Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Happy 2009

Ah, it's been awhile.

There are lots of exciting things that are happening in the New Year!

Aside from the busy Christmas shopping season, Jim finished his Upper Deck trading cards and as soon as they are published in the U.S. we will be able to share some of them on our blog.  A lot of you got to take a peek when he was working on them at our studio in the shop and that is always so cool to get your feedback.

We are both still working on painting and sculpts for our show at The Lake House, opening on February 10th.  

I am working on ten things at the same time as my ideas come more quickly than my execution!


We are most excited about our New Web Site that will be officially launched (hopefully) at the end of January...although at the moment Thousands of you are finding it every day!  

There will be many cool surprises on there in addition to online purchasing.  We will leave some surprises, but below is a peek at what the home page will look like.  Our web designers are so talented and the best find since we purchased the shop back in 2006.


Hope you all have a prosperous 2009, filled with creativity and fun.

Jim & Sandy

Friday, October 24, 2008

Full Range of Copic Markers and Refills In Stock Now!

We are excited to announce that we now stock the full range (216 colors) of Copic Markers and the full line of replacement inks and tips.


New to New Zealand, and Exclusive to Takapuna Art Supplies, we are also stocking Copic's Wide Markers and Copic pads in A3 and A2 size.

Copic is the preferred marker of professional creatives! Check back for tips and techniques and samples of what artists are creating with Copics.

Saturday, October 4, 2008

The Differences Between Solvents

All solvents act as 'dissolvers' or thinners in oil paint, but there are differences between them.

Many customers ask, so we thought we'd post some information about each one.

Gum Turpentine is the most common solvent used in oil painting.  It is 100% distilled and comes from living, pine trees.  Fresh gum turpentine is clear and has an odor.  It has a shelf life, however, and will turn into an amber color and become rancid over time.  Gum turpentine that has 'turned' should be thrown out as it can harm your painting.  It is the strongest of the solvents so it the best one to use when making mediums and varnishes.  A draw-back when used alone to dilute oil paint, though, is that it leaves behind a small residue and if over-used it can separate and crack when the painting dries.  The big minus with gum turps is that it is very toxic and highly flammable and many artists get an allergic reaction to it.  It can also cause permanent health problems.

Mineral Spirits such as Turpenoid and Sansodor, are petroleum by-products.  Their advantages are that they are as clear as water and stay that way.  They will never yellow and do not leave a residue when painting thinly.  They are also low odor.  The draw-back is that they aren't quite as strong as gum turpentine so are not as good for mixing up mediums and varnishes.  However, they are great for thinning your paints and cleaning your brushes.

Citrus Solvents are made from distilled citrus peel and are very fragrant.  They can also be used to thin your paint and clean your brushes.  Some artists prefer the smell over gum turpentine. They are also less toxic.

Odorless Solvents are just that; completely odorless, which means that you can paint in an enclosed space without ventilation and virtually no odor. They are still toxic however, and you should avoid contact with your skin.  Their vapors will still get into your nose and eyes so this product should also be used with caution.  The Australian brand, Archival has a slower evaporation rate to other odorless solvents, so that can be a health benefit.  Archival solvent will also keep your paint 'open', longer due to its slower drying time.

The main function of odorless solvents are to dilute your paints and clean your brushes.

Turpenoid Natural is an alternative to all of the above.  It is non-toxic and non-flammable.  It was designed as an effective brush cleaner and conditioner, but it can also be used as a painting medium.  When added to your oil paint, it makes the paint water soluble, so clean up is a breeze. The draw-back is that it is more expensive than the other solvents that we stock, but it is perfect for the artist who has health concerns.  And, it smells really good!

For more information about all these products and more, stop by and see us!





Friday, September 19, 2008

What We've Been Up To...


Jim has finished his annual Buffalo Bill's Portrait.  This time the player was Bruce Smith.  We managed to send him off the day before our quick trip to Sydney and Singapore.

Now we're back in the shop, working on our combined show in February.  Feel free to stop by, have a cup of coffee and look over our shoulders.

Sydney Harbour Cruise
Singapore Polo Club

Thursday, August 21, 2008

artworks~get complimentary tickets at Takapuna Art Supplies

We are proud to offer free tickets (while supplies last) for Auckland's Biggest Week of Art Charity Exhibition and Sale.

Tickets ($20 value) provide unlimited entry to the exhibition between the hours of 10am to 4pm, Monday the 25th of August to Saturday the 30th of August. And, 5:30pm to 9pm Wednesday the 27th.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

The Takapuna Drawing and Painting Club

Many of you have probably noticed over the past few weeks some renovations at our shop. We, especially Jim, have been inundated over the past year with requests for classes. SO, we are making space for a weekly drawing and painting workshop. Jim (and Nathan Ota) ran a life drawing and painting workshop at Otis College of Art & Design in Los Angeles and our workshop will be run much the same...interesting, costumed models holding 3 to 4 hour poses.

We will keep you posted on start dates, etc. and send out emails to the thousands :-) who have left their details at the shop.

The countdown starts NOW.

See you all soon.

Friday, July 25, 2008

Politically Correct Snapper

Jim's Snapper was made from 100% recycled material.  This one was a prototype for a piece with a school of three that sold at Mairangi Bay's Recycled Art Exhibition this month.  He's taking me out for a Snapper dinner with his earnings.  He'll be eating a side salad and nibbling off my plate.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Buy a Great Print. Help a Great Cause.

Thumbtack Press is offering this signed, limited edition print by Bob Dob as a fundraiser for 
St. Jude's Children Hospital Cancer Research.  Check it out.  Bob and Tony are really good guys with their hearts in the right place.  Always.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Reference

Several years ago I came across this 1945 Coca Cola Ad by Dean Cornwell in a little shop in Devonport, Auckland and had to have it. (Although, I ended up finding it much much cheaper at paperboynews.com).

Besides having the American/New Zealand connection and the fact that it's a beautiful painting, I fell in love with the illustration because Coca Cola and Dean didn't do their research.  Not only is the heading incorrect; it reads- Have a "Coke" = Kia Ora and below "kia ora", in brackets, it says "Good Luck". But, Kia Ora is a Maori greeting much like Aloha...just a "hello".  The "Maori" in the illustration looks nothing like Maori, nor his dress nor his tattoos.  His waka (canoe) looks nothing like a waka. The motifs on the "waka" are not Maori.  The Meeting House is pretty spot on, though.  And let's face it, the painting, as usual, is beautifully painted in the typical Dean Cornwell style.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Raven Lady

I'm drawing/painting a series, based on Theatrical Postcards.  This is a drawing for my latest, the first being my Rat Woman.  The quote at the bottom will hopefully be the frosting on the cake.
~Sandy

Vietnamese Fruit Hawker





With the help of Jim (building my armature) I'm finished with my first ever sculpt.  It was so much fun, I can't wait to start my next....two, which I have plans for!
I was lucky enough to visit Vietnam in 2005.  I've also been working on a series of paintings based on my photos and the whole experience.
~Sandy

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Reach Out



Last night we attended The New Zealand Art Guild Member's Exhibition at Takapuna's Bruce Mason Theatre.  Along with member's exhibiting some of their work, 88 artists contributed to Reach Out.  They were provided with a small wooden panel and given a theme to paint.  The theme this year was On Your Mind and interpretation of the theme was entirely up to the artist.  When all of these individual artworks are combined, they create an overall image.   The overall image of the collaborative artwork is kept secret, even from those participating in it, until the unveiling of the artwork, last night, at the opening of the NZ Art Guild annual exhibition.

The artwork will be auctioned on Trade Me with proceeds going to the Mental Health Foundation of NZ.  The show closes on the 30th of July, so check it out if you can.


Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Creature


Most regulars have seen Jim's creature come to life in the shop. He finally baked him a couple of weeks ago and soon he'll get some duds and a cool do.

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Rat Woman

Sandy tried a some new techniques with this piece.  She gessoed a piece of hardboard with Matisse  Background Colour (off white), drew the figure and rats using a graphite pencil and Derwent water soluble graphite.  Then, painted a coating of shellac over the image and glazed with oils mixed with Archival Flow Gel Medium.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Best In Show - New Works from Megan Lee-Richards

Courtship, Oil on canvas



Showjumper, Oil on canvas

Megan Lee-Richards is now showing several works at the flagstaffgallery until June 10.

Monday, May 26, 2008

Caddy

We decided to take Jim's caddy, made from sculpey, and put a faux bronze finish on it. We used a bronze metal coating, a traditional mint green patina and then rubbed some Matisse graphite grey acrylic over the top. All products are available in our store.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Adam Portrait Awards

Winston by Barry Ross Smith

We found some time on Sunday to visit the Lopdell Gallery in Titirangi. Currently showing are the entries for the 2007 Adam Portrait Awards which were all impressive. Our only disapointment was that the theme was "New Zealanders" so we were expecting more paintings like Barry Ross Smith's painting (above). A lot were self portraits.

We also were thrilled to stumble upon David Kennedy's show, The Bronze Goat, in the adjacent space. WOW! We LOVED his work; quirky, smart and pithy humour and so much fun to look at!

Both shows run through the 8th of June.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Graham Down's Solo Exhibition

Graham's show opens at 5:30pm on the 20th of May at the Satellite Gallery http://www.satellitegallery.co.nz/, and runs through the 1st of June. He is showing 50 small pleine air paintings of the Auckland area.

We will definitely be at the opening! We feel like we've lived this one with you, Graham!

"Hikari"

Minori Kawana is exhibiting his photographs at The Depot Artspace in Devonport, opening on the 24th of May. www.depotartspace.co.nz

Wonderfully Weird

Michael Kennedy is having a solo exhibition at the Small Dog Gallery in Devonport.
http://www.malangeo.com/

Good luck Michael, on your first solo show. We can't wait to see all of your work.

Seriously Funny

Last Friday, near closing time, a young man came into our shop.  Two days before we sold him some Art Spectrum odourless solvent and a bottle of Liquin as per his tutor's instructions.  He had returned to inform us that he wanted a refund since he hadn't used them.  When we inquired as to why he wanted to return the products, he told us someone at the other North Shore art store (which is located in Albany) told him that those products were "inferior".  And, "Liquin will crack his brushes".  They recommended that he substitute a non-odourless FAS solvent and didn't even suggest another fast drying medium.  They simply told him, "Liquin will crack your brushes".

WHOOOOAAAAA?!

Which brings us to our Daily Report.  We will share professional advice because we are professionals.  Please don't accept advice from pimple-faced clerks who haven't even completed a semester of art school.  

But, keep sharing the "advice" of those Wunderkinders because we definitely need a good laugh....daily.  ; )

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Closing Time

This really corny sunset caught our attention just before we closed the shop.  
The colours were so beautiful, it was like a bad painting.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

John Clifford's SUMMER DAYS

John Clifford's 'Summer Days' opened on the 13th of April at the Aesthete Gallery in Parnell. The show runs until the 1st of May.

John is a valued patron of Takapuna Art Supplies.  Here is a link to his current show:  www.aesthete.co.nz

Monday, April 14, 2008