textured surface that’s great for use with paints, screen and block prints, stamps and collage. Black Board ATC’s are made with 100% cotton fiber so they are perfect for art, collage and mounting finished works of art. Both are acid free to promote longer life for artwork.

Cut in the official, trading-ready ATC size gives artists all the performance benefits of our high quality paper now with precut convenience.

Contact your Strathmore account manager or your MacPherson’s rep for more information.

Help the NAMTA Foundation Receive $250,000 Grant from Pepsi

The NAMTA Foundation is in the running to receive a $250,000 grant from Pepsi for its program to provide grants to teachers to bring art into their classrooms. Votes from the public will determine the winner!

Voting opens on Dec. 1 and runs throughout the month of December. You can vote once a day via three different voting methods.

Vote Three Ways Every Day

Remember to vote THREE times each day – one vote from each of these methods:

1. Visit Pepsi sign-up and sign up for an account on the Pepsi site. They will ask your name, email address and to create your own password. That’s it! Then you’re all signed up to vote.

2. Visit Pepsi Facebook Sign-up and choose to sign in with your Facebook account. If you already have a Facebook account, just click the button and agree to the terms and you’re all ready to go!

3. Text the number 104735 to Pepsi (73774). That’s it!

Why Should I Vote?

* To support the Visual Arts – YOUR INDUSTRY

* To help provide teachers with the art supplies and knowledge they need to teach art in their classrooms

* It won’t cost you ANYTHING!

* It only takes a minute

Spread the Word

Use our Pepsi Refresh Toolkit on the NAMTA Foundation website to download flyers, press releases and tips for spreading the word among your employees, friends and anyone else who cares about the visual arts.