karen cooper - Blog: art materials

Thanks A Bunch, Sam

by Cooper on 7/16/2009 12:38:14 PMComment on this

Greetings,

Welcome to the Cooper studio, where as always, we are talking about painting, or things related there unto :)

But, you are of course wondering about that title: Thanks A Bunch, Sam. I am ok with the uncle one, it's the founder of that illustrious company from Arkansas (actually his heirs) that I have the big gripe with. And how can that possibly relate to painting you ask? Around the Cooper house, we call it "the build up effect". You know, one thing leads to another, and then another.

For those of you who know me well, (too well?!) my viewpoint of the aforementioned company that came from Arkansas is no secret. They have taught America to go cheap, no matter what. Emphasis, no matter what. My eldest son, bless his heart, edits that to "taught America to buy cheap plastic crap". Whichever. It's the build up effect. Remember when that company used to advertise "made in the USA"? Cheaper, cheaper, (build up effect) and you know where it's all coming from now. The problem is, so many other companies, trying to stay in the game, followed suit.

Being visual folks, surely you will appreciate photos, and what better descriptive matter, than photos of art supplies? Here we go:

This would be a side view of the corner section of two joined stretcher bars.

This photo shows that same joint, looking straight on.

This photo is again a sideview, but a different brand.

Again, the straight on view of the stretcher bars in photo #3.

I happen to be one of those artists who stretches their own canvases. I used to use a brand called "creative mark probars". They used to be solid, well made---until, you guessed it. The build up effect. They are one of the companies that decided to go cheap. Their product is now stamped "made in China". The first two photos are of the last order I received from them. Emphasis last.

Last. And that's because the build up effect can work both ways. My frustration with the company's continued poor quality built up until I looked elsewhere.

And look what I found, yup, that would be photos #3 and 4. Solid, well made. I sent the company an email and thanked them. I also mentioned why they got my order. Hopefully they hear that a couple of us still prefer quality over cheap.

If you stretch your own canvases, I am guessing that you'd like me to give you a name for photos #3 and 4. DB Heavy Duty Bars. Stamped made in the USA, just in case you are curious about that. http://www.dickblick.com Happy painting!

Later, Cooper

yeah, you KNOW I had to get this in here somewhere! October 2004---the last time I went to one of the those stores mentioned vaguely in paragraph two :)

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