What a thrill it was to see William Rainey’s latest paintings at Blue Gallery on October 6th.  There are several reason why I love his work – first of all he cares enough about his paintings to start with Signature Canvas which immediately identifies him as artist who wants to provide collectors with high quality archival paintings.

Secondly, his paintings are completely unique and different from any other artist’s work I’ve seen, he stands alone.  He’s made a name for himself by being different and bold.  During the Art Talk portion of the Opening he mentioned that he paints because he simply loves to paint.  Even if no one bought his paintings he would still make them.  It was lovely to hear an artist talk about the joy he still gets from doing his job.  There’s something magnetizing about being around a person who loves what they do.

Another thing William mentioned in his Art Talk was the love he has for colors.  He doesn’t discriminate, he uses “all the colors in his crayon box”.  I thought this was a great message for artists as well as any other profession.  Just because you are used to a certain palette doesn’t mean you can’t try something else.  We all get stuck in our daily ruts and we forget how refreshing it feels to try something new and different.  Just because you use demure pastel colors doesn’t mean you can’t be bodacious and add fire engine red to some pieces.   The precise still life artist can add wild abstracts to their catalog just for the fun of it.   I think we all gravitate towards the colors we are most comfortable with, but just for the fun of it we should all try something new either with our art, jobs or hobbies.

Happy painting!

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Erin by William Rose on Aqua-Fuze

This is William Rose’s latest commission on Signature’s Aqua-Fuze panels.  This panel was made in a special 40×40 size for William (custom sizes are available, email your size request for a free quote).

Our Aqua-Fuze panel was originally made for watercolor artists as a way to keep their paper from wrinkling or buckeling.  However, since we introduced this product we’ve had many artists use it for drawings.  They’ve told me that the gatorboard panel supplies enough resistance for an artist to heavily draw with a pencil but it’s still light enough to carry.  The 40×40 panel that William drew on probably weighs less than 8 pounds.  Since the paper is fuzed to the board it stays completely flat and doesn’t wrinkle at the corners.

We currently use Arches watercolor paper for our panels and it supplies just enough texture to add depth to the drawing without being a distraction.  It’s so exciting for us when artists find new uses for our products.

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To read more about William Rose, click here

Jim Wodark - Good Morning Balboa

Thank you Jim Wodark for sending the image of  “Good Morning Balboa”.  This 30×40 painting was created on our innovative Keyless Frame  with Signature Belgian linen.   Jim is a wonderful California artist who paints both plein aire and studio work.  I marvel at artists who can paint beautiful seascapes and then effortlessly switch to mountain scenes or another style.  It just seems like some people get all the creative talent while others are left struggling with stick figures.

This painting is so beautiful and there is something magical about the softness of the water compared with the texture of the trees and houses in the background.    I love the open feeling on the water with just a few boats and then all the houses crowded on the shore.  If I look at it closely enough I can almost hear the waves sloshing against the boats and the seagulls flying overhead.

I love seeing such beautiful works of art on Signature Canvas products!  To check out more of Jim Wodark’s work, visit his website, click here

Joplin Flyer

In May 2011, Joplin Missouri was hit by an enormous and deadly tornado.  The artists in Kansas City wanted to do something to help with the recovery and their results will be unveiled this weekend.  Nearly 100 artists from the area have been creating artwork using debris from the destruction in Joplin, and this Saturday the artwork will be auctioned at a big event in the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center.

It’s always so exciting to see what artists create on our products.  With our traditional stretched canvas and our Keyless Frames it’s predictable that the finished piece will be a painting.   However, with our Avant Garde canvases I never know what the final product will be.  When Kathryn Glowen ordered this Avant Garde canvas I asked her to send me a photo of the completed work and I was completely in awe at the beautiful art she created.

I really love the way the colors and textures work off each other.  There is something so regal about the combination of red and gold and the purple accents finish the piece perfectly!  She used over 2500 pieces of vintage material and the gold leaf center piece is over 100 years old.  Avant Garde and Antique!  I love it!!!!

If you are lucky enough to live near Anacortes in Washington you can view this piece in person,it will be on display in September at Anchor Art Space.

Take your art to a new level with our patented Avant Garde canvases!

When we developed our Aqua-Fuze product it was with watercolor artists in mind.  However, after 12 successful months and over the top reviews we are starting to hear from artists about other uses.

Luke Cox, a fabulous artist in the Kansas City area, uses Aqua-Fuze for his drawings and the results are fantastic.    “What I like most about using Signature’s Aqua-Fuze panel is the tooth of the paper. It is rough enough to aid in bringing out dark values in my drawings, but yet it presses flat enough for the smoother more detailed areas” said Luke.

It’s nice to have more than one use for a product, it saves money on having to purchase different mediums for your art and it allows an artist to get really creative by mixing drawing with watercolor paintings.

Aqua-Fuze is a product invented at Signature Canvas.  We start with Arches cold press watercolor paper and adhere it with our “secret” glue to an acid free gatorboard panel.  The result is a lightweight panel that doesn’t warp or buckle no matter how much water is used.  The rigid backing is ideal for drawing and for the extra support needed for painting plein air.

Thank you Luke for your beautiful drawing!  Click here to visit our Aqua-Fuze page.

Tom Neel

We are proud to introduce our latest Featured Artist, Tom Neel!  Not only is Tom a wonderful and very talented artist but he also has tremendous business skills when it comes to selling art.  We thought many artists would benefit from his knowledge and his unique view about being an artist.  He puts a lot of effort into the business side of his art and as a result his business continues to flourish year after year.  I hope you enjoy his advice and his gorgeous and peaceful paintings.          - Alicia

1. Tom, how long have you been painting and where do you find inspiration?

“When I’m asked this question I always answer in the number of years I’ve actually been selling paintings which is going on 24 years.  I’ve been a full time professional for 18 of those years.   Inspiration comes to me from everywhere.  I’ve never had a shortage of it or things I want to paint and I can’t imagine I ever will.  I don’t want to sound lofty, but painting before “practicing” inspiration is like putting the cart before the horse.  If you jump into a painting class and only practice the “how” and not the “why”, you’ll be doomed to disappoint.  You can ask how the Egyptians created the pyramids, but you’ll get a lot further by asking “why”.  Creativity is just inspiration being expressed.  If you find yourself painting a bowl of fruit or worse yet, taking a class to learn how to paint a bowl of fruit without any inspiration STOP!  Find what inspires you first, and then find a way to creatively express that inspiration.  By the way, this could have a lot to do with having a hard time selling your work because art buyers can sense this.”

2.  Have you done anything differently in the past year as a result of the tough economy?

“The simple answer is No.  The more complex answer is that I’ve sold paintings through as least 3 recessions and economic downturns are just part of life.  Don’t think there won’t be another recession after we get through this one.  The economy is cyclical so any business person need to be constant in adaptation.  Notice I said “business person” and not artist.”

3.  What do you like about the products from Signature Canvas?

“I depend on the products I use for the success of my business.  So Signature Canvas only has to do two things for me – create products of consistent quality and act like a business I can depend on, and they do both of those things very well.  Some businesses get the quality part and fail on communication or delivery.  Others have a great price with inconsistent quality.  Survival in any business is all about choosing the right partners and I hope I’m as good a partner for Signature as they have been for me.”  Reply from Signature Canvas – We love working with Tom Neel, it’s so exciting to see what he creates on our canvases and panels.

4.  Do you have a favorite scene or location to paint?

“I have and will continue to paint national and international subject matter, but it’s the area closest to my home in Virginia that I paint the most.  One could look at it as convenient, but it gets back to that partnership thing I was referring to and I have a partnership with the land around me….we take care of each other.”

5.  What advice do you have for artists who are having a tough time selling paintings?

“This is very broad and I certainly don’t have all the answers, but I would offer this advice.  Conventional methods are challenging.  I have owned and also directed large galleries.  I worked for one of the largest publishers during the heyday of the art market and I was published by others so I have some experience in selling art.  Trust me, all ends of this industry are trying to figure out how to sell more paintings and there are still people who want and can afford to purchase art.   Art is an emotional purchase but it inherently has a problem which is space.  It’s not like a meal you eat and move on to the next meal a few hours later, paintings stay around a long time and therefore require a fair amount of purchasing thought.  If you are an artist, think of anyway you can place your work in front of those wanting to make an emotional purchase.”

6.  Do you sell your work through galleries, art fairs, online, etc?

“Years ago I depended a lot on national gallery representation but I’ve frankly found being a big fish in a small pond worked better for me.  Today, about 40% of what I produce is by way of commission and I do it one painting at a time.  My wife and I own our gallery, LiveAnArtfulLife.com, which acts as one source for my sales and we have a nice restaurant next door and yep, the place is filled with my paintings too.  I also have a nationally known local Inn and I’ve just signed an exclusive agreement with a new high-end golf community for their clubhouse.  I will have paintings throughout 10,000 square feet of the 30,000 square feet facility.  In short, I think unconventionally.”

7.  Would you offer any other advice for artists?

“Let me end with this…Creative expression is the one last place to experience true freedom and many countries, especially China, do not allow this freedom, so enjoy it.  There aren’t any Art Police to pull you over and tell you that your trees can’t be purple because it’s all opinion.  Let happiness be your compass.  Because I have chosen to offer my work for sale my primary judge is the person who chooses to or not to purchase it.  I will not be judged by some random person who just has an opinion, even an educated one at that.  I work very hard for my clients, offering them first my passion, but certainly as with any good business, excellent customer service, quality products and workmanship.  I hope this helps you.”

To see more of Tom Neel’s work, visit his website ThomasNeel.com

After looking at the photo it is quite clear there is a big difference between an artist canvas made for professional artists and the typical “craft store” canvas.  The canvas on the top is a Signature Canvas, proudly made in our Kansas City factory.  The bottom canvas is the “Premium Level” canvas by a well-known retailer.

First, a quality canvas should be completely opaque,  it should block out light.  If you hold an unpainted canvas up to a window with the primed side facing the window, you should NOT see any pin points of light.  If you do, that means the canvas was not woven and gessoed correctly and it renders the product non-archival.  As you paint, the paint will seep through those pin points and deteriorate the canvas.  While you may think that you’re saving money by purchasing a lower priced canvas, over time it will cost you more by either having the painting restored or having to completely repaint it.  Notice how the Signature Canvas doesn’t allow any light to transfer through the canvas.  This happens because we pay attention to every detail of our manufacturing process.  The cotton is expertly woven in an oxford weave which provides strength and weight.  Then, we triple prime the canvas with our exclusive gesso.  The result is an archival canvas that’s bright white with a beautiful medium texture.

Closeup of canvas comparison

Another obvious difference is the overall manufacturing.  The Signature Canvas is finished on the front and back, we believe the entire product should look professional.  Remember, your customers are not only purchasing what you paint on the front, they are buying the entire package.  Having a completely finished product makes an artist look more professional and that results in getting higher prices for their artwork.  Nothing makes an artist look more unprofessional than a beautiful painting on a cheap canvas,  the materials you use to create your work will tell a potential buyer how serious you are about your paintings.  Are you looking to make a quick buck or do you want people to invest in your career as an artist?

The team at Signature Canvas has the opportunity to talk with thousands of artists around the world.  Although the painting styles and techniques are vastly different there is a common thread among serious artists – they insist on using professional level materials.  They will never scrimp on canvases, paints and brushes because those materials enable the best of their ability to shine.

We consider it an honor to work with the artists, galleries and museums who value our high quality products.  Thank you for supporting our Made in the USA business!

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Three years ago this month we launched our Keyless Frame product for use with Claessens linen and to say that it’s received rave reviews is putting it mildly.  Prior to this product an artist was forced to remove a canvas from the stretcher bars in order to restretch it.  That activity was messy, difficult and time consuming and unless you knew the secrets to stretched a canvas properly the finished product never looked quite right.

The goal for the Keyless Frame was to have a simple, easy and repeatable way for an artist to tighten a loosened canvas.  We’re thrilled when we receive emails like the one from fine artist Marti Millington:

Hi Alicia:

Back in 2009, I purchased a keyless Claessens Linen 14 x 18 canvas from you. I was afraid to paint on it, though, for fear I’d ruin it. Well, I got up my gumption recently, and because I wanted to be able to present my finest work on the finest canvas, I painted the attached painting on that Signature Canvas recently. I cannot believe how wonderfully the paint flowed across the canvas. It was like spreading whipped butter on hot toast!

And “Monarch of the Plains”, was recently accepted into the American Plains Artists’ 2011 Juried Exhibition, “The Art of the Plains” in Las Cruces, NM in September, AND the 2011 Artists for Conservation, 2011 Juried Exhibition, The Art of Conservation, in November!

Thank You for such a great product! I will be ordering more SOON!

So, if you are ready to paint something important, invest in a high quality product – it really makes a huge difference to the painting experience as well as the finished product! 

William Rose, a figurative/portrait artist from Kansas who works primarily in oil and charcoal, is garnering considerable national attention as one of a select group of very talented representational figurative artists painting today.  Following creative bursts in music and writing, he nearly stumbled across a talent – which quickly became a passion – for drawing and painting.  After one of his drawings was featured on the cover of American Artist Magazine he received a steady stream of requests for figurative and portrait work from many local and national high-profile collectors and galleries.

To focus on his growing success, William recently moved his studio to ARTichokes Gallery, a fine art gallery and painting studio in Leawood, Kansas.  Rose said “There is always exciting activity at ARTichokes providing a unique and open environment that I love – multiple artists at work, classes at all hours and a steady stream of gallery visitors as I create paintings in the large studio space.”

The local art community has benefited by Rose’s studio in ARTichokes because it affords art buyers and students to view the paintings he is currently working on.  Often an artist’s studio is hidden in a loft or warehouse that prohibits people from seeing their work.   “The ARTichokes studio has brought a whole new audience to my work, I’ve sold paintings that were half-painted to people who happen to be walking by” said Rose.

For the past ten years the self-taught artist’s medium of choice has been charcoal, but three years ago Rose recently began painting with oil.  “Because I’m self-taught, I had always been somewhat intimidated by oils, but once I jumped in, I found that it opened up an entirely new world of color, technique and texture to express myself in the figures and portraits I create.  Painting on very large canvases, I feel extraordinarily fortunate to have Signature Canvas right here in town – incredible quality and blazing fast responsiveness to the custom canvas sizes I need.  As an artist hitting full-stride in my career, I’d be lost without them.”

In addition to appearing in a wide range of national publications and juried shows – including covers for American Artist Magazine and Poets & Artists – William produced all of the artwork for a new film associated with Clint Eastwood in Carmel about a teenage art prodigy.  His artwork has also been featured in national art competitions including Artist Magazine’s “The Year’s Best Art”,  American Artist Magazine’s 70^th Anniversary Competition, International Artist Magazine’s 2009 Annual competition and the art quarterly, Blue Canvas.  His work will be featured this fall in the book “Strokes of Genius” and this November, William will have his first major solo Museum exhibit at the prestigious Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art.

William Rose Artwork