Art Materials

Hello All,

I have been wanting to create a regular topic on art materials which I could post on a weekly or biweekly basis; particularly ones that I use, have used, and most likely will continue to use. These products may be common items or actual known brands. I will try to provide links to their websites, or where one might purchase them if and when possible. In addition, and keeping with a focus on encaustic, posts that can be used with encaustic will be labeled, "Encaustic Compatible."

Enjoy and Thank you for reading.

Jonathan Parks

Featured Art Materials

Under revision. Until then, here is a general list of...

Alvin
Ampersand Art Supply
Arrow
Caran d'Ache
Dr. Ph. Martins
E C Lyons
Evans Encaustics
Gamblin Artists Colors
Golden Artist Colors
Hardboard
Hot Cakes Encaustic
Kama Pigments
Kremer Pigments
Koh-I-Noor
Lana
Lineco
Lyra
Maimeri
Manfrotto
Moleskine
Natural Pigments
Nielsen Bainbridge
Old Holland
R&F Handmade Paints
R&F
Rite in the Rain
Sakura
Sennelier
Sinopia
Speedball
Strathmore Artist Papers
STUFF (Laura Stanziola)
STUFF 2
The Earth Pigments Company
Williamsburg Paint

Legos

Legos used to be a necessary part in my daily existence- this article might be interesting to you, even if they were not part of yours. "Miss Modular"

Am I an American Artist

This is a question of cultural consideration and requires an understanding of what makes an American artist. Is this an ideology perceived from each individual artist or part of a conglomerate of the so called American.

Those who commented: If I am an American and an artist, therefore, I must be an American artist. Well, the devil is in the details. I suppose I should also ask if I can be culturally identified as American through my work as an artist; assuming American is a culture.

Statistically speaking, I am American, family of various cultures and nationalities long since forgotten. Considering what makes an artist American, statistics are not particularly my concern, nor do I think they should be. Perhaps I have complicated the question and/or maybe it is not up to me. Does the American artist create political, patriotic, opinionated, or nationalistic works.

I do not sway either way, patriotic or not. I do not create nationalistic works. My art is not imbued with apparent political substance. I have opinions, but who doesn’t, and they are not stereotypically, American. So, what makes my art American. Freedom to not paint the aforesaid. Subjectively instilling my art with images of flora and fauna from the North American Continent.

I have more on this subject, however, I would like to see if it gets any type response before I further elaborate.

My Wife is Graduating!

Sonya's (and others) "Graduate Art Therapy Art Exhibition" on Saturday, April 18 at 6:00pm.

Event: Graduate Art Therapy Art Exhibition
What: Opening
Host: Sonya Briones-Parks, Mt Mary College Art Gallery
Start Time: Saturday, April 18 at 6:00pm
End Time: Saturday, April 18 at 9:00pm
Where: Mount Mary College

Art for Conservation

Now you can make a difference through donating or purchasing.
"I donate a percentage of my profits though the purchase of my art to nature conservation. I also accept personal donations that help me create more artwork that will indirectly help in conservation efforts."
All purchases and donations are extremely appreciated; know that I promise to do my part through my work in helping conserve our environment through your generosity.
To donate go to the Donations link.
Thank you,
Jonathan Parks

Cleaning up and all that....

Hello all,
I have been quite busy, lookin for work, makin art, creating an Etsy store and everything involved in that mess. Its time to clean up this joint, get more focused. I will be getting rid of things I don't find pertinent, like my photography page: I figure most of the pictures I put on there can go on my biography page anyway, and maybe I will use it for a 'how to' on photographing artwork. I've been hard at work on my book, and other paintings, but I'll try to get back on here and make some updates on the encaustic pages.

thanks for reading.

Hmmm, I'll look at this myself soon.

An artist career guide, is that possible? Will I learn anything new? Or is this just the same stuff as a hundred other places? http://www.artistcareerguide.com/book.php

Don't know, haven't looked at it yet. I will let ya know.
IF I CAN FIND THE BLASTED THING.

R&F Biennial show

The Seventh annual biennial show for R&F paints. Deadline is January 15, 2009.
http://www.rfpaints.com/encausticworksentryfee.htm

The Artist Workshop, et cetera.

Workshops, social networking and information resource, or financial opportunity hidden beneath a veil? Workshops are given for all sorts of reasons, but I am particularly discussing those within the arts. For example a workshop was given on encaustic in Chicago by R&F Paints: I would have gone, and most likely enjoyed it, but unfortunately my career choice does not allow for me to spend money; need I say- starving artist.

As informative and wonderful, workshops might be- they seem often only open to the financially sound artist. Sure, I'm not saying that you won't be getting your monies worth, just that how can you expect to get a diverse group of individuals together without considering the diversity of your public; including financial diversity- which often includes underrepresented individuals of all kind? How can you get into these workshops, groups, organizations, etcetera- that would propagate social networking, particularly when you don't have financial stability? Are some of these places just ruses to financially benefit themselves?