This is a hard note to write. Besides my family, there’s nothing I love more than MacPherson’s and the community we serve. For 45 years (yikes), my chief passion has been building MacPherson’s from its humble beginnings, helping it flourish and finding creative ways to navigate and conquer the many challenges that come our way. I’m so proud of what we’ve built and of the heart, soul, and hard work of so many people over the years. As our talented leadership team finds its way, it’s time for me to exit stage right and give them space to make their own successes, stumble occasionally, and learn from their experiences. I…

  Howard Kaufman On January 16, Pacon Corporation, the parent company of Strathmore Artist Papers™ announced the acquisition of Princeton Artist Brush Co.™, the number-one supplier of fine art brushes in North America. Howard Kaufman and his team will continue to manage and operate Princeton. Speedball reached an agreement to purchase Global Art Materials, Inc. from owner and founder Tom Dix. “When Tom approached us about buying his business, the answer was easy,” said Speedball CEO Walt Glazer. “And when he expressed a desire to stay involved as part of the Speedball Team, I was thrilled.” Anthony Piperno Tom Dix added, “My goal was to make sure that the Escoda, Folia, Art…

Winter B-T-S Promotional Period Reminder All GOLDEN  Artist Colors brands and associated products can be advertised up to 40% off every day until February 8, at which time advertising goes back to 30% off every day. Please contact the GOLDEN  Sales Department directly with any questions. GOLDEN  to Attend CAA Mid-February in Los Angeles, California For a number of years, GOLDEN  has been exhibiting at the College Arts Association (CAA) Annual Conference. As the world’s best-attended international art conference, CAA’s meeting will facilitate networking opportunities and enable participants to exchange ideas and information with colleagues from across the globe. It’s a great opportunity for us to engage with college and…

“Color is an artist’s most important tool.” –Robert Gamblin In our last interview on the Savvy Painter Podcast, we dedicated an entire episode to answer your technical questions about mediums, pigments, varnishing, and solvent-free painting. Based on listener feedback, we’re doing it again. And this time it’s all about COLOR! Listen Now   Join Antrese Woods, host of the Savvy Painter, for an in-depth conversation with Robert Gamblin and Scott Gellatly. We hope this podcast will help answer some of your lingering questions about color. (And perhaps even create some new possibilities for you!) P.S. Thanks to everyone who submitted these great questions. Gamblin Artists Colors  

Transitions: Jim Semitekol, MacPherson’s esteemed Chief Operations Officer and Executive VP, will be retiring at the end of 2017.  Jim joined MacPherson’s in 2001 as Director of Operations and has played a key role in our growth and success. After the new year Jim will continue to serve MacPherson’s as a consultant three to four days per week. Please join all of us here at MacPherson’s in wishing him all the best in his transition to retirement. Read more about Jim and MacPherson’s organizational changes here. Strathmore’s Senior Account Manager for the Southeast, Don Bradley, will be retiring from the company at the end of 2017. His knowledge, customer care, mentorship, character, integrity, humor, and, most of all, his overwhelmingly loving heart will…

GOLDEN Launches NEW QoR® mini Compact color for artists on the move. QoR® Watercolor will be launching the QoR mini 12 Half Pan set and adding QoR Masking Fluid to the product line. The totally new solid half pans of color within QoR mini re-wet beautifully and deliver the lively painting performance artists expect. QoR mini fits 12 half pan watercolors in a tin smaller than an index card. It fits perfectly in your pocket or purse for urban sketching and plein air painting. Features include: Stamped wells on tin lid offer convenient mixing space Innovative non-staining silicone insert with embossed letters next to each pan to reference colors Standard…

Pacon Corporation, parent company of Strathmore announced that it acquired certain assets of Carolina Pad and Paper International LLC’s Arts and Crafts Division. Under the terms of the agreement, Pacon acquired CPP’s Ghostline and UCreate branded product lines. CPP’s arts and crafts business will be moved to Pacon’s facilities in Appleton, Wisconsin. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. In news from MacPherson’s Marketing & Creative Department, we have welcomed some new faces over the past few months: Ryan Broussard is our new Brand Manager for Lifestyle brands POSCA and Montana. Krystal Willis has been promoted to Creative Manager. Meghan McLean is our new Graphic Designer, and Greg Houston is now our Photography…

GOLDEN Working Artist Program Director, Patti Brady, Announces Retirement It is with mixed emotions that we announce the retirement this December of Patti Brady, the Director of the GOLDEN Certified Working Artist and GOLDEN Artist Educator Programs. An accomplished studio artist, Patti joined Golden Artist Colors in 1994 and embarked on building these innovative education programs artist by artist, market by market. Today 34 professional artists comprise the Working Artist Program, providing in-depth lecture/demos to audiences across the US and in several international markets. Patti also led the development of the GOLDEN Artist Educator Program, a network of over 180 independent workshop teachers who feature GOLDEN products in their events.…

Alain Assoun, founder of Assoun Distribution near Paris in 1969 (and which was acquired by Mitsubishi Pencil Co. in 2016), announced he has left the company. The company is the exclusive distributor of uni-ball and Posca for most European countries. Maxime Brasseur has replaced Alain as General Manager of Mitsubishi Pencil France. North American Copic agent Imagination International is in the local news for donating more than $130,000 in tools to Springfield High School in Eugene, OR Read the story here. In Colart people news, Ryan Testa has joined this summer as Field Sales Representative with responsibilities for retail stores in the Northeast. He comes to Colart with sales experience in the education field.…

GOLDEN Supports O+ Art Festivals Founded in 2010 in Kingston, NY, by a small group of artist-activists, doctors and a dentist, O+ is a national nonprofit working in cities around the country to support the exchange of “the art of medicine for the medicine of art.” O+ brings together artist communities, health and wellness providers, and corporate sponsors to make possible the exchange of mural painting, music, poetry and other artistic performances for free medical services made available to underinsured artists. The organization’s year-round efforts culminate in one-day and weekend-long festivals in select cities.  GOLDEN has been supporting mural artists participating in O+ for the last 4 years, but decided…

The New Artist & Art Materials Survey went live on Monday, October 16, and stays open through mid-November. Here’s the link: •  The survey gathers the demographics, brand preferences and insights of a wide variety of North American consumers engaged the making of art. It produces a trove of actionable information that suppliers and retailers can take advantage of.  Non-NAMTA members are welcome to promote the survey, though only members can view the reports. •  Help NAMTA get the word out by promoting the survey to your artist customers – see the details on the Artist Survey Promotional Page   FAQ’s The focus of the 2018 study is active artists, typically those…

Dick Wiest, west coast art material pioneer and long time MacPherson’s account manager, passed away on Sept 1st. He was 87 and had long battled heart disease. He is survived by his wife Edna and sons Karl and Kris. A proud and loyal Marine, the family feels Dick would have been grateful for any support of the Wounded Warrior Project.     At MacPherson’s our hearts goes out to our customers in Puerto Rico as they deal with the aftereffects of Hurricane Maria. Massive power outages have lead to terrible food and water shortages. Clean up will take years. We have heard from a few of our customers and, while…