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AcrylicSpecialty Acrylic PaintsIridescent and fluorescent acrylic colors afford the artist new and exciting opportunities to create dynamic looks in his or her work. Intense, deep colors in iridescent shades will light up your paintings; and fluorescent colors can create dramatic special effects. Iridescent paints can be used in a number of ways to alter the palette of even the most experienced painter. Use pearlized paints to create new metallic colors; pearlized pigments can also be used to wash over darker tones for an ethereal effect. Clouds and soft fabric folds as well as sun reflections on water or glass can be greatly enhanced with a slight amount of iridescent pigment. You can thin the coverage by adding medium or water to the paint so that the result will be soft. Again, the fun you have discovering how to incorporate new products and ideas into your work adds much to the enjoyment of painting. Fluorescent colors also add an element of fun and interest to paintings. They help create special effects that make your work “leap off the page.” Little can draw the eye to a painting quicker than super intense colors like those in fluorescent tones. One way to use fluorescent pigments in your works on paper is as reflected warmth. To do this, paint a scene with warm tones that melt to the edges of the paper. When you plan the presentation of your work, include framing with an elevated mat surface. (Elevate the mat with one or two thicknesses of foam board. Attach the foam board to the outer edges of the mat to raise it above the paper.) Paint the underside of the mat fluorescent pink or orange. The result will be an unexplained glow emanating from your painting. This is most effective on scenes that contain sunny oranges and reds, but can be very effective with other finished works as well. Experiment with several tones on the underside of the mat. The results will amaze you and, for such a simple addition, can be dramatic.
Gold and silver iridescent pigments are just the beginning. Soft pastel iridescents are available or can be easily created by mixing pearl tone with any acrylic paint. Dry iridescent pigment is fun to use, too. Such dry iridescent pigment can be added to acrylic medium for over-glazing or to acrylic paint for over-glazing and/or heavier coverage. Works on paper or canvas can be easily enhanced with judicious use of iridescent acrylic paint. Enjoy experimenting and testing new ways to use these unique acrylic products. When exploring the paint aisles at your paint retailer, look for DaVinci and Lascaux acrylics and mediums and visit www.DaVinciPaints.com and www.savoirfaire.com.
Art EventsLearning & Product Expo: ART! This popular art event has been expanded to three dates for 2007, so mark your calendar. After Washington, D.C., from June 1-3, the Expo is scheduled for Chicago and California, with a new date/location below: Chicago, IL, July 13-15 – Chicagoland, Western Suburbs, Hickory Ridge Marriott Conference Hotel. Classes begin July 13. Register now. Pasadena, CA, Oct. 12-14 – Pasadena Conference Center. Classes begin Oct. 11 and registration begins Aug. 1 Immerse yourself in a unique experience for artists where you can visit an exhibit hall packed with art material manufacturers and choose from a program of 200 art classes. Learn new techniques from some of the most popular instructors in the country; experiment with new materials; see free demonstrations and more! Call 917-435-2838 and visit www.learningproductexpo.com for more information and to register. ARTWALK 2007 Presented by the city of Culver City and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art Muse, ARTWALK 2007 provides an opportunity to discover the fastest-growing gallery scene on the west side through a free self-guided tour of over 40 galleries and exhibition spaces in the area. Meet gallery owners, artists and fellow art lovers as you expand your collection. An After Party will be held from 8-11 p.m. in the H.D. Buttercup Manufacturer Furniture Mart, Los Angeles, with live music, drinks and hors d’oeuvres, to which tickets are required. Call 323-857-6000; Visit www.lacma.org/membership/Muse-party.aspx. A Spring Serata This first-ever wine tasting event is an indoor and outdoor spring soiree featuring great wines, flower-inspired artworks and live music. RSVP to 617-566-5643 or membership@isgm.org. The Affordable Art Fair 2007 AAF is the place for new and established collectors to discover and buy paintings, drawings, sculptures, video, photography and limited edition prints from distinguished galleries, all priced from $100 - $10,000. The fair will host more than 60 galleries with approximately a quarter of the exhibitors from Europe, Canada and South America. Call 212-255-2003; info@aafnyc.com. Picasso and American Art This landmark exhibition, which opens June 16 (through Sept. 9), examines the fundamental role that Pablo Picasso played in the development of American art over the past century. Featured are nearly 40 works by Picasso as well as a wide-ranging display of works by American artists such as de Kooning, Pollock, Gorky, Krasner, Man Ray and several more. Related events include an Exhibition Preview Party on June 15, an Opening Day Lecture and a Lecture on June 21. Call 612-375-7600; www.walkerart.org. Jazz in the Garden The free and popular “Jazz in the Garden” series returns for a seventh summer to the NGA Sculpture Garden on the National Mall. Every Friday from 5-8:30 p.m., through August 31st, you’ll enjoy top local and regional musicians, with access to the Pavilion Café. www.nga.gov.
FabricThe Art of QuiltingQuilted fabrics are as old as ancient Egypt, with whole cloth quilts used as trade goods as far back as the 15th century. Whole cloth quilts are made from one large top fabric with a thicker inner layer and a backing cloth. Stitching in various designs and intricacy was used to decorate the surface. It has long been believed that the history of quilting in America started with the arrival of the Mayflower. Although it’s a romantic idea, it is very unlikely that any pieced, quilted items arrived with those early settlers. Fabric was handspun and handwoven and therefore used for necessities such as clothing. There was very little waste or leftover fabric and whatever might have been left was used for patch/repair. Only royalty and the very rich could afford to have woven items made to be used as bed coverings. Quilting was very much a status item because it indicated that you could afford to use woven goods for more than clothing. The wealthiest and most class conscious of the colonists were those in Virginia, and they would have been the first to have quilted items. Those early quilts were made of imported chintz by the whole cloth method or appliquéd into large-piece designs. Quilting in America was not common until the late 18th century and the early years of the 19th century. Most women were busy spinning, weaving and sewing clothing for their families, and commercial blankets were economical enough that most anyone could afford them. Only the wealthy had the time and funds to do quilting. And these items were most often made as decorative rather than functional items. At this time trapunto was used to create more distinct designs and styles. This is a decorative quilted design in high relief worked through at least two layers of cloth by outlining the design in running stitch and padding it from the underside. Appliquéd designs came into real popularity during the Industrial Revolution and the advent of mass produced fabrics. This innovation gave the quilt designer many more avenues of pattern and color. Medallion quilts, which have a design that surrounds a center shape or patterned fabric swatch, also became popular. A huge variety of cotton prints were available by this time and made it easier for less wealthy persons to attempt quilting.
A major shift occurred in the area of quilt making and styles around 1840. That was the start of block style quilts where individual blocks of various colors were sewn and then joined together. This style, made in a large variety of patterns, is still popular today. The introduction of the sewing machine streamlined the hand quilting process and brought the art of quilting into a new popularity. (In 1834, Walter Hunt built America’s first successful sewing machine, but the first patent was issued to Elias Howe in 1846.) The time and energy saved by joining the smaller pieces together with a sewing machine meant the hand work of the actual quilting process could be enjoyed. One of the more recent techniques involves joining of strips, and then diagonal cutting and re-sewing the strips together. This speeds up the strip-joining process and makes some of the most colorful and interesting quilts of the day. From a historical point of view, quilted bed coverings have played important roles in support of our soldiers during war. Women from both sides during the Civil War created quilts that were used to earn money to help support their fighting men. In the South, they were often referred to as “gun boat quilts,” since purchase of those ships was the purpose of any funds raised from quilt sales. Needless to say, the quilts for fighting troops were made from simple whole cloth methods for utilitarian purposes. Unfortunately, few of these quilts survive today. We are fortunate to have so many fabrics, patterns and guidelines from which to choose in our quilt making. From simple to elaborate, age-old pattern to modern abstract styles, quilting has something for everyone. For a real treat, visit an exhibition: —Shelburne Museum, Shelburne, VT - Something Pertaining to God: The Patchwork Art of Rosie Lee Tompkins, and Stars and Bars: A Gift of Amish Quilts from Barbara and Michael Polemis, through Oct. 28. —Winterthur Museum, Winterthur, DE - Quilts in a Material World: Selections from the Winterthur Collection, through Sept. 16. —Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO - Textile Art Acquisitions, through Nov. 25.
Kids’ KornerChalk Drawing OutdoorsPainting and drawing outside in the fresh air and sunshine is fun and exciting. One way you can easily do this is to make chalk drawings on the sidewalks and driveway around your home. If you live in the inner city, curb décor is a neat new idea for urban dwellers and is just as easy to do. All you need is a box or bucket of multi-colored chalk. You can draw some designs on paper and then transfer them to the walks and drives. Or you can simply strike out with a pail of colored chalk and “let it happen.” As a starting step, do a rough outline of the scene you want. This will help you keep the drawing in perspective, especially if you are working on an extra large image. Use a light color for the outline. It’s easy to see and very easy to cover or alter as the drawing progresses. If this type of drawing is new to you, you might want to start with a few smaller-sized scenes. This way you can see how easy it is to draw on the smoothness of concrete or the challenges you face with a rough surface. But drawing small to start is a good way to test your ideas. One of the more challenging things to try is a scene that appears to be three-dimensional. That might include a building or other structure, a road that regresses into the distance or a river or stream that enlarges as it comes toward you. There are a multitude of ideas that work very well done in chalk. But doing work outside lets you enjoy the outdoors and the sunshine and be creative at the same time. You might also entice your friends into joining you and creating a huge scene; or perhaps start a drawing group that continually refreshes or changes the picture. It’s a lot of fun to work on a project with others for additional ideas and different uses of color that will be interesting to all participants. Unfortunately, there is not a way to save the drawings you create (except perhaps with a camera). The very nature of the chalk drawings is temporary and that makes it an ever-changing image. As the colors diminish, the look of the drawing changes. At some point, you may want to wash it away and start fresh. That is as easy as turning on a garden hose. So, gather up lots of chalk in the most vivid colors you can find, invite friends, and go out and have some fun. Enjoy your summer!
New Destination to OpenNoah’s Art at the Skirball, Los Angeles, CA, will open on June 26. Inspired by the ancient flood story of Noah’s Ark, this indoor and outdoor attraction offers a multi-sensory, interactive experience. Visitors board a gigantic wooden ark to play, climb, build, discover, nurture, problem-solve and collaborate alongside handcrafted, one-of-a-kind animals that range from life-sized elephants and giraffes to snow leopards, flamingos and iguanas–186 species in all and all crafted from recycled materials and everyday objects. Unique to the experience are impromptu “happenings,” surprise interactions and drop-in activities. This project was five years in the making, occupies an 8,000 square-foot gallery space and will be on view permanently. 310-440-4500; www.skirball.org. Sketching at the National Gallery, Washington, D.C.Sketching in the Galleries is designed for children and adults to participate together and includes drawing instruction in the galleries and an activity booklet to help families investigate works of art. For children ages 8-12 with an adult companion, this is a free drop-in program from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Activities are ongoing and families can move at their own pace. “Drawing Degas” is scheduled for July 13, 14, 27 and 28. Explore paintings and sculptures by French artist Edgar Degas through sketching activities, a film and a tour of the sculpture galleries. Call 202-789-3030. www.nga.gov.
The Artist’s MarketplaceNew Kids’ Products from Strathmore
Look for three new Strathmore Kids products to help keep the kids busy this summer with art activities: Tracing Paper is an economical, semi-transparent parchment for tracing or sketching with pencil or pen, 40 sheets per pad. Colored Art Board is highly fade-resistant, 14 point all-purpose art board for paper sculptures, signs, bulletin board cutouts, mobiles and block printing. Colors are printed on one side and include: red, canary, orange, light green, emerald green, azure, rich blue and black; 16 sheets per pack. And white smooth-surfaced Art Board comes 25 sheets per pack. www.strathmoreartist.com.
New Products from Artool
AirbrushQuick TipsNoisy Compressor/Quiet Work Space – Many people who become involved with airbrush technique already own an air source. In many instances, this is a compressor purchased from Sears or a hardware store for purposes other than spray painting. Generally, since these were not designed specifically for airbrush technique, they can sometimes be too loud when operating in the work environment. To eliminate the noise problem, some airbrushers enclose the compressor in an insulated box, which must have an opening that allows the compressor to breathe and possibly a fan to cool the compressor, as necessary. An easier way to solve this noise problem is to locate the compressor at a good distance and run an air line into the work area, where an air regulator is attached to the end of the hose. The regulator, some of which come with a built-in moisture trap and airbrush holder, should be placed as close as possible to the airbrush station. The airbrush hose is connected to the regulator and the other end is connected to the airbrush. Because the regulator is close at hand, you can quickly and easily manipulate the air pressure. A tip would be to let the compressor run full-blast and do all air regulation at the work station. You can also T-off the air at the compressor, thus allowing you to work with the power tools of original intent, i.e., nail gun, sander, etc. See your retailer and visit www.silentaire.com for an extensive line of Silentaire Technology compressors.
A breakthrough in technology from IWATA, this valve allows infinite control of the air flow at the head assembly of the airbrush. This is quite different from regulating the air pressure at the compressor. For one thing, it allows you to adjust the airbrush to spray a coarse stippling effect by cutting down the air flow. Conversely, by opening the air flow you will get full atomization without ever having to touch the regulator. To achieve an extremely fine line for detail work, adjust the air valve to give maximum control of the paint output. Also, by fully opening the MAC valve, the airbrush can be quickly cleaned during color changes. To paint a broad background, fully open the valve to spray a large amount of paint. Some airbrushers find it handy to hold onto the MAC while painting, giving added stability and being able to instantly twist it open or closed at will. See your retailer and visit www.iwata-medea.com.
ArtPourriFinalists Named—Four artists have been shortlisted for the Turner Prize 2007: Zarina Bhimji, Nathan Coley, Mike Nelson and Mark Wallinger. To be held for the first time outside of London, the Turner Prize exhibition will open at Tate Liverpool on Oct. 19, with the winner (who will receive $50,000) announced on Dec. 3 Stamps Reissued – The U.S. Postal Service has issued reprints of the 3-cent Silver Coffee Pot and 1-cent Tiffany Lamp definitive stamps in new formats. The Silver Coffee Pot, sixth in the American Design series, features Tania Lee’s simplified rendering of a circa 1786 silver coffee pot belonging to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Tiffany Lamp is the third stamp in the American Design series and features artist Lou Nolan’s rendering that evokes the work of Louis Comfort Tiffany. Comfort Wall Hanging Donated – After the recent tragic events at Virginia Tech, fiber artist Meryl Ann Butler created a comforting quilt for her daughter, a 2nd year student at the college. Next she created a fiber art wall hanging entitled “Hugs for Hokies: Hearts and Hands Reach Out to Virginia Tech” to present to the university, crafted from over 450 separate pieces of fabric. Butler is also an author associated with Krause Publications. To donate to the Hokie Memorial Fund, established by the university to aid in the healing process, call 800-533-1144. NEA News – The NEA will award 951 grants totaling $67,348,450 to benefit local, state, regional and national arts organizations across the country in the categories of Access to Artistic Excellence, Arts on Radio and Television, Learning in the Arts, Partnerships and American Masterpieces.— They have also announced recipients of the Summer Schools in the Arts program, an initiative designed to enhance the quantity and quality of arts education opportunities for youth, and hence, to create model programs. Twenty-five grants totaling $680,000 were awarded to organizations in communities ranging from Boston, MA, to Wailuku, HI.— Valerie Rosenthal, a volunteer at Phoenix Art Museum in Phoenix, AZ, has been awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award, a national honor offered in recognition of volunteer service. Auction News – Christie’s: The evening sale of Impressionist and Modern Art totaled $236.4 million, the third highest result for the category at Christie’s. Five world auction records were set. The Post-War and Contemporary Art sale became the most valuable auction ever in the category and the second highest art auction in history at over $384.6 million. Twenty-six new world auction records were set, with Warhol’s epic Green Car Crash selling for $71.7 million. Sotheby’s: The spring sales of Impressionist and Modern Art achieved an outstanding total of over $337.2 million, the second highest ever in company history. Several records were set and the top price achieved was for a watercolor by Paul Cezanne, Nature morte au melon vert, at $25.5 million. The evening sale of Contemporary Art made auction history at over $254.8 million. Two masterpieces that shattered previous records were Mark Rothko’s White Center (Yellow, Pink and Lavender on Rose) at $72.8 million and Francis Bacon’s Study from Innocent X at $52.6 million. On July 4 Sotheby’s will offer for sale one of the finest collections of watercolors by J. M. W. Turner to have come to the market in living memory.
Copyright ARTtalk Vol. 17 No. 8 — June 2007 |
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—The popular Artool Hobby Mask is now
available in a MINI SERIES: 4” x 5 yd. This stretchable, solvent
proof, repositionable clear masking film is perfect for all 1/8-1/25th
model scales, including RC cars, model airplanes/trains/cars, kits, figure
models and a myriad of kustom airbrush applications. It’s also great for use
with sculpture, ceramics or any three-dimensional artwork.
—Artool Stretch Mask, a multi-medium,
stretchable and repositionable clear low-tack adhesive masking film, is now
available in the new MINI SERIES size: 6” x 10 yd roll. This is
especially suited to conform to curved and irregularly shaped compound surfaces
such as motorcycle fenders, tanks, helmets and myriad kustom automotive
configurations. It will not bleed or flutter under airbrush spray or lift up
paint when removed and/or repositioned.
—The new Artool Evil 3 Freehand Airbrush Template
Set, designed by Craig Fraser, is the perfect embodiment of “See no evil,
hear no evil and speak no evil.” Now all of this fun has been combined into
one package of various sizes. You can create the same “skullicious” design on
your model car, RC car, model plane, bike, hot rod or off-shore boat and not
worry about scale! See your retailer and visit 
MAC Valves – The new Hi-Line Airbrushes
from Iwata look very similar to the older HP Series except for
one unique feature: There’s a knob situated at the bottom front of the
airbrush just below the color cup. This is the micro air control or MAC valve. 