Backer Exclusive- Attending NAMTA's Creativation (Patreon)

There's a vlog and several interviews in the works, so this isn't meant to replace the vlog, but supplement it!

What is Creativation?

The iNternational Art Materials Trade Association holds a trade show yearly called Creativation. Creativation is a chance for art materials manufacturers to sell their wares to stores and for ODM and OEM companies to find American companies that wish to sell their products under their own brand name (for example, Jerry's Artarama selling Superior's watercolor watch under their Creative Mark ? line).

A few years ago, NAMTA and CHA combined to form Creativation.

Those of you familiar with CHA and the sort of vlogging people would do during CHA might be expecting loads of demos and samples. I expected something between Hands on Creativity and CHA, but Creativation is far more business-facing, with fewer classes, samples, or demos. That's not to say there are NO classes, samples, or demos, but that's not the focus of the convention.

An artist attending an art materials trade show

Why Did I Go?

I wanted a sneak peek at next year's art supplies, of course! I also wanted a chance to ask some of my favorite art supply manufacturers questions like- will Holbein ever bring back the Irodori line in watercolor (probably not) or will Arteza start working more closely with their art influencers for their Advent Calendars (supposedly yes!)

I applied for membership as a Digital Content Creator and was accepted. At the time of application, I had to submit my follower counts for relevant socials, and I also opted to share links for my classes and art I've created, as a lot of my reach happens in person. It cost $200 for my membership, and I was able to register another person for a badge and classes for a friend who was coming to visit. Classes are an additional charge. Later in the show, I was able to register my husband as well for no additional charge, so he could walk the trade show floor and help out as I was nursing a migraine all 5 days.

How was Creativation?

I felt like a kid in a candy store, but my braces were welded shut. So many wonderful art supplies, the vast majority are not for sale and will not be for sale for months. Creativation was really exciting but also a bit frustrating, but in a good way, as that gives us something to look forward to.

Who I Visited:

Alumicolor

Arkon Mounts

Arteza

Be Creative Arts and Crafts

Cavallini

Chartpak

Chibitronics

Colart America

Crafter's Companion

Kremer Pigments

M Graham & Co

MacPherson's

Mungyo Art & Craft

Newell Brands

Paint Puck

Papier Plume/Kum

Pentel Arts

da Vinci Artist Brushes

Daylight Company

Derwent

Diamond Art Club

Golden Artist Colors

Hahnemule

HK Holbein

Itoya

Jacquard Products

The Japanese Paper Place

Daniel Smith

Rocky Nook

Sakura of America

Shin Han Art Materials

Schiffer Publishing

Silicoil

Speedball

Stoneground Paint

Kikkerland

Yasutomo

Zebra

And more!

My Favorite Things:

Daylight's Standing Light

Winsor & Newton's Revival Watercolors

Qor's 20 new colors

Stoneground Watercolors

Hahnemule's Accordian Book

Holbein Irodori Gouache

Holbein's Plastic Watercolor Palette

New Things You Should Know About:

ShinHan's Korean Colour Watercolor Kit

Mungyo's Magnetic Watercolor Palette

Arkon's Phone Mounts

Derwent's Watercolor Palette

Arteza Advent Calendars are going to be Art Influencer suggestions

Holbein's color pencils & Meltz

A Few Highlights:

Qor announced 20 new colors to their Golden line! What's your favorite new color? That Benz Burnt Orange is calling my name but I love a good Perylene Violet!

Some companies own...everything. It can be challenging to figure out just who is managing what properties, and sometimes when a brand is acquired, you can lose a favorite product. But it also means that we in the US may have more access to art supplies from outside the country- such as Maimeri Blu and Kuretake.

Look at this gorgeous art book display! It was a pleasure talking to Schiffer and Rocky Nook about the inside scoop of art book publishing!

This was just one of FOUR sheets of Daniel Smith swatches!

Winsor and Newton is releasing a Revival line of watercolors based on historically popular but currently unavailable colors. I'm excited for Tyrian Purple!

They also have some lovely themed sets as well!

Check out this gorgeous graphic explaining the history of paper from Fabriano!

Paint Puck released a collapsable paint bowl with a suction base, and I was lucky enough to get my hands on one!

Silver Atelier is working on some prototype silicone bowls and scrubbers to help with brush care!

Swatches from Holbein's gorgeous gouache Irodori line.

A full set of Holbein watercolors. Gosh, they look so aesthetic!

Grumbacher is making...gansai style watercolors?? What? Especially because...

Did yall know that Chartpak is the US distributor for Kuretake? The Chartpak booth had SO MUCH I wanted to geek out over- but we were ignored the whole time! That's ok- I recognize pretty much everything I saw, and I'd love to try the Karappo-pen system! Bottles of ink and empty pen bodies with different nib types that've been living in my Amazon cart for six months now.

Here's one of the pens!

And look here! The beautiful 100 color Kuretake Gansai Tambi collection!

Kuretake's releasing a Granulating colors set?! Are you KIDDING?! I really wish I could've talked to a rep about this one!

Chartpak also had colored inkstones- I wasn't able to ask who's distributing these in the US.

And look! Higgens is offering...a rainbow of pigment ink?!

By the time we reached Arteza, I was feeling pretty confident, and asked them about their Advent Calenders....well really more like suggested that they change them up from year to year, and allow their art influencers to select the products inside. I have good news for my friends who like Advent Calendars- next year's SHOULD see some actual input from the artists, and will feature projects!

I had to stop by Shin Han to tell them how much I love their watercolors, and they showed me their new half pans and palette system! How cool is this?!

As well as their new Korean watercolor KITS!

Which will teach you how to paint these two illustrations! How cool!

I can't draw a straight line to save my life, and this magnetic cutting board from We R Memory keepers looks very promising.

Derwent is releasing WATERCOLOR pans- for the folks who like the Inktense pans, but want the reworkability of watercolor. I'd love to test these out!

Is it Worth It?

I don't mean to be a gatekeeper, but as tempting as Creativation sounds, I would not recommend it for a regular artist, as there's no actual shopping for us normies- just stores placing huge bulk orders. But if you're an art supply fanatic like me and can find a way to apply for membership, I say go for it if it's in your area. I would attend Creativation again if they're in the New Orleans area in the future.

Some of these will show up in the Creativation Vlog, some will show up in the standalone interviews, and some I'll be able to demonstrate for you guys as I have samples! It's going to take me a little while to get it edited, so I wanted to share some of my adventure with you guys to whet your appetite for art supplies!