Saturday, December 12, 2015

Creative Gift Ideas, Created by ARCHies

There are many, many options when it comes to materials and tools for artists. When you are looking for a gift for a creative friend, it can be hard to filter through which sketchbook works best with certain pens or paints. What items are complimentary and what to not waste your money on.

And with the holidays upon us, let's not forget the importance of presentation. You want your gift to look good and thoughtful. So this year a few of us here at ARCH put our heads together and came up unique kits highlighting some our favorite tools and mediums.

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Caryn's Watercolor Travel Kit - $45

Not only has Caryn Oka been the ARCH gift buyer for nearly 20 years, she is also an accomplished water colorist. In space conscious San Francisco, you need to be able to scale your practice to your living, commuting and work environment and Caryn has put together a perfect "On-The-Go" Watercolor kit. All wrapped up in a zippered pouch you'll find;
  • A 140lb Cold Press Fluid Watercolor Block
  • The Peerless Water Color Booklet featuring 24 colors of concentrated transparent water colors
  • 1 Waterproof Micron Pen
  • 1 White Uniball Pen
  • A Caran d'Ache Neocolor II Crayon and a Derwent Inktense water soluble pencil
  • A Pentel Waterbrush

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Paige's Mixed Media Kit - $60

You'll recognize Paige Gausman as a member of our friendly staff at our Annex Store at the California College of the Arts. Paige makes many of our in-store signs, flyers and ads, and is a freelance illustrator and textile designer. As you can imagine, she uses many different tools to create all that work and she has put together this beautiful Mixed Media kit. Featured in this handy kit;
  • A Claire Fontaine Crok Book. Perfect for dry media as well as water-based paints
  • 4 tubes of Holbein Acryla Gouache
  • An ultra fine Slicci Pen and a Kuretake No55 Brush Pen
  • 4 Prismacolor Art Stix
  • A palette, a paint brush, a peel-off eraser and a pencil sharpener

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David's Illustration Kit - $30
David Tenorio manages our Annex Store at the California College of the Arts and works as a freelance illustrator and art teacher all throughout the Bay Area. David has a wealth of knowledge about art materials and is often asked by students for tips and techniques on the over 20,000 tools and media we sell at ARCH. David has put together an Illustration Kit filled with ideas, instructions and includes;
  • A Canson XL Mixed Media Sketchbook
  • A Pentel Color Brush
  • 1 Le Pen Technical Pen and a Letraset ProMarker
  • A blue Col-erase Pencil, a Tombo Drawing pencil, eraser and sharpener
All of these helpful kits are packed in a zippered pouch and come with instructions for the tools and ideas from their namesake to get your creative juices flowing. You can find these kits exclusively at our PopUp Store at 2349 3rd St in Dogpatch.


Thursday, August 13, 2015

Summer Warehouse Clearance Sale!

Where is the sale:
the ARCH Warehouse
1176 Illinois St. (btwn 22nd & 23rd St)
San Francisco CA 94107

When?
3 Days ONLY! 
This Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Friday (8/14) 10-5pm
Saturday and Sunday (8/15-16) 12-5pm
 
What's on sale: 
  • Stationery, Envelopes and Color Vellums
  • Decorative and Art Papers
  • Display Model Drafting Tables, Bases and Chairs
  • Seasonal Gift Items
  • Closeout Oil Paints and Mediums
  • Closeout Acrylic Paints
  • Acetates, Films and Clearprint Vellum
  • Overstock Drafting Scales, Leads, and Architecture Tools
  • Various Jacquard & Speedball Silk Screen Inks, Mediums and Screens
  • PORTFOLIOS, Carrying Cases & Archival Boxes! Case Envy, Itoya, Cargo and more!
  • Large Paper Cutters, Xyron Sticker and Laminating Machines and Cartridges
  • Overstock Tapes, Markers, Pens, Pencils and so much more.
Please remember, these are all clearance/overstock/shopworn items and they will be priced to move! Make a purchase of $25 or more at the warehouse sale and we will also give you a coupon good for a future purchase at either of our stores.

Why?
We just LOVE moving!
No, just kidding, but we do need your help. We are FINALLY getting closer to moving into our future home this fall. In preparation we have a ton of stock we need to get out of here. We will need the space at our new home for the dedicated class room/gallery and the artist studios and the 20,000 or so art, architecture and design supplies we will stock all under one big roof in Dogpatch.

Monday, June 22, 2015

Rest In Peace, Dear Otto


It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of our beloved Otto. He made his way to doggie Heaven...
Posted by Arch Drafting Supply on Monday, June 22, 2015

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Sinopia Pigments Now Available at ARCH

We are proud to announce that ARCH is now the exclusive retailer for Sinopia Pigments.



What are dry pigments? Unlike dyes, pigments never dissolve, but form a suspension with the binder. Pigments are a dry powder that lends color to any type of paint. All paints utilize pigments. That includes house paints, nail polish, car lacquers, oil, acrylics, watercolors and more.

The only thing that differentiates the paints is the binder.


In addition to Sinopia's Dry Pigments, we are also stocking their various binders, bases and gesso's. Almost all of these are made in San Francisco by Alex Warren.

Want to learn more?

Alex Warren will be in-store at the ARCH PopUp, 2349 Third St., on Saturday March 14th from 1-3pm. He will be demonstrating some basic techniques for making your own paints and will be available to answer any technical questions you might have. This event is FREE!

Here is short video of Alex mixing paints at a previous event that took place at the Exploratorium.




Wednesday, February 4, 2015

NEW ITEMS: R&F Pigment Sticks - Draw with Oil Paints!


R&F Pigment Sticks are pure oil paint without filler, additives, or driers making them safer to use. They are richly pigmented with a lipstick soft consistency that gives them the same fluidity, subtlety and durability of traditional oil colors. Pigment Sticks let you get rid of the brush allowing you to work more directly on your surface.

Watch artist Charles Forsberg painting with R&F Pigment Sticks.


R&F Pigment Sticks can be used as a paint, for drawing and also in Monotypes. They are also suitable for use with a number of Gamblin painting mediums like Galkyd and Stand Oil. Yet you won't need to use any solvents or oils to get them to soften up. The friction from drawing them across the canvas warms them and creates the buttery consistency you see from the video.

ARCH is currently stocking several sets of R&F Pigment Sticks. We are hoping you'll like them us much as we do and to one day bring in the full line of individual sticks.

Find these at the ARCH PopUp 2349 Third St. SF CA 94107


Wednesday, January 21, 2015

New Items: Montana Colors Water Based Spray Paints

52 matte finish colors. This water based spray paint is a game changer for artists and designers, model makers and inventors. Mix colors with a paint brush and water, clean up stains, PAINT ON FOAM!
  • Anti-clog valve
  • Feel less fatigue when painting indoors or places with poor ventilation. 
  • Suitable for use on all types of surfaces, including polystyrene. 
  • Fresh stains can be removed with just soap and water during the first 20 - 25 minutes.
  • Dries to Water Proof

Watch this video (1:21) to see how versatile this spray paint is!

ARCH stocks the full line of 48 colors, two transparent colors and two varnishes. The cans are ergonomic, compact to get into tight spots, and still come in at 300ml.

Colors Available

Welcome Back Students! New Year = New Store Hours

ARCH@CCA has new store hours:

Monday thru Friday 10am - 7pm
Saturdays 12pm - 5pm
Closed Sundays

ARCH@CCA - 1111 8th St. SF CA 94107

Have a class list you need fulfilled? Want to start the new year with a new sketchbook? Or maybe a new pen to note down those resolutions? ARCH@CCA has an incredible selection of art supplies and design tools to get you through the semester.

We are OPEN TO THE PUBLIC and offer STUDENT and FACULTY discounts with ID.


Come in and check out what's new! We are expanding our selection of materials for laser cutting and prototyping, and have brought in new products like Montana Colors Water Based Spray Paints. Coming soon the full line of Gamblin 1980 Oil Paints and also the Derwent Graphik water based paint pens.

ARCH is the place for Artists, Designs, Builders and Inventors. Drop in and get inspired today!