Golden introduces MXR Virtual Paint Mixer

For those who want to try their hand at mixing colours without waisting a single dime or having to clean the palette and a few brushes before getting a reasonable approach to their objective, Golden Artist Colors inc., has recently launched the MXR Virtual Paint Mixer.

 This new and free tool, matched to the characteristics of Golden paints, enables artists to mix paint by choosing the colour, adding it to one of the tubes on the right and then sliding the caps according to the desired mix. Through its numeric system, users can use L*a*b, RGB and CMYK colour systems to reach colour formulations.

 Another interesting and useful characteristic of this new tool, is the chance of being able to choose a colour from the spectrum and have its formula presented or to upload an image, select a colour from it and getting its mixing formula. This last one is quite important because the way we see colours depends on the other colours that surround them and sometimes it's not always easy to separate colours.

 Up to 18 mixtures can be saved per session and users can print the results, send them by email or even share on Facebook.

How Art Can Help People With Disabilities

Proclaimed in 1992, the annual observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons takes place on the 3rd of Decemmber.
The theme for 2011 is “Together for a better world for all:
Including persons with disabilities in development.”

We live in a society where laws and benefits fall far behind the needs of disable people and their families, and in many countries those laws are constantly disrespected without any sanction. Moreover there's a gap in terms of educating people in their relation with each other, especially between the so-called normal and those with disabilities - People with disabilities make up an estimated 15 per cent of the world’s population. Almost one-fifth of the estimated global total of people living with disabilities, or between 110-190 million, encounter significant difficulties. Furthermore, a quarter of the global population is directly affected by disability, as care-givers or family members.

One of the most successful methods of providing disabled people with personal development and social integration is through the arts, especially in the case of children.
Art enables dexterity development, a better perception of space (including negative space and relation), colour, form and many other things. It is also a great opportunity to end individual isolation, as art projects can be completed in group.
Several resources for those working with special needs students in the arts, can be found online or by contacting official and private institutions.

Several art projects for children can be found at Julie Voigt's blog Art for Small Hands.

Register for the Learning & Product Expo: Art!

Registration is open for the Learning & Product Expo: Art!
The event will take place in the Hall B of the Pasadena Convention Center, CA, between the 28th and the 30th October 2011.

Visitors will be able to learn about the latest news from their favourite art materials manufacturers, try and buy products at discounted prices, assist to demonstrations provided by renowned artists and attend workshops.
A juried art show will also take place during the expo.

The Learning & Product Expo: Art! (7th Annual Pasadena, CA expo) is a major art event for all those involved in the art world, from emerging to more seasoned artists, passing through those who dedicate themselves to the business side of the arts.

CHA 2011 Summer Conference & Trade Show

The Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont IL, will host Craft & Hobby Association's CHA 2011 Summer Conference & Trade Show during July 19-21 (pre-Conference sessions starting July 18th).

Counting with 250 exhibitors and over 100 product categories that include art materials, card-making and stationary supplies, craft supplies, dollmaking supplies, embellishments, jewelry & beading Supplies, craft kits, scrapbooking, yarns & fibers, floral products, glassware, modeling compounds and home decorating supplies, the event attracts some of the worlds leading craft exhibitors.

Wholesale suppliers and exhibitors have in the CHA 2011 Summer Conference & Trade Show a chance to show their latest products and innovations, while retailers and other professionals can find new products for their clients, often at promotional prices, turning this event into a business opportunity for everyone involved.

The programme will include seminars, workshops (applies to Buyer Badge type only, space is limited) , keynote presentations and demos.
A Conference and Trade Show badge was created to permit unfettered access to the Trade Show floor, conference programs, and events.

A special Craft Fusion Center, located on the Show floor, will bring exhibitors and buyers together to capitalize on the mixed-media theme, where they will explore the several effects that a variety of materials combined in non-traditional ways has to offer, as well as the latest mixed-media and color trends from the experts in the field, among other things.

The registration for the CHA 2011 Summer Conference & Trade Show opens on May 5.

Casein Fixative for Pastel by Spectrafix

Fixatives for pastel continue to be one of the most discussed issues between pastel artists.
The use of casein as a fixative is not new, in fact it is mentioned in the Cennino Cennini's "The Craftsman's Handbook"(Il Libro dell'Arte) from the XV century.
A reference to it can also be found in "The Pastel Artist's Handbook" by Sally Harper.
Recently a new casein based fixative for pastel has been presented by Ms. Natural.
The name of the product is SpectraFix and according to the maker it's colourless, non-yellowing and possesses archival quality.

A Pastel on Pastelmat from Clairefontaine

This is a work that I am doing on Pastelmat from Clairefontaine.Its dimensions are 18 cm x 24 cm and the medium issoft pastels, including some pencils.Pastelmat is a sanded smooth paper, permiting good detail,vivid colours and a reasonable number of layers; not many though.On this paper, one has to carefuly plan ahead since layers influencethe upper ones (unless using a pastel with good covering power).This can be good or bad, depending on ones intentions.Blending with fingers is practically unobtainable on first layers. I advise not to start with the really soft ones, unless that is the colour to keep or that you won't add much more on top of it. Concluding I would say that this paper deserves a try.















Second stage and practically finished.
Now it's time to give it a rest and we'll see what
I may add in the future.















And after reading some opinions, I've finished it.
Now it's time to add it to my website.