Journey Art Supplies Blog

Plein - Painting... Indoors by Tom Lynch - Part...

<p>Tom Lynch was recently featured in two editions of the <a href="https://www.cheapjoes.com/the-palette-magazine-issue-no-71.html">New Palette Magazine</a>. He is a most adventurous artist and I loved the way that he showed us the photo reference and then the finished painting that he had done en plein air. The basic idea is that he encouraged us to not paint the picture but rather make art from the en plein air scene. Today is part one and I will post part two tomorrow. Also, Tom will be doing a watercolor demo just for Cheap Joe's on Wednesday at 4 pm. Here's the link: <a href="https://youtu.be/aEX-1LHU73c">Tom's Watercolor Demo</a></p>

Staying Connected During This Stay-At-Home Time

During this stay-at-home time in our collective lives, keeping connected with one another has taken on a new meaning. What could be simpler than stopping by the grocery store on the way home from work or taking a walk with friends on the local “greenway” trail? Now, many of us are working from home and look forward to the day when we can re-visit our favorite restaurant or park.

At Home With Sterling Edwards

Editors Note: In talking with Sterling the other day I realized that we need to keep in touch with one another. After reading what Sterling has to say about being at home, visit his websites and be inspired by his art.   Sterling Edwards (Confined), March 2020   www.sterlingedwards.com   I’m sure that as you read this you too are confined in your home due to the Coronavirus. Isn’t it amazing how quickly our lives and this world can change? It really reinforces the old saying, “never take anything for granted”.  Until recently, I spent most of my time traveling around the U.S, and on occasion, other countries teaching painting workshops. I’ve been doing this for about twenty years, and I can truly say that it is a great way to make a living. The only real downside to my job is all the hours that spend strapped into a micro-seat on an airplane or sitting in one of those airport chairs that were carefully and masterfully designed to be uncomfortable. For the time being, however; those days are gone. Like everyone else that I know in this business I am on lockdown. Workshops are either being cancelled or rescheduled. As I write this no-one really knows when it will be safe to gather in groups again or travel. So, I’m using this opportunity to get in some much-needed studio time. For the last year or so Diane and I have been working on setting up a recording station in my studio. Our goal is to record painting demonstrations that can be purchased as digital downloads. I plan to eventually have an entire library of subjects available for purchase on my website. These videos will enable me to cut back on the number of workshops that I teach every year and give me more studio time and time to relax. In fact, we’re even looking beyond the videos and planning to do live televised classes in the studio at some point. I don’t claim to have the slightest idea how to do that, but I know that I can learn. So, I have spent the last week in the studio organizing my painting table to accommodate the lighting and camera equipment that we’ll use for the videos. A few weeks ago, I was contacted by California artist and good friend Birgit O’Connor. We call each other from time to time and catch up on what’s happening with our careers. She asked me if I would be interested in an interview that would be recorded and watched on Facebook. I had never done a filmed interview from my studio before so I was a little unsure how it would go. She reassured me that it would be a piece of cake, so I agreed to do it. A couple of days later we interviewed each other, and it went very well. Birgit posted the interview on Facebook and it received good comments so I am sure that we will do more face to face discussions on various topics. I’ve also used some of this free time to clean out a little bit. I have concluded that art supplies multiply at night. I don’t know how but I’ve suspected it for years and this last week has fueled my suspicions. I was finding things that I purchased twenty years ago. These are things that I no longer need but I know that they would be used by someone else if they had them. So, into the box they go. When the box is full it will be given to a public-school art teacher to be shared among the students. I’ve done this a couple of other times and the response has been incredible. Funding for school art programs has been slashed to the bone and it’s not unusual for the art teacher to buy supplies for the students out of their own pocket. I know that anything that I donate will be much appreciated. It’s a win/win. I need the space and they need the supplies.   I have also used this time to write my monthly newsletter, catch up on emails, design a couple of brochures, update both of my websites, and work on some paintings. As you can see in the photographs, I’m working on some large acrylics on canvas. Most of them are Abstract Expressionism but there are a few that are what I refer to as Representational Abstracts. These are paintings that have a distinct theme but also incorporate some abstraction in the way the various shapes are distorted and interact with each other. I like to call it my signature style. In fact, I wrote an article about it titled, “Abstract Art You Can Hang Your Hat On”. It was published in the New Palette Magazine, Issue #67 in 2018. For those who might be interested, I also wrote an article titled, “From Here to Where” that was featured in the New Palette Magazine in issue #62 in 2017. That article was all about Abstract Expressionism; something that I really love. The magazine is published by Cheap Joe’s. It goes without saying that I’m also doing other things besides working in the studio during this time of confinement. The weather has been relatively mild, so Diane and I have gotten in a few days of what she refers to as “dirt therapy”. We’ve been planting shrubs, raking what’s left of last years leaves, and generally cleaning up the property. I should stress that she is the only person in this house that calls it therapy. I call it back breaking labor that should be deemed unlawful for a guy my age. Diane tells me that it’s good for me to get some fresh air and use some of my muscles that I haven’t used in a while. The reason that I haven’t used them in a while is because they don’t work. Well. She’s not buying it. Diane is a former nurse so all these excuses that I come up with are just wasted breath. But I’ll have to admit; of all the people to be cooped up with for weeks on end she is the one I would choose. We’re a good team and we know it. We live in two acres of woods and look forward every day to sitting on our screened porch and enjoying a gin and tonic in the evenings. We also spend many of our evenings watching movies on Netflix and Amazon. This really is a matter of trying to make the best of a bad situation. I think that we are very fortunate, and we fully realize that many are not. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all who are struggling or suffering through this crisis. We hope that all of you are safely tucked away and well.                                  Sterling EdwardsSterling's Studio

The Story Behind Cheap Joe's Kilimanjaro Waterc...

Back in the day, spring of 1998 to be exact, Cheap Joe’s annual reference catalog hit the mailboxes of America and other far-away places. Billed as a catalog “For Art Supplies, Creative Inspiration and Peace of Mind”, the 128-page full-color book, featured many new and many tried and true art materials. Bear in mind, this was before we invented the internet and cell phone shopping, and we still had a dial-up AOL email address.

An Update on Jim Bailey's Art Studio and New Pa...

First, I want to thank you for including my art studio in the New Palette Issue #61.  Since it has been over a year I thought it was timely to send you an update showing the addition to my studio and my new painting innovation that I refer to as, "Luminous Paintings." There are also photos showing a portion of the interior of the studio that included about 200 of my paintings, mostly attached to the ceiling along with a 1914 Ford Model T Speedster that was a retirement gift. I enlarged the studio in order to accommodate a 10 ft. easel with a 4 x 5 ft. easel board that raises and lowers with an old sailing ship's block and tackle.  On the easel is the 3 x 4 ft. luminous painting, "OLGA."  It has the appearance of a typical acrylic painting of an old fishing boat with natural lighting.  I painted the sky with colors thinned-down like watercolors so the light, either natural or electrical would reflect through the canvas.  Further, I painted a portion of the back side of the canvas with warm colors suggesting the glow of a sunset.  Finally, I attached an LED light to the back of the canvas to turn on for night-time viewing.  I have also included photos of my luminous window paintings that were painted on standard canvases with thinned-down acrylics and are lighted by natural daylight similar to  stain glass windows. I have shared this luminous painting idea with several of my artist friends and they tell me that they have never seen this technique used before.  I like to think of myself as an experimental painter, always looking to try something new.  The greatest compliment I receive is when someone walks into my studio for the first time and tells me that it looks like several artists' works are on display. I feel very fortunate that at 85 I have a studio to go to each day and fill my time having fun and doing creative things. Thank you.  I appreciate the opportunity to share my ideas with others. Jim Bailey  

Spring Art Swap!

Hi, everyone! It was a great week over here at Cheap Joe's headquarters! For a little over a month now, our employees have been working diligently to create a one-of-a-kind work of art to be swapped for another unique piece made by a fellow employee! Well, today was the day of the swap, and I am extremely excited to show you the products of some of the amazing artists we have here! The theme, of course, was "spring"--but we encouraged the participants to interpret that however they pleased OR go in a different direction entirely. After all, art knows no bounds! In alphabetical order: Artwork by Alex Skala, retail associate at our Charlotte location. Artwork by Alicia Orlando, a member of our Distribution Center team. Artwork by Aly Perez, manager of our Asheville Retail Store. Artwork by Amanda Chapman, manager of our Boone Outlet Store. Artwork by Annabelle Prince, manager of our Charlotte Retail Store. Artwork by Becky Stines, part of our receiving gang. (This is the panel I got!) Artwork by Bri Stoehr, one of the retail associates in our Asheville location. Artwork by Brian Dubberly, our Marketing Manager. Alicia Orlando also created this piece, on behalf of a new employee in the Distribution Center named Bryan Elrod. Artwork by Byron Cook, our Web Developer is in charge of the entire Cheap Joe's website! Artwork by Carlee Hudson (that's me!), marketing assistant/copywriter/blogger extraordinaire. Artwork by Christy Firk, one of the retail associates in our Asheville location. Artwork by Danie Firth, one of the retail associates at our Charlotte location. Artwork by Dawn Hill, roommate to one of our Call Center gurus, Tammy Guilford. Artwork by Derrick Fowler, one of our Call Center gurus. Artwork by Edwina May, our Workshop Coordinator. Artwork by Erin Guffey, one of our graphic designers, who works on our seasonal sale flyers and orchestrates these art swaps! Artwork by Jacob Woehler, one of the retail associates at our Asheville Location. And here's the back of Jacob's--we're a silly bunch :) Artwork by Jana Smith, another member of our receiving gang. Artwork by Janalee Burke, part of our Distribution Center team. Artwork by Jane Laferla, one of the retail associates at our Asheville location. Artwork by Kevin Brown, one of the retail associates at our Charlotte Location. Artwork by Kevin Bryan, part of our Distribution Center team. Artwork by Lauren Murrell, another retail associate at our Charlotte location. Artwork by Linda Greenup, a retail associate at our Asheville location. Artwork by Lori Inman, the other marketing assistant, in charge of finding awesome new products. Artwork by Luke Russell, one of the retail associates at our Charlotte location. Artwork by Megan Hart, Content/SEO Management Artwork by Meghann Miller Williams, in charge of promotional donations. Artwork by Michael White, part of the Distribution Center team. Artwork by Michelle Dineen, one of our Call Center gurus. Artwork by Phillip Church, part of our Distribution Center team. Artwork by Sally Garner, one of the retail associates in our Asheville location. Artwork by Tammy Guilford, one of our Call Center gurus. Artwork by Taylor Bowers, marketing. Artwork by Terry Henry, part of the graphics team. Artwork by Tippy Kleinman, one of the retail associates in our Boone Outlet Store. And last but certainly not least, Web Alexander, manager/guru supreme of the Call Center.

The Cheap Joe's 2016 Guide to Great Art!

Hello, everybody! Have you guys heard about this year's catalog? Well, not only is it jam-packed with a bunch more art stuff, but the cover is color-able! With how popular and fun grown-up coloring books are right now, we wanted to make our catalog just as exciting! These covers can withstand colored pencils, markers, pastels, pens, crayons, watercolor pencils, and even regular watercolors if you work lightly! With mine, I chose to go with a limited palette and only use Prismacolor Colored Pencils in blues and greens: At first, I was a little worried that the trees would fade into the background, but I think it turned out pretty good considering I didn't have the whole spectrum of colors to work with! Take a look at some of the others from around Cheap Joe's! Megan, our SEO Analyst, put this beauty together.  I love how she left snowy peaks on the mountains! Our Website Manager, Byron, has been working on this one in between website updates. His combination of highlighters and colored pencils really makes the cover pop! TJ, one of our Customer Service Representatives in the call center, took a creative approach in making his mountains into pyramids! Now that's thinking outside the box! One of our retail store associates, Tippy, colored this one.  Gotta love those purple-mountain Majesties! It's easy to forget that you don't have to color every single shape in its entirety, and by leaving some shapes white, she drew even more attention to the sections that are colored! Taylor, another CSR, has been working diligently on hers during the limited downtime in the call center. It's tough to get art done on the job, but it provides such a relaxing atmosphere! And another of our retail store associates, Kathleen, is slowly but surely filling hers in, too! She's even got a little doodle from Cheap Joe himself to add a unique touch! And these are just a FEW of the awesome covers we've got over here at headquarters. What's even better is that some customers have been sending us photos of what they've done with their catalogs: Marion from Florida sent us this magical wonderland!  She even included glitter, though it didn't photograph particularly well. She says this is just her FIRST draft and she plans on putting snow on the mountains in her next one! Then we've got Wilton, also from Florida, who decided to turn one of his mountains into Grandfather Mountain, located just a few minutes from us! Click here to request your own 2016 catalog with this awesome coloring book cover, and then send us a picture of what you create! Who knows, it could be entered into a contest where you could win a prize... :)

A New Jewel in the Cheap Joe's Crown!

Hey, everybody! Crazy things have been happening in the Cheap Joe's world: namely, we opened a brand new store in beautiful Asheville, North Carolina I was part of the team who worked diligently to get everything up and running ASAP for the townsfolk, who have badly wanted an art supplies store--so much so that they even started a Bring Cheap Joe's Art Stuff to Asheville page on Facebook! Well, we heard those pleas and made it happen! And I wanted to share some photos of the journey with you guys: Very early stages, just getting basic fixtures put in. And there's Aly and David, the managers of the Boone Outlet and the Asheville stores! Reduce, reuse, recycle: these planks of wood are actually pieces of pallets that we receive deliveries on, but we knew we could use them for something creative, like an accent wall! Soon, these will be covered in stacks of canvas and watercolor paper! Here's Brian, our Marketing Manager, building a big front desk for our new employees! Then he added a big, sturdy, concrete top and continued the pallets motif! Finally! We can start loading in merchandise! The very first product placed! Bunches and bunches of sketchbooks! Sorting and finding a place for everything! (Natasha, who works in inventory, doesn't like having her picture taken...) Look at all those easels!  And the finished pallet wall! So...much...canvas! Coming along nicely! Our brush section! A few finishing touches...and we were ready to open! Come down and visit us! The address is: 829 Riverside Dr Ste 120 Asheville, NC 28804 And the local number is 828-232-8391 We can't wait to see you!

Job Perks: A Cheap Joe's Art Exhibit!

This week, I’d like to talk about something very exciting that’s happening over here: our first company-wide art exhibit in a museum! The lovely folks over at the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum offered us the chance to display some of our employees’ artwork in our own gallery, and of course, we jumped at it!

A Day in the Life of a Workshopper!

Our very own, Joe Miller, has some experience in this area. And he has a very useful tip to avoid making mud in your painting that is very well explained in this wonderful video! Joe mixes the colors on his paper and not on the palette. He scoops up the pigment with his very large flat brush and simply places the colors next to each other without much mixing once they are applied to the painting.

Love--No, ART is in the Air!

This week, I want to talk about stepping out of your comfort zone. I know, I know, it can be scary to attempt something you’ve never done before–and in my case, there’s the added pressure of the entire internet being able to see

Merry Christmas! From Cheap Joe's Art Stuff