Categories
Community Enthusiast Events at Wet Paint

Ofrenda “Cigar Box” Workshop

If you have visited Wet Paint during the past 2 weeks, you may have noticed some changes.  What used to be the office, is now housing frames and easels.  We have moved the administrative and management staff off of our main floor, giving us much needed space for products and events.

680470_4440636687970_353664104_oSo on Saturday November 2nd, we will push the easels out of the way and set up for the first in-house Wet Paint workshop. Customers often ask us for classes at Wet Paint.  Our series of in-store “Try-Its” and “Demos” have been very successful, but those in attendance know how our space has been limited.  Last year when Armando Gutiérrez G showed off his decorated alters, ofrendas, and offered customers advice, many begged for a class to actually build their own ofrenda.

This year we are offering a 3.5 hour hands-on workshop so you can make your own ofrenda. Enrollment is limited to 10 and registration is required.

DSC_0135Armando is a longtime friend of Wet Paint.  He works in many mediums and incorporates his strong cultural and spiritual beliefs into his work.  Adding to this his many years of teaching, Armando was perfect at our “Try-It” event last year celebrating the Day of the Dead.  This year’s workshop is a great opportunity to learn from a master with more elbow room than we have ever offered at Wet Paint.   The class fee also covers a cigar box and the art materials to decorate your own ofrenda. You are encouraged to bring your own photos, copies or small items to personalize your box.  Armando will provide an ongoing dialog about the cultural significances of the Day of the Dead and ofrenda as well as tips and techniques to make compelling art in this traditional form.

Check out his website to see his portfolio.

Register for the class online or stop in the store!  Workshop cost is $35 and is 10:30am to 2pm on November 2nd at Wet Paint.

Categories
Enthusiast Professionals

Why Wet Paint loves Gil

gilNearly 30 years ago I met Gil.  Gil was selling art supplies at a store in Berkeley.  Next time I saw Gil, he owned an art supply store in Palo Alto.  Both of us being independent art supply retailers meant we had a lot in common.  What we didn’t have in common, we have in a friendly way, argued about over the years.  Gil likes to travel and spends lots of time in Europe.  And during those trips, he has found some great art supply lines that no one was importing into the United States. So we share our retailer woes together plus Wet Paint buys Gil’s Kunst & Papier books and Fibonacci brushes.

Justin with his Kunst & Papier sketchbooks
Justin with his Kunst & Papier sketchbooks

Kunst & Papier is a German line of sketchbooks and journals.  They were designed by an artist because he couldn’t find a sketchbook to meet his own needs.  The Wet Paint staff heartily endorses this line through their own personal use of the product.  All of the sketchbooks are made with beautiful, quality paper.  They respond to a variety of media and of different artists’ touch very well.  The binderboard sketchbooks are their signature line.  With a highly flexible spine these books have a great lay flat quality. No more using the side of your palm to hold the rolling paper flat.  With plain bookboard covers, they are plain and simple in appearance which then can become the substrate for the artist to personalize.  Newbie at Wet Paint, Chris, likes the subdued appearance which you can “make your own without defacing the book.”  Both Liz and Justin rely on Kunst & Papier because their books are so well made they “wear well” and hold up to hauling them around with you.  Even K&P’s simplest soft-covered sketchbooks that have few sheets and staple binding meet the discerning eye of Virginia who applies a wide range of media to their pages.  Everyone feels they are just the most esthetically pleasing line of books, to the eye and to the touch.  They look good. They have a wide variety of sizes.  They have great paper.  They are well constructed.

Gil with a handful of Fibonacci brushes
Gil with a handful of Fibonacci brushes

A few years back Gil visited Wet Paint with the Fibonacci line of brushes he found during his travels.  The jaded Wet Paint staff, who have seen and tried just about every brush currently made, all wanted their own Fibonacci brushes.  Beautifully crafted with synthetic blended heads in a vast assortment of sizes and shapes for water media.  So what’s with another line of brushes?  Liz likes the comfortable, well balanced handles.  Verra likes the great snap of the hair. Justin likes the fact they hold their point for a very long time.  Steve likes the crispness of the lines they make. Another esthetically pleasing, well-crafted tool.

When you handle lots of art materials, you just know when you pick up the good ones.  These are them.

Categories
Community News & Media Professionals

Why Wet Paint loves Greg Graham

Greg at the paper counter at Wet Paint
Greg at the paper counter at Wet Paint

Twenty years ago I hired this guy not just with an artist’s attitude but a New York artist’s attitude to boot. I never imagined Greg would turn into a long term employee and be so devoted and committed to Wet Paint, our employees and customers. Greg has grown into a key manager at Wet Paint, keeping the front of the house well stocked and staffed. He is passionate about art materials and loves to share his extensive product knowledge with staff and customers. I am constantly amazed to hear Greg speak of a customer and the products they use; how they use it, and where they are showing their work.

"In Progress" enamel on panel by Gregory Graham
“In Progress” enamel on panel by Gregory Graham

And now Greg’s clientele has the opportunity to view his new work at the Bloomington Theatre and Art Center’s Atrium Gallery. The show includes 60 paintings (yes, 60) ranging in size from 4”x4” to 8”x10” (yes, inches). As a true art supply junkie, they are enamel over acrylic on Ampersand panels. He is currently using the Princeton Select 3750 series of brushes.

So join Greg at the reception for his show this Friday evening, October 4, from 6-8 p.m. I know he will love to see you and talk shop.

Check out his website www.gregorygrahamart.com