Happy New Year from our Martin F. Weber Co. family to yours!  The first snow of the season lets us know that the magical season of winter has begun.  Whether we're young or old, the first snow can make us all feel like kids.  For children, winter brings the exhilaration of sledding down steep hills, the joy of spontaneous snow ball fights, the crisp sound of ice skates hitting frozen ponds and the wonder of catching snowflakes.  For adults, winter brings the smell of hot chocolate, the warmth of  cozy fires and the beauty of snow banks glistening under moonlit skies.  For all of us, winter is reminiscent of family traditions, fun and celebrations with friends. 

We are excited to present our newest issue of Speaking of Color.  As you will see, the newsletter is full of creative solutions, resources and innovative new products that you can use in your studio or classroom.  Whether you are an artist, art instructor or art enthusiast, we strive to provide you with the tools and support necessary for you to achieve your artistic endeavors.  As a token of our gratitude for your support, exclusive offers and coupons are located at the bottom of every newsletter.  This issue includes opportunities for you to test a new premium fine art watercolor, Mission Gold, receive a Regina Hurley instructional painting DVD and take advantage of a $10 rebate from the purchase of a Bob Ross® Master Paint Set.

We appreciate your ongoing interest in our newsletter and we are committed to continue providing you with interesting, relevant articles. If you would you like to learn more about our products and events, as well as interact with other artists and customers, like us on Facebook.  We enjoy seeing our readers' artwork and encourage you to post your artwork on our Facebook page.

Our fresh, fun blog, Paint Talks, will keep you abreast on the latest developments in the art community. Designed for both artists and art enthusiasts, Paint Talks encourages and addresses reader response and draws insightful parallels between the past, present, material and ethereal.  Click on our blog Paint Talks at www.weberartblog.com, sign up to follow it via email and we will send you a Weber 1853 computer clutch at no charge!  We hope that you set aside some time to enjoy the unique beauty of the season and our third newsletter.  To our readers and especially, our loyal customers, we extend our sincere thanks and wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.
   Resident Artist

                                                                      

John F. Thamm has been an accomplished portrait and landscape painter for many years.  His early interest in art often left him leaving "a trail of pictures on the street" while journeying to and from school.  As a young adult, Thamm earned his undergraduate and Master of Fine Arts degrees from the University of Idaho.  He also took extended learning classes, including studying portraiture at the Art Students League in New York City.  Thamm has taught art, first through Bob Ross® Inc., then through Farbiflora. He uses Bob Ross® colors.  During his career, Thamm has also worked as a courtroom sketch artist for local media, CNN, ABC and the Associated Press; covering such cases as Ruby Ridge, the Branch Davidian siege at Waco, Texas, and the Aryan Nations in Coeur d'Alene.    

 

 

Thamm's recently published book, Vets: Fifty Portraits of Veterans and Their Stories, features area servicemen and women from every branch of the armed forces who fought in wars from World War II through Iraq.  The book was a collaborative effort with Tom Davis and includes recollections from veterans from WWII to Iraq.  While working on the project, John set up an easel in the lobby of the Spokane Veterans Medical Center, where he painted the veteran's portraits and recorded their stories. The paintings were on display at the Spokane Veterans Hospital and part of the collection is presently at the new Behavioral Health wing of the VA.  View a video of the project on KSPS' Northwest Profiles series and the "Vets" Project Blog at - http://johnthammstudios.blogspot.com/

 

Thamm, 75, is known for depicting elements of war, politics and religion with childlike curiosity. Just as he expressed his thoughts on the "mechanical elements of destruction" that he saw passing through his town as a child, he comments without filters, expressing every emotion from outrage to sorrow over current and not-so-current affairs.  He said this type of powerful and thought-provoking art brings out the Thor in him while his lovely landscapes bring out the Henry David Thoreau; a master of his craft, he sometimes grips a brush like Thor's hammer and sometimes holds it delicately like Thoreau's quill dipped in ink.

 

 

Vist John Thamm's website to view more of his artwork!

Scheewe Art Workshop Gets Digitized
We are excited to announce that Susan Sheewe's PBS TV series, Scheewe Art Workshop, is being converted to digital format.  We are digitizing the series to expand the offering on DVD.  At the present time, a limited number of the Schewee Art Workshop TV programs are available on DVD.

Soon, all the wonderful art projects in watercolor and acrylic will be available to everyone on DVD.  Artists around the world have been asking for us to release the balance of Susan's programs, and it is happening shortly after the first of the year.

 Learn more about Susan Scheewe!

We are so pleased to announce the official launch of our new website, Weber Inspirational Image Gallery.  Many hours have gone into the design and implementation of it, and it has finally gone live!

Our artist customers often tell us that they routinely pay for stock photos to use as references to paint from.  As a service to you, we decided to build a website of inspirational images for you to use in your paintings.  The photos are available for your use, free of charge.  That's right...You no longer need to pay to download photos.

Along the way, we will be adding additional image galleries and updates, but we are loving it right now and are thrilled to share it with you!  If you'd like to send images for possible inclusion on Weber Inspirational Image Gallery, please click here to email jpg submissions to us. For now, we hope that your creative impulses are inspiring you to paint.  Dont' forget to share your beautiful works of art with us on our Facebook page; we look forward to seeing them!

Gayle Laible

 

Gayle Laible is a watercolor artist and instructor who lives and works in Northern Kentucky.  Gayle loves to paint.  In fact, her whole life has revolved around painting. 

   

We're pleased that Gayle was impressed with both our palettes and paint. After introducing her students to Mission Gold Watercolors, Gayle stated, "I was teaching a couple of women in a private class and they couldn't believe how easy it was to drag their brush across and not have to spritz or take an eye dropper to get the quality and intensity up and onto the painting.  The colors are beautiful!  On the painting, 'Sweet Bee,' I tried several other paints and could not get the purple and rose color I wanted for the Sweet Pea petals.  That is when I tried the Permanent Rose and the Permanent Violet and it was the exact color I wanted.  I started the painting over, using Mission Gold, and I love the way my painting turned out.  All I can say is, I'm so impressed!!!!  I am in the process of painting 2 new paintings with Mission Gold.  Another thing, I started out with just the 12 pack of 7

 

 

Gayle Laible's Class Schedule:  

February 9 - DAGSO - Dayton, OH(1 day seminar)

March 22 - 23 - Southern Decorative Artist - Birmingham, AL 

April 18 - Bluegrass Tolers, KY (1 day seminar)

May 8 - SDP Convention (not teaching but having a booth)

June (date TBA) - Kentuckiana Decorative Artists, KY

August 5-10 - Haven't submitted yet.  Will have a booth

September 20, 21, 22 - Heart of Carolina Tolers, Durham, NC

 

Visit Gayle Laible's website to view more of her artwork. 

   

New Bob Ross® Products Coming January 31, 2013!

A great deal of excitement is happening with our Bob Ross® Program.  To begin, we are running our very first promotion of the Bob Ross® Master Paint Set.  This is our bestselling single item in the Bob Ross® line and introduces more people to the Joy of Painting than any other art set in history. 

Through the end of 2013, buyers of the Bob Ross® Master Set can claim a $10 rebate.  This is a great deal, especially given that the set already contains 60% more materials than the retail price reflects.  See www.weberart.com for details and forms.

Learn more about Bob Ross®.  

   

Art Tip

Stay Organized with Donna Dewberry's® Paint Roll-Up and Apron

Martin F. Weber Co. has paired with Donna Dewberry® to bring you two innovative products: the Donna Dewberry® Apron and Paint Roll-Up.  Both items are available in black. 

The one size fits all Donna Dewberry® canvas artists' apron features an adjustable neck loop and tie-back. It is conveniently machine washable.





The Donna Dewberry® Canvas Roll-Up is a great tool to help you get organized.  It's made of durable cotton with clear vinyl paint sleeves on the inside that keep your paint tubes visible and protected.  When painting or crafting, we'd suggest standing your roll-up upright to keep your color selection in full view.  At the end of your painting session, roll-ups can be stacked for storage.  The Donna Dewberry® Canvas Roll-Up features a wipe-clean surface, black canvas snap closure and ample storage for up to 20 tubes (37mL) of wOil® paint (not included).  The Donna Dewberry® Roll-Up is versatile and practical.  It's a wonderful addition to your studio and is great for travel to and from the classroom!
 
Learn more about Donna Dewberry®'s products.

We look forward to visiting with you at Creativeworld, part of Paperworld, in Frankfurt, Germany this month.  The show runs from January 26th thru thru 29th. Our designated location for the Fair - B51 - will be the same, with one small change.  This year, Creativeworld has been moved down one level from building 4.2 to 4.1, making our location 4.1, B51.  Creativeworld is the world's biggest trade fair for the creative sector!  Weber will be introducing a new color line of WEBER Fluid artist acrylics, Polypropylene mediums and many extensions of the Donna Dewberry products.  We are most excited about the new Bob Ross Book One and Bob Ross Documentary DVD.  Our Martin Universal Design Company will also be introducing several new drawing tables and easels.  See you there!!!
Learn more about Creativeworld.
 
CREATIVE PAINTING LAS VEGAS!
Feb. 26 - March 2, 2013
Tropicana Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada

The Creative Painting, Las Vegas Convention is coming up February 26th thru March 2nd, 2013.  With numerous exhibitors and class offerings, Creative Painting is the largest art and painting convention in the west.  Exhibits will be held in the Tropicana Hotel Pavilion.  Decorative painting, fine art painting, learn-to-paint classes, art supplies, shopping and Las Vegas - It's all at the Creative Painting Convention.  Be sure to stop by our booth, #113, to see our new products - see you there!

 

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