Art Supplies – Why Artplace?

by Doug Simpson on March 25, 2011

Art Supplies – Why Artplace?

Art supplies covers a very large area. Artplace is focused on supplies that are used by the professional artists of Artplace. Some of these items are not traditional to an art supply store. They have been researched and collected by Artplace.

Artplace Is About Very Specific Combinations of Art Supplies
That Work Together To Create Amazing Art

The artists of Artplace are professional mixed media fine artists. We use a diverse collection of mediums and techniques to create unique art. This same materials and techniques can be used in very traditional ways or avante garde. We attempt to share with our customers how we use these mediums and how you can use them successfully.

Imagine combining wood, metal, glass, fabric, grass, horse hair, leather, paper, foam, Now that is mixed media and that is what we love to do!

One of the key elements in creating the main structure for 3-d or the foundation for 2-d work is textile hardeners. These will soak into natural fibers creating a solid unit between the fibers. Think about how concrete fills the spaces between gravel forming the loose stones into a super hard single unit. This is similar to what textile hardeners do to natural fibers.

Except it goes one step further. It actually soaks into the fiber itself to lock it together even more than concrete mixed with gravel.

Learn more about Paverpol and Powertex textile hardeners.

Our mixed media techniques are fast and easy to learn.

Mediums such as wet clay require a very good understanding of the properties of the specific clay that is being used. Drying, shaping, firing, glazing, and many other factors determine the success or failure of a fired clay creation.

Learn about a nor-fire, non-shrinking clay – Magic Sculpt and Apoxie Sculpt.

Combining sculptor’s plastiline clay with life-casting and mold making materials allow for perfect reproduction of a sculpted model.

Traditional landscape, portrait, and realism painting in oils and acrylics require that you conquer the medium, the tools, and the characteristics of the surface that you are painting on. This may take years to develop. For many artists this is what they seek to achieve.

Mixed media is often created using only your hands. These are tools that you have already learned to use extremely well.

Assemblage or collage is usually a part of 3-d creations. This allows you to use the qualities of the materials themselves rather than having to create those qualities from scratch. The combination of hands-on creation with textural materials allows quick development of an art piece. The finishing techniques range from very simple to extremely complex and this is where the finess enthusiast can excel in mixed media.

Texture is a major part of mixed media. Texture can be created with tools, additives, and choice of materials. It can also be created by using color to accent the hidden or subtle textures of the materials.

This combination not only shortens the learning curve, but tremendously speeds up the creation time.

Is this really fine art?

Fine art is not types of mediums or styles of painting. Fine art is determined by the content, the quality of execution, and the visual and emotional success of the finished work.

Fine art has been created out of most any material and method that you can imagine. The art supplies at Artplace can help you do just that!

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