Swan Song

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=125 BGCOLOR="#FF0000" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="039467d1dvlddx.png"> <div> <FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>THE SWAN SONG</B></I></FONT><FONT SIZE="7" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" ><I><B> </B></I></FONT><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>                        </B></I></FONT><I><B> </B></I><B> </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>  |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Red Swan Art Supplies, Frames, Hobbies "><B>home</B></A></FONT></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" ><B>The online newsletter of Red Swan Paint & Art</B></FONT><B> </B><B>        </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" ><B> Posted February 16,  2008</B></FONT></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=189 style="border-right: 1px solid #CCCCCC;" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="1ad35200.png" border=0 width="53" height="32" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>QUICK FINDER</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id4_art_classes_at_red_swan.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Art Classes"><B>Art classes at Red Swan</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id92.htm#a_map_to_find_us" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Map"><B>A map to find us</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id69_back_to_art_material_tips.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Art Material Tips"><B>Art Material Tips</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id157_the_real__truth_about_custom_framing____.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="CUSTOM FRAME"><B>The real  truth about custom framing.   </B></A></div> <div> <B> </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>(You wont get it from the craft store ads.)</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id156_m.htm#additional_links" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Swan Song"><B>Additional Links</B></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> </B></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=355 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <A NAME="click_here_for_our_current_newsletter_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>Arguably It's the World's Best  </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>(and more of it is coming soon)</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>Used by more than 200 museum conservators worldwide, Gamblin Oils are easily the best American-made paint, and many believe them the best in the world.  Soon, possibly by the time you read this, we will double our selection of Gamblin colors, as well as add additional Gamblin mediums and additives.</B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="1ad35200.png" border=0 width="53" height="32" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>More Frames with Glass and Backer</B></div> <div> <B>It came at the cost of down-sizing space for our model department, but we're in the process of building up much larger stocks of ready-made frames with glass and backer.  (By the way, the only backer we use in them is foamboard, not  the cheap cardboard you find in the frames from most other places.)   As this is written the largest size in these is 16x20, but as time allows we'll probably add a few larger sizes as well.  </B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><IMG SRC="1ad35200.png" border=0 width="53" height="32" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></FONT></div> <div> <B>The Sleaze Factor in Pricing</B></div> <div> <B>(Otherwise known as Caveat Emptor is alive and well in Ocala)</B></div> <div> <B>Recently a customer had us put a 12x16 canvas panel in a frame.  The panel, bought at a chain store, was pre-priced as part of its label.  The price: $6.75!</B></div> <div> <B>Now we aren't saying that the selling store, which shamelessly put its name on the panel,  ever really sold one at that price.  In fact we are sure they did not.  But it's quite clear why that price was chosen.  </B></div> <div> <I><B>There is absolutely no reason to put that sort of price on that item except to fool the unknowledgable portion of public into believing they were getting a bargain when the panel was offered at the 50%-off figure the store in question routinely advertises. </B></I><B> </B></div> <div> <B>(Just for the record, our everyday price on the identical size is well under two dollars, and we're willing to bet that the ones we sell are better quality than theirs.)  Frankly, we think deliberately posting a ficticious and ridiculously high price so as to claim a illusory discount is a sleazy tactic, but unfortunately one which permeates much of today's advertising.  We thought the same a year ago when a major canvas producer raised its suggested retail 33%, </B><I><B>but did not change its actual selling price.  </B></I><B>Its rational:  Now stores could advertise bigger percentage discounts without changing their price a penny.   Fool the public is very much in style.</B></div> <div> <B>That was last year.  Today </B><I><B>buyer bewar</B></I><B>e is perhaps more true than ever.</B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><IMG SRC="1ad35200.png" border=0 width="53" height="32" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></FONT></div> <div> <B>New Stuff</B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The Color Wheel Company has a new mixing guide that claims to take the guesswork out of mixing more than 300 colors (and lots more, we assume, taking the near infinity of possible tints and shades available).  Your $10.95 lets you take home the one that's </B><B>11</B><B>½" square or get a studio-size, 24" square model for $29.99. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">No one who has ever tried using a cutting mat would ever happily choose any other surface for cutting paper, board, or whatever.  Previously 24x36 was the largest size we carried.  Now, for you real cutups, we have 36x48 in stock.</B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Strathmore has added pads of watercolor paper to its offerings in its Windpower series.  As the name implies, products in that line are manufactured entirely with electricity generated by wind turbines.  More Windpower items are coming soon, as well as a several new sizes in pads.</B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> We have increased our selection of Clayboard items from Ampersand, including a couple of sizes in their new , more economical line.</B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">New from Testors is a single-action airbrush packed with a mini-compressor for just under a hundred dollars.  It's not fancy, but it works.  (We also carry a double-action airbrush/compressor combo from the same source.  It lists for $229.95, but we'll take $40.00 less than that for it.)</B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">When you need just a dab of adhesive precisely applied, try the two-way pen we just added to stock.  The two-way designation means that when the surfaces are joined while the glue is wet, the bond is permanent.  Let the glue dry before joining and you can reposition as needed.</B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">We've had clear acrylic palettes in huge (read foolish) sizes before, but until recently nothing small.  Now we do, in either 9x12 or 12x16 size.</B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>  </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><IMG SRC="1ad35200.png" border=0 width="53" height="32" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></FONT><B> </B></div> <div> <B> Trivia  </B></div> <div> <B>According to ArtInfoNet (there's a link below) the largest painting measures 92,419 square feet, or more than two acres.  We would have been happy to have sold the paint for it.</B></div> <div> <B>We've had both of these before, but we'll bet some of you have forgotten</B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">What color is named after a battle?</B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">What colors are named for goblins?</B></div> <div> <B>(Answers below)</B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Machinery for Sale (Still!)</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>(This is a repeat ... we've had nibbles but no sale as yet.)</B></div> <div> <B> We'd like to dispose of two pieces of machinery that we no longer use, and the price will be right:</B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00003300.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">A Xyron 850 laminating machine with two-plus refill rolls.  One roll (plus the remnant of a roll already in the machine) laminate both sides of any document or artwork up to 8</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>½" </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>wide by any reasonable length.  The other roll laminates one side with clear overlay and applies pressure sensitive adhesive to the other side.  The machine itself has seen only extremely light use.  The cheapest price we could find on the Internet was $95.99 for the machine and $33 and change for each refill.  First $120.00 takes it all.</B></FONT></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7005000000000.png" HEIGHT="5" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">A Thumbnailer frame joining machine plus a generous supply of "thumbnails."  The machine routs out one or more channels on the back side of each corner and then the "thumbnails" are inserted to pull the the two sections together.  We used it relatively lightly for around seven years and believe it to be in excellent condition.  New, these run around $900.00 without inserts.  We will take $300.00 for the machine and throw in the inserts.</B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="1ad35200.png" border=0 width="53" height="32" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B> </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>From Red Swan's Own Dictionary</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>(Our Definitions for SALE, SPECIAL, PHOOLIUM, and PHOOLIUM COUPON)</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>(We will continue to post this notice as long as Phoolium coupons continue to exist.)</B></div> <div> <B>(Addendum on 9/15/07 - Some Phoolium coupons now are as high as 80%)</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <div> <B>SALE: Signifies that prices have been reduced from normal levels for a specified and usually short period of time.  </B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <div> <B>SPECIAL:  We use this to indicate prices which will remain significantly below normal retails for a longer and unspecified period of time.  This may be because we were able to make a special buy or it may be for competitive or other reasons.  Variations include introductory specials on new items, and closeout sales (which obviously will end when stocks are exhausted).</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <div> <B>PHOOLIUM:  A colorless gas designed to fool the unwary.  (While colorless, it bears the unmistakable odor of scam.)</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>PHOOLIUM COUPONS:  We don't use these devices to dupe the gullible, but they are a fact of life, especially in the framing business.  They are run than 40 weeks a year offering some improbable number (usually 50% or more) off regular prices on frames and/or framing.  In a sense they are true; prices are half of so-called regular, but the problem is that the "regular" price has been set so high that the apparent bargain is no bargain at all.  (We have never ... repeat, never ...  had a case where our regular price did not beat their coupon price.)  After all, any price tht prevails more than 80% of the year IS their regular price.</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><IMG SRC="1ad35200.png" border=0 width="53" height="32" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></FONT></div> <div> <B>Trivia Answers</B></div> <div> <B>Magenta was named for the Battle of Magenta, which occurred the year of its discovery.  Kobalt, the German word for the element, lent its name to the cobalt colors, because the miners who dug the ore thought the mines were haunted by goblins.</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Art-Related Websites</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <div> <B> <A NAME="links"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><A HREF="http://www.winsornewton.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.winsornewton.com"><B>http://www.winsornewton.com</B></A><B>                                                                                   </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#111111" FACE="Arial" ><B>Easily</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>the best art site on the web.  Tons of information.  </B></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="http://gamblincolors.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://gamblincolors.com"><B>http://gamblincolors.com</B></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#111111" FACE="Arial" ><B>. </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>Fact-filled information from  America's leading oil paint authority.</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <div> <B> </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.chromaonline.com/interactive/about-1.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.chromaonline.com/interactive/"><B>http://www.chromaonline.com/interactive/about-1.htm</B></A></FONT><B>. </B></div> <div> <B>Learn about the new acrylic with controlable drying time.</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.genesisartistcolors.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.genesisartistcolors.com"><B>http://www.genesisartistcolors.com</B></A></div> <div> <B>All about the heat-fixable art paint that dries when </B><I><B><U>y</U></B></I><I><B><U>ou</U></B></I><B> want it to.  </B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.sculpey.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.sculpey.com"><B>http://www.sculpey.com</B></A></div> <div> <B>A good page for information about Sculpey polymer clays.</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www,testors.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www,testors.com"><B>http://www,testors.com</B></A></div> <div> <B>Model builders and anyone interested in the Aztek line</B></div> <div> <B>of airbrushes should check this page.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B> </B><A HREF="http://www.liquitex.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.liquitex.com"><B>http://www.liquitex.com</B></A></div> <div> <B>Useful information from the makers of the world's best-selling acrylic.</B></div> <div> <B>This site shows impressive improvement from its earlier form.</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.painting-for-pleasure.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.painting-for-pleasure.com"><B>http://www.painting-for-pleasure.com</B></A></div> <div> <B>Samples and coming class paintings from our wet-on-wet oil teacher</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id4_art_classes_at_red_swan.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Art Classes"><B>Art classes at Red Swan</B></A></div> <div> <B>(By the areas best teachers ... no fooling!)</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id69_return_to_art_material_tips.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Art Material Tips"><B>Art Material Tips</B></A></div> <div> <B>Takes you to the tips section of our web page.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>For the Technically Minded</B></div> <div> <B>Here, courtesy of Golden Acrylics, are some web sites that explore,  in varying degrees of  technicality, just about everything art related.  If you don't choose to explore them now, we have added them to our links page,  so you can view them at ypur convenience.</B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="http://www.mfa.org/_cameo/frontend/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.mfa.org/_cameo/frontend/"><B>http://www.mfa.org/_cameo/frontend</B></A></div> <div> Website of The <B>C</B>onservation and <B>A</B>rt <B>M</B>aterials <B>E</B>ncyclopedia <B>O</B>nline, </div> <div> it catalogs art materials and provides information for both</div> <div> museum professionals and the public.</div> <div> <I><B> </B></I></div> <div> <B>http://www.handprint.com/HP/WCL/vismixmap.html</B></div> <div> Shows and compares a variety of color wheels and color systems.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/publications/conservogram/conserv.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/publication"><B>http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/publications/conservogram/conserv.html</B></A><B> </B></div> <div> Although primarily intended for museum pros,  artists may appreciate suggestions dealing with packing, storing, transport, and display of their art work, as well as health and safety issues.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.artinfonet.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.artinfonet.com"><B>http://www.artinfonet.com</B></A><B> </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >A good source for information for artists from the National Art Materials Trade Association (NAMTA).</FONT></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="1ad35200.png" border=0 width="53" height="32" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>(New links are added regularly.  Check back occasionally.)</B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  </div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>