The Connections Bridgewater Somerville Edition Sept/Oct/Nov

THE BRIDGEWATER-SOMERVILLE CONNECTION PAGE 44 SEPT/OCT/NOV 2021 theconnectionsnj.com theconnectionsnj.com THE CONNECTION Magazines Visit theconnectionsnj.com to sign up for your FREE Digital Subscription Instant access - anytime, anywhere! Specify which magazine(s) you would like to read and we will deliver the digital version straight to your inbox 5 times a year Remember Paint by Numbers? I loved those kits as a child. Well, they exist for adult artists, too, and they are fabulous! Today your choices go way beyond horses, balle- rinas and covered bridges, 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 en- thusiasts 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 com- panies offering canvases (Search Paint by Number). There are reproductions of famous paintings, as well as, whimsical prints, landscapes, animals, owers, even balle- rinas … really just about any subject. The kits come with everything you need: printed canvas, blushes of various siz- es, 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, own- er, and Dan Robbins, a com- mercial artist for Palmer Paint Company. Dan was charged with developing 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 col- or each day. Folks watched the painting progress and bought the kits to try for themselves. By 1954, the kits were bringing in $20 mil- lion/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 printed the canvas and selected the colors matching the photo. It was easy and took about 5 weeks to re- ceive. Would de nitely do it again. Another painting idea is using Manda- la painting tools to create geometric dot designs on any surface, e.g., paper, rocks, canvas or glass. Mandala is Sanskrit for “cir- cle”. Mandalas hold spiritual and meditative meanings in Asian cultures. Mandalas are created around a central dot with the de- sign radiating outward with dots of various sizes and colors. Using craft paints, available in endless color 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 Michaels 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’s Paint! by Carolyn Hanson Remember Paint by Numbers? I loved those kits as a child. Well, they exist for adult artists, too, and they are fabulous! 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 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 … really just about any subject. The kits come with everything you need: printed canvas, blushes of various sizes, all the nec ssary 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 T ch‐cr fty.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 developing a new idea to bring in sales. Initia daunting, however, Dan persevered. 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 can ha ve a c gift for a friend and it was terrific. I sen t a pd com matc easy rece again Anot Man crea on a rocks, c nv s or glass. Mandala is Sans krit fo spiritual and meditative meanings in As ian cu created around a central dot with the d esign dots of v rious sizes and colors. Using c raft p color choices, you dip a tool that l oks like a a pen into paint and then make a dot o nto th Once dry, layering can be added. The d esign and give it a try. Tools can be found at Micha Pain colo Soun and Caro teac ccha dea to brin g in sales. Initially, the idea to make everyone an artist was too Dan pers evered. Two successful marketing ideas included: h Macy’s to sell the kits during the holiday s ason with the promise to buy d items. T hey also awarded $250 to emp oyees to sell the kits to friends and d for $2.5 0. billboard of a Paint by Number picture and adding one new color each day. the painti ng progress and bought the kits to try for themselves. ere bringi ng in $20 million/year. he 50s? Y ou can have a custom canvas cre te from photo! I did this as a it was ter rific. I s nt a pdf of the phot 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, ss. Mand ala is Sanskrit for “circle”. Mandalas hold ative mea nings in Asian cultures. Mandalas are entral dot with the design radiating outward with s and colo rs. Using craft paints, available in endless ip a tool t hat looks like a ball bearing on the end of d then make a dot onto the work surface. Straws and brushes are also used. an be added. The designs are beautiful and colorful. Grab a smooth stone ols can be found at Michaels and Amazon. Donna Levinston Braff is a well-respected lawyer with a reputation for providing high-quality legal services in the following areas: • Divorce Law & Adoptions • Wills, Estate Planning, Probate & Guardianships • Municipal Court & Juvenile Delinquency • Real Estate & Commercial Leasing • Physician Contracts • Severance Agreements • Mental Health Advocacy Call us For a Free ½ Hour Consultation 908-725-3000 or for more information, visit us at www.BraffLaw.com Over 30 Years of Diversified Legal Experience 575 Route 28, Suite 202, Raritan, NJ 08869