Up on the Easel

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Art Advice, Local Art Community & Inspiration

Gwartzman's is happy to provide insight to any questions you might have regarding art materials-- what's the difference between brush tip shapes? What does all the labelling on the back of a paint tube or jar mean? Find these answers and more below!

The art community can be a fantastic place to gain inspiration! Check out local artists that you may be familiar with, and some new art and new faces. Look inside studios big and small, and learn about some of our own favourite big names in the art world.

A Short History of Red Pigments

Red is an important colour for humans, and it’s not a colour that many other mammals can see. It’s thought that primates developed the ability to see red because it makes it easier to see ripe fruits amongst green vegetation. Above you can see the mass tone of four of the more unusual reds from...

Stretching and Prepping a Canvas

A little disclaimer before we begin: There are many ways to stretch and prepare a surface for painting. This is one of the trusted and tried methods here at Gwartzman’s! Let’s start at the beginning. What is canvas, exactly? And why is stretching a piece of fabric over a frame the preferred metho...