The Story of Ampersand
Did you know that Wet Paint’s Beth Bergman was one of the very first retailers in the country to bring Ampersand’s Claybord into her store nearly 13 years ago? That’s right. This trend setting store took a chance & introduced artists to what would become one of many popular surfaces offered by Ampersand Art. Elaine Salazar, president of Ampersand, fondly recalls trying to pitch this “unique” surface to Beth only to find that she had already discovered it! Beth said to her, “Do you mean ‘Claybord – Really Neat Stuff’?” That was the name & catch phrase on the first package that artist Charles Ewing had created when he & his wife Barbara started to market the surface that he had created for his own use.
After producing a few batches of Claybord in his shed, in 1993, Charles Ewing & Elaine Salazar founded Ampersand Art Supply to manufacture & market not only Claybord, but to create a movement to revive the time-honored tradition of panel painting. Up to this point, no one had ventured into this area to research wood substrates & figure out how to seal & coat them with grounds that artists would love. With a steadfast commitment to archival principles, Elaine & Charles tested countless wood surfaces to find the most dimensionally stable base for their grounds & developed a unique method for sealing their premium hardboard.
Then came the fun part: creating wonderful grounds such as Gessobord, Aquabord & Pastelbord that are the hallmark of their panels. All of Ampersand’s Museum panels are hand made in their small factory in Austin, Texas where an employee (not a machine) has created & touched each panel with the same tender loving care that Elaine & Charles used to create the first Claybord.
Ampersand Store Page
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Ampersand Museum Panels
Ampersand produces archival, warp-resistant wood panels for most any artistic need. Choose from any of the Museum line of panels, cradled or uncradled: the very smooth & absorbent Claybord for ink, egg tempera & encaustic; smooth & non-absorbent Gessobord for oils & acrylics; Aquabord, a textured, absorbent surface for watercolor; Hardbord unfinished panels for priming yourself; and Scratchbord & Pastelbord for their namesake uses.
Ampersand Museum Series Store Page
Ampersand Museum Series Panel Chart
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Wallis Pastel Pads
Wallis pastel paper has a sanded, yet durable, finish that will accommodate up to 25 layers of pastel. The off white waterproof coating uses a white aluminum oxide abrasive to create a unique & popular texture. The Museum Grade uses 100% cotton paper. The Professional Grade is acid-free. Also available in Belgian Mist, a brown/grey color. (Wet Paint also stocks Wallis in sheets.)
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Pastel Surface Sampler by Jack Richeson
A premium pastel surface available on three different substrates: 140# paper, hardboard & Gator Foam. Pastels can be applied with ease on this exquisite, toothy surface. 105900
Premium Surface Sampler
Individual Boards
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ALL
SALE PRICES ON THIS PAGE VALID NOVEMBER 1ST THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2008
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The Story of Tara
Chemist & inventor E. H. Fredrichs developed the tongue & groove style stretcher bar in 1875 & later was the first in America to manufacture canvas specifically for artists. It was from this foundation that the Fredrix company was built in 1868.
Fast-forward 100 years to 1966. From an artists’ brush background, Wally Klarman & John Benator started a new artists’ canvas company called Tara. In 1971 they purchased the Fredrix company & moved it from New York City to Lawrenceville, GA. When Tara acquired Fredrix they also acquired the Fredrix Master Primer who had been applying the oil priming to fine Belgian linen since the early 1930’s! This man trained the current Master Primer, Jimmy Lyons, who has been with Tara Fredrix since 1973. So important is Mr. Lyons’ craft that when his family needed to move from suburban Lawrenceville to rural Barnesville in 1980, Tara Fredrix moved their oil priming facilities to accommodate him!
Not just a Master Primer, Mr. Lyons began preaching in 1988 & was ordained in the Baptist Church in 1990. He currently pastors two churches in central Georgia. In addition to his typical congregational & Sunday duties, Jimmy preaches over 80 days of Revival through out the state each year.
Today Michael Benator, John’s nephew, is the President of Tara Fredrix, continuing a lineage that has maintained a commitment to quality artists’ products for 140 years.
Tara Fredrix Store Page
Tara Fredrix Panel Chart
Tara Fredrix Oil-Primed Linen Panels
Oil-primed linen panels from Tara Fredrix feature pure Belgian linen primed with lead whiting over glue sizing & wrapped around archival hard boards. Tara's Old World oil priming formula creates the receptive surface many oil painters demand. Available in 6 sizes. 3390/2/4/6/8T/3400
The Story of Art Boards
Patrick Mackin has been an artist all his life. He graduated from Pratt in 1971 with a BFA in painting. He lived in his Brooklyn loft painting full time & working part time as a picture framer before learning the fine art of furniture making. In 1976, he founded Patrick Mackin Custom Furniture & has been producing high-end architectural woodwork & furniture for over 32 years. Janet Mackin joined the business in 1984 as an equal partner. She has a strong background in business, marketing & design.
“We came full circle In 1999 when we created Art Boards™,” says Janet. “It was like coming home for us. We combined our extensive knowledge of structure & surfaces with a life time of working with artists & their art. Although we still design & make custom furniture today, our greater joy & primary focus is working for artists. With superior materials & techniques we proudly produce the finest supports for painting, drawing, and mounting art.”
Art Boards Store Page
Art Boards Panel Chart
Art Boards Watercolor &
Gessoed Panels
Art Boards Watercolor Panels feature Arches watercolor paper mounted with a reversible conservators' adhesive to an archival, natural fiber panel. Their Gesso Panels have a warm white, absorbent gesso surface that is receptive & responsive to acrylic & oil paint. The archival, natural fiber panel is a permanent, rigid substrate for your painting.
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· Established 1976 · Creative Supplies for Creative People 
