raw materials

new product: alt alternatives portfolios & presentation cases

2010-03-11T21:42:54Z

Art Alternatives has introduced a new line of Academy Portfolios and Presentation Cases, and we have them in stock and are offering them at 20% off every day.

Light-weight and water-resistant, the Academy Portfolios are constructed of durable polypropylene with 2″ gussets. They feature a dual-action zipper, an inner pocket and an elastic cross strap that keeps artwork secure. Plastic feet provide stability. The 32 × 42″ portfolio features a 2.35″ gusset and a side handle for extra support.

The light-weight Presentation Cases lay completely flat for easy presentation. The water-resistant, durable polypropylene construction features a spine-mounted handle that allows pages to hang flat and a one inch multi-ring binder with 20-page capacity. The inner pocket and elastic strap keep artwork secure. Each case includes ten archival polypropylene pages with acid-free black inserts.

copic conundrum

2010-02-22T04:19:13Z

The drumbeat we’ve been hearing for Copic Markers has started to get deafening, and we are looking at bringing in at least a small selection of them right away, and we plan to expand our selection over the summer.

But which type of Copic markers do you really want? The original Copic marker normally sells for $6.49*, and there is a wide range of replacement nibs available. The Copic Sketch marker also retails for $6.49, has a more limited range of nibs available, but comes with a “Super Brush” nib that isn’t available for the original Copic markers.

What do you prefer? Which should we bring in first? Leave a comment here or on Facebook, drop us an email, or just Twitter us.

* That’s the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, or MSRP. We will almost certainly sell it for less. We don’t take those suggestions very well.

upcoming class: freestyle painting

2010-02-21T20:30:01Z

Amy Shawley, who you may remember as the Golden Working Artist who taught a workshop on Golden acrylic paints and mediums at the store last year, has moved back into the neighborhood and is going to start offering classes at her studio, just a couple of blocks away from us. First up is a freestyle painting class, which will give you an opportunity to work with Amy and your classmates on problems that have you creatively blocked, try out different materials, and brainstorm with fellow artists.

When: Sunday, February 28th from 1-4pm.

Where: My studio on Gallery Row in Downtown LA, will send address when you RSVP

RSVP’s: first come, first serve – my max is 15, so reserve your spot soon! Let me know ahead of time which products you are interested in trying, and I’ll let you know if I have them in stock for the class (no varnishing, I do not have proper ventilation).

What to bring: A painting in progress or a blank painting support (size for both limited to 16×20 inches or smaller), any other materials pertinent to your process (ie: tools, collage elements, decorative papers, etc) and your creative enthusiasm. I have brushes, palette knives, stencils, stamps and some other various tools to play with.

Cost: only $25!! Price includes workshop-use materials, instruction, hors d’oeuvres and beverages (I will make finger foods and have water, tea, coffee and wine).

Parking: street parking is terribly expensive and hard to come by, but I always recommend the parking structure behind my building, their maximum rate is usually $7, but possibly less for just a few hours.

Allergies: I have a cat, he likes laps…if you are deathly allergic, this is not the classroom for you.

You need to RSVP for the class directly with Amy via email: .

product spotlight: rite-in-the-rain notebooks

2010-02-09T20:53:26Z

Rite-in-the-Rain notebooks are perfect for rainy days (I guess that explains the name), or they are also good for using in the hot tub, shower, or other more likely wet environment in our generally-not-rainy climate.

Together with an appropriate pen (like the Fisher space pen, available with the ‘Rite-in-the-Rain’ logo on it) or an old trusty pencil, this specially-coated paper just shrugs off the water.

Get these unique notebooks for 10% off on any rainy day.

checkout gripe #2: quick product lookup

2010-02-09T20:42:39Z

I’ve mentioned the performance problems with Checkout before. This little pop-up window is one of the signs it is time to re-start Checkout. It is summoned by using the barcode scanner, apparently, but you’ll find no mention of it in the product documentation. Hitting the Escape key seems to get rid of it, although it’s not even clear to me that the window is modal.

I’m sure this thing is there for some reason, but our only experience with it is that it’s a sign of the wonkiness that comes with the degrading performance the longer that Checkout is running.

(Side note: I reported the performance problems we see to Checkout support, and they asked me to repair permissions to see if that helps.)

join us at the la street food fest

2010-02-07T01:55:51Z

On Saturday, Feburary 13, you can find us at the first LA Street Food Fest along with tons of food trucks with tasty food and cool wares from some of the best local designers and artists. We’re sponsoring the “DIY Den,” where you’ll be able to make your own love notes and Valentines… for free!

We’ll have a bunch of great Stabilo markers and pencils, along with a host of other supplies so you can finely craft the perfect message for that special someone that you left at home, or who ditched you at our table while they dove into the food from another truck. Maybe if you declare your devotion to Chef Ludo by hand-made card, he’ll add a little extra love to your fried chicken!

krylon clear choice art scholarship

2010-02-06T05:52:14Z

The deadline for the Second Annual Krylon Clear Choice Art Scholarship competition is fast approaching. Scholarship applications are due by March 1, 2010. The program will award $12,300 in money, grants and art supplies to future artists and their schools, including five $1,000 scholarships and five $500 grants for winners’ high schools.

The scholarship program is open to high school seniors and college freshman and sophomores in the United States and Canada. Students are required to submit a portfolio, artist’s statement, letter of recommendation and transcripts. In addition to the $1,000 scholarships, the five recipients will receive a package of Krylon artist sprays and adhesives for use in their work worth approximately $70. Each of the high schools from which they have graduated from will be given a package worth $250, from which numerous art students can benefit. Ten additional students and their high schools will receive product gift packages as well.

To download the application form, to see more about the 2009 scholarship winners or for more information about the Krylon Clear Choice Art Scholarships, visit the Krylon Clear Choice Scholarship Program.

new product: moleskine folio notebooks

2010-02-04T21:13:19Z

Moleskine Folio Notebooks are huge: these aren’t the notebook for your back pocket! They are just like their little siblings, and feature a hardbound cover, elastic closure, cloth ribbon placeholder and an expandable accordion back pocket. Each book contains off-white, acid-free, FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified paper in a durable thread-bound binding. The A4 format books measure 8¼” x 11¾” and the A3 format books measure 11¾” x 16½”. We have both the plain and lined varieties in stock right now.

You can bid on one autographed by celebrities backstage during rehearsals and show day of the 52nd Annual GRAMMY® Awards Telecast, or you can come by and check out the pristine ones we have in the store. Get one before the end of February and we’ll throw in a free Stabilo Bionic Pen. (And check back for more on those new pens soon!)

new product: pre-made frames

2010-01-30T01:03:11Z

We finally found a supplier of pre-made frames with a quality we were happy with, and it turns out they were practically in our back yard. Framatic is a Southern California company that makes pre-made frames including several lines of “seamless” frames. We’ve started out with a small selection of frames in black and white from their Modern line, as well as some larger Superlight poster frames. These are an affordable alternative to the custom framing services that we offer, and work well with the pre-cut mats from Logan that we stock.

For the month of February, get a free pre-cut mat with the purchase of any pre-made frame. We’ll be working to build out our selection of pre-made frames and mats in the months to come.

new product: winsor & newton oilbars

2010-01-22T20:26:22Z

We have had a few of the Ivory Black Oilbars from Winsor & Newton in stock for a while now, as well as a set of Slim Oilbars, but we’ve recently added more colors of the original size of Oilbars.

Here’s what they have to say about them:

Artists’ Oilbar is an artists’ quality oil colour in stick form, enabling you to paint and draw freely and directly onto your surface. It is a unique medium because it provides the artist with the buttery consistency and richness of oil colour together with the freedom and directness of pastels or charcoal.

Oilbar is fundamentally different from oil pastels or oil crayons due to its unique formulation. Each of the 35 colours in the range are produced by combining artists’ quality pigments with linseed oil, into which are blended specially selected waxes. To provide further flexibility, Oilbar sticks are available in three different sizes.

Winsor & Newtown Oilbars are 20% off every day. If we don’t already have a color that you’re looking for, let us know! We’ll be working to expand our selection to include the whole line.