The Connections Bernards Ridge Edition Sep/Oct/Nov 2021

THE BERNARDS-RIDGE CONNECTION PAGE 76 SEPT/OCT/NOV 2021 theconnectionsnj.com theconnectionsnj.com THE CONNECTION MAGAZINES Remember Paint by Num- bers? I loved those kits as a child. Well, they exist for adult artists, too, and they are fabu- lous! Today your choices go way beyond horses, ballerinas and covered bridges, and you do not need private painting lessons to enjoy them since each color placement is print- ed right on the canvas; you just follow the lines. I came across a group of Paint by Number enthusiasts while on vacation in Florida. Their can- vases were enticing and I was captivated by the designs and colors. I had no idea this was a thing. So, onto the internet. There are many com- panies offering canvases (Search Paint by Number). There are reproductions of fa- mous paintings, as well as, whimsical prints, landscapes, animals, owers, even balle- rinas … really just about any subject. The kits come with everything you need: print- ed canvas, blushes of various sizes, all the necessary numbered acrylic paint colors, and paper instructions with a copy of the numbered design for reference. You can choose the canvas size and whether or not to have it arrive pre-stretched and nailed to the wooden frame or assemble, stretch and nail the canvas to the fame yourself. Feel free to paint within the lines or outside the lines and blend the adjacent colors while the paint is wet. According to Wikipedia and Tech-crafty. com, Paint by Numbers was conceived in the 50’s by Max S. Klein, owner, and Dan Rob- bins, a commercial artist for Palmer Paint Company. Dan was charged with develop- ing a new idea to bring in sales. Initially, the idea to make everyone an artist was too daunting, however, Dan persevered. Two successful marketing ideas included: - Negotiating with Macy’s to sell the kits during the holiday season with the promise to buy back any unsold items. They also awarded $250 to employees to sell the kits to friends and family. Kits sold for $2.50. - Posting a huge billboard of a Paint by Number picture and adding one new color each day. Folks watched the painting progress and bought the kits to try for themselves. By 1954, the kits were bringing in $20 million/year. What is new since the 50s? You can have a custom canvas created from a photo! I did this as a gift for a friend and it was terri c. I sent a pdf of the photo and selected the can- vas size. The company print- ed the canvas and selected the colors matching the pho- to. It was easy and took about 5 weeks to receive. Would de nitely do it again. Another painting idea is using Mandala painting tools to create geometric dot designs on any surface, e.g., paper, rocks, canvas or glass. Mandala is Sanskrit for “circle”. Mandalas hold spiritual and meditative meanings in Asian cultures. Mandalas are created around a central dot with the design radiating out- ward with dots of various sizes and colors. Using craft paints, available in endless col- or choices, you dip a tool that looks like a ball bearing on the end of a pen into paint and then make a dot onto the work surface. Straws and brushes are also used. Once dry, layering can be added. The designs are beautiful and colorful. Grab a smooth stone and give it a try. Tools can be found at Mi- chaels and Amazon. Painting is relaxing. It allows for free ex- pression using color. It improves motor skills and relieves stress. Sounds like a great hob- by to try. Add an audio book and relax. Carolyn Hanson is a local knitting and cro- chet designer, teacher, and ber artist. She can be contacted at cchanson3@gmail.com. Paint by Numbers was conceived in the 50’s by Max S. Klein, owner, and Dan Robbins, a commercial artist for Palmer Paint Company. LET’S PAINT! By Carolyn Hanson CREATIVE CORNER ARTICLE ½ PAGE VERICAL 4.875”W BY 11”H USE ATTACHED FILE FOR PHOTO ONLY Let’ Paint! by Carolyn Hanson Remember Paint by Numbers? I loved those kits as a child. Well, they exist for adult artists, too, and t ey are f bulous! Today your choices go way beyond horses, ballerinas and covered bridg s, and you do not need private painting lessons to enjoy them since each color placement is printed right on the canvas; you just follow the lines. I came across a group of Paint by Number enthusiasts while on vacation in Florida. Their canvases were enticing and I was captivated by the designs and colors. I had no idea this was a thing. So, onto the internet. There are many companies offering canvases (Search Paint by Number). There are reproductions of famous paintings, as well as, whimsical prints, landscapes, animals, flowers, even ballerinas … r ally just about any subject. The kits come with everything you need: printed canvas, blushes of various sizes, all the necessary numbered acrylic paint colors, and paper instructions with a copy of the numbered design for reference. You can choose the canvas size and whether or not to have it arrive pre‐stretched and nailed to the wooden frame or assemble, stretch and ail the canvas to the fame yourself. Feel free to paint within the lines or out ide the lines and blend the adjacent colors while the paint is wet. According to Wikipedia and Tech‐crafty.com, Paint by Numbers was conceived in the 50’s by Max S. Klein, owner, and Dan Robbins, a commercial artist for Palmer Paint Company. Dan was charged with dev loping a new idea t bring in sales. Initia dau ting, however, Dan pers vered. T wo su ‐ Negotiating with Macy’s to sell the kits d back any unsold items. They also a warde family. Kits sold for $2.50. ‐ Posting a huge billboard of a Paint by Nu Folks watched the painting progres s and By 1954, the kits were bringing in $20 million What is new since the 50s? You c ha ve a c gift for a friend and it was terrific. I sen t a pd comp matc easy recei again Anot Man creat on an rocks, canvas or glass. Mandala is Sans krit fo spi itual and med tative m anings in As ian cu created around a central dot with the d esign do s of vari us sizes and colors. Using c raft p color choices, you dip a ool that looks like a a pen into paint and then make a dot o nto th Once dry, layering can be added. The d esigns it a try. T ols can be found at Micha Pain color Soun and Caro teac ccha developing a new idea to bri ng in sales. Initially, the idea to make everyone an rtis was too daunting, however, Dan p ers evered. Two successful marketing i eas included: ‐ Negotiating with Mac y’s to sell the kits duri g the holiday se son with the promise to buy back any unsold item s. They also awarded $250 to employees to sell the kits to friends and family. Kits sold for $ 2.5 0. ‐ Posting a huge billboa rd of a Paint by Number picture and adding one new color each day. Folks watched the pa inti ng progress and bought the kits to try for themselves. By 1954, the kits were br ing ing in $20 million/year. What is new since the 50s ? You can have a custom canvas created from a photo! I did this as a gift for a friend and it was te rrific. I sent a pdf of the photo and selected the canvas size. The company printed the canvas and selected the colors matching the photo. It was easy and took about 5 weeks to receive. Would definitely do it again. Another painting idea is using Mandala painting tools to create geometric dot designs on any surface, e.g., paper, rocks, canvas or glass. M and ala is Sanskrit for “circle”. Mandalas hold spiritual and meditative m ea nings in A i cultures. Mandal s are created around a central dot with the design radia ing outward with dots of various sizes and c ol ors. Using craft paints, available i endless color choices, you dip a to ol that looks like a ball bearing on the end of a pen into paint and then m ake a dot onto the work surface. Straws and brushes are also used. Once dry, layering can be ad ded. The designs are beautiful and colorful. Grab a smooth stone and give it a try. Tools ca n b e found at Michaels and Amazon. Painting is relaxing. It allows for free expression using color. It improves motor skills and relieves stress. Sounds like a great hobby to try. Add an audio book and relax. Carolyn Hanson is a local knitting and crochet designer, teacher, and fiber artist. She can be contacted at cchanson3@gmail.com.