Cowan's Art Knowledge & Know How

An acrylic paint with vastly longer working time and colours that can be lifted or blended even hours after application...? 

It's not magic, it's Golden OPEN and it’s the real deal!

When we see "removable" written on a product label we tend to think it means that product is not of the highest quality, but this couldn't be farther from the truth!  We're going to illuminate what removable really means to you and your art.

Offering unsurpassed versatility, Workable Fixative has been such a good friend to me over the years. Our relationship has been repeatedly tested and fixative has never let me down; in fact, quite the opposite!  Many times Workable Fixative has saved me from disaster (and heartbreak) and I don't know how any artist lives without it!

Over the years I've heard a number of people express concerns about use of animal by-products in the products they use everyday, and art materials are no exception. The world of fine art products is indeed vast; fortunately, the number of animal-based products is small and easy to outline.

These days, more people than ever are becoming self-taught artists thanks to books, online courses, and free platforms like YouTube where people just want to share their knowledge. Learning a new discipline on your own can be like learning a new language and it's nice to have a glossary at hand. Join us and learn the lingo of the watercolour artist.

If you've ever seen alcohol inks in action you will have already experienced their independent swirling movement; beautiful, mesmerizing and liberating, and also incredibly frustrating if you're used to having control over your media. Gaining an understanding of the properties of alcohol inks will help you have more fun and create more successful pieces.

With a large array of mediums and thinners available for oils, choosing the right one for your needs can be confusing and even intimidating, but it doesn't have to be. Join us and get better acquainted with your options.

When the creative juices are flowing we all want to just get at it and start painting, but surface prep and layout is a necessary evil for many of us.  It may be necessary, but it doesn't have to be evil. We're going to outline four ways of enlarging an image and four ways of transferring that image onto your canvas, paper or board in the hopes that these techniques will help you avoid future frustrations.

Inktense are soft-leaded water-soluble pencils that lay down vibrant and permanent colours. Inktense are also an excellent companion to watercolours, ink, and mixed media; they are even capable of withstanding washing and drying on silk and cotton. Inktense are so versatile that they are the only colured pencil you will ever need.

The Bullet Journal is a customizable and forgiving organization system. It can be your to-do list, sketchbook, notebook, and diary, but most likely, it will be all of the above. It will teach you to do more with less.

There can be any number of reasons why a stretched canvas will end up baggy, loose, wrinkled or dimpled, but it isn't the end of the world.  Sagging can happen during shipping because of environmental conditions in different climates, namely humidity.  This does not mean the canvas is defective or unusable!  There are several ways to get a stretched canvas tight as a drum again.

An easel is often the largest and most expensive piece of equipment in an artists possession, however a good quality easel can last a lifetime!  To ensure you're getting the right easel for your artistic needs, there a few questions to consider.