Sculpture Exploration--The Art Room with Sherrie Hiller

This session is dedicated to SCULPTURE EXPLORATION using various materials and your creativity!


January 22 - February 14, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
Students ages 7 - 14
3:15 pm - 5:15 pm Class Time (drop off at 3:00)
Cost for class: $240

Stop in or call to register:  (800) 255-1290 or (802) 879-1236

Instructor: Sherrie Hiller (read a great testimonial about Sherrie here!)
Location:  Artists' Mediums, Williston

The after-school program is an opportunity for young artist to explore art concepts and experience self-discovery in a supportive, nonjudgmental art studio environment through a mixed media journey, including drawing, jewelry making, painting, collage, clay, found objects, cray-pas, pastels, creative writing and more.
The class will be perfect for students ages 7- 14 years old. The schedule is for 4 weeks; Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays. At 3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. there is an open studio of warm up exercises to get ready for class time 3:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.



New Year Specials!

Welcome in 2013 with some great new additions to your studio: 

Shiva Paintsticks, Encaustikos encaustics, beautiful Belgian linen for your next painting, and so much more!  Also check our COUPON page for more deals.

Buy 2 Get 1 Free offers are for an equal or lesser value of the same brand.

These offers are for a limited time only, get them while the getting is good.

Shiva Paintsticks Buy 2 Get 1 Free!

Encaustic tins & sticks Buy 2 Get 1 Free!

Muslin bags (various sizes) Buy 2 Get 1 Free!

Canson Expressions 12x12 papers
Were 79 cents NOW 39 cents each!

Portrait grade Belgian Linen CLEARANCE Was $69.99/yd
NOW $15/ yd

These are in-store specials, no coupon required.

Art or art therapy? (A plea for the real world)

In this day of digital everything, I'd like to make a plea for a little bit of the real world.

I've had several conversations lately with manycustomers about some interesting technological developments.
 

I've been told that in an effort to reduce the use of paper, many school systems will soon have children using a tablet for every bit of school work from an early age through high school. From now on kids will e-mail homework, and have the ability to access a huge variety of technology. In essence, I am not against this. I just wish there were a bit more balance.

Another complaint I have heard several times this summer, is that many of the upcoming generations can no longer read hand written cursive, or calligraphy. I know that some of it never was legible. Still it seems a shame. Some of you may be glad, if so I'd love to hear why.

There is this wonderful new world of digital art, which puts so many applications at your fingertips that you can paint, draw, airbrush, and animate images without even knowing how to hold a paint brush. You don't even need to know how any of it happens, and you can change colors without having to squeeze out another tube of paint.

Why would you ever want to buy all those art supplies, if one tablet can do it all? Why would you ever want to do more than just push buttons? Why would you want to have to put down a drop cloth, or make a mess?

Besides, digital art can be and often is - quite beautiful.
 

I just worry that something indescribable is lost here.

 Do you remember the silky softness of finger paints squishing between your fingers.

Art can have a physical visceral edge to it, and that can be part of the process.
   The sound of scissors munching through a creamy cotton paper, the soft deckled edge of watercolor paper, or the press of your hand into soft clay.
There is a magic to it.

Old masters mixed paint from the elements and were almost considered alchemists.
 Like the block print with it's subtle variations for each pull of the print. The happy accident of a double print that gives new movement, magic, and life to an image.
  Art has the vitality of life.

The element of surprise when the translucent watercolor flows into an unexpected and wonderful shape.

The more cynical folks (assuming anyone is even still reading at this point,) will say “Of course! She's just trying to make money selling her art supplies – she has a motive here!”

You're right. I do scratch out my living from a local art store. Art inspires me and keeps me sane.  Also, I am honored to employ a few wonderful, kind and knowledgeable local artists. We try to encourage emerging artists and sell their work through the store. (The local Artists get 70% Artists' Mediums Inc. gets a 30% commission.)

 Yes, I'll encourage you to buy art, framing, or even art supplies. The truth is, art supplies don't have to be expensive. You don't have to spend a lot of money to find your creativity.
Start simple.
 First there is the pencil. It costs less than a cup of coffee, will write on most porous surfaces, it is easy to transport, and operates beautifully even in zero gravity. It will draw when the power goes out, so when your pencil breaks, you still have the art!
 Just sketch!

-Chelsea Lindner

manager

Artists' Mediums Inc.

Vermont

 

 

Amazing Gift Show items

 The selection of gorgeous handmade items from over 40 artists that are already on display here in the store is stunning!

You could go to the box store and buy any number of cheap mass produced items this holiday season...but wouldn't it be much nicer to support local art and get a one-of-a-kind gift for the unique people in your life?

Ordering up for the Holidays!

     We have Brush sets galore

All kinds of wonderful sketch, and Watercolor pads

Even Storage Boxes and other totes for your art supplies

We have even built Watercolor sets with color already in them for a REALLY GREAT PRICE!

Fall leaves

As you prepare for Thanksgiving, don't forget we have many items to make wonderful autumn decorations.

We have skeleton leaves in Gold, Silver and Copper, as well as a great variety of autumnal handmade papers!

 

lace paper!

THE ART ROOM

This After school program is an opportunity for young artist to explore art concepts and experience self-discovery in a supportive, nonjudgmental art studio environment through a mixed media journey, including drawing, jewelry making, painting, collage, clay, found objects, cray-pas, pastels, creative writing and more.

The class will be perfect for the students 7- 12 years old. The schedule is for 4 weeks; Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays. At 3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. there is an open studio of warm up exercises to get ready for class time 3:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. (The actual days of scheduled programs are listed below)

 Sherrie Hiller, Instructor - Location: Artists’ Mediums Inc. Williston Vermont

This session will be:

Mixed Mediums and You!

This first session will start out making a journal from the recycle bin, (Fabric scraps, telephone wire, and clean recyclables). We will draw, paint, and sculpt using cray-pas, pastels, tempera paints, water color, paper, plaster cast, and clay. Have fun creating a portrait flip book, painting, plaster cast, and clay bust. The subject will be you! We will talk about different styles of art; sculpture, naturalist painting, abstract, stylized, and artists, Rodin, DaVinci, Picasso, Warhol, Chuck Close, and more. Experimenting with these materials can have unpredictable and surprising results.

 

 4 week class schedule Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 8– 12 Students, 3:00PM – 3:15PM Open Studio; Warm up exercises to get ready for class. 3:15PM – 5:15PM Class Time.



 

  Tues. November 13th, Wed. November 14th, Thursday November 15^th

(skipping The week of THANKSGIVING)

Tues. November 27th, Wed. November 28th, Thursday November 29^th,

Tues. December 4^th, Wed. December 5^th, Thursday December 6^th,

Tues. December 11th, Wed. December 12th, Thursday December 13th,

 

Cost for class: $240.00 per student, (that's 24 hours of Artroom, only $10.00 per hour!)


Old Clothes or Smock are strongly recommended

Only registered students can attend the class. No electronic devices.
Cell phones must be turned off and out of sight during class instruction.
Please no snacks, (unless needed for health reasons) Water bottles are welcome

Gearing up for our Holiday Gift Exhibit

We are getting ready for the Holidays.

Reminding our talented customers to bring in art next week for the Gift Exhibit.

Also we are getting ready by ordering new products to make the Season bright and festive.


We are looking for those perfect, unique items that make gift giving fun.

Halloween!

I've always been a big fan of Halloween. We always carry a lot of fun stuff. But this year we have a great selection of Face Paint, Fabric Paint, Paints, Black foam board even glow in the dark paint as well as GLOW IN THE DARK SILLY PUTTY!.

Luminous colors for an illuminated Halloween

Golden Acrylic's Phosphorescent Green glows in the dark

AND

Holbein's Luminous Acrylic colors glow under blacklight!

 

 We also just received glow-in-the-dark SILLY PUTTY for Halloween.

What else is spooky around here? 

How about Speedball's glow-in-the-dark Silkscreen ink? 

Works great on fabric or paper.

Make your artwork a two-for-one: 

Paint or print a second image that pops out when it's shown under a different light.

You could also use this technique to dress up some really unique Halloween decorations.

 

 

Cleaninig Brushes

 Cleaning Brushes
Never rest brushes on their hairs. Always leave them flat or with the hairs upright. Keep brushes clean during the painting session and give them a thorough cleaning after the session. For water-based paints, switch back and forth between rinsing out with tap water and mildly soaped water. For oil and alkyd paints, use mineral spirits or turpentine in the same manner and finish up with mild soap or brush cleaner and water. Always reshape the brush when work is complete.

Here’s a tip for cleaning really big brushes often used in oil painting. Place an old wire colander in a gallon plastic ice cream bucket. Next, place both in a taller bucket with a lid. Fill the gallon bucket with paint thinner to cover the bristles. Swirl the brushes against the colander and then wipe off the excess with a rag. The big bucket catches any splashes.

Remember that solvents are toxic and should be disposed of as hazardous wastes.

 

 

My favorite Brush cleaner is Generals Brush cleaner, since it is non-toxic and I have seen it save brushes that I was sure were goners!-chelsea

Fine Framing at Artists Mediums

Have you seen Museum Glass yet? It is so amazing, that when they sent me this sample I said, why did they send me half a piece of glass?

You can see my reflection ion the UV Glass on the left, but you can barely see any reflection at all in the museum Glass. It is really amazing stuff.

 

Also don't forget we are always recieving new styles of frames from our vendors, these are just a couple of examples.

Auto Air Airbrush colors in stock

 We have a good selection of Auto Air Airbrush colors in stock at the moment, stop by if you need some nice bright colors to put through your airbrush!

Art Discussions

Once again, this subject has come up.

Would local artists would like to gather and share information and ideas about how and where we find our creative spark, and about how we each in our own way follow that sometimes rather winding path towards self expression?

There are many Galleries to show your art,

and there are arts organizations which help promote art,

but where is it that artists can meet to discuss creating?

I have often said that we all seem to work in a void.
If you are interested in joining or forming a discussion group, I would love your input.
Stop by the store to let us know your thoughts on gathering a group together!

24 Hours of Making COMICS

Now in Winooski!

Winooski Welcome Center will host the 6th Annual 24-Hour Comics Day on October 20th-21st 2012. 

The event is being co-produced by Artists’ Mediums, Rick Evans, and the Winooski Welcome Center.

24-Hour Comics Day, the fun and possibly grueling challenge for comic artists and writers worldwide is back! Artists of all abilities and styles are invited to push themselves to their physical and creative limits in the singular artistic challenge of creating an entire 24-page comic book in one 24-hour period.  

 

Rick made a mini-comic to help newbies figure out how to tackle the challenge.  It's a good refresher for everyone, seeing as how it only comes once a year.
Check it out on the info page here!

  

Ready to sign up?  

There are a few things to be aware of first:  

1. Be sure to arrange a ride to pick you up at the end of the event.  When you've been awake and drawing for 24 hours, it is not safe to be operating a vehicle.  
2. The event is open to participants 16 years and older.  Permission slips for those under 18 must be signed by a parent or guardian the day the event starts.  
3. You're going to be in one place for 24 hours.  Dress comfortably, bring food (or have friends visit you with food), a pillow, etc.  Read the guide for more suggestions from Rick, who has been leading this for us from the start.  
4. When you're ready to join in*, contact us by email at 24hcdvt@obscurius.org  or call Artists' Mediums at (802) 879-1236 
5. If you want to drop in and check the progress we're making, please do.  We'll be there from 10 a.m. Saturday the 20th through 10 a.m. Sunday the 21st.  Come watch the artists push their stories through to completion!

*Call soon, space is limited!

Kristin takes a break from her comic, a wordless story that ends with apples, sticks and rabbits

Emcee Rick Evans carefully plotting out his panels

Gregg Giordano (in black) and Geoff Glore (in red) keep coming back for more

Is Photography ART?

Artists Mediums, is helping to organize an "Is Photography Art" Debate? Maybe three debaters on each team. Maybe something for the dead of winter in the middle of January? Ken Signorello of the Darkroom Photography Gallery plus "The Art in Photography" will organize the pro debate, Who is willing to argue the con side?

Those artists using photos to work from raises another issue. Is a painting made from a projected photo, art or is the photo the art? 

 This raises another question: is a photograph of an art object art? Then, if you really want to make your head spin: is a still life image, made by photography or other medium art or is the assembled object the art? We could really put together a thought provoking program that could be very popular, and may even need to be a series.  I don't think I have seen this sort of thing done in the area.  This could put Williston/Essex on the art map.