The holidays are upon us and now is the time to start thinking of giving the gift of........PAINTING BY NUMBER!  Oh yes!  We have a great selection of paint by number sets.
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• Some are cute and sweet for kids. 
• Others are more complicated for teenagers and adults. 
• Finally, you can also look like a famous artist with some of our Van Gogh paint by number sets.  

They range from $5.99 - $10.50.  All sets are at this link. 

We are one of the few art supply stores who actually sell used art supplies.  Some of them are rare finds.  Others are just lucky finds.  Right now, some of our listings include a gorgeous set of vintage Grumbacher oil paints in a wooden box, heat guns, a soap making set, a mat cutter, plus more!  Check back daily to see what new finds we have uploaded on our website.  Who knows how long these listings will last that we are posting below.  Click here to see all that are still available.  

Love surprises? we do too! Order a custom Mystery Box from us or choose from our options of mysterious choices. Loaded full of things to do and worth more than the prices we charge. Makes a great surprise gift to yourself or others!

We have 4 different mystery boxes that you can order: 

1. SMALL  selling price is $10 and worth $15 or more.
2. MEDIUM  selling price is $20 and worth $30 or more.
3. LARGE  selling price is $40 and worth $50 or more.
4. PICK A THEME includes animal, famous artists, botanical, PNW skies, paper lover, skull lover and MORE!  selling price is $19.99 and worth $25 or more. 

They all are meant to be affordable and super fun.  Click on this link to purchase your mystery box for yourself, a child, a friend, or a family!  It's perfect for the holidays coming up or for just being in lockdown during the pandemic! 

​One of the ways that I use these pigments the most is by incorporating them into my encaustic wax paintings. Once the wax is mostly hardened but still warm, I buff on the pigments over the top of the wax to create a metallic finish. Another way I use it, is by buffing it onto my wax surface and then going over it with a shellac burn, which will create a lovely metallic cell-pour sort of finish.

Yes.  You can buy it on our website at the link below or you can request it in a curbside order.

Of course, we support and believe in shopping local and keeping our hard earned dollars in our community to keep it healthy and thriving.  We believe you too might have some of those same beliefs and notions. One group that definitely puts their money where their mouth is is "Small Shop PDX".  Here's what they say about how to keep our bucks in the community and how to support local:

• Spend: Keep your dollars in Portland by choosing to buy local. The holiday season is when local retailers make most of their revenue for the year.
• Share: Promote your favorite shop, restaurant, maker, place with your friends, family and colleagues.
• Explore: Be open to new experiences, virtual shopping, and Portland’s full array of unique makers and service providers.
• Show Up: Where you spend your money matters. Portland’s small businesses are the soul of the city. Purchase with intent at a time when your community needs you more than ever.
• Visit ShopSmallPDX.com for a searchable directory of local restaurants, retailers, craft makers, and an array of other businesses that could use your support right now. #BeTheChangePDX #LovePDXShopLocal

​This Friday, they have a whole list of Black Friday local Portland virtual and IRL markets.  Check it out by clicking on the button below.  Some of the Black Friday local markets include:

• Portland Indigenous Marketplace Virtual Black Friday
• PDX Black Collective Night Market
• Crafty Wonderland Virtual Market
• ​Winter Mercado
• The Market  (By Produce Portland and Old Town Community Association)

Thanksgiving is almost here, but not quite yet, so we thought we'd get in one more fun Thanksgiving craft that you could make to decorate your table or do with those whom you'll be feasting this year.  It's super simple, and can be the cutest way to remember all the many things you're grateful for. 

To make the cutest Thanksgiving craft, even more custom and special, you could:

1. Use all kinds of different colored papers----whether that's a variety of oranges, a bunch of  fall colors, patterned papers, or crazy colors, it's up to you! 
2. Or you could even paint some watercolor paper and then cut it up into strips to make your 3-D paper pumpkin.  

Watch the whole step by step video at this link to make the 3-D thankful paper pumpkin (by Awesomely Crafty).

Order all the art supplies you'll need from us at this link.

Halloween might be over, but we know there a quite a few folks out there who celebrate it all year long.  They make Christmas into Hallo-mas, Valentine's Day into Valloween, and Thanksgiving into Ol' Hallow's Giving---or something like that.  That means they want skulls, pumpkins, owls and other creatures of the night all year long.  We are happy to say we've made several art kit that include many of those dark delights any time of the year.  Anyone up for Hallo-mas?

If you or anyone you know is freakish in this way, get our freakishly fun art kits at this link.  Skull, owl, and pumpkin art kits oh my!  

I don't know why it's so fun to see an adult and a kid drawing side by side, but it is.  In these videos, perfect for Thanksgiving, Fall & November, you get to see step by step how to draw some really fun traditional Thanksgiving things like apple pie, a cornucopia and a realistic turkey.  Draw along with "Art Hub for Kids" whether you're an adult or kid.  Even better, if you draw together side by side. Why?  Because it's way more fun!

Scroll below to find the links to the drawing videos.
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Click here to pick up some great drawing supplies sets at this.

We picked 5 fun Thanksgiving drawing videos.  Click on the links below to watch the step by step videos:

• Watch the Cornacopia video here.
• Watch the Apple Pie video here.
• Watch the Realistic Turkey video here.
• Watch block letters to say Happy Thanksgiving video here.

On landscape artist, Anna K. McDermott's Instagram profile, it says, "Hike.  Paint.  Repeat."  Since her feed is filled with her gorgeous photo realistic paintings that she paints from the photos she takes on her many hikes, you know this is her way of life.  In fact, if you read the title of her instagram account it says, "Rather be hiking."  Her art has been exhibited all around Oregon and has even won the "People's Choice Award" in juried art shows.  Today, she gives us 3 great tips on how to make your best art and we suspect these tips and techniques are how she has become so adept at her landscape painting..

Website:  www.annakmcdermott.com
Instagram: @mcdermott.anna

Work in progress images of Anna's paintings from her Instagram feed.

Make sure to check out more of Anna's art on her website and Instagram account where she shares many of the photos from her hikes and more work in progress images.  She also sells prints and cards of her art in her shop which is on her website.

We are definitely thinking about the holidays now.  It's getting closer and closer to Thanksgiving, and after it's over, we have all the wonderful winter holidays to think about.  Whatever holiday you celebrate, you're sure to make it extra special with calligraphy on your cards and gifts.  We have a special calligraphy set that includes parchement paper, several nibs, instructions and ink.

Watch this video to learn how to choose the right calligraphy nib for the job you're doing.

Get our calligraphy set at this link.

Ever want to create amazing, charcoal drawings that look like an old master draftsman (like Leonardo DiVinci) created it?  Well, in this video for beginners to charcoal drawing, artist, Kristy Partridge, takes you through what the paper stump is for, when to use erasers and why you'd want to use a dry paint brush.  She shares her many blending techniques that make your drawings look like they leap off the paper.  Watch Kristy's whole video at this link.

We've put together a special art kit that has everything you'll need to start drawing with charcoals.  Get it at this link.  

Are you or anyone you know crazy about unicorns, mermaids, dinosaurs and space?  We definitely love all those things and we know quite a lot of people who love them too, so we're super excited to have some very special art kits loaded with magical and comic fun!  Click on any of the images below to be brought to the link to buy them. 

FYI, there are only a few left of each one.  If we run out, please don't hesitate to request that we make another one for you or something very similar.  

Custom art kits are our specialty, so if there is a different themed art kit that you have in mind, please let us know and we'll make you a special art kit for you!  Drop us a line here to let us know what you want.

We are starting a new weekly feature on our blog!  Hooray!  For now on, each week, our art staff will pick an art supply to talk about, letting you know what the product does, why you'd want to have it in your supplies and what to think about when you purchase it.  If you're curious to learn more about any art supply or product.  Let us know by sending us an email at this link.  We'll be sure to do a feature on it.  

This week, we start out with the best traveling art supply because you could take with you wherever you go:  DERWENT WATER BRUSHES!

Yes, we stock it all the time!

Mixed medium mural and canvas artist, Sean P. Lambert lives and works in Portland, Oregon.  He has been building community with art projects and collaborations with other artists.  His colorful abstract paintings with wild explosions of shapes and lines give it movement and play that keep your mind attentive and active.  It's no wonder he advises that art is good for your brain.  Some of his Portland claims to fame have been to win the 2018 Nike BIKETOWN Design Challenge, in which bikes were custom wrapped with Lambert’s artwork and to have a series of murals, enlivening boarded-up storefronts, featured in the Willamette Week’s coverage of the Portland Street Art scene during the pandemic in May 2020.  

​Primarily mixed media on paper and canvas, silk screen printing and murals.

You can watch the above video of Sean creating his art at this link and more at his YouTube Channel. 

Make sure you check out more of ​Sean's art on his website and Instagram account.  He sells original art and even one of a kind birthday cards in his art shop.  

Kind words and big hearts naturally express gratitude and thankfulness.  Artist Kathleen Gaudet combines them into artful word clouds with 2 different heart shapes.  As she shows you how to make them, she also gives you a lesson on typography, the different shapes of letters to express different emotions.  We find it clever how she uses old magazine covers to make your own DIY heart template.  This makes it super easy to write your grateful words into the shape of a heart.

Watch the complete gratitude art video at this link.

Get the "Storytime & Art Kit" here that will provide you with everything you'll need for this project, plus more.  Now only $21.99.  Regularly $29.99.

There are so many fun ideas and ways to acknowledge and show your gratitude.  "Mindful Creative Muse" has come up with a lovely idea to make gratitude feathers with card stock paper and collaged images from magazines or patterned paper.  She says to make a bunch of them, write what you're grateful on them and then give them away as gifts.  We think that a bunch of them would be a great way to decorate your table for thanksgiving too.  

Watch the whole step-by-step video at this link.

Order card stock and patterned paper with us in a curbside pick up order at this link.

Do you ever wonder what the difference is between artist grade and student grade oil paints?  Why does one cost more than the other?  Is there really a big difference between them?  In this video by Latells Fine Art, they show explain the differences and then show you how they look side by side.  They even compare the different oil paint brands to let you know their findings.

Click here to watch the complete video.

Click here to order oil paints with us.

With our low cost art kits and art set for kids, you can nurture any kids creativity even on a tight budget.   Below are 4 of our art kits for kids that are $10 or less.  Click on any of the images below to be brought to the product page and buy them.  They won't put a dent in your wallet, but they will make quite a creative impression on the kids in your life.  Choose from painting kits, craft kits and even a mysterious surprise kit.

During November, we will be highlighting ways to show gratitude and thankfulness through art and craft projects.  Our first thankful art project lets you dig up all your gratitude lists that you've been keeping and make them into a beautiful page in your art journal.  The Scrappy Wife takes you through step-by-step on how she created this lovely and autumnal page in her art journal.

Watch the whole video at this link.

Purchase art journals and sketchbooks from us at this link.

Who is curious about metallic, iridescent and pearlescent watercolor sets?  Finetec makes several different color palettes that shimmer and shine even on black paper.  In this video by K Werner Design, she makes gorgeous swatches for you to see just how good they look on paper.  She also tells you a bit of the history behind this brand of paints.  And it makes you itch to paint with them

Click here to watch the complete video.

Click here to buy any of the 3 different Finetec watercolor sets.

 To enter:
1.Tell us how you will creatively express gratitude using these supplies.
2. Give a shoutout to a small local business you’re especially thankful for this year. (If you cant decide it’s ok to list more than one!)
3. Tag someone you will share this gift with and set a game plan to find creative ways to express gratitude together- even if you don’t win this, it's is a good idea!
We mostly use Instagram these days but you can tag a friend & share on any social media, then email us a picture of your posts. If you are not on social media at all that is ok too, just email us your entry and we will give a shout out to your favorite local businesses on ours. This also means that kids can enter but only with permission from parents included in the entry submission.

Deadline:
We will choose the winner by drawing a name from a hat on 11/13 and announce the winner on IG.
You will have 30 days to follow your adventure and report back to us.

Contest winner agrees to do the following:
1- Follow the adventure inside the box. This will include several projects that are specific tasks. You may even make it a contest or game if you'd like. This adventure can be followed in the same house or via zoom with a friend outside your house. Never travel alone- choose a companion to share in your journey.
2-Have fun in the adventure! Be inspired! Find gratitude in the midst of 2020!
3-Share the adventure with us! This can be videos or pictures of your process & finished tasks. It’s ok if you’re shy and don’t want to show yourself or be tagged but we will tag your page or links if you are ok with that. 
4- Keep the remaining supplies for your own creative use!