Thanks to all who had participated  in last week’s bookbinding demonstration.  Keep watching this blog for more updates on all of the fascinating demonstrations that are coming up in the fall and winter.

Don’t forget that tomorrow is the bookbinding demonstration in the store.  It runs from 6:30-8:00PM, and depending on the size of the crowd, particpants should be able to take part in trying a method or two.

Call us at (216)-371-3500 for any questions.

Pay-As-You-Go Life Drawing has started at the Cleveland Institute of Art.  Anyone can go for a single week, or all of the weeks.

It’s every Wednesday night from 7:00-9:00PM until November 19th, 2008.  It’s only $15 for a session, and you just pay as you go in for each session.  The parking lot behind the Gund building on East Blvd will be open just prior to the session starting, and you will be able to park for free there.  Go into the rear entrance, where you would enter for Cinematheque films.  A guard will be inside to direct you, if you’re not sure where to go.  It is in room 303, which is one floor up from where you enter.   They welcome you to bring any art supplies that you want to use, and there are limited benches/chairs/easels for you to use.  People usually arrive a little early so that they can be set up and ready to go by 7:0opm.  There is no formal instruction offered, but if you need help, please as the professor moderating the evening.  I’ve found that they are always more than willing to help new people out.

For those under 18 years, there are special guidelines.  For questions about that or anything else, please call them at (216)-421-7461 or email them at es@cia.edu.

Join us next week for a bookbinding demonstration with Clarissa Jakobson. 

Thursday, September 25th from 6:30-8:00PM

It’s free and open to all.  She will demonstrate several types of joining methods, and there will also be a hands-on portion for those to take part in.  Please feel free to call, email, or put a comment here with any questions.

Power has been restored to our store.   Please be advised that although we have power, a lot of Coventry village, especially residential still do not. 

Feel free to call to verify that we are open before coming over, as if we lose power again, we will need to close.  If you do not get an answer, that means that we had to close.

Otherwise, see you soon!!!

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 from 7:00-9:00PM, our artist in residence, Joe Gyurcsak, will be in the store to conduct an oil portrait demonstration.  He will be available to answer any and all questions about painting, art materials, and techniques.  If you attended last year, then you know how quickly our store filled up, so be sure that you are early if you need a seat or to be up close to the painting action.

 Feel free to call us with any questions.

Due to the popularity of this event, we advise you to park in the Coventry Village parking structure.  There are 3 levels with lots and lots of spaces.  The meters just take quarters, and there is a quarter machine to the left as soon as you enter. 

With the weather turning to fall, and artists closing up their studio windows, we thought it would be great to give you some ideas to ensure your health and safety throughout the fall & winter months.

 1.  Ensure that you have proper ventilation or equip your studio with an Allerair purifier.  Remember, odorless does not mean “fume-free.”

2.  Wash your hands when finished working on your art.  Even better, use Artguard Barrier Cream on your hands prior to working to make cleaning up easier. 

 3.  Don’t sweep or dust away pastel dust.  Use a vacuum cleaner with good suction and a great filter to sweep it up.

 4.  Store solvents away from heating vents, stoves, or other sources of heat.  Be sure that if you put a solvent in a new container that you mark what it is on the outisde.  Keep solvents in glass jars with metal lids.

5.  Don’t pour solvents down your sink.  Follow directions on the packing for proper disposal.

6.  Don’t pour acrylic in the pipe, as it may clog your pipes.

7.  Keep your art supplies out of the reach of pets, children, and adults who may mishandle them. 

8.  Don’t point your brushes by putting them in your mouth.  Simply mold the wet bristles with your fingers.

9.  Don’t eat while you’re working in your studio.  Keep drinks far away from your work area, as you could easily wash a brush in your iced tea and not realize it until you’ve tried a sip.

 10.  Don’t feel silly wearing a mask in your studio.  They’re made to protect your health.

Feel free to post a comment with your helpful & healthy tips for a safe studio.

Hey everyone, don’t forget that the first Saturday of the month means that it’s SKETCHCRAWL TIME!  Usually, everyone meets at the Arcade at 10am, near the Downtown Cleveland Alliance office (in the middle of the shops).  I don’t see on their blog what the plan is for tomorrow yet, so just look at it as an adventure.

 It runs for two hours.  It’s totally free to anyone, any age, any level.  Don’t be intimidated, most of the people that go just have fun sketching and wouldn’t consider themselves professionals.   But, if you are a professional, then get out of your studio while the weather is still nice, meet some great people, get some fresh air, and draw or paint with no pressure.

Visit their website for more information.

See you there!

Compare our price on the set of 6 Micron pens.  Here, they are only $9.99!!!

 Compare elsewhere to $10.97-$13.99.

Ultra fine tip points make your writing appear delicate. Used for illustration, drafting, graphic design, accounting, decorative painting, and photo albums/scrapbooks.

The permanent ink allows you to do watercolor or ink washes over Micron lines, which makes them a great addition to your on location sketchbook kit.  Pair them with a moleskine and a small portable watercolor set, and you’re ready to go!

Compare our price!  Prismacolor open stock markers, now only $2.29!

Compare elsewhere to $2.49-$3.99.

Just another one of our fabulous deals we have going on right now!