The Cambridge store’s Grand Opening on Thursday, September 8, 2011 was a huge success!  It may have been raining, but that didn’t stop dedicated artists from waiting in line to be the first 100 to receive a gift tote loaded with $100 worth of art materials!

Grand Opening events kicked off with demos by Gamblin, Holbein, Chartpak and Art Institute of Boston’s artist Keith MacLelland, music, and food!  The famous Blick wheel was also set up for everyone to spin to win!  Luckily, the skies cleared for the ribbon cutting celebration with Cambridge, MA Mayor David P. Maher and Blick Art Materials Retail President Ed Ogorzaly at noon.

The Grand Opening celebrations continued for two weeks and were packed full of events including a Kid’s Day, Teacher’s Appreciation Night, and a ton of demos with raffles to win!  The Grand Opening culminated on Thursday, September 22 with the national event, Blick Madness!

We are excited to be a new addition to the vibrant arts community of Cambridge, Massachusetts and look forward to contributing to the local arts!

If you mixed American Idol with painting what would you get?

Art RockX!

This is a live painting competition where artists compete in various cities and voters choose their favorites online. The closing event, held on January 22nd, was located in Las Vegas and the local Blick store sponsored them by providing each artist with a gift bag. Afterwards, each artist came to the store to shop and pose for pictures.

In China, the New Year’s celebration is recognized as a time when people put the past behind them and welcome new beginnings. Enthusiastic greetings of “kung hei fat choi,” meaning “congratulations and be prosperous” are delivered to family and friends during this 15-day holiday period. Floral decorations, red and gold banners and poems of prosperity, health and happiness are placed in homes and public places. New clothing, special foods, family reunions and fireworks are all traditional parts of the Chinese New Year, as well as the passing of red and gold envelopes filled with money to children. The red symbolizes power, happiness and good fortune, the gold represents wealth and prosperity — and the passing of the envelopes signifies the passing of blessings to the next generation.

This art project celebrates the Chinese tradition of passing along good fortune or “Fu” to others. Instead of a red envelope, you will use a box form that is a familiar part of the Asian-American culture, decorate it festively with red, gold and Asian-themed paper patterns and create gold “fu coins” bearing good wishes to place on or inside of the box. The Fu coins can also be exchanged or passed along as gifts, if desired.

To learn how to make your own good fortune box, check out the project guide at www.dickblick.com.

Seattle cartoonist Jim Woodring

On Saturday, January 9th our Seattle store donated supplies for the NIBBUS MAXIMUS event that took place at Gage Academy of Art. This three hour event was the world premier of Seattle cartoonist Jim Woodring’s seven-foot-long pen and penholder. Along with Woodring’s demonstration, 75 other artists were also drawing in this traditional medium with regulation-size pens and ink.

Blick Art Materials, the premier source of fine art supplies and gifts for artists, students, teachers and all creative minds, is proud to announce the Grand Opening of its newest store at 6300 Delmar Blvd in St. Louis, MO. A ribbon cutting ceremony commenced with Arthur Sharpe, Mayor Pro Tem, Joe Edwards local community leader and Edward Ogorzaly President of Blick Art Materials, Retail Chain. The events continue with demonstrations from popular vendors and will carry on throughout the coming weeks.

Joe Edwards’ creative vision and leadership have helped transform The Loop into one of the most vibrant restaurant, shopping, arts & entertainment districts in the United States. He is well known for his support of the art’s and its community. Arthur Sharpe is helping to better University City by his acts on city council and his efforts through the National Society of Arts.

Blick’s new location is packed with more than 5,000 square feet of fine art products and a wide selection of gifts for the everyday shopper.  Between January 20^th and February 6^th the new Blick Art Materials store will host an array of events, demos and sales. Over the course of these weeks, patrons can enjoy watching local artists demonstrating their skills and instructing others with helpful tips, enter to win prizes including free passes to upcoming St. Louis Art Museum exhibits, art supplies and Blick gift cards, all while receiving discounts on quality merchandise.

In addition to these events, Blick will be holding receptions for local art groups the Craft Alliance and the St. Louis Artist’s Guild. Blick is a proud sponsor of the arts and is happy to join these local groups in partnership. Blick will also hold a Kid’s Day on Jan. 23^rd where children of all ages can enjoy and create art by participating in arts and crafts activities in the store and have the chance to have a caricature drawn by a local artist, Share Faerber.

Nothing is more special than a handmade gift during the holidays. Check out the project ideas below and encourage your kids to make handmade gifts this year.

(You might even have some fun too!)

Wish Boxes:

Great for special occasions and gifts, these thought-filled boxes are created by bringing together two art forms: Calligraphy, which means “beautiful writing” and Origami, which translates as “folded paper.”

Paper Dishes:

These papier mâché dishes are an example of utilitarian items that can also be used as décor.

Adinkra-Inspired Pillows:

Adinkra cloth from Ghana, West Africa, cloth is not only beautiful, but it carries a personnal message in symbols stamped with dye. In this project, learn to make your own Adinkra cloth and use it to make a pillow.

Fingerprint Beads:

Certain people influence our lives in such a way that they leave “fingerprints” behind. These simple beads make great friendship bracelets.

Lazertran Silk Scarf:

Learn the basics of silk screening and create a beautiful scarf!

Felt Bags:

This project incorporates basic sewing/assemblage skills that can be adjusted for various age levels.

Perfect Proportion:

The “grid method” has been used for centuries to create accurate proportions when painting. Blick Exclusive Artist Grid Canvas makes it easier to place objects from a photograph and plot landscapes, still lifes and portraits.

Are you planning to give handmade gifts this year? What are some of the handmade projects you’ve done or are planning to do?

It’s back! Join us on Thursday, September 30, 2010 for fun demos, big savings, and a chance to win on the Blick prize wheel! We’ll be raffling off Prismacolor prizes and you can enter to win our Grumbacher spooky art contest. It will also be the last day to register for a chance to win the Blick Car Sweepstakes!

Event activities and hours will vary by store. Please contact your local Blick Art Materials for more information. To find the store nearest you, click here.

Throughout the year Blick supports the art community in the United States and abroad. We wanted to share some pictures of how art can speak in any language … one just needs the tools!

Below is a thank you we received along with these great images.

“Thank you for your generous donation to my school art project in Kazakhstan. The materials were put to great use in a mural project and summer Art-English camps for more than 40 local students. Our students were absolutely thrilled to open a box full of colorful new paints and pencils! We appreciate your interest and willingness to support youth in Kazakhstan. I have attached a few photos from our summer projects. Art can reach people and youth in every corner of the globe. Your kind, generous support has made our work possible here in Kazakhstan. Thank you!!!”

Tobin Nelson
US Peace Corps Volunteer

This is what it’s all about!

Stop by our booth for free goodies!

It’s time to head back to school and Blick is coming to a campus near you! Keep an eye out for our team at your college — we’ll be handing out discount coupons, t-shirts, prizes, and more! Contact your local Blick store to find out when we’ll be at your school.

For more great back to school deals, visit your local Blick store or browse our website.

It’s almost time to head back to school! Stop into a store near you and check out our great deals on new merchandise and everyday essentials! Sale prices are valid through October 10, 2010.

To find the Blick Art Materials location nearest you, visit our store directory on www.dickblick.com.

Note: Prices and selection may vary by location.