Explore the Utrecht Learning Center, a place where both novice and professional artists can find expert tips and instructions for using artist paints, artist brushes, artist canvas, watercolor supplies, art supply buying guides and more. Discover featured artists and their work, learn about the upcoming art contests, the newest artist materials and events we will be hosting or attending.

Art & Ed
Tips & Instructions
Artist Spotlight
 
Art & Ed:
Adding a Hand Touch to Digital Prints

Tips & Instructions:
Creating a Hand-Torn Deckle Edge

Artist Spotlight:
Jody Dole


  About Utrecht

In 1949 Utrecht Art Supplies set out to provide artists with the finest Artist Canvas, Linen, Acrylics, and Artist Oil Paints available. Now, over 50 years later, our comprehensive art supplies catalog not only provides Paints, Canvas and Linen but over 15,000 professional quality art materials and supplies for artists in every discipline.



Artist Spotlight
Greg Cartmell

A professional artist for over 35 years, Greg Cartmell is nationally recognized as one of the country's foremost landscape painters. Cartmell paints in the "plein-aire" tradition of on-location painting, directly from nature. Painting in true impressionist style, Cartmell paints in broken color to represents his subjects, engaging the viewer to mix the color with one's own eye. At times the quality of light itself becomes the main focus of his work. "It's my goal to capture the feeling of a sense of place rather than just a visual inventory", he says.

Cartmell's works are in private and corporate collections throughout the world. He is the recipient of over 300 awards. His work has been published in several national magazines, such as Art & Auction, Art Worlds News, Art Business News, Grays Sporting Journal, Millionaire Magazine, to name a few. He also has mention in Who's Who of American Art.

 

Examples of Greg's work:


"Main Coast" - 16" x 20"


"Mississippi Swamp" - 24" x 30"

You can view more of Greg's work at www.cartmellgallery.com




Artist Spotlight
Mark Flowers

Mark E. Flowers earned his BFA in Studio Arts from The University of South Carolina in 1977 and his MFA in Painting from Western Michigan University in 1979. Following his academic career, he has exhibited his work throughout the United States and in Europe, and in the Fall of 2003, exhibited his sixth one-person show with Hodges/Taylor Gallery in Charlotte, North Carolina. His relationship with that gallery now spans more then 21 years. Mark's work can be found in 23 public and over 250 private collections. Throughout his career he has won numerous awards for his art in both regional and national competitions. Most recently he was named one of the 100 Art Alumni for the Centennial Celebration at Western Michigan University.

 

His art teaching career parallels his art making. He has taught art at the secondary and postsecondary levels for more than 27 years. While he has been a teacher of art, he has also chaired two fine arts departments and one painting department. His most recent teaching award is the Allen Zearn Distinguished Teaching Award at Mercersburg Academy where he has been for the last 15 years.

In his own words...

Throughout my life, I have made use of images to clarify my relationship with the world. The repeated symbols I use are a ‘visual vocabulary’ that create an on-going dialogue with myself and anyone willing to participate. Images such as the rock, reflecting to childhood memories, the tornado that becomes the bowl that becomes the circle symbolize growing older. In seeking meaning in the world, I am sharing my story.


In recent years, I have been concerned with the shape of the work as well as the image itself. My interests have always cycled from the purely sculptural back to the traditional illusionary  formats. The latest works seek a balance between the two by painting on manipulated surfaces and attaching ready-made objects. Thematically I am currently exploring the use of faces and figures in my work along with my usual visual vocabulary.

 

Examples of his work:

 


"Carsons Choice" - 22" x 28"

 


"Good Wood" - 29" x 56"

 

...See more examples of Mark's work at mountainteaststudios.com

 

Mark has recently been featured on ArtBistro.com - view his portfolio.




Artist Spotlight
Daniel Finaldi

Daniel's work in his own words...

My work has always been concerned with a painterly and direct observation of reality as I see it.  In past years I was quite satisfied to discover a mood within a certain place or in a particular spot.  I was interested in the spontaneous feeling that I was experiencing in that moment and I wanted to paint that feeling.  The emotion was always based upon a visual experience.  I had seen something and I needed to paint it.

Within the past four to five years my work has taken on another dimension.  While I continue to paint directly from life,  I now find that the figure has been of increased interest.  I am attracted to people and to painting the drama of life as it is present before me.  The process of seeing people within a space and to try to paint that is very exciting to me.   Expressing the humanity of the people, seeing the quality of light, and painting it directly and honestly is what I am seeking to achieve.

 

Examples of his work:

 

 

 

 

 

You can see more of Daniel's work at his website danielfinaldi.com

 

 




Artist Spotlight
Kendall Simmons



Utrecht Art Supplies and Kendall Simmons have teamed up to produce a limited edition poster featuring the Steelers first round pick of 2002.  The 18" x 27" print, commissioned by artist Ben Gersch, retails for $3.99 with partial proceeds benefiting the Western Pennsylvania Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.   

 

Simmons, the recipient of the 2002 Joe Greene Great Performance Award as the Steelers' rookie of the year, was diagnosed with hyperglycemia, a diabetic condition that caused him to lose 30 pounds and significant strength right before training camp in 2003. He previously majored in Visual Communication / Graphic Arts at Auburn University where he was selected as a first team All-American by the NFL Draft Report.

 

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International (JDRF), the world's leading nonprofit, nongovernmental founder of diabetes research, was founded in 1970 by the parents of children with juvenile diabetes, a disease which strikes children suddenly, makes them insulin dependent for life, and carries the constant threat of devastating complications. Since its inception, JDRF has provided more than $600 million to diabetes research worldwide. In a typical year, 85 cents of every dollar are allocated to research and education. JDRF's mission is constant: to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research.

Some of Kendall's Work:

 

  

 

Utrecht Art Supplies is located on the corner or 20th and East Carson Street, 2 blocks from the Birmingham Bridge on the Southside of Pittsburgh. For more information about store location and hours click here.

 





*Utrecht Art Supplies is not responsible for any damage to personal property that may result from use of any of the above articles. These documents are intended for reference only.