Product Review: Sakura Solid Marker

Sakura Solid Markers are back in stock! We have eight colors to choose from and they are already going fast. The colors are black, white, blue, red, green, orange, fluorescent pink and purple.


The Sakura Solid Marker is a waterproof fade resistant permanent marker that will write on almost any surface including metal, masonry, rubber, wood, plastic and concrete, etc.


I thought it would be fun to test this out on a couple surfaces so here we go!



on wood



on cardboard



on glass


Well, I'm impressed! It might take a little getting used to the first time you try it out. It's basically solidified paint which gives it a waxy texture. I guess I'd describe it as "slippery" or "slick", but that's a good thing. It goes on nice and smooth. As you can see from the photos the line it creates looks like a crayon, so it's not a solid line like when you use an ink marker, but it's a cool look. Also, it dries pretty fast and once it has dried it is incredibly hard to remove.

These are available for $4.50 each. For now they are only available in the retail shop. We'll try to get them on the online shop soon.

Enjoy!

Flow Some Positive Energy On Twitter

i don't like negative trending topics on twitter. if you use twitter please post something with the tag #itsawesomewhen. hopefully, it will bump the current top topic, #itsuckswhen, down a notch or two. it makes no sense to perpetuate negativity, people. SMILE! It's a beautiful day.

also, you can find me at twitter.com/jeffclaassen

Things Half Done

I've been making a lot of small format paintings over the past couple of weeks. This is some of the latest batch that I was working on last night. I'm hoping to have all of these finished by Wednesday night. Here's one of the above paintings after a little more work. It's still not done, but it's pretty close.

Color Cubes Are My Muse

I call them "color cubes". These are the display boxes I've been making for the Montana Spray Paint display in the shop. They're fun and colorful and I've been getting a lot of good feedback from people that have come in. The thing I really like about them is that each cube is painted with the same color paint that it's holding, so now customers don't have to wonder what the color will look like.





As you can see I still have a lot of paint not in a cube, but I'm working on it. There are a lot of colors here, but I'm actually sold out of about twenty colors that I usually have in stock. All in all I think I need to make about thirty more cubes for the display to be complete.

Surrounded By Women, The Update, Part II

Last night I finished the last of the solid background colors. I might add another layer of stencil work before I start going over the black lines, but I'm happy to finally get this part done.

Speedball Screenprint Kits Now Available!

About 12 years ago this is how I taught myself to screenprint. It took a lot of trial and error, but it was well worth the effort. Over the years I've had a lot of people ask how to do it, which I can't really explain because it's a process that is easier to show. Unfortunately, I am in no position to teach people how to screenprint, but now they can get a kit just like I did and figure it out. Go speedball!

Now for the info. The Speedball Fabric Screenprint Kit is $59.99 and includes:

10" x 14" screen frame
9" squeegee
4 oz. black fabric screenprint ink
4 oz. red fabric screenprint ink
4 oz. yellow fabric screenprint ink
4 oz. screen filler
4 oz. drawing fluid
4 oz. diazo photo emulsion
4 oz. diazo photo emulsion remover
1/2 gram diazo sensitizer
paint brush
mixing sticks
instruction booklet

(as a sidenote, back in the day I used this "fabric" ink on paper for limited edition prints as well as on canvas for paintings.)

Fun With Magnets And Spray Paint

These "Super Magnets" are now available in my shop for $2 each. Come by and try them out for yourself. I've tried other magnets before, but they didn't hold half as strong as these do.

Surrounded By Women, The Update, Part I

I painted this around 1999-2000. I never signed and dated it, but if I had to guess that is what I would come up with. At the time I was really into Keith Haring, obviously. Anyway, I've been wanting to "update" the painting for awhile now and have finally gotten around to it. Back then I had a different process for making things. You may not be able to tell in the photo, but up close and in person you can see some typical amateur techniques. For one, I hated painting multiple coats because I thought it was a waste of time. Sometimes, yes, non-solid blocks of colors are nice. I appreciate brushstrokes, but when done wrong it just looks lazy. For two, I painted all the black lines first. Then when I filled in the color I was done. This is bad because it doesn't leave a crisp black line. You can see the color going over the black and on this piece it should be the other way around. These days I would paint the black loose and fast and not spend much time making it a solid line. Then I'd fill in the color . After that I'd go over the black and make it nice and pretty. Anyway, here is the first photo of the update.





I wanted to tone down the bright colors, so I'm going with some lighter pastel colors. Still a long ways to go. Which brings us to the second photo of the update.






Slowly covering up the bright colors of the original and added some spray paint elements like drips and stencil work. I like how the update is coming along. I've painted over quite a few paintings in the past, but this is the first time I've repainted one. It's been fun. By the end it will be an interesting mix of my new layering process and my old style line work.

As I make progress I'll be posting more photos, so check back.

Bye for now.

Street Art Gift Baskets For The Ones You Love!

"The Smash And Grab Attack Pack"




"The Incognito Pack"




"The Love Pack"
(for your street artist girlfriend)




"The Hit And Run Pack"




"The Hottness Pack"



My lady has been begging and begging to make gift baskets for the shop and I finally caved in and said, "go for it!" And let me tell you, I'm glad I did. These gift packs are amazing! They range in price from $24.99 - $36.99. Click on the individual photos for a list of contents for each gift basket. For now they are only available in the retail shop. If you really want them available online let me know and I'll see what I can do.

Aww...I Feel So Loved. I Think.

Sweet! I got my first love letter in the new gallery today. It's from two guys, so I'm a little bit worried, but what the hell? Bring on the love (and orgasms), people!

Come Kick It!

Things are still coming together in the new space. I feel like the bulk of the work is done. Today marks day four of being open for biz. A lot of new faces have already come through the door. People that never saw my shop in the three years on Morro St. (one and a half blocks away) are now finding me. I'm completely amazed at what a difference it makes to be on a major street as opposed to a little side street. Here are some photos from day one and already some things have been moved around since these were taken.




















When you're in downtown SLO come check out the new spot at:
785 Marsh St
San Luis Obispo CA 93401


I don't have official posted hours yet because I'm trying out opening and closing at different times to see what will make the most sense. To play it safe your best bet for now is to come by between 12-6pm, tues. thru sat. If for any reason I happen to be closed just call and harass me. I'm most likely at Jamba Juice getting an Orange Dream Machine or at the post office mailing out goodies.

California Music Fest - Ventura California - Pacific Art Collective

I Apologize for the late notice, but I'll be in Ventura CA for the 4th Of July painting with The Pacific Art Collective at The California Music Fest. A good time WILL be had by all. For more info please visit the PAC site at http://pacificartcollective.com/events.htm