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Top Gifts For Painters

Top Gifts For Painters at Hampton Photo, Art and FramingWhen the holidays or birthday of a loved one approaches, the task of trying to figure out the right gift for your painter relative or friend can be a difficult one. The art world can seem like an insiders-only domain, one which can be daunting for someone who has never set foot into an art supply store. Since experimentation is an exciting task for most artists, don't be too afraid of buying the wrong thing. Art supplies can be very thoughtful and practical gift for any artist, budding or professional. Pairing supplies with an item your giftee might not have thought to buy, such as an unusual art book or painting medium, can result in the perfect gift for your painter.

Water-Soluble Oil Paints - This type of paint is good for those who already work with acrylic and are looking to explore oils. Not only are water-soluble oil mediums are able to mix with water, but they are also easier to clean up than regular oils while still able to retain the longer drying time and texture. They also don't have the odor or negative health effects of regular oils.

Brushes - Brushes are always a good buy for painters. Purchasing just one or two good quality or unusual brushes can be a great gift. Winsor & Newton and Grumbacher both make high-quality brushes.

Canvas - Canvas is a material that is often in need of resupply. If your painter prefers to stretch their own canvas, "rolls" or "folds" of canvas can be found at most art supplies stores, or online. Another option is pre-stretched canvases, which come in different textures and qualities. Cotton duck canvases are of lower quality and more affordable. Linen-stretched canvases are of higher, often museum-grade quality, though are more expensive. Alternatively, wood panels and canvas boards can also be good surfaces to paint on.

Painter's Box - Nothing reminds us of the great painting masters more than a wooden painter's box. Though a superior-quality box can be an investment, there are less expensive items on the market. Some even come with portable easels or palettes. This is a good gift for those artists who already enjoy or want to explore “plein air” painting (painting outdoors).

Mediums - Mediums mimic the binder in the paint and can add different qualities to it. Some can make the paint appear more glossy or matte, or change its consistency. There are mediums for oils, acrylics, and watercolors. Supplying your giftee with the medium they commonly use or one they had never considered before can be a very welcome gift. Liquitex makes an intro set for acrylic paints, which is useful if you are not sure of the medium they use, or if you want to help them explore different materials.

Etsy.com - Because so many great artists and craftspeople today have been exploring the online marketplace, Etsy.com can be a great place to find a gift for your artist. The site is teeming with quality pieces that can help inspire any painter. Buy something similar in style to your artist's work, or something that will encourage and inspire them when they have a creative block. The vintage-inspired "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster series is customizable to your artist's interests. If the original work you find on the site seems out of your price range, many artists offer prints of their originals for a lower price.

Art: 21 - A popular PBS series, Art:21 showcases many of the contemporary artists in the U.S. today. It guides the viewer through different artists' processes and the theories behind them. The series has currently released five seasons as well as a movie (William Kentridge: Anything is Possible). Some notable painters featured in the series include Elizabeth Murray, Trenton Doyle Hancock, Judy Pfaff, and Ida Applebroog.

Art & Fear by David Bayles - A book for any artist, Art & Fear explores the reasons we make art and the fear that goes into avoiding artistic creation. It works through the difficulties and mental blocks that many artists encounter. It is a classic and essential book for all artists. Retrospective Art Book - If you know of a single artist whom your painter likes, look for an art book that provides a retrospective of that artist's life and work. Such a book can provide guidance and inspiration. A good art book also has high-quality images that best portray the artist's work.

Gift Certificate - When in doubt of what to give them, a gift certificate can give the artist the freedom to choose their own gift. Such vendors as Utrechtart.com, Hampton Photo, Arts and Framing and LongIslandArtSupplies.com are all good resources for art supplies.

 
Canvas Printing

Printing on canvas is incredibly versatile and a great way to create a ready-to-hang image or artwork. Every canvas that we print  is protected with a UV coated acrylic finish to guard the print from dust, moisture and fading. Do you want your canvas stretched on bars or non-stretched? Framed or unframed? Customize the work to make it truly your own.

 
Art of Photography

Art of PhotographyPhotography is an amazing art form. A photograph album is a catalogue of life's history as seen through the camera. People, animals, nature, holidays, celebrations and even disasters are captured instantly and recorded as part of history. It is through the powerful presentations of photography that we better understand the progression of time and life. Hampton Photo Arts has over twenty years of experience working with photographers as they seek to capture and preserve the history of families and communities.

When families get together, both children and adults love to look through photograph albums. They enjoy seeing the childhood photos of older family members and compare themselves to ancestors who lived a hundred or more years ago. Photos are among the most important treasures of every family. They should not be faded and dull. They contain the smiles, tears and emotions of generations. The staff members at Hampton Photo Arts display excellence in the art of photography reproduction. They work with the highest quality materials. They know how to create family memories that will be just as beautiful one hundred years from now as they are today.

 
Learning to Paint Watercolors

Watercolor is an easy, fun medium for creating art.  Color theory, composition and design can be explored freely with watercolor paint, paper, and brushes.  Several techniques may be used with watercolors for varying effects including painting wet on wet, wet on dry, layering washes, and more.

Watercolor paper comes in cold press, hot press, and rough.  Rough paper has the most texture, and its hills and valleys can result in interesting effects when paint is added.  Hot press is the smoothest and has the finest texture.  Cold press has a moderate amount of texture and is the paper most commonly chosen by watercolor artists.

Watercolor paper comes in several weights ranging from 90 lb. to 300 lb. based on the pounds per ream of paper.  Most artists prefer to use at least 140 lb. paper.  Papers vary somewhat between manufacturers, so sampling different papers is advisable.  Paper can be purchased in pads, in blocks or in large sheets.  The large sheets are usually the most economical and can be torn into whatever size is desired.

 
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