Archives of the Art Dog Blog from MacPherson's

Julianne Eastman, the appreciated southern California Manufacturer’s Sales Representative passed away on August 21^st after a valiant battle with cancer. She leaves 3 young children, Noah, Savannah and Charlie. Her dad and mom, Ken and Diane with brother John Mark Eastman have announced a life celebration called Remembering Julianne Eastman for Friday, September 9th at 2:00 pm (doors open 1:30 pm) at the First Christian Church of Huntington Beach 1207 Main Street Huntington Beach, California 92648 Reception Following. Read here for full details

An Invitation to Attend Julianne’s Celebration of Life

Aubin and David Van Berckel of Opus Art Supplies in Vancouver, BC have created a wonderful edible garden that surrounds their property on Bowen Island, just a 20-minute ferry ride from the mainland. Read the fascinating story from the Vancouver daily newspapers

In the Garden: Bowen Island property an organic food paradise

Matt Cleary has joined GOLDEN as the new Marketing Director. Matt is a brand marketing professional with 15+ years of experience including Nabisco, Pepperidge Farm, and most recently, Nestlé where he worked on bottled waters and teas. In addition to brand management, Matt has held leadership roles in product innovation, retail marketing, and customer development. Dana Rice will be moving over to the commercial division, undertaking a new marketing role with the title of PaintWorks Market Development Specialist.

Neil Green, long-time owner of Carter Sexton Artist Materials until he retired at age 85 in 2008, has died at the age of 92. He was surrounded by kids and grandkids at his home in Oakland when he passed away on August 11, one month shy of 93.  Read the story here: Neil Green

Here’s the latest Johanna Basford Video. It’s a great share for Retailer Facebook pages!

Here’s the latest Montana Cans Videos. They’re a great share for Retailer Facebook pages!

PORTRAITS WITH A PURPOSE

Strathmore® is very excited to announce new products that help support a wonderful non-profit organization. Available this fall, two NEW limited edition pads, which feature bright pink covers and beautiful portraits. One pad will be made from Strathmore’s traditional 300 Series Sketch paper, and the other will feature the Desert Rose Strathmore Artagain® paper. 5% of the Strathmore profits from sales of these pads will be donated to In My Father’s Eyes, a 503 (c) 3 non-profit organization that works with children who are fighting a life threatening disease or who have lost their battle. The goal is to help these children focus on their beauty instead of their illness, and to provide their families with a lifetime of memories through an heirloom portrait.

Each portrait takes approximately 30 to 40 hours to complete. Artists lend their time, but you can give the gift of hope. Donations provide funding for items such as art supplies, framing, and shipping costs. Consider sponsoring a portrait with a donation. You can learn more at: www.InMyFathersEyesPortraits.com

Strathmore 300 Series Sketch “Pink Pad” (item SM350-209) features include:

• 50 lb / 74 gsm 300 Series Sketch paper.
• Natural white color sheet.
• Fine tooth surface for experimentation and quick studies.
• Available in 9” x 12” pad.
• Wire binding on the 9” side of the pad.
• Bonus sheet count of 120 sheets.
• Acid free.
• Made in the U.S.A.

400 Series Strathmore Artagain® Desert Rose “Pink Pad” (item SM445-209) features include:

• 60 lb / 160 gsm Desert Rose colored paper.
• Fiber-enhanced paper is ideal for soft pastels and charcoal.
• Contains 30% post-consumer fiber.
• Available in 9” x 12” pad.
• Flip-over glue binding on the 9” side of the pad.
• 24 sheets per pad.
• Acid free.
• Made in the U.S.A.

Pink pads are featured on an introduction promotion, which runs through Strathmore’s Holiday promotion September 12, 2016 to November 4, 2016. Stores might consider adding this program to their stores for October as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but supporting this great cause isn’t limited to just one month out of the year. Learn how this new program can increase the productivity of your retail space by contacting your MacPherson’s Account Manager today!

To help with the introduction of these exciting new pads, Strathmore has designed support materials for retailers including 16” x 20” posters, shelf labels, shelf flags, and print-in-store flyers available on their Retailer and Distributor Tools section of the website at www.strathmoreartist.com

New! QoR Demo in a Box – Available Now!

The new QoR Demo in a Box started shipping on August 8 and contains everything you need to conduct a successful demonstration of QoR Watercolor. Utilize this kit for presentations to art groups, mini-workshops, training store staff and attracting artists to your store with in-store demonstrations. The kit includes a step-by-step demonstration guide, four QoR colors in 11ml tubes, a brush and substrates to demonstrate on. Some of the exercises and talking points include information about the following:

• Pigment information
• Color intensity
• QoR Grounds

GOLDEN has also created a video to demonstrate some of the exercises and talking points in the kit. Be sure to check it out here: https://youtu.be/fhbFyxf1nnc.

Item # GD7000050-0 (QoR Demo in a Box)

2016 Support Value: $22.50

If you’re interested, don’t let the Support Price of the kit stop you. Contact either your MacPherson’s or GOLDEN Sales Representative to order yours today. If direct contact is preferred, contact GOLDEN’S Customer Service department at 1-800-959-6543.

New Exhibition Opening at The SAGG on September 24, 2016

Kikuo Saito – ‘Color and Drawing’

Golden Artist Colors and the Sam & Adele Golden Gallery (The SAGG) celebrate the artwork of the late New York artist Kikuo Saito with an Opening Reception on September 24 featuring a collection of his work titled ‘Color and Drawing’. He is known for his colorful abstractions and experimental theater work in Manhattan. The show will run from September 24, 2016 through March 24, 2017. For more information, visit www.thesagg.org.

Williamsburg Pigment Ratio – Perception vs. Reality

Recently GOLDEN received an email from a customer inquiring about the pigment load in Williamsburg Handmade Oil Paints. He visited a retail store and was told that the pigment load in these paints is lower since Williamsburg was acquired by GOLDEN. Please check out how a GOLDEN’S Material & Application Specialist responded to the inquiry:

“Thank you so much for taking the time to write and giving us an opportunity to respond to this rumor, which really has no basis. In fact, if anything, we have actually gone in the opposite direction and have often increased the pigment load whenever possible. So not sure how or why the art store representative felt differently. Would you be willing to let us know which store it was? We ask just to allow us an opportunity to correct the misperception and make sure people have accurate information.

As to how can you trust us, there are a few things to know. First, if any of our paint does not please you or live up to your expectations – for any reason and at any time – you  can always exchange it for a new tube of similar value or a full refund. Which means you will never be stuck with something you do not enjoy or cannot use. Few if any companies can make that type of promise or feel so certain about the quality of what they produce.

Second, I speak as someone who was one of the three people that ran Williamsburg in the mid-90’s to early 00’s, alongside Carl Plansky, where I provided technical support and helped in the development of many of the current colors. I considered Carl a good friend and my personal love affair with this paint goes back more than 20 years. When Carl passed away suddenly, which is why Williamsburg ended up joining Golden, original tubes I had kept from that early period, along with batches that were in inventory, provided us with a master standard for color and feel, and we have worked diligently since then to preserve each one of those nuances.

Third, Mark Golden and Carl Plansky were old friends who shared the same philosophy of making the most gorgeous paints of the highest quality bar none, with both companies sharing a sterling reputation for excellence and existing just 30 minutes apart from each other. When Williamsburg became a part of Golden, we brought over every staff member, mill and mixer from the original company and understood that we had not simply acquired a brand, but became trusted stewards to a legacy that was unique, magical, and precious. We would never, ever consciously fall short of the obligations we know we have to not only preserve the heart of this wonderful paint, but when possible, to even improve and further the quality it has come to embody.

Lastly, we would be happy to send you samples of our paints to try – and would welcome you to compare them to any other paints you might enjoy. And if there is anything else we can ever do to help, just ask!”

Sarah Sands, Senior Technical Specialist

If you or any of your staff members have additional questions, about this topic, please don’t hesitate to reach out to GOLDEN’S Material & Application Specialist team at 800-959-6543.

Prismacolor is busy bringing new news to our customers and consumers!

Sanford/NewellCo is excited to announce a Consumer Rebate is coming this fall on all Prismacolor Premier Pencil and Marker skus.  The consumer can earn up to $20 back off qualifying open stock and sets’ purchases made between November 1 – December 31, 2016.  Sanford is providing the tear pads and in-store shelf talkers to fine art customers.  (See your MacPherson’s sales rep for details).  Also, the rebate forms will be available to download at www.Prismacolor2016rebate.com (this link will be turned on closer to the November launch date). This program is exclusive to the Fine Art & Craft Channel!  Each receipt will be required to include the name of the retailer and the name of the Prismacolor item purchased clearly stated.   Also acceptable will be the item number or UPC printed on the receipt.  Handwritten notes on the receipt will not be accepted.  What a great opportunity to feature Prismacolor for the holidays and offer your customers some amazing promotional pricing.

LARGEST MEDIA INVESTMENT IN PRISMACOLOR HISTORY!!

Coming Q4-the LARGEST MEDIA INVESTMENT IN PRISMACOLOR HISTORY!!  Prismacolor will be on TV November – December, targeting the Adult Colorist throughout the Holiday season, delivering ~450MM impressions!!  The objective is to get consumers to give the gift of Prismacolor by demonstrating Prismacolor is THE premier coloring tool.  And there’s more!  There is an extensive PR campaign running as well to maximize results.  Your MacPherson’s team is ready to help you plan a successful season to maximize all the great Prismacolor news for the holidays.  Don’t Just Color. Prismacolor!

Georgian Water Mixable Oil colors offer artists the possibility of experiencing oil painting without the need for solvent-based mediums. An alternative to traditional oils, the balanced range of 40 vibrant colors can be thinned, mixed, and washed using water and as such is ideal for use indoors and in a classroom environment.

All Georgian Water Mixable Oil colors offer high levels of lightfastness, pigment load, and durability. The viscosity and smooth texture of the colours out of the tube mirror traditional oil colours and can be used for impasto techniques

Key Features and Benefits:

• Available in 40 colors for 37ml and 9 colors for 200ml tubes and 3 sets.
• Single low price points that is value priced at $6.59 for 37ml and $16.99 for 200ml.
• Smooth consistency that is easy to color mix.
• Brilliant colors that is consistent from wet to dry.
• Versatile to use with any oil mediums.
• With Georgian Water Mixable Oil, water and oil blend to create a color medium capable of offering the rich texture of traditional oils and the versatility of watercolor.
• Make in the UK.

The Georgian Water Mixable Oils are on MacPherson’s Back-To-School Promotion at 62% off. Promo ends on Sept 15^th.

ArtGraf Tailor Shape, Primary Color Discs Have Arrived!

Inspired by the traditional tailor’s chalk, the ArtGraf Tailor Shape discs are pressed pigmented blocks, prepared for drawing and painting. Extremely soft and soluble in water, ArtGraf Tailor Shape discs allow the artist to produce a wide range of hues, light, dark and opaque colors. ArtGraf Tailor Shape discs are great for drawing and painting.

New ArtGraf Water-Soluble Graphite Powder

For those that attended NAMTA in Houston you may have had a sneak preview of the New Water-Soluble Graphite Powder. Just in time for Back To School, perfect to feature beside the Carbon Disc and Graphite Tin on the best-selling “Try Me Station”! ArtGraf Soluble Graphite Powder can be applied directly to your surface or mixed with water prior to use.

New Canvas Pencil Roll Ups – Quality Tools for Fine Artists

Featured consistently in the Global Art Top 100 best-sellers are the popular Canvas Pencil cases. Those sales inspired Global Art to introduce the New Canvas Pencil Roll Ups. Each Roll Up holds 36 Pencils or select fine-tip markers – Stabilo 88, for example. Plastic interior sleeves protect your pencil leads and a nifty zippered pocket holds erasers, sharpeners, etc.

To receive a copy of the Global Art Top 100 List or to learn how VIARCO products can increase the productivity of your retail space, contact your MacPherson’s Sales representative.