Rosemary & Co Artists' Brushes Newsletter - January 2015

The Finest Quality Handmade Artists’ Brushes

‘‘ It’s not just a brush, it’s an experience.

A ritual.

It’s life changing and it’s your life.’’

OUR monthly NEWSLETTER filled with INTERVIEWS & TIPS for your ENJOYMENT

www.rosemaryandco.com

Issue 3 January 2015

£16.50

Full Set

THE ANNA MASON Collection From ROSEMARY & CO

SET INCLUDES: Golden Synthetic - Pointed Spotters Sizes: 3/0, 0, 1, 3, 5 www.annamasonart.com

The Finest Quality Handmade Artists’ Brushes

+44 1535 600090 www.rosemaryandco.com

To END something OLD, we NEED to START something NEW

W

ith a full year ahead of us, January is always a time we promise to do this.. and finish that. Realistically, time runs away with us and before you know it we’ve found something else to occupy our precious time with. As artists, I feel we are always chasing the clock, both in the studio and socially.

My New Years Resolution is to try and finish things once I’ve started them.

Whether that be attending galleries, open studios, emails and messages, or catching up with friends and family, the list continues.

On that note, I must run, I’ve got to ring my grandparents and my coffee has gone cold.

Enjoy 2015, be safe and take all there is to offer you.

{CONTENTS} 04

LETTER of the MONTH

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FRIENDS of the MONTH

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MASTER of the MONTH

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ROSEMARY talks about NEW PRICES

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GUEST of the MONTH

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FIELD versus STUDIO

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ONES to WATCH on SOCIAL Media

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MASTER from the PAST

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REPRESENTATION: how WE go ABOUT it

Front cover image courtesy of C.W. Mundy www.cwmundy.com Rosemary & Co Artists Brushes, PO BOX 372, Keighley, West Yorkshire, England, BD20 6WZ.

Symi Jackson, Sales & Marketing Director symi@rosemaryandco.com

UK: 01535 600090 Int’l: +44 1535 600090

W: www.rosemaryandco.com E: enquiries@rosemaryandco.com

{LETTER of the MONTH} We LOVE to HEAR from YOU Dear Rosemary & Co On Tuesday of this week I watched a demonstration of watercolour painting by John Hoar at the Lyme Regis Art Society, and during the break I had a quick look at his brushes. They were of course manufactured by Rosemary & Co. On the way home I thought ‘‘If I am going to get anywhere near this man I must have the same tools!’’. I ordered two brushes from you by phone on Wednesday afternoon and the package came through my letterbox the next day.

I am absolutely delighted both with the brushes and the excellent service, thank you.

Best wishes and good trading for next year.

- Mr A. Tolley Dorset, UK

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{FRIENDS of the MONTH} We TALK to EDGEPROGEAR HOW IT WORKS It incorporates a removable glass palette, fits into a laptop case and mounts to a tripod. Accessories include a LED Light that can be dimmed, side tables, and a magnetic turpentine jar.

dgeProGear is a family business from America, dedicated to providing quality and trusted equipment for the professional artist.

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The slides are capable of holding canvas panels and stretched canvas in sizes up to 20” wide, or the manufactures magnetic QuickPanels. Each PaintBook is hand crafted from quality materials with a durable finish.

The latest technology in materials are used in the design and construction of EdgeProGear equipment, reflecting the highest quality available.

The PaintBook is just one of many designs by EdgeProGear. We wish them all the best for 2015 and urge you to look at their website.

The PaintBook was built to meet the needs of today’s artist who is looking for solid, sturdy equipment with precision in the design. It offers Plein Air painters convenience, style and portability. It will redefine the way you paint as well as enhance your creative experience.

Weighing under 5 pounds and slightly over 1 inch thick, the rugged, yet elegant structure of the PaintBook is designed for a lifetime of use in the most extreme conditions, as well as in the comfort of your own studio.

To view the full range Edge Pro Gear products go to www.edgeprogear.com

‘‘Quality art equipment for the professional artist.’’

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{MASTER of the MONTH} INTERVIEW with C.W. MUNDY

Charles Warren Mundy has been awarded as Master Signature Member for the Oil Painters of America and he has also received Master Status at the American Impressionist Society.

WHAT AGE DID YOU START PAINTING? In 1965, at the age of 20, I painted my first “oil”. It was kind of a cross between realism and the animation of Walt Disney.

I pictured a Model T Ford coming through a covered bridge at night, and the lights lit up the whole side of the bridge and sent rays shooting through the cracks of the wooden walls of the bridge. In preparation for that, I was doodling and drawing from about the age of 3 - 4 years. I did my first “posters” at the age of seven.

WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE ARTIST? Everyone who is passionate and works hard!

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WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO AN ARTIST? To paint the integrity of yourself and paint for yourself, not for an audience.

Study and work very hard at your craft.

Donald “Putt” Putman told me “it’s mileage and value!”

WHAT ARE THREE COLOURS YOU WOULDN’T GO WITHOUT ON YOUR PALETTE? Cadmium medium red Yellow Ochre Viridian Now of course, I’m not counting white and black as “colours”, but I would want them.

‘‘The POWER of the SUGGESTIVE is much GREATER than the STATEMENT of REALITY.’’ IF WE COULD FIND YOU PAINTING ANYWHERE, WHERE WOULD IT BE? (I.E WHERE’S THE PLACE YOU FEEL MOST AT PEACE PAINTING?) An old working-man’s harbour with double masted schooners.

HOW DO YOU MOTIVATE YOURSELF TO PICK UP YOUR BRUSH EACH MORNING? Everything starts with a prayer.

Psalm 32:8: “ I will teach you and instruct you in the way you shall go; I will guide you with My eye.”

WHAT IS THE ONE BRUSH YOU COULDN’T LIVE WITHOUT? Well, hello!

This is a no-brainer!

Natural hair long flats!

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE? Waking up every morning!

Images courtesy of C.W. Mundy See more of C.W. Mundy’s work at: www.cwmundy.com Or follow him on Facebook: C.w. Mundy Rosemary & Co

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{STILL the best VALUE} ROSEMARY talks ABOUT the PRICE increase...

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here hasn’t been a price increase in nearly 5 years at Rosemary & Co. Our raw materials have increased in cost considerably, notably ‘fine hair’ which includes Sable and Squirrel; Goat hair hasn’t increased at the same ratio.

All our wood for the handles are sourced within the EU and are from sustainable forests which are monitored. This increases the price to us but we feel it is worth it to try and help do our little bit for the planet.

There has been a considerable increase in fuel prices, which sounds ridiculous, but deliveries to us have reflected that too.

Some customers who ‘travel’ will know this already when they pay for a flight for 08

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example and there is a fuel excess added!

Even the specialist glues and resins we use have increased – we now pay £48 per tin for glue!

On a final note we remain the most competitive mail order brush company out there when you compare us ‘like for like’ to our competition. We are unique, we manufacture and sell direct – the key word here is direct. Every other brush manufacturer goes through a wholesaler, distributor, agent or shop, all of whom earn a percentage.

Thank you to our customers for your continued support. If you’d like the new catalogue, just ask.

{HANDMAKING a FINE quality BRUSH}

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ll of our artists brushes are handmade from the finest quality materials which are sourced throughout the world by ourselves. Below shows the care and skill which goes into each and every one of our brushes. Expertly made for you.

Having selected the amount of ‘fill’

2 and remove.

Finger manipulation to ensure belly

4 correct ‘length out’.

1 tying off in goblet.

3 will fall in correct place.

Fan out the brush to select poor hairs

Final inspection and measure to check

Rosemary and her team have been handmaking the finest quality artists’ brushes for over thirty years.

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{GUEST of the MONTH} We TALK with LEON HOLMES TRAVELLING ARTIST - Take yourself out of your comfort zone!

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o two subjects are ever the same so why paint them so?

For many years I painted the same familiar subjects, it was not until I travelled so widely that I truly discovered a clearer understanding of and the finer attributes of painting, in particular the importance of painting direct from life.

Taking yourself out of your comfort zone forces you to think, and allows you 10

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to experiment. For me, it regenerated a thirst for knowledge and a search for answers.

Before travelling so broadly, I lived in Australia painting boats and seascapes until the cows came home. I got pretty good at it, sales were good, but the self satisfaction was wearing thin. It was really just smoke and mirrors, sort of refining a repeated process where portraits, or city scenes full of figures scared me.

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oving to and living in Europe, you can’t avoid the population of people and a painting doesn’t look right without the inclusions of such, so I wanted to learn.

Wherever I go something is always different, the light, the landscape and the cultures. No two paintings now are ever the same. Each painting needs to be approached differently, I like to experiment and I am not afraid to fail or destroy a painting for the sake of discovering something new. I am finding my own voice and as an artist this is so important.

This month I return to Australia and will be looking forward to what effects these life changing experiences will have towards my approach to painting my own homeland.

It takes time to adjust your thinking and approach to painting before you start to find your way again in a new place. When I arrive in a new location I like to take it slow. Get a real feel for the place before I decide what it is I want to express.

- Leon Holmes

Images courtesy of Leon Holmes and Ferdinand Kiemeneij.

See more of Holmes’s work at: www.leonholmesart.com.au Or follow him on Facebook: Leon Holmes Artist Visit our website for the Leon Holmes brush set, only available through Rosemary & Co. www.rosemaryandco.com/leon-holmes-set Rosemary & Co

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{FIELD versus STUDIO} WE talk to GLENN DEAN

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believe that time in the field and time in the studio are equally important. Working outdoors has taught me about value, colour and how to edit and simplify shapes to their essential parts.

When I’m in the studio, where I have more time to pay attention to design, composition, and drawing, this accumulated knowledge gained from painting countless field studies has proven to be quite valuable.

When painting all the parts of a studio painting, these field studies help to inform each compositional element of the piece so that they might exhibit the overall believability and natural qualities that are seen and felt in nature.

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Glenn Dean paints on-location throughout the Southwest, dividing his time between deserts, mountains, and coastal subjects.

In contrast, without the experience of working from nature, the overall effect might end up looking photographic and or dull in colour with an unauthentic effect of light.

- Glenn Dean

Images courtesy of Glenn Dean See more of Glenn Dean’s work at: www.landscapesofthewest.com Or follow him on Facebook: Glenn Dean Artwork

{UPCOMING ARTISTS} ONES to WATCH on SOCIAL MEDIA

ADAM CLAGUE

SADIE J. VALERI

HAIDEE -JO SUMMERS

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dam Clague received his training at Pensacola Christian College. Today, he strives to faithfully depict his subjects while maintaining the intrinsic beauty of his chosen medium.

Adam Clague Fine Art

adie J. Valeri is an internationally recognized still life oil painter and art instructor.

Sadie now owns an atelier in San Francisco where she teaches Classical Realism.

aidee-Jo’s work has been juried into the Royal Institute of Oil Painters as well as the Royal Society of Marine Artists annual exhibitions at the Mall Galleries in London.

@sadie_valeri

haideejosummers

KEEP in TOUCH by FOLLOWING us ON...

FACEBOOK: Rosemary & Co Artists Brushes

TWITTER: Rosemary&Co @rosemaryandco

INSTAGRAM: Rosemary Brushes

LINKEDIN: Rosemary & Co Artists Brushes

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{MASTER from the PAST} TAMARA De LEMPICKA

By Michael Bawol

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orn in Warsaw 1898, Tamara Lempicka is one of the most intriguing and captivating artists of her era.

Lempicka is commonly known as “the first woman artist to be a glamour star” and “the baroness with a brush” by many of the Hollywood stars.

She was ever faithful to her convictions and unique temperament as an artist. Her work focused primarily on the implementation of the portraits, which were preserved in the cubist style of art deco.

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The first of her works were presented in 1922 at the Salone d’Automne and they were immediately noticed by the press, this began a triumphal march to fame.

Lempicka quickly became a leading portrait painter of the aristocracy of Paris.

During this period, Tamara was famous not only from her work - but also about her bisexuality and numerous romances. Many of her paintings portray countless lovers. Her paintings were defined with intensive colours, cubist shapes, lines and great attention to aesthetics.

“The first woman artist to be a glamour star.”

The most famous paintings of Lempicka include, ‘Green Bugatti’, ‘Portrait de la Duchess de la Salle’ or ‘Portrait de Marjorie Ferry’ (amongst many others) sold for millions of dollars and are held in a private collections with the likes of Madonna, Jack Nicholson, Barbara Streisand and many other stars and art collectors.

Images courtesy of: www.tamara-de-lempicka.org

REPRESENTATION: How to go about it Probably one of the hardest tasks in the art world is finding representation for our paintings. After you have completed a series of works that represent you and your style, you are ready to seek out a gallery. They should have a coordinated feel in colour, subject, and design showing off your highest skill level.

We work so hard to develop our talents and now we hit a wall in finding representation. How do we get our work out there and seen? Most of us are rather shy to begin with so it is not an easy task to say the least.

The best way to approach this is to make a conscious decision that you want success and make it your daily goal! Put all else on hold, but only temporarily of course!

My way of approaching this is to send my online portfolio website out to one Gallery each night in an area that I would like to be represented in.

I am currently represented at The Atelier Gallery on 153 King Street in Charleston. After visiting this town I fell in love with it and I knew I wanted to be there and looked through many Galleries.

We need to sell work that reflects the public’s need for residential, professional or business sales. Hopefully much later we land in a museum but for now we need to earn a living, so seeing the gallery and understanding the operation is key. Will your work fit in and stand out? I prefer mine to stand out. Now you are ready to fly!! Good luck!

- Julia Diller www.juliadillerart.com

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