ARTdiscount Blog

Glazing is a simple enough technique to explain but has a little nuance when it comes to its application. In this article we will explain glazing with acrylic paints, the techniques involved and the products available to make glazing super simple.

We need palettes for many different painting mediums and water-activated products, and as there is no one single palette that covers everyone's requirements, we have put this guide together to help answer any questions you may have and hopefully find the palette that is right for you?

If you love traditional watercolours and want to take them on holiday but don't want all the fuss and clutter, then Viviva Colorsheets are for you! They are 100% eco friendly, biodegradable and non toxic. They have never been tested on animals. They are fun, easy to use, can be used for spontaneous creation or for just getting lost in your own creative zone!

This month we welcome Contemporary Oil painter Oliver Winconek, based in Cambridgeshire specialising in Portraiture, the figure and modern still life, to talk to us about his early influences and his current practice.

We are delving into the world of celebrity, not to see the latest romance or what 'she' is wearing today but to discover which celebrities are also Artists who have discovered another creative outlet. Our question is, do they have real talent....?

In this article we start by showcasing some of the products available on our website, exciting and innovative products which will awaken creativity and curiosity, developing your love for the arts and crafts whilst developing your own individual style. Products ranging from glass paints, to oil and acrylic paints with a few surprises in-between!

Founded in 1955 by Henry Levison in Cincinnati Ohio and formerly known as the Permanent Pigment Company, Liquitex has long been a byword for quality when it comes to acrylic paints. Artists the world over appreciate the variety of high quality acrylic paints and mediums they produce, however it can be tricky to decide on what exactly you are looking for. To help you decide which Liquitex acrylic is best for you we will outline the differences between each paint range from Heavy Body to spray paint.

There are many different types of paint brushes on the market today, and as a beginner it's not surprising that we get very confused and overwhelmed! There are lots of different brands, shapes and different sizes and most of the brushes serve very different functions. Fear not! We are here to guide and support your creative journey, to discuss the different characteristics and properties of each paint brush.

Two of the most common but often misunderstood mediums are Ox Gall liquid and Gum Arabic. What are these two mediums and how should you apply them to your watercolour painting?

April embraces a new season, sparking more movement with our own bodies as we explore our own surroundings. This month we interview Iain Williams, a Blackpool based Artist who explores the abstract image and mark-making within an expressionistic form, Iain has created his own bold visual language and motifs, referencing urban links and contemporary imagery to create his own style. 

 Brusho water-colour powders are very easy to use and are very popular with crafters for scrapbooking, journaling, watercolour painters, illustrators, card makers, designers, and any creative extrovert who loves rich vibrant colours that sing off the paper.

We have collected a list of the essential arts and crafts materials you might want to keep on hand. The paints, glues and other paraphernalia you might find useful to have on hand for art projects on the kitchen table or in the art classroom.

PanPastels were conceived of by Bernadette Ward & Ladd Forsline, who were interested in reinventing the way artists approached pastels. In their own words;
“The idea behind the development of PanPastel was to create a dry colour medium that would work like a fluid paint."
See how PanPastels can change the way you think about dry pastel colour.

Framing your artwork is a huge consideration and can dramatically change the aesthetic of a painting, print or photograph. Some paintings don’t need a frame, and some will benefit from having one. The beauty of our gallery frames are that they will accommodate a standard canvas, canvas board or wooden panel up to depth of 20mm. 

Prices soared during 2021 within the Art world. Despite an economic crisis, immersive experiences such as Van Gogh Virtual Reality/360degree projections on 15,000ft screens, drew crowds during a global pandemic, and something known as “non-fungible tokens” NFT, have become the most coveted artworks in the world. We take a dive into the increase of interest in pop culture and more importantly the effect that is having on the art world. Is Art now more or less accessible than ever?

Jenny Steele is a Scottish artist currently based in Manchester, UK whose practice is motivated by 20th century architecture and design producing site-specific artwork, textiles, sculpture, printmaking and events. We are lucky enough to be able to see Jenny's work first-hand here in Blackpool, an iconic carpet design within local not-for-profit organisation and hotel Art B&B Within her practice, Jenny explores the cross-over between crafts, architecture, design and fine art wonderfully, producing striking pieces that define spaces.

Artists from different cultures have been united by themes of love, passion and devotion, openly or symbolically in their paintings, sculptures, sonnets and poems. Paintings that are familiar to us may use many symbols to create deeper meanings within the more obvious narratives.

Pigment, not what you would get if you made a pig out of cement, but it is instead the light reflecting particles used as the colourant in paints. As long as the human race has existed we have in some form or another been using pigments for decorative purposes. The ways we obtain these colours are as numerous as they are ingenious.

Ink is a solution an incredible medium which encompasses the practices of calligraphy, printing and illustration. In this article we will explain the brands of inks we have available and the particular qualities that differentiate them from each other, so you may find the one most suited to your project.

In this blog we will guide you through some of the materials and equipment you may need such as storage for your painting tools, water containers, watercolour paints, brushes, sketchbooks, graphite pencils, watercolour pencils and palettes. 

The humble paint pen has been with us for years and their popularity and reach amongst artists continues to grow. From street artists to fine artists, paint pens are a powerful creative tool that delivers paint immediately when needed, without mess or hassle.

We have put together a list of current and future T.V Series, Documentaries and Films that will inspire and entertain any creatives out there! 

As the promise of Spring and warmer weather approaches we need to dust off our brushes and watercolour paints and prepare to embrace the outdoors again! If you have never tried painting outside, or if you want to learn watercolour painting outdoors, then this is the year for new beginnings! 

Discover a new way to think about using acrylic paints while you learn about the various mediums and additives that you can use with acrylic paint to expand your creative potential.

February is a short month, bringing awareness that Spring is just around the corner, leaving grey freezing temperatures behind, welcoming colour into our surroundings. We are bringing colour onto our blog with this months Artist Interview with British artist, Liz West who is working in site-specific installation, light & sculpture.

EVENTS & FEATURES

We are all more than ready for creativity and inspiration this year. To help you, we have begun collating Arts & Culture events that are happening during 2022 (continually updated) we hope this gives you plenty of opportunities to quench your creative thirst!

Compressed charcoal was developed in the 20th century to strengthen the natural structural weakness of Willow and Vine charcoal. To create compressed charcoal or charcoal pencils natural gum or wax binder is added to powdered charcoal. This makes the charcoal stronger to draw with and produce less dust. Many grades of this compressed charcoal can be found in stick forms or in the form of charcoal pencils. 

Tim Muddiman is an English artist, musician and creative. In his own words, Tim's work is "an exploration of the human condition through contrasts: strength and fragility, depth and height, colour and monochrome"and has been described as 'hard-edged, abstract and contemporary' Tim takes us through his journey from successful musician to Professional Artist.

After finding that all important pencil set that suits all your needs, the next step is to make sure you have all those little extras to complete your tool kit! Erasers are one of the most important tools you need along with the pencil and it is best to have several types in your drawing box for all those different drawing functions.