Flax Art & Design is a Bay Area institution and a local art supply staple for over 80 years. Flax Art has two stores, one in Oakland, California and the other San Francisco. In addition to a broad selection of art supplies and a framing station, they also specialize in fine art papers, pens and gifts, with a comprehensive e-commerce site as well. Their San Francisco store recently relocated to a space in historic Fort Mason, right on the water between the city’s famous Fisherman’s Wharf and a neighborhood known as “The Marina.” Social media can grow business, foster relationships…
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Venerable Vintages: History of Sign Painting
The historical trade of sign-painting and a recent comeback that has talented sign-painters transforming the store fronts of cities and towns all over the country calls for a three part feature! Read on for Venerable Vintages, our monthly feature that examines the art supply industry through an historical lens; then check out our Artist Feature exploring the sign-painting work of Christian Shaknaitis of Brush and Pounce. Top off your sign-painting education with in store practices that incorporate sign-painting and boost your business. Sign-painting is an ancient trade that dates back as early as 300 B.C. Merchants, pub owners, innkeepers and…
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Christian Shaknaitis of Brush & Pounce
Christian Shaknaitis is a sign-painter based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His business, Brush and Pounce, specializes in hand-painted signage and quality craftsmanship: “My style reflects vintage signage, with a strong appreciation for the skilled craftsmanship of handmade signs of the past. The signs incorporate hand-painted, stylized and ornate type, hand-cut letters and elegantly finished wood panels.” In addition to handfuls of businesses on Butler Street in the Lawrenceville neighborhood, his work is all over the city: including at The Abbey on Butler, Roberto Clemente Museum, Fox Chapel Ski and Board, Café D’Amore, Patagonia, Pittsburgh Burrito Bus and Pittsburgh Sandwich Society. I…
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Four Ways Sign-Painting Can Expand Your Reach
If you are visiting Art Dog, odds are you are involved in the art supply industry in one way or another. Sign-painting has made a comeback and, as art supply folks, we need to tune in! How can you tap into the sign-painting comeback in a way that a) moves product that you have b) strengthens your relationships with your community and c) grows new business opportunities? After a recent interview with sign-painter Christian Shaknaitis, who has been in the industry for ten years, we brainstormed ways retailers can connect with sign-painters to the benefit of all parties. Merchandise A…
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New Videos from GOLDEN: QoR Watercolor
We recently added four new videos to our Video Library that we think your customers will be interested in. Videos are quick and easy content to share on Facebook and a great way to boost your organic reach. Please visit our YouTube or Vimeo page to check them out! Transparent Pyrrole Orange QoR Transparent Pyrrole Orange is a clear, bright color, perfect for glazing and mixing. Ideal for creating the warm golden glow of a fiery sunrise or sunset or for mixing with Cobalt Green to create a beautiful speckled weave of green and orange. QoR Transparent Pyrrole Orange Watercolor…
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Four Mixing Sets by Williamsburg Oils
Eight 11 ml tubes of color plus a 37 ml tube of Titanium White make each of these four sets perfect for trying new colors or an entirely new palette from which you can mix a new range of colors. Williamsburg has one of the most extensive selection of oil colors available anywhere, and these sets can help you narrow down options and begin personalizing your palette. Four 8-Color Mixing Sets by Williamsburg Oils from Golden Artist Colors on Vimeo.
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New Videos from GOLDEN
We recently added two new videos to our Video Library that we think your customers will be interested in. Videos are quick and easy content to share on Facebook and a great way to boost your organic reach. Please visit our YouTube or Vimeo page to check them out! GOLDEN Acrylic Sets : Exploration & Experimentation from Golden Artist Colors on Vimeo. GOLDEN Acrylic Sets: Exploration & Experimentation GOLDEN Acrylic Sets are a great way to go from being overwhelmed by the array of colors and mediums available to becoming oriented to the capabilities of different acrylic products. Join…
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Fall in Love with Matte Metallics from DecoArt
This autumn, pump(kin) up your displays and end caps with DecoArt’s Americana Decor Matte Metallics! As a durable, opaque coverage paint, Americana Decor Matte Metallics deliver a chic, subtle sheen that your customers will *fall* in love with for their seasonal DIY decor. Curing to a hard finish, this one-of-a-kind formula offers excellent adhesion to a variety of surfaces such as, wood, glass, and metal. It’s multi-surface capabilities and subtle luster make it the perfect product for year-round use. Gather all 14 traditional and jewel-tone colors to harvest even more creativity in your customers and make your store truly shine!…
