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 Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Introducing ArtistsNetwork.tv
Posted by sarah

Outlook.jpg
We've been busy little bees behind the scenes for months, arranging the production of a wonderful new tool for artists: ArtistsNetwork.tv

ArtistsNetwork.tv was launched today to provide online instructional videos from leading contemporary artists. The videos are streamed to ArtistsNetwork.tv members so that they can be viewed 24/7 from any computer with a high-speed internet connection without requiring software downloads. You can choose to subscribe to any of our individual workshops for a six-month period or you can subscribe to all ArtistsNetwork.tv video workshops for a six-month period.

Check it out. Right now you can watch free previews, sign up and get a free gift (Paul Dorrell's "How to Market Your Art"), or get unlimited videos for six months. All in all, it's very exciting news for all of us here at F+W Publications. We've been chomping at the bit to tell you about it. And by the way, if you're wondering where the pastel demonstrations are, stay tuned. We'll be rolling out new offerings every month, including pastel-exclusive material.



Art Inspiration | Overheard | Shows and Events | Tips and Techniques | Tools and Materials
5/14/2008 3:22:46 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #  Comments [0]
 Saturday, May 03, 2008
Live From NAMTA 2008
Posted by jessica

Greetings from Reno, Nevada, the “biggest little city in the world!” As I type, a group of us from F+W are at The International Art Materials Trade Association Convention and Trade Show to get the scoop on the latest and greatest art products. My purpose for The Pastel Journal, of course, is to deliver that info to you via the magazine, so be on the lookout for buzzed-about new materials in the future.

Speaking of buzz, the unofficial theme of this year’s show seems to be green efforts in the art materials industry. We’ve seen the debut of all types of eco-friendly products, from aerosol paints and portfolios to brush cleaner and entire art studios. As soon as technology decides to cooperate, I’ll post some photos from the show room floor.

Oh, and no joke—how surprised I was to discover a landscape by Mary Silverwood hanging by the elevators on my floor at the Grand Sierra Resort! It's a small art world after all.


*update (5/5/08): a few photos



A seat cover on one of the buses that took us to and from the hotel to convention center. (Others promoted sister publications Watercolor Artist and The Artist's Magazine.)



Part of our space at the show



Advertising staffers Kristin and Suzanne, with Maureen, editor of The Artist's Magazine



A view of the Sierra Nevada mountains, from the rooftop of the Nevada Museum of Art



A Mary Silverwood painting, on my very own hotel floor!


Shows and Events | Tools and Materials
5/3/2008 12:27:58 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #  Comments [0]
 Monday, April 07, 2008
Big Stories, Small Package
Posted by anne

927_1026_large.jpgPeople are funny about their old books and magazines. Some readers swear by the save-everything-forever approach, secure in the knowledge that they can go back and find information that they may want some day in the future. Others, less comfortable with clutter, may be a bit more inclined to read and recycle. Many find themselves somewhere in between, cranky about clutter but unwilling to let go of anything (me, me, me).

I know from our research (and from conversation) that most readers of The Pastel Journal fall into the keep-it-forever camp, at least when it comes to copies of TPJ. And I’d imagine that, depending on one’s skills (or interest) in organization, these magazine libraries may take the form of a cardboard box in the closet or a tidy shelf of labeled three-ring binders. But regardless of where you fall on the neat-freak scale, you're going to want to know about a brand-new option for maintaining your magazine archive that's compact and portable: We've just released a computer CD with digital files of every page of every issue published in 2007!

Here’s how it works, just pop the CD into your home computer or laptop. (The CD uses a PDF format, making it compatible for PC and Mac with Acrobat Reader, a free program already installed on most computers). There at your fingertips you'll find each issue of the magazine, ready to read page-by-page, just as you might a print issue. Or, browse the Table of Contents, and click on a story title to jump to that article. You can even click on coverlines to get to the related story. Best of all, if you know you saw an article (or artist or product review) in 2007, but can't remember which issue, you can use keyword search to locate it—that's a whole lot easier than digging through that cardboard box for dog-eared pages!

Click here to get more information about the CD (or to order your copy). And then, be on the look-out for a CD of 2006 issues later this year!




Tools and Materials
4/7/2008 1:58:03 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #  Comments [0]
 Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Cross Pollination
Posted by sarah




You've seen our new site, right? And you've noticed that we're teaming up with two other fine art magazines, right? What can this union bring to us? Here are just a few things you might want to check out this afternoon:

1. Find out what copyright law means to artists with this free downloadable guide. You can't afford to miss it.
2. Check out artist Greg Albert's critique of a pastel painting and find out how you can have your own work critiqued.
3. Watch a slide show that takes you inside the studio of renowned still life painter Jeanette Pasin Sloan.
4. Watch a PanPastel demo here. And then check out a whole heap of product reviews here.
5. Find out how to avoid Internet art scams here.
6. Do an art-inspired crossword puzzle and then look at all the answers.

Art Inspiration | Overheard | Tips and Techniques | Tools and Materials
3/5/2008 4:01:13 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #  Comments [2]
 Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Pastel Starter Kit
Posted by sarah

images-1.jpegOur recent ruminations on Pastel FAQ's has resulted in an influx of rather spirited e-mails. Some of you have even prioritized your questions in order of importance to you as an artist. All we can say is, wow. Your enthusiasm for the medium continues to inspire and amaze us. So, what do you want to know this time around? Here is a sampling (in order of importance to you as artists, of course).

Q. Pastel dust!?! How do I keep it at bay?
A. Artists are an inventive sort--we hear all kinds of improvised solutions to this problem and we're always interested in hearing more--but the reality is that pastel dust comes with the territory. Learn to love it, and try to resist the temptation to blow on your paintings. Take your work on a little walk outside from time to time and tap it to remove excess dust. Wear disposable gloves or gloves in a bottle (check out the one-gallon bottle!) to protect your hands and wear a dust mask to protect your lungs if you're worried about your asthma. Many artists attach a dust trap to their easels for the purpose of catching dust, some lined with masking tape, and some attached to a device that will whisk the dust away to dust heaven. I can't resist adding Madlyn-Ann C. Woolwich's characteristically charming voice to the conversation here:

Humming quietly next to me is an air cleaner....not the kind that takes up a whole studio and costs a fortune; but one of the tall, thin ones that are next to noiseless; that attract flying particles to a metal rod which is removable and washable. It runs cheaply for hours, without annoying noises. My easel tray is protected by a large trash bag clamped over the tray. When dust hits the tilted tray it falls forward into the bag. I use an old toothbrush to hasten any recalcitrant particles into the bag. My feet are covered with large baggies, fastened at the top with the double red elastics used to bind manuscripts. In a word I look wierd. (Read the entire essay here.)

Q. Where can I find pastel supports (boards and papers) online?
A. Here's a (short) list of online resources in no particular order: Cheap Joe's, Jerry's Artarama, Dick Blick, Dakota Art Pastels, Mister Art, Winsor & Newton, Jack Richeson & Co, Ampersand Art Supply.

Q. Who do I talk to about my subscription?
A. Give customer service a call at 877-860-9141 or click here.

Q. How do I get started in pastels?
A. One good way to learn about pastels is to talk to pastel artists--join the pastel community, why don't you? As it happens, there's a riveting conversation on this very topic happening right now at WetCanvas! The lovely and knowledgable Deborah Secor takes up questions such as these (see list below) for newbies to the pastel world. Visit this, the king of all newbie threads, to find the answers from a variety of perspectives.

1. What pastels should you buy first and why?
2. What paper(s) should you try and why?
3. What other supplies will you need and what will you use them for?
4. How do you go about setting up to use pastels the very first time?
5. What about storing that pastel once you have something you want to keep?

Of course, we've also got to give an obligitory nod to The Pastel Journal as an excellent resource for information on pastels. It's the only magazine designed specifically with pastel artists (both beginners and professionals) in mind. In the new special competition issue, you'll find more than 100 award-winning pastel paintings, plus a special report (compiled by Deborah Secor) on getting the best bang for your buck out of your art supplies. Visit an online gallery of works by the artists who contributed to Secor's feature here. And watch an online interview with the competition's Grand Prize winner Ron Monsma here.

As always, send us questions if you've got 'em by clicking here.


Tips and Techniques | Tools and Materials
2/20/2008 10:07:02 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #  Comments [0]
 Wednesday, January 16, 2008
A Pastel Demo for You
Posted by Sarah





Evening Light (11x14) by Maggie Latham

If you're in the mood for a little arts education, we recommend that you check out this fine pastel demonstration by a pastel artist we are quite pleased to know: Maggie Latham has posted a "Talk on Pastels" at WetCanvas!  In it, she discusses techniques, materials and her own personal approach to painting.  She also shares photos of her process from board prep to finished product.

You don't need to be a member of WetCanvas! to visit the demo, but you do need to be a member to participate in the discussion. If you were on the fence about joining before, now might be a good time to come on over. Latham has invited you to jump in with questions, comments or input.

I also hasten to mention that you can download a free PDF of a guide Latham wrote for our sister publication, Watercolor Artist, on using technology in the studio to produce your own
giclée prints. (That's right--Latham also paints in watercolor.)


Art Inspiration | Overheard | Tips and Techniques | Tools and Materials
1/16/2008 4:03:05 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #  Comments [0]
 Monday, December 17, 2007
Creative Gift
Posted by anne

SKB_1205_300.jpgThe topic of gifts is certainly a popular one at this time of year, but I wanted to talk about creative gifts—as in talents—not creative gifts as in "clocky," the alarm clock that has wheels so it can roll off your dresser and come at you if you don't get up. Yes, I can see that clocky might be a helpful thing for me, especially on these dark, winter mornings, but even more helpful would be anything that exercises my creative muscles. Before it ceased publication in 2006, Artist's Sketchbook magazine was just such a ready supply of creative inspiration. Fortunately, the latest CD compilation at the F+W magazine store is Artist's Sketchbook 2005 and 2006 which includes nine issues of the magazine, all on a single CD for your computer.

As a former editor of that magazine, I have a soft spot for the publication and its mission to help new and experienced artists alike discover and nurture their creative powers. Sketchbook articles celebrate the artistic process with exercises to keep artists in the flow and peeks inside real sketchbooks—the universal tool for artists. The June 2006 issue of Artist's Sketchbook, which includes features on nature sketchbooks, travel journals, drawing portraits, painting to music, and getting the most out of a trip to the Musee d'Orsay in Paris—was the last. So, if you never happened on to this little gem, now's a great chance to see what you missed.

You'll also find at the store CD compilations of our sister publications, Watercolor Artist and The Artist's Magazine. And don't worry, similar compilations of The Pastel Journal are in the works for 2008 (we'll be sure to alert you). Meanwhile, you can find excerpts from The Pastel Journal on the CD "The Best Art of 2005 and 2006," which compiles more than 500 images, all the winning art from the competitions of all three fine art publications. The CDs are easily searched, easily stored and perfectly portable. How fun to think you could stuff more than 500 works of art into a single stocking? That's a creative gift that can actually inspire our creative gifts!




Art Inspiration | Tools and Materials
12/17/2007 4:36:44 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)  #  Comments [0]
 Monday, August 13, 2007
A Visit With Albert Handell
Posted by anne

AlbertAnne160.jpgStudio160.jpg

Last May, after attending the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS) in Albuquerque, N.M., several of us from the magazine (group publisher David Pyle, managing editor Sarah Strickley and myself) rented a car and took a short drive north to Santa Fe, the beloved art mecca of the Southwest. Here we paid a visit to the celebrated artist Albert Handell in his picturesque adobe-style studio. We spent a wonderful morning talking about his life in art, his techniques and materials, while also enjoying a private showing of his artwork—mostly landscapes with esquisite color like the pastel landscape La Vista (16x17) below, but also pastel still lifes and figures, and a number of lively drawings, too.

LaVista1601.jpgOne result of our visit is a print feature about the artist in the new September/October issue of the magazine; the issue mails to subscribers this week and hits newsstands September 4. Also, because David was able to play the role of camera-man during our conversation, we also were able to create four short video clips with selections from our discussion. Mind you, I'm quite sure our videos won't be winning any awards at Cannes, but I know you'll enjoy hearing about the artist's methods and materials straight from the source.

Start your viewing with "Orchestrating With Contrast,"in which Handell describes how he came to use watercolor as an underpainting for his pastels. In "Plein Air Painting Trip," he describes the structure of a typical day painting on location—where to, how long, how many paintings, etc. In "Plein Air Setup & Supplies," you can see what Handell carries with him on location as he packs up supplies from trunk to luggage carrier. In "Managing Color With Value," watch the artist demonstrate how to find different colors of similar value. In workshops, Handell suggests this as an organizing method—a way to get a handle on the many colors in one's pastel box. But you'll see—in a peak inside his own box—that he doesn't actually follow his own organizational advice. He, personally, prefers a bit of chaos in his pastel box which he says keeps his eyes more awake.

Our thanks to Albert for graciously inviting David and Sarah and I (and our camera!) into his studio. And, by extension, inviting our whole family of magazine- and blog-readers too!









Tips and Techniques | Tools and Materials
8/13/2007 10:15:34 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #  Comments [2]
 Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Get Your Paws on The PJ Back Issues You're Missing
Posted by Sarah



While trolling the web, as I am often wont to do, I noticed that some folks are selling back issues of The Pastel Journal on eBay. After the first flush of flattery passed--some of the prices were impressively high!--I thought about readers paying three or four times what they would pay, if they visited our store, and it about broke my heart. We know that many of you covet your back issues of the magazine as though they were printed on gold leaf--we covet our own collections of the magazine too--and we know that sometimes a copy disappears inexplicably or grows legs or is a casualty of beverage misplacement, which is why we're glad we're able to offer back issues at $8 or $9 a copy. It's a pretty good deal. Incidentally, if you're interested in a little stroll through PJ history, the store is your place. It's a little like looking at photos of yourself taken 10 years ago--you see yourself and your own potential simultaneously and very clearly.

Tools and Materials
7/25/2007 11:39:31 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #  Comments [0]
 Monday, July 02, 2007
Great Tips for Getting Started in Pastel
Posted by anne

I added a post last week about the Wet Canvas! online artist community; today I want to point out why this is such a valuable resource. The mission of this community is to be a place where artists of all types and skill levels can share knowledge, experiences and opinions. So, you'll find a great many posts that simply ask for feedback on works-in-progress. You'll also find a lot of problems and solutions, questions about product, business matters, and in one thread--started last month by our own contributing writer Deborah Secor--you'll find pages of helpful advice aimed at beginners to pastel: tips about materials, dealing with dust, testing colors, framing options, and much much more. What a wonderful opportunity to learn from others' experiments, mistakes and successes--and then put the knowledge to work in your own painting. Check it out; chances are--even if you've been at this awhile--you'll learn something. And hopefully you'll be inspired to share some of your own lessons-learned as well.



Tips and Techniques | Tools and Materials
7/2/2007 1:51:03 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #  Comments [2]
 Thursday, May 24, 2007
Test Your Own Pastels
Posted by Sarah

logo.jpgWhile at the IAPS convention, Anne and I had the pleasure of meeting Michael Skalka, task chair for the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) Pastel Standard. Skalka oversees the Modern Art Materials Collection and Study Center and is known for his clearly superhuman knowledge of the science and history of art materials. He's also a regular blogger for our sister publication, The Artist's Magazine. At IAPS, Skalka gave a presentation on the lightfastenss of pastels. Now, he's blogging about it. Here's a little excerpt:
Pastel artists don't have to be held captive when it comes to knowing what colors are good performers and those that fade fairly quickly when exposed to light. A protocol that provides a very good indicator of how materials will behave if exposed to light, is available for anyone to use. The method is fairly simple. Artists can prepare a suitable sample card that exposes a portion of the pastel to light while leaving a portion masked from any exposure.
Read the whole post on Skalka's Anatomy of Art Materials and download a free how-to on testing your own pastels.  And when you're done with that, come on back and tell us what you think about it.



Tools and Materials
5/24/2007 8:47:40 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #  Comments [0]