Archives of the Art Dog Blog from MacPherson's

Irving V. “Top” Augur passed away on February 3rd at the age of 87 in Palm Desert, CA. Top was a visionary in the art & craft industry. He was the leader and guiding spirit of Southern California’s Leisure Crafts which began its life under the company name MacPherson’s Stationers. He founded VanAken Clay, makers of Jaz Tempera and VanAken Modeling Clays. Top retired when Leisure Crafts was sold to ArtCraft in 1994. He was a world traveler and bon vivant. Top is survived by his children Roger, Maggie, Robert and Carol. A memorial service celebrating Top’s life will be  held at  11:00am on  Friday, February 18th at Saint Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Palm Desert. Directions can be found at St. Margaret’s Website

HobbyCraft, England’s largest craft chain, announced its CEO, Chris Crombie has been replaced by Catriona Marshall. HobbyCraft’s parent company is Bridgepoint Capital. Chris started with the company when it opened its first store in 1995.

Sean Malamud, inventor of the Canvas Shlepper, reports that his new baby girl Eliyah Malamud was born on 1/17/2011 at 8:23pm.

M.A.B.E.F., the world’s premier classic hardwood easel maker, has announced its U.S.A. sales champions for 2010. Congratulations to all! Set your own record this year. Ask your MacPherson’s sales contact for all the details on this great program.

Place    Retailer Name                     Associate Name
1           Art Essentials                       Kurtis Hughes
1           Hyatt’s – Buffalo                   Jesse Lunn
2           Binders – Charlotte               Laura Brown
2           Binders – Charlotte               Anthony Ochoa
2           University Art – San Jose       Harold Guillen
3           Binders – Charlotte               Mack Harrison
3           Sam Flax – Atlanta                Sharry Udo
3           Commercial Art – Syracuse   Serenity Kucharski
3           Binders – Atlanta                   Alan Cook

Big Savings on all Winsor & Newton Water Colour products!
CAP dealers get +10% Off on:
· Artists’ Water Colour Large Pans & Tubes* (all sizes)
· Artists’ WC Brushes (Sable)
*(asst’s and open-stock)

All Cotman Water Colours*, Tubes, Sets, Brushes, and Paper: +10% Off!
· CAPS get +15%
*(asst’s and open-stock)

with…2 Consumer Offers!
1. Buy $45* in Artist WC,  gets a FREE AWC Sable Brush #3 Round ($19.99* value) via mail-in coupon
(Merchandising Kit # WNAWCSPR11)
*(msrp)

2. Buy $30* in Cotman WC, gets a FREE Cotman Postcard Pad ($7.79* value) via a mail-in coupon
(Merchandising Kit # WNCWCSPR11)
*(msrp)

Don’t forget to stock-up on W&N Artists’ Oils!
+10% Off ALL Artists’ Oil Tube Colours* (CAP’s Only)

And…
+10% Off on all Oils, Mediums, Varnishes,  & Aerosols (CAP’s +10/10%)
*includes asst’s and open-stock

Liquitex Spring Deals!
Heavy Body & Soft Body 59ml Acrylic Tube Color* +10% Off! (CAP Only)
*includes asst’s and open-stock
*(msrp)

Consumer offer: Buy $30* in Liquitex HB/SB 59ml tubes, get a Free 30ml bottle of Liquitex Acrylic Ink ($6.69* value) via mail-in coupon
(Merchandising Kit # LQHBSBSPR11)
*(msrp)

And…
ColArt’s Premier Drawing and Sketching Brands:
Conté Sketching & Pastel Pencils (+10%* Off)
· Open-Stock, Sets, Tins & Blister Packs
*CAP s get +15% Off!

DERWENT’s New INKTENSE Water Soluble Blocks*: +10% off!
· 24 Colour Asst
· 12 & 24 Tins
· Accessories (Block Gripper & Grate N’ Shake)
*Ships in April 2011

All Derwent Inktense Pencils – Assortments, Sets & Open-Stock: +10% Off!
CAPS Get +15% Off  on Select List of Water Soluble Derwent Pencil Tins!

Please contact your MacPherson’s rep for all of these Spring ColArt Deals!

Just Paint #24 is Now Available Online and in Print

This issue focuses on “Using Oils with Acrylics,” by Sarah Sands and “Make a Mark,” by Amy McKinnon, both artists and staff members in our Technical Support Services Department. Another area of focus for this issue is an update on the ASTM Standard for Acrylic Dispersion Grounds. You’ll also get an up-close look at Technical Support Services artist and staff member, Scott Bennett.  2010 was an exciting year at the GOLDEN facility for many reasons and in this issue, Mark Golden provides an update on Williamsburg Handmade Oil Colors and our commitment to continue to maintain the quality and essence of the brand that Carl Plansky created; that we continue to honor the context in which each of these colors was developed.

To read these articles and much more, go to Just Paint

Sign up to receive Just Paint electronically: Just Paint Sign-up

For technical questions regarding these articles, please feel free to contact our Technical Support Services Department at 1-800-959-6543.

If additional printed copies of Just Paint are required for in-store presentation or staff distribution, contact your MacPherson’s Representative for ordering instructions.

New GOLDEN Web Technique

There’s a new Fine Art Technique called Metallic Textures available on the GOLDEN website.

Los Angeles Working Artist Amy Shawley, explores the many ways artists can create textures from acrylic gels and paints. One exciting direction is using gels paired with iridescent color to create a variety of weathered metal effects. Gel textures can vary greatly from smooth to gritty and from low to high relief. Some gels, like Glass Bead Gel, have a distinct texture while other gels are smooth but vary in viscosity. The Iridescent colors can be mixed with regular Fluids and Heavy Body paints to create a full range of metal effects, from a smooth faux leaf to a textured, aged metal. Check it out!

Metallic Textures Technique

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

Earlier this month, Canson announced Eileen Sorg, a Seattle-based artist, as the winner of the Canson Paper Award for Excellence for her entry into the Colored Pencil Society of America’ (CPSA) annual Explore This! 7 juried online show.  Canson, a Bronze Award Donor to the Explore this! competition, has gifted Sorg $300 worth of Canson products.

Sorg, who has exhibited frequently over the past several years within the CPSA, was very pleased to hear she had won such a variety of Canson products, especially the Arches watercolor papers. Sorg’s winning submission, The Trouble with Butterflies (19”x15”), was created using colored pencil atop a painting of ink and watercolor.  Her drawing is currently being shown in CPSA’s online gallery as part of the Explore This! 7 Exhibition, which will run online through January 31, 2012.

Born and raised in Seattle, Sorg is already a frequent user of Canson’s Arches products.  “I use Arches exclusively for my work, and this paper is very dynamic,” she said. “I’ve tried so many different types of papers, and for the Arches papers to be able to take watercolor in and the layering of the colored pencil as well, this is a great testament to the paper itself.”

Sorg teaches ink, watercolor and colored pencil classes throughout the West Coast, and she recommends Arches papers to all of her students.