Courtney In May I went to St. Louis Missouri to attend Creativation by NAMTA (National Art Materials Trade Association) trade show. NAMTA, now called International Art Materials Association, is the largest global non-profit trade association dedicated to the fine art and craft materials industry. Located in the historic downtown of the city, the trade show is on the small side, meaning it was manageable. I was able to spend time in each booth, with each maker, discovering new products, and re-discovering long-time favorites.
The Creativation floor was full of gorgeous booths ranging in size and scale, all showcasing art materials for every discipline. From washi tape and wooden beads to handmade sable-hair watercolor brushes and lusciously pigmented watercolor pans… everywhere I looked there was something delicious to behold.
I was delighted to see Daniel Smith celebrate their 50th anniversary – with cake! I learned about their new paint registery (yes please!), played with all 120 of Faber-Castell’s polychrome colored pencils, drew with Derwent’s drawing colored pencils (a gorgeous English palette), and checked out Sakura’s new sketchbooks. And I was very lucky to meet new makers, try new products, and see forthcoming items from beloved brands.
Golden Peak Media’s Education Space w/ Creativebug & Ophelia Staton
Creativebug was there as part of Golden Peak Media‘s education space. We supported artist, Ophelia Staton, who among other things was the demo-ist and supply tester extraordinare for Jerry’s Artarama for 20+ years. Ophelia rounded up all her favorite supplies and tools, the best and brightest in the industry, and created a Passport Journal project as the activity for the 100+ students she taught over the course of the show.
On the show floor, I met so many incredible makers who pour their heart, soul and all their artistic knowledge into their products and practices. Here are some Creativation stand-outs.
Stoneground Paint Co.
I met Eric (the painter) and Jenny (the paint maker) of Stoneground Paint Co. This father-daughter duo from Canada was fizzing with energy and expertise. Not only do they make an incredible range of gorgeous handmade watercolors in half pans, they also make pans of gouache, which I’ve NEVER seen. I sat with Eric at their booth for an hour talking about paints and pigments as I swatched from a demo set of paint. It was beyond delightful!!! (We hope to have Eric on a future live event, so keep any eye out!)
Brighter Day Pigments
Another gem of a human is Nancy of Brighter Day Pigments. Nurse, painter and paint maker, Nancy makes beautiful, juicy pans of watercolor in a spectrum of colors that are so delicious they feel like candy. I made a sweet little palette in her booth that I LOVE! If you want to try out her paint, I recommend her monthly subscription which comes with a full pan of handmade watercolor paint each month plus other goodies.
August Ellery – Winner of Best Booth Award
Every time I came and left the Creativation floor, I walked by the August Ellery booth. I was gobsmacked at its beauty, attention to detail, and world within the tiny footprint it occupied. I felt as though I was inside an old-world atelier or general store. Tiny wooden cabinets displayed beautiful color charts, monochrome sets of colored pencils with gorgeous illustrations, and artfully designed sewing tools like a seam ripper in the shape of a fish. Paper doll-sized furniture was actually the boxes for butter mints. There were embroidery kits, fabrics, candles and more. Unsurprisingly, AE won the Best Booth award.
Meeting the mind behind the brand August Ellery as well as its sister company, Stannie and Lloyd, is Margot Wells. When I finally met Margot on my third or fourth stop by the booth, I felt as though I was re-encountering an old friend. I loved meeting Margot and being in the booth. I can’t wait to get my hands on all the beautiful things she dreams up and sells through her many brands… I’m already drafting my Christmas wishlist!
St. Louis Art Supply
I’m a big fan of St. Louis Art Supply. I love reading their newsletter each week and shopping unique items on their gorgeous website. They showcased their own watercolor line, Tonic, and I was overjoyed to meet them in person. I had fun in their booth talking with members from their team who play with and make the paint itself. And I especially love the supersized samples of paint on their watercolor dot card. Compared to all the other dot cards out there, the tonic sample offers generous pools of paint to test and play with. If you haven’t shopped their virtual store yet, check it out. And do sign up for the newsletter. I get a little thrill every time I see it in my inbox.
Mixed Media Mayhem
If you want to experience some of the fun of Creativation, check out the live event we did with Ophelia Staton this month called Mixed Media Mayhem. Ophelia’s knowledge is vast, and beyond that her enthusiasm for having fun is infectious. Gather your favorite materials and join her in an hour of exploration and play.
xo,
Courtney