Award winning fantasy artist, James Gurney, lets you in on all his secrets to painting what doesn't exist in his book, "Imaginative Realism"  He talks about taking reference photos to help add to the realism of something from your imagination.  He teaches you step-by-step the techniques that won him world wide, critical acclaim.  A beautiful, fun book that will help you create your best fantasy and sci fi art.  

Get it at Portland's bookstore, Powell's.

Get all the art supplies you need at our art supply store, I've Been Framed.

Oregon City Artist, Ruth Armitage draws inspiration for her rich, abstract paintings from her family farm.  The luscious colors and textures are a symphony to the senses.  Hints of landscape and wildlife peek out from among all the wonderful marks and brushstrokes.  She shows her work all around Oregon and she teaches workshops on and off line.  Follow her on instagram to learn of new offerings and to see her new puppy.  Today, she shows us how she gets some of that amazing texture in a little, free workshop.  

Website: https://rutharmitage.com/
Facebook:  RuthArmitageStudios
Instagram:  @artistrutharmitage

Make sure you check out more of ​Ruth Armitage's amazing art on her websites.  Don't forget that you can take her online courses! 

​Thank you for sharing your beautiful art with us and your texture experimental workshop with heavy body acrylic paints.  

What do cigarette butts, peach pitts, and soot have in common?  Well, according to this book, "Make Ink", you can make ink with all of them, plus a lot more things.  The subtitle for this book is, "A Forager's Guide to Natural Inkmaking" which means the author shows you many things you can find in nature and in the city that you can use to make some great ink.  The book has lovely illustrations in it to encourage you to want to make your very own custom ink.  We cannot believe the array of colors and that is how the book is organized; by color to make it easy for you.

Get the book at Portland's favorite bookstore, Powell's.

Get any art supplies you'll need for your homemade ink at Portland's favorite, local art store, I've Been Framed.

Have you seen those step-by-step how-to-draw posts on the internet that help you draw anything from a dog begging to a car zooming by?  Well, that's basically what this lovely art book is about, but for those who want to know how to draw their beautiful, ordinary life.  It has a rather long title, "50 Ways to Draw Your Beautiful Life: Practical Lessons in Pencil & Paper", but it's very simple to follow.  Things like a cup of tea or bicycle are made easy to draw in this fun book.  They even give you space to draw your own version on the opposite side of the page of the instructions.  And the illustrations are so pretty and fun too. 

You can pick up the book at Powell's Bookstore.  Link is here.

You can pick up all the art supplies you need at our discount art supply store.  Link is here.

So many things have changed for artists since COVID-19.  We know many of you have lost the gallery shows you were going to have because many galleries couldn't continue during the lockdown.  We know art classes have been cancelled and even art school has not been the same.  OSU art students who were going to graduate and have their final grad show together were one of those group of artists who had to adapt to COVID-19.

In this short video, they tell of their hopes prior to COVID-19 and how they changed their idea of a final graduate show so that they could still have their final exhibition together.  We were touched and moved that they have adapted to the changing circumstances.  After you've watched the video at this link.  Check out their online gallery at this link.  We congratulate the OSU class of 2020 and wish you much success.  

Should you need any art supplies to keep your art practice going during COVID-19, please make an online order at this link.

When you're in Oregon, you don't think it's possible to do much plein air painting beyond spring and summer, but artist Jef Gunn is offering a plein air painting class that starts in September and goes until December 4th.  He'll take his students to some of the beautiful outdoor areas around Portland.  He says:

"Sites in or near Portland under consideration: Mt. Tabor, Rivervilla Park in Oak Grove, Oaks Bottom, Helvetia Church, Rooster Rock, Sauvie Island Oak Island area , even perhaps the Quarry near Cascade Locks. I’ve shortened this list to those sites that allow us maximum distance to work."

To learn more about his class, including cost and dates, click this link.  Should you need any art supplies for the classes, please don't hesitate to make an order with us at this link.

Instagram:  @cutissettino
​YouTube: Cutis Settino Art
Website:  canoofle.com

Make sure you check out more of Curtis Settino's art on his YouTube channel, and his Instagram account.  It will get you inspired to try out as many different mediums that you can get your hands on.

We love to promote Portland artists and art teachers.  We discovered that Portland artist, Scott Conary has been teaching an ongoing painting class online since April 2020, making it especially relevant during COVID-19.  It's a combination of live video demos, discussions and even art critiques if you so desire.  He feels that his style of teaching suits hermits and introverts because you get to paint and get instruction all from the comfort of your own home studio.  

If you should need any painting supplies, please don't hesitate to make an art supply order with us at this link.

He emphasizes teaching the formal elements of art such as light, shade, tone, and he does so with humor and a reverence for finding what works best for each individual artist.  Here's what he says you'll learn from him:

• The online class offers something different from the in-person class and workshop. While I won't be able to reach over your shoulder and touch your painting, you can participate as your schedule allows, access content that might otherwise be inaccessible due to cost, time, and distance, and be part of a community of other artists.
• Classes are a combination of live broadcasts through Zoom, suggested assignments, online demonstration and discussion, critiques, and limited private correspondence. The live broadcasts are the magic and meat of these classes. They include slide presentations, demonstrations, and question and answer sessions. Each broadcast is recorded so that students can review the material at their leisure (or if they couldn't attend the live broadcast). Online discussion is optional and will take place in private facebook groups.
• If you'd like to participate in a group critique, that is available in addition to the class. Enrollment in the group critique is limited.

It's only $40 per month and the live Zoom demo and discussion are every Thursday at 11 am.  Click this link to enroll and get more info.

Unfortunately, so many of the great drawing clubs and workshops that used to be in abundance around Portland, Oregon have shut down due to COVID-19.  But drawing from a live model can still be achieved when we adapt to what we can do during this COVID-19 pandemic.  Artist, Christopher Preda Rabilwongse had done just that by moving his figure drawing workshop outside in his backyard and limiting the number of artists.

He can only have 6 artists and the model in the backyard doing figure drawing.  Everyone wears masks and practices social distancing.  It's not perfect and it's still hard to talk through those masks, but since it's summer, they are adapting and taking advantage of the great, summer weather.  He's doing this while the nice weather lasts. It's every Wednesday from 3-6pm.  Fee is $10.  You must RSVP by sending him a DM on his Instagram account.  

We love that artists are finding ways to still connect and learn during this difficult time.  Maybe, we'll see you at the next drawing session.  Should you need any drawing supplies for the workshop, get them with us by making a curbside pickup order at this link.

We are on pins and needles with excitement, waiting for this new video series to start called, "Storytime & Art With 2 Teahcers".  Mrs. I and Mrs. Cook have been teaching elementary school for a combined total of over 40 years.  

In this series, they take their experience and passion for storytime and art into a super fun class that helps grow children's love for reading and creating.  We think it's the perfect combination like chocolate and peanut butter which taste better together than apart. ​