Art Spectrum celebrates its 45th year!

In 2011 Art Spectrum celebrates its 45^th year!

 The first tube of Art Spectrum paint was produced in 1966 when the business was running out of the studio of artist and founder David Keys. It was initially an artists’ co-op created to import high quality linen at affordable prices. Now Art Spectrum paints and papers are sold around the world. Art Spectrum remains a family company with David, his wife Gay and their son David still running the business.

pastels, pastels, pastels! (Margaret Evans workshop and the final instalment of our pastel sets description)

Margaret Evans has just been from one end of Australia to the other - sharing her knowledge of pastels. It's been a great opportunity for pastellists to extend their technique and understanding. It's also given us the pleasure of seeing artists enjoying Art Spectrum Pastels, Colourfix and Colourfix Suede! There have been some glowing reports on the workshops and a rumour that Margaret may return in 2012.

The photo was kindly provided by Nina Poulton of the South Coast Pastel Society, NSW.

Find out more about Margaret Evans at http://www.shinafoot.co.uk/

And to complete the final instalment of our pastel sets information... Our Deluxe Pastel box includes no less than 154 colours (our complete range of standard pastels). The pastels are protected by six foam trays in an elegant, dark wooden box with sliding lid. If you are very serious about your pastels, this may just be the set for you. 

Margaret Cowling on a favourite AS watercolour: Tasman Blue

Tasman Blue - some say it's opaque, but so what? It can be, but it depends what you do with it. It's bold as a saturated colour, a sweet, joyous mid and a warm blue. It can dilute down to the finest suggestion, in fact a veil. I love to glaze a Tas Blue veil across an area - figure, still life, land or seascape - that mood change is magic.

Margaret Cowling.

Margaret Cowling is an Australian artist who has had a long and wonderful association with the Art Spectrum company.  

You can find out more about Margaret here

And view one of her painting galleries here

guide to Art Spectrum pastel sets part one of three!

Complimenting our Colourfix papers (and vice versa) is the Art Spectrum pastel range. Every pastel in our range is available individually but we also have a useful series of pastel sets - wonderful as a Christmas gift for the keen pastellist (or simply as a gift to yourself!).

6ix Packs - sets of six related colours: 'Lightest Lights', 'Fiery Warms', 'Red Wine 'n' Roses', 'Blues 'n' Violets', 'Moody Blues', 'Winter Greens', 'Summer Greens', 'Autumn Earths', 'Rich Earths', 'Stone Tones', 'Darkest Darks', 'Extra Soft Cool Tints', 'Extra Soft Warm Tints' and 'Black, White and Between' (excellent for life drawing).

Boxed Sets of 12: set of 12 'Life Drawing' (a wonderful life drawing set including white, black, greys and some earths - pictured below - someone's been using this set!) or a set of 12 'Grey Tonal' (a range of cool and warm greys, plus black and white).

Boxed Sets of 15: 'Assorted' (a great range of colours to start with), 'Landscape' (a lovely range of violets, blues, greens, earths and red and grey), 'Portrait' and 'Darks'.

Next post: Sets of 30, 60 and 120. And later: our wonderful Deluxe Pastel Set.

Please note that individual colours in sets may change due to availability.

If you are interested in any of these sets, please contact your nearest retail stockist of Art Spectrum products. You can find your nearest stockist by speaking to the distributor for your country or state.
Our full pastel colour chart is provided here. You can also find a list of our pastel pigments here.

mixed media with art spectrum

One of the joys of being an artist comes from experimenting!  Here are some mixed media experiments by artist John Burge, using Art Spectrum products (click to see larger images).

A mixture of Art Spectrum Watercolour, Colourfix, sand and eggshells.

Watercolour with gladwrap and watercolour with rock salt on Colourfix paper.

Please note that adding different media may have an impact on the longevity of your artwork.
Happy painting!

Congratulations to our winners!

Congratulations to our lucky competition winners! They have each won an Art Spectrum Artists' Watercolour Pad.
Be sure to check back here on September 1 to see our next special offer to artists (within Australia).

The competition winners are as follows:
B. Heiss of Orbost, VIC
D. Drilling of Coromandel Valley, SA
A. Timbs of Brightwaters, NSW
Y. Court of Terang, VIC
M. MacPherson of Belconnen, ACT,
A. Read of Cawarral, QLD
J. Hyland of Geelong, VIC
S. Cusack of Tarragindi, QLD
P. Liosatos of Shailer Park, QLD
P. and J. Edwards
L. McDermott of Bundoora, VIC
V. Riggs of Bathurst, NSW
L. Corbett of Goonellabah, NSW
F. Wallace of Palmerston, NT
L. Jupp of Perth, WA
M. Mitton of Keith, SA
R. Warman of St Andrews Beach, VIC
B. Whiteley of Wattle Grove, TAS
E. Diprose of Carters Ridge, QLD
D. Harris of Duncraig, WA

Your prizes will be sent out to you as soon as possible. We hope you enjoy using your lovely new watercolour paper.

Liquid Spectrum - label artwork

You may have noticed the wonderful labels for our Liquid Spectrum Inks. They are by Australian artist John Burge. We thought you might enjoy a closer look at them. And, of course, John used Liquid Spectrum to create these images ...

You can find out more about Liquid Spectrum Artists' Ink here

NEW watercolour paper

A beautiful paper! Art Spectrum Watercolour paper is made to our specifications and has been extensively tested by many leading watercolourists. Available in Sheets, Pads and Rolls.

- Cold Pressed
- 300gsm
- 100% cotton
- pH neutral
- Internally and surfaced sized
- Mould Made
- Deckle Edges

All Art Spectrum Watercolour Pads contain 15 sheets - 25 % more than many competitive brands.

*Pads available in Cold Pressed or Rough