David van Berckel, Opus Art Supplies Opus is an independently-owned local business, supplying the visual arts community with art materials, digital printing, picture frames, art education, community support, and more. Founded in 1974, they have grown from a single location framing company to seven stores throughout BC and a Canada-wide mail order service for online & phone orders. To our valued vendors, I have known so many of you for decades while I managed to turn a small framing production workshop in Vancouver into a sizeable and important art supply business over the past 50 years or so. But time continues taking a toll on my body and mind and…
-
-
Sakura of America’s New Koi Creative Art Colors (CAC) Make a Splash!
@SakuraofAmerica’s new Koi® CAC (Creative Art Colors) Watercolors are compact kits packed with unique colors and effects for one of a kind projects. Koi CAC is available in 12 and 24 color kits. Each cake set includes 4 metallics and 8 fluorescents. Learn more by searching the hashtags #SakuraKoi or #SakuraKoiCAC, and click here to find them on OEX. Luxe Watercolors for Shimmer, Shine & Luminescence Koi CAC are pocket sized with essential accessories for painting on the go. Create unique washes and blends with the metallic, fluorescent, and pearlescent paints; explore a whole new spectrum of stunning effects by mixing these Creative Art Colors with your traditional watercolor set.…
-
Inktober For Everyone!
Catherine Monahon, Copywriter, MacPherson’s In 2009, illustrator Jake Parker set out to challenge himself for the month of October: create a work of art in pen and ink each day, and share it online. He dubbed it with the catchy name “Inktober” and got to work. Nearly ten years later, tens of thousands of artists are a part of the Inktober community. 31 drawings in 31 days, all under the hashtag “#inktober,” the artwork spans from fantastical to realistic, lettering to abstract. As long as it’s ink, it qualifies. Each day of #Inktober has a corresponding prompt to tackle creative blocks; see the list here for inspiration. Inktober in Your…
-
Come To My Window: Create Innovative, Inviting Budget-Friendly Window Displays
Catherine Monahon, Copywriter, MacPherson’s While the upcoming holidays are a great incentive to create expressive, themed window displays, we think any time is a good time to step up your display game. Our Emeryville office is just down the street from a bustling quirky-chic shopping destination in Berkeley, CA. While our designers were hunting for inspiration this summer, they couldn’t help but notice the impact of window displays in this creative retail hub. Nearby stores whose window displays we love include Papercraft, Athropologie, and a local toy/art supply store that specializes in the weird and wacky. We discovered a handful of resources from the creative geniuses at Anthropologie; click here…
-
Halloween and Cosplay Go Hand in Hand: Creative End Caps For People Who Love Dressing Up
Catherine Monahon, Copywriter, MacPherson’s Halloween is a great time to introduce customers to the wild, varied, inclusive world that is Cosplay. CosPlay is the practice of dressing up as a fictional character–any fictional character–and it is not just popular during Halloween. Customers’ imaginations are already in gear for creating witty, spooky, realistic or outlandish costumes, so this is a great time to introduce another costume-related art form. Peak the interest of that special group who secretly wishes Halloween happened more than once a year and engage with a community of cosplayers you may have never known about. The Cosplay Community The word Cosplay is combination costume and play, and it…
-
Sennelier abstract paint Community Murals & BTS Promo
Sennelier Art Supplies Watch the versatility of Sennelier abstract paint in real time. In collaboration with Sennelier and Artpsan, multiple artists with very different techniques transform the blank city walls of the Salesforce building. ArtSpan is a non-profit “committed to cultivating a vibrant, accessible, and world-class art community in San Francisco and promoting the city’s unique creative energy locally and globally.” The result: more than 80 gallons of Sennelier abstract® paint and vibrant, captivating murals. Which one is your favorite?
-
Information Worth Sharing: New Video From Golden, Perfect For Painters – Minimizing Support Induced Discoloration (SID)
Golden Artist Colors Support Induced Discoloration (SID), what is it? and how to minimize it. from Golden Artist Colors on Vimeo. Proper preparation can change everything. Set your staff up for success when chatting with customers and ensure that your community gets the best results when painting, from start to finish. Golden’s new video demos step-by-step how to minimize Support Induced Discoloration (SID). SID occurs when contaminants are drawn into paints and mediums as they dry – it is most noticeable with light colors, gel mediums and glazes. This video demos how to prepare a canvas or board with Gloss Medium to minimize SID before painting. Videos are quick…
-
All Hands On Deck: Floods in Madison, WI Impact Wisconsin Craft Market
Catherine Monahon, Copywriter, MacPherson’s Last month devastating floods in Madison, WI impacted Wisconsin Craft Market – employees walked in to discover several feet of water in the store and an overwhelming amount of damaged product. Their staff banded together for several days of drudgery, with family members and loved ones pitching in. Recapping the experience on their Facebook page, owner Paul Zarnikow expressed his gratitude for the team of friends and family who made reopening possible. “Not only did no one complain, the loud laughing and chattering usually heard went on like any other day. I’m lucky to have had these ladies as employees for so many years, luckier still…
-
Ben Franklin Bonney Lake & Montana Cans
Catherine Monahon, Copywriter, MacPherson’s Ben Franklin Crafts & Frame Shop Bonney Lake, Washington, collaborated with Montana Artist Devin Finley to transform the formerly drab graffiti walls of the local Skate Park in town into an outdoor gallery of street art! In collaboration with the community of Tehaleh and Montana Artist Devin Finley, Ben Franklin Bonney Lake’s goal was to get more people aware of the Montana spray paint in the community while improving a community space with art. Staff member Colleen coordinated the event with the community director of a local skate park. Over 50 people attended the event, which featured live painting by Devin, music, snacks and of course…
-
Demo Days: Stenciled Tea Towel with Derwent Inktense Pencils
Cassie Brehmer, Account Manager, MacPherson’s I recently did a demo at Mangelsen’s in Omaha, Nebraska during their annual art fair using Derwent Inktense on Flour Sack towels. This demo is easy to replicate with any stencil of your choice, the project can take on any theme imaginable. We laid out several stencils on a demo table, the chicken was the most popular—maybe because of the rustic, homey feel—perfect for the tea towels, and let customers’ imaginations run wild You know your customers best, so feel free to get creative with what materials you use; this demo can also be done on canvas tote bags, handkerchiefs, center piece runners and other…
-
LenzArts’ 50th Anniversary, a.k.a. “Lenz Arts Week” As Pronounced By Santa Cruz Mayor
Catherine Monahon, Copywriter, MacPherson’s LenzArts went all out for their 50th Anniversary August 4th. Their family business has survived and thrived despite fire, flood and earthquake. Over the decades they have become embedded in the community. Three generations of the Lenz family participated in the event, which included a Vendor’s Fair and a storewide sale. They set up twelve interactive stations of different make and takes as well as demos with reps and artists. People enjoyed free face painting, raffles, a homemade fishing booth and a Wheel of Fortune. They also invited Santa Cruz Art League rep to talk to community members; the current generation’s great-grandmother, Leonora Naylor Penniman, was…
-
MacPherson’s YouTube: Hands-On Demos, Resources & Shareable Content
We are excited to announce the launching of a MacPherson’s YouTube account! It is currently populated with videos from each of our vendors’ hands-on experiences at this year’s Dealer Workshop. In collaboration with our vendor partners and the Artist’s Network, we produced a series of instructive and inspiring videos showcasing this season’s new products. Most importantly, you can learn about the products and discover ways to replicate the experience for in-store demos, events and creative displays. Create in-store connections with your customers and inspire your employees. Check out the videos and remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you can stay current when we post videos in the…
-
Chameleon Rebranded
Catherine Monahon, MacPherson’s Copywriter & Chameleon Art Products Chameleon shared a recent press release with us announcing the rebranding of their products and their website – aiming for a fresh look and user-friendly design. Read on for highlights about these changes: “We strive to keep pushing the boundaries so you can develop your talents even further. We want to help you unlock all the colors hidden inside your art tools. And that’s what our rebranding and “Changing Color” is all about.” Chameleon changed the website’s look based on the creative community’s feedback. “Chameleon should be a place for like-minded individuals to share ideas, brainstorm and be inspired by each other.…
-
Fun and Easy DIY Card-Making From Strathmore
Sara Prentice, Social Media Marketing Manager, Strathmore Artist Papers DIY Cards Greeting card season is just around the corner and these card-making techniques are a great way to inspire customers to buy all the materials needed to make their own personalized greetings well before the holidays hit! A seasoned artist or a beginner can enjoy these approachable cards. Perfect for the upcoming holidays, they can be easily customized for any occasion. Trend Trifecta: Watercolor, Mixed Media and the Handmade Movement Watercolor and Mixed Media remain hot topics. More people than ever are trying to learn about these mediums and show their creations on Instagram, Pinterest and other social channels. Anything…
-
Interconnected Community: Pride, STABILO, Endeavours Art & MacPherson’s!
Catherine Monahon, MacPherson’s Copywriter The weekend of August 11th, Luke and Tyler Randall, co-owners of Endeavours Art in Fredericton, New Brunswick Canada went all out for Pride week! Their Pride celebration this year was a result of a collaboration between STABILO, MacPherson’s and Endeavours Art. The idea sprung to life during the 2018 Dealer Workshop in Las Vegas. Upon hearing about Endeavours’ yearly celebration where they fundraise for causes benefiting the LGBTQIA2+ community, Assistant Brand Manager Ana McCormick made a connection. STABILO Pen 68 and 88 sets – vibrant, colorful and perfect for Pride. With STABILO as a sponsor, it was an incredible time for all involved. Tyler recapped proudly…
-
New Location, New Name: South City Art Supply, Now St. Louis Art Supply
Catherine Monahon, MacPherson’s Copywriter South City Art Supply, now St. Louis Art Supply, is moving to a larger location in Central West End at 4532 Olive St. in St. Louis, Missouri. They have expanded their inventory by about 40%, with additions in nearly every department. “Our focus areas are painting, drawing, reading (we sell books, too), and writing, so most of our additions are in those areas,” owner Carson Monetti explains. “Some highlights of the expansion include Masterpiece canvases and stretchers, POSCA markers, Cobra water-soluble oils, Golden High Flow, Faber-Castell PITT Artist Pens, LAMY pens and pencils, and quite a few new notebook and planner lines.” St. Louis Art Supply…
-
GOLDEN Educator Residents & Top Finalists Announced!
Golden Artist Colors Golden Artist Colors and the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2018 GOLDEN Educators Residency! Three educators will be invited to participate in a two-week artists’ residency through the Sam & Adele Golden Foundation in a sylvan setting in upstate New York. They will also each receive a gift certificate for $1,000 for GOLDEN paints. Geeta Dave from Prairieville, Louisiana Glasgow Middle School Kevin Kelly from Wichita, Kansas Wichita West High School Brian Payne from Yukon, Oklahoma Yukon High School Collectively, these three educators have been teaching for close to 60 years. Learn more about their work…
-
Minimizing Support Induced Discoloration (SID)
Information Worth Sharing: New Video From Golden, Perfect For Painters Golden Artist Colors Support Induced Discoloration (SID), what is it? and how to minimize it. from Golden Artist Colors on Vimeo. Proper preparation can change everything. Set your staff up for success when chatting with customers and ensure that your community gets the best results when painting, from start to finish. Golden’s new video demos step-by-step how to minimize Support Induced Discoloration (SID). SID occurs when contaminants are drawn into paints and mediums as they dry – it is most noticeable with light colors, gel mediums and glazes. This video demos how to prepare a canvas or board with…
-
Golden Back To School Promo!
Don’t forget – Golden MAP Promotional Pricing is in effect until 9/28. Seize this Golden opportunity – advertising for all three Golden brands (GOLDEN Acrylics, Williamsburg Oils and QoR Watercolor) can be extended to 40% off.
-
Golden Welcomes New Education Director Stacy Rosende
Golden Artist Colors Golden welcomes Stacy Rosende as its new Education Director, who oversees all Golden Artist Colors education programs as well as the development of new strategies and platforms. Kevin Greeland will continue to lead the Working Artist and Artist Educator programs and serve as the key contact for lecture demo activities. Stacy Rosende is a visual artist and educator from Florida where she ran an award-winning art program in a public high school, maintained her personal studio practice and exhibited works internationally. She discovered her interest in education while working towards her Masters in Fine Arts degree at Boston University. Stacy has taught students in the visual arts…