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‘‘ 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 7 June 2015
The QUANG HO Brush Set
This set contains 12 brushes (all on Long Handles): Ivory Filberts, Sizes: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Series 279, Masters Choice Long Flat, Sizes: 4, 5 Series 275, Masters Choice Angular, Size: 1/4” www.quangho.com
£72 / $93
ROSEMARY & CO
Full Set
Available Online at
+44 1535 632666 www.rosemaryandco.com
GO out and PAINT this SUMMER! Finally! The light mornings, and light evenings! Don’t you just love the summer? The first six months of the year have been filled with travelling for me. I’ve tried to get to as many events and expos as possible to meet folks and spread the word about our brushes. If you think there’s an event we might be able to come to, please get in touch! A huge thank you to mine and my mums dear friend, Casey Baugh for being our Master of the Month. We adore both you and your work immensely. I would also like to thank every other artist who jumped on board for this issue, you all make these newsletters such a pleasure to collate. On a final note, in Iceland, folklore says that if you bathe naked in the morning dew on the morning of June 24, you are supposed to keep aging at bay for longer. I don’t recommend it, but let us know if it does work!
{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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BRUSH Reviews, TIPS & ADVICE
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GUEST of the MONTH
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The CHALLENGE of SPRING GREENS
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ONES to WATCH on SOCIAL Media
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MASTER from the PAST
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The INTENDED BRUSH Stroke
Have a great month. Cover image courtesy of Casey Baugh. www.caseybaughfineart.com Rosemary & Co Artists Brushes, PO BOX 372, Keighley, West Yorkshire, England, BD20 6WZ.
Symi Jackson, Sales & Marketing Director symi@rosemaryandco.com
UK: 01535 632666 Int’l: +44 1535 632666
W: www.rosemaryandco.com E: enquiries@rosemaryandco.com
LETTER of the MONTH We LOVE to HEAR from YOU Dear Symi, I met you when you were in Scottsdale. I told you about my friend in prison whom I share my newsletter with. My friend, Valerie is using her time there not only to create beauty through her painting but also to help other women who are incarcerated develop their artistic talent through painting as well. Valerie is a dear friend of mine - who strongly encouraged me to paint, claiming it would save my life. She is a beautiful person and a gifted artist and is helping others as well. I am able to get supplies in to her paints, brushes and canvases and art pads through a prison non-profit organization. I mail her copies of articles, your newsletter (that I download) photos for painting ideas and and have written step by step instructions for art projects for her students. I feel that anything I can to do help her be positive and help others is good. Sincerely, Cynthia Berg Thank you for getting in touch Cynthia, your £20 gift voucher is in the post. If you would like to be picked out of the hat for next months gift voucher, please send us your letters.
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{FRIENDS of the MONTH} We TALK to ROYAL TALENS
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oyal Talens is a proud Dutch colour house in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands. They have been crafting paints, such as Rembrandt oils, Cobra Solvent-Free oils and Amsterdam Acrylics there since 1899. Â Since 1949, they have been registered as a Royal company, an honour bestowed by the Dutch Royal family to only a few select companies which exhibit the long standing values of craftsmanship, innovation, environmental and labour responsibility which set them as an example within the Netherlands. Â What sets Royal Talens apart in terms of the products they make is the extra fine grinding, resulting in a rich buttery feel to their paints and allowing for very high chroma and tinting strength.
Because of this extra fine grind, they also have an expansive number of transparent colours, perfect for deep rich mixes and subtle glazes. As a company, they take pride in the creation and production of each handchecked batch of colour they create, ensuring that artists will have the consistent quality they have come to rely on. They have a wonderful team of folks working for them, of whom many we are able to call our dear friends. Please visit their website at: www.royaltalens.com In fond memory of Don Nederhand, technical advisor and leading artist for Royal Talens who passed away suddenly in May 2015. Rosemary & Co
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{MASTER of the MONTH} INTERVIEW with CASEY BAUGH ‘‘Have no fear. No fear of what others might think of your work.’’
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augh’s work can be described as narrative impressionistic realism. When he was only 21 years old, Baugh began showing in galleries and after four years of studying with artist Richard Schmid, he had his first solo show at age 25. HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU STARTED TO PAINT? I started dabbling in charcoal and oil when I was around 10. At that age I just thought it was fun being able to create things that looked real. But back then it was mostly dinosaurs and robots I was drawing.
Baugh favours Rosemary & Co’s Series 279 accompanied by the Kolinsky Sables. He uses the shorter handle for more precision and control. 06
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WHAT THOUGHTS DO YOU HAVE WHEN YOU FIRST THINK ABOUT A PAINTING? I get excited at the thought of creating something I want to see and that has never existed.
‘‘NARRATIVE IMPRESSIONISTIC REALISM’’ ‘‘Baugh’s art has evolved over time to become more narrative. Though still maintaining figures as his prime subject matter, he is telling more stories.’’
WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU COULD GIVE TO ANOTHER ARTIST? Have no fear. No fear of what others might think of your work. No fear if you’ll make it or not as a professional. No fear if you’re doing it the right way. WHAT ARE YOUR THREE MAIN COLOURS? Alizarin, Ultramarine blue deep, Indian yellow. HOW DO YOU GET FOCUSED? After I get the idea and reference for a solid painting I get focused enough. WHAT ARE YOUR GO-TO BRUSHES? Rosemary’s 279 series are my go to.
Images courtesy of Casey Baugh. See more of Casey’s work at: www.caseybaughfineart.com Or follow him on Facebook: Casey Baugh Artist
WHY DO YOU PREFER THE SHORTER HANDLE LENGTH? (7 INCHES). Short handles are easier to travel with and if I need them to act as longer handles I just hold my arm out straight while working. I have much more control with shorter handles. Rosemary & Co
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{SWIPE and SLASH} The SWORD LINER By Lee Craigmile
The Sword liners work well in oil, acrylic and watercolour. Visit our site and search Swords for more infomation.
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tudying at the Florence Academy of Art, there are many painting techniques to be mastered through intense practice and through following the methodology of the school. But there are also many things to be learned concerning one’s materials. For example, a great variety of edge qualities can be achieved in a painting simply by varying the kinds of brushes used—i.e. sable versus hog-hair. Almost every painting that I have created has required a few sharp edges here and there to create a sense of depth through contrast. In a landscape, this could be the edge of a building that I wish to come forward in the painting, or it could be an accent to stress a particular place of interest, or else it could be used to create a sense of movement in the weather (disturbance on water, branches swaying, etc). 08
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In a still-life, on the other hand, it is very important to achieve clean, straight marks of paint to establish where the objects meet the surface they are resting on. Drawing attention to an object of importance in a still life can be done with a strong placement and chromatic colours, but it can also be achieved through a carefully selected use of sharp edges. The Rosemary & Co Sword Liner brushes are ideal for creating just these kinds of accents and I highly recommend them. They handle just as the name implies; you can swipe and slash with decent precision and you can achieve clean, sharp edges that will pull out whatever you need to be in focus in your painting. Please take the time to visit Lee’s site www.leecraigmile.com
{The TREE & texture BRUSH} STRUGGLING with YOUR TREES?
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esigned to simplify the art of painting trees and foliage in any medium, this special brush has just the right performance to deliver the perfect tree foliage (also a good texture brush for shrubbery, grasses etc). It’s amazing how quickly as a beginner you will learn to use this brush, and for the advanced artists amongst us you’ll wish we had made this brush years ago. The Tree & Texture Brush is available in three sizes and makes a perfect addition to your collection. It comes in the standard handle and is great for use in all mediums.
The tree & texture brush is versatile and easy to use, available through our website. Rosemary & Co
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{GUEST of the MONTH} LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION By Tony Hogan
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y first visit to Cornwall was in 1966 whilst courting my now wife Eileen. I remember the excitement of such an adventure, the impact to my artistic eye of this stunning county never has left me. The clean beaches, the aqua coloured sea with bright light bouncing and glittering on the waves, the unique luminescence of the light, the warmth of each day. It became a desire of ours to live and paint this wonderful part of the country, but life at that time in the commercial art world dictated I stay north. Many, many trips and many hundreds of paintings of the area later we finally made the move. It was a difficult choice to relocate our long established “Art Breaks in Yorkshire’ 10
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art holiday company where so many good and loyal customers annually joined us to paint the Yorkshire Wolds. But the chance to explore and paint even further the delights of the stunning Cornish land and seascape won the day. I’m glad to say some of our old students have committed to visiting to enjoy this magnificent place. For over a century, artists have been drawn to Cornwall, inspired by its spectacular, unspoilt north coastline and the unique, translucent quality of the light it reflects. Warmed by the Gulf Stream, Cornwall’s mild subtropical climate attracts painters all year round for its historic charm and scenic setting.
‘‘Many, many trips and many hundreds of paintings of the area later, we finally made the move.’’
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e are now based in the delightful market town of Wadebridge next to the Camel Estuary where the Camel river flows down from Bodmin to the open sea at the fishing port of Padstow. Its a dream location on our very doorstep with the constant rise and fall of the tidal reach, and the ever changing dawn to dusk light providing a never ending source of inspiration. The now defunct railway line passes through Wadebridge from Bodmin to Padstow and has been ergonomically transformed into a walking/cycling trail passing through woodlands and wetlands with views of the soft rolling Cornish landscape. Within a short drive of Wadebridge we have the many stunning coastal locations including Polzeath, Bedruthan steps, Harlyn Bay,
Constantine Bay, Morgan Porth, Watergate, Newquay, and Port Isaac (where Doc Martin is filmed). Just above Port Isaac is the historical castle at Tintagel. Each day is a new delight inspiring a fresh outlook in the way of thinking about my artistic life, whilst exploring visual techniques and images which may never been aroused had we not made the move. I feel a whole new artistic life has opened up whilst still based on the lifetime skills and techniques as a professional artist. As I write this I have just returned from a sunny afternoon on Polzeath beach developing coloured drawings of the slate cliffs in a way and with colours far more adventurous. See more of Tony’s work, or book a holiday at: www.hoganart.co.uk Rosemary & Co
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The CHALLENGE of SPRING GREENS By Melanie Cambridge
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love painting the fresh, bright greens of early springtime. With the first sniff of warmth in the air and a hint of green on the trees, I pack up my oils and favourite brushes from Rosemary’s Ivory Range and head to the woods to paint the bluebells. A couple of long filberts and a no.4 rigger are all I need for working on location. In order to paint really fresh colours, choose a cool blue, such as Cerulean Blue and Lemon Yellow. Yes they make very bright, vibrant green initially but by adding just a tiny bit of complimentary red you can “naturalise” this towards a softer spring green. 12
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Using this approach you control the colour and with practice will soon be mixing with confidence. For darker greens, I prefer Cobalt Blue as my base colour again with either Lemon or a warmer Yellow such as Azo Deep or Indian Yellow. So now, rather than avoiding greens, load up your paint-box and set off to capture this lovely time of year.
See more of Melanie’s work at: www.melaniecambridge.com or follow on her Facebook: Melanie Cambridge Artist
{ARTISTS around the WORLD} ONES to WATCH on SOCIAL MEDIA
Joe Dowden
Florian Leipold
Michael Sydney Moore
Joe Dowden is a professional UK watercolour artist and teacher, who specialises in landscapes and seascapes with a fresh approach.
Florian Leipold lives in Stuttgart, Germany. Leipold specialises in painting miniature wargaming models and is highly regarded amongst his peers.
A fine artist from London. Moore’s work is centered around highrealism in portraiture. Due to the scale and detail, he only produces 8-10 works a year.
Joe Dowden Watercolour
@wolfsherz
michaelsydneymoore
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} EDWARD BRIAN SEAGO By Linda Matthews
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Norwich School of Art, where he lasted one term and returned to paint the circus.
On his return he had two paintings accepted by the Royal Academy. Alfred Munnings who had been on the RA committee advised Seago to get some training. Reluctantly he took night classes at
Seago’s work can be described as impressionist or post impressionist. His landscapes were painted mainly en plein air and he was known to sail on the Capricorn into the North Sea, and from there to to Belgium and France. Seago painted around Europe, Marrakech, Hong Kong and the far east, but always returned to his beloved home in Ludham, Norfolk. Seago did later buy a studio on the coast
orfolk artist, Seago was self taught. He had a sickly childhood confined to his bedroom where he painted, winning the Royal Drawing Society award at 14 years old. At 18 he ran away to paint the circus travelling around Britain and Europe.
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of Sardinia, where it was discovered in 1973 he had a brain tumour. He was flown back to England for treatment but died in January 1974. His ashes where scattered over the marshes near his home and he instructed that a third of his paintings be burnt by his executors. I feel the simplicity of his brushwork, and uncluttered feel of his paintings make Seago’s work timeless. Images courtesy of: www.nevsepic.com.ua
The INTENDED Brush Stroke By Julia Diller
This is such a simple thought yet it is a very important action in the painting world and truly is everything. Many times while teaching I will point out to my students the importance of a fresh stroke. Everyone thinks white paint is what makes a painting chalky or foggy but it is not the paint, it is the action preceding it. We tend to move too quick without understanding and we scrub and scrub in frustration. It is very important that each stroke be purposefully placed with thought and intent. The next most important feature is the brush shape, size and type. A purposefully placed stroke with the right tool and the correct colour and value is what makes a beautiful, fresh and alive painting. If the stroke is not fresh, remove it and put another one down. There is nothing worse than an over worked and over brushed painting. Taking the time to achieve this is more important than rushing and making an error. Errors slow you down much more than the time it takes to carefully place a stroke! Try it. Slow down a bit and put thought into the action! The speed will come in time with practice!
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