Student Resources
Painting by Red Dot student Ann Vaphiades
Links to helpful student tools
Art History Classes
Good lesson each week at 1:00 pm Central on Sunday. Get on her mailing list.
Local Framer
Quick turnover, high-quality, don’t push expensive options, give a Red Dot discount)
Thompson Frame Factory (Hoover Superstore)
Reference Photo Enlarging and Printing
For transferring drawing to canvas before painting.
Walgreens or CVS (Upload online, ready in one hour, inexpensive)
Shutterfly (Sent through the mail, higher quality)
Transfer Paper
Local prints and reproductions of paintings:
Very high quality, may give a Red Dot discount
Art Editions & Gallery (in Homewood, right beneath Red Dot Gallery)
Online reproductions:
(prints, posters, cards, postcards, mugs….anything)
This post has a list of 10 different good sites. I use Printful for my Without a Net products. I’ve also used moo.com and gotprint.com with good results.
Canvases
(Everyone has different taste but these have been popular with my students)
Frederck’s Blue Label or, less expensive: Frederick’s Red Label
Local Art Supplies
Forstall has it’s own parking, excellent service, longtime relationship with Red Dot
Forstall Art Center or Alabama Art Supply
Online Art Supplies
I’ve used Blick for many years.
Dick Blick or Jerry’s Artarama or Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff
Online Free Photo Reference
There are many. One I’ve used is:
Pixabay. I’ve heard Unsplash is good, too.
Reference Images Online (without copyright permission)
The choices are practically unlimited. If you can contact the photographer for permission, it’s better. I mostly use the following:
Google Images and Pinterest (You’ll need to have an account to use Pinterest. Worth it for artists, I think.)
Discount iPads for painting reference
Refurbished or older models
Cart for carrying supplies
I have one and love it. Good for farmer’s market, too.
Paint Cap Opener
For paint tubes, jars, Liquin bottle, etc.
Ergonomic Kneeling Chair
For back issues. I recommend alternating with standing and sitting. The more positions, the better.
Figure Drawing Reference
This endearing site has people of all sizes clothed in underwear or tight clothes. Lots of unusual poses.
Supply Storage and Carrier
Amazon has one that has been the most popular for my students. Otherwise, a trip to Bass Pro Shop will give you a huge selection of tackle storage, perfect for paint supply use.
Here is an example of a set-up one student put together at Bass Pro Shop.
Leaning Bridge (Like a Mahlstick)
For keeping your arm and hand out of paint.