The UArt Blog

The Colored Pencil Exercise that Changed My Life

The Colored Pencil Exercise that Changed My Life

Artist Kirsty Partridge goes through a colored pencil exercise that finally helped color 'click' for her and helped her be able to pick and create any color needed for colored pencil drawings – no matter what you're drawing or the colored pencil set you are using....

Sparkle & Shine!

Sparkle & Shine!

December is Shimmery All Over... Metallic colors are ones that appear like shiny, polished metal. A metallic cannot be reproduced by a simple solid color because the shiny effect is due to the material's brightness varying with the surface angle to the light source....

Glitter & Shimmer & Shine…Oh My!

Glitter & Shimmer & Shine…Oh My!

Metallic colors are ones that appear like shiny, polished metal.A metallic cannot be reproduced by a simple solid color because the shine effect is due to the material's brightness varying with the surface angle to the light source. In addition, there is no mechanism...

Brown Gets Around!

Brown Gets Around!

This November,Brown Goes Au Naturel...This year we thought we'd go "au naturel" and celebrate you some of the many (many) things in nature that are brown. Take this deep dive into the warm and cozy world of All Things Brown. Check it out!UArt Redwood City Store...

BLACK is BACK!

BLACK is BACK!

Get ready for October's True Color...spooky, mysterious, powerful... BLACK!Black is a color, the perception of which is created by the total absence of light that stimulates any of the three types of color-sensitive cone cells in the human eye and with very low...

September Reveals…Turquoise & Teal

September Reveals…Turquoise & Teal

Turquoise is an opaque, blue-to-green color derived from a mineral that is a hydrous phosphate of copper and aluminum. The mineral is rare and valuable in finer grades and has been prized as a gem and ornamental stone for thousands of years owing to its unique hue. In...

Orange You Glad it’s Summer?

Orange You Glad it’s Summer?

August Celebrates the Color Orange The term ‘orange’, first used in the early 1500s, was taken directly from the Old French word ‘orenge’ in reference to the fruit of the same colour and name, while previously the colour was known as ‘ġeolurēad‘ which literally meant...

Blue on Blue 2022

Blue on Blue 2022

Blue is the color of the sky and water, making blue one of the most widely seen colors on the planet. It's no wonder that blue has been a perennially favorite color. Even so, much of the science and history of blue is surprising. Sight is integral to the human...

June is all Purples & Violets…

June is all Purples & Violets…

This June is all Purples & Violets and every hue in between. Every UArt store has displays showcasing products, information and art supplies featuring this celebrated color range in different ways: pens, pencils, oils, acrylics, watercolor, pastels,...

This May…Think Pink!

This May…Think Pink!

Pink has always been a spectacular contradiction. It’s simultaneously fresh-faced and sophisticated, alien (a 17th-century Chinese word for pink meant “foreign color”) and internal (from our mouths to musculature), and at home in both high and low culture. In Japan,...

Hello, Yellow!

Hello, Yellow!

Now here's a color to cheer you up!The word yellow comes from the Old English word "geolu." Yellow is the most luminous of all the colors of the spectrum. It’s the color that captures our attention more than any other color. In the natural world, yellow is the...

March…Exploring GREEN

March…Exploring GREEN

UArt Redwood City  Fun Fact: at the bottom of this post are links to Kermit the Frog's song, "It's Not Easy 'Bein Green" : ) This March UArt stores are Exploring GREEN!   Check out the GREEN display at your local UArt store to find all of the "green...

RED HOT FEBRUARY!

RED HOT FEBRUARY!

See our RED store windows at bottom of post! Red “is the archetypal color, the first color humans mastered, fabricated, reproduced, and broke down into different shades.” As such, it dominated visual culture for centuries. With the advent of the Protestant...

The Art of Organization

The Art of Organization

Let's face it...some people love getting organized - but most of us procrastinate like crazy. Try thinking of creating order in your life, your work, your mind and your art as a stepping stone to more peace, more freedom, more happiness...not to mention the ability to...

January is…All WHITE!

January is…All WHITE!

There are differing opinions among color theory purists on whether white should be considered a color at all, since it represents the absence of hue or chroma, and cannot be made from the three primaries (as black theoretically can be). It’s not usually represented on...

Shine On!

Shine On!

December is Shimmery All Over... Metallic colors are ones that appear like shiny, polished metal. A metallic cannot be reproduced by a simple solid color because the shiny effect is due to the material's brightness varying with the surface angle to the light source....

What About Brown

What About Brown

It's All About BROWN Despite its modern appeal, the origin of the word brown has been around since weaving was an exciting new technology. The color brown is a warm color that stimulates the appetite. and is just yummmmmmmy : )  It also...

September Tells You About Teal & Turquoise!

September Tells You About Teal & Turquoise!

Turquoise is an opaque, blue-to-green color derived from a mineral that is a hydrous phosphate of copper and aluminum. The mineral is rare and valuable in finer grades and has been prized as a gem and ornamental stone for thousands of years owing to its unique hue. In...

August Celebrates Orange

August Celebrates Orange

August Celebrates the Color Orange The term ‘orange’, first used in the early 1500s, was taken directly from the Old French word ‘orenge’ in reference to the fruit of the same colour and name, while previously the colour was known as ‘ġeolurēad‘ which literally meant...

The Blue Blog-2021

The Blue Blog-2021

Blue is the color of the sky and water, making blue one of the most widely seen colors on the planet. It's no wonder that blue has been a perennially favorite color. Even so, much of the science and history of blue is surprising. Sight is integral to the human...

The Ruling Class – The Purples

This June we'll be be exploring the hues Violet and Purple. (Did you know that "purple" is one of three words that has no rhyme? The others, interestingly enough, are colors too: orange and silver!) Often associated with royalty, power and wealth for centuries, so...

RED HOT FEBRUARY!

RED HOT FEBRUARY!

See our RED store windows at bottom of post!Red “is the archetypal color, the first color humans mastered, fabricated, reproduced, and broke down into different shades.” As such, it dominated visual culture for centuries. With the advent of the Protestant Reformation,...

BLACK is BACK!

BLACK is BACK!

Get ready for October's True Color...big, beautiful, bold BLACK!Black is a color, the perception of which is created by the total absence of light that stimulates any of the three types of color-sensitive cone cells in the human eye and with very low brightness...

Think PINK!

Think PINK!

This September we'll be...Exploring PINK! We were so surprised to find all of the amazing information about the history and meaning of this sweet color! You'll find "Exploring Pink" displays in-store showcasing a variety of products, information and art supplies that...

Bright & Mellow Yellow

Bright & Mellow Yellow

August Says "Hello" to this Bright & Mellow Color   It's easy to get a little down during these strange days...so here's a color to cheer you up! The word yellow comes from the Old English word geolu. Yellow is the most luminous of all the colors of...

The Blue Blog

The Blue Blog

Blue is the color of the sky and water, making blue one of the most widely seen colors on the planet. It's no wonder that blue has been a perennially favorite color. Even so, much of the science and history of blue is surprising. Sight is integral to the human...

~ UltraViolet & Proud Purple ~

~ UltraViolet & Proud Purple ~

This June we'll be be exploring the hues Violet and Purple. (Did you know that "purple" is one of three words that has no rhyme? The others, interestingly enough, are colors too: orange and silver!) Often associated with royalty, power and wealth for centuries, so...

Let’s Think About Pink

Let’s Think About Pink

Pink has always been a spectacular contradiction. It’s simultaneously fresh-faced and sophisticated, alien (a 17th-century Chinese word for pink meant “foreign color”) and internal (from our mouths to musculature), and at home in both high and low culture. In Japan,...

GO Green!

GO Green!

Exploring the Lushness of Green... March is all about the Green...check out all of the paints, papers, products, toys and gifts in this upbeat hue, and ask all of theenvironmentally friendly productsin store. Get your Green on!   This month we celebrate the...

RED Alert!

RED Alert!

See our RED store windows at bottom of post!Red “is the archetypal color, the first color humans mastered, fabricated, reproduced, and broke down into different shades.” As such, it dominated visual culture for centuries. With the...

All About Metallics!

All About Metallics!

Shine on! A metallic color is a color that appears to be that of a polished metal. The visual sensation usually associated with metals is its metallic shine. This cannot be reproduced by a simple solid color, because the shiny effect...

The Art of Gift Giving

The Art of Gift Giving

Finding the perfect gift can seem like a lot of pressure, especially with the arrival of upcoming gatherings with friends and family, many of which involve gifting, at least in part. Whether you’re searching for a hostess gift as you prepare to...

Orange You Glad it’s October?

The term ‘orange’, first used in the early 1500s, was taken directly from the Old French word ‘orenge’ in reference to the fruit of the same colour and name, while previously the colour was known as ‘ġeolurēad‘ which literally meant...

Exploring Turquoise & Teal

Exploring Turquoise & Teal

Turquoise is an opaque, blue-to-green color derived from a mineral that is a hydrous phosphate of copper and aluminum. The mineral is rare and valuable in finer grades and has been prized as a gem and ornamental stone for thousands of years owing to its unique hue. In...

~ The Moody Blues ~

~ The Moody Blues ~

The History and Science Behind the Color BlueBlue is the color of the sky, large bodies of water, probably more than one wall in your office, and perhaps even a number of your outfits. This ever-so-popular color has not always been so common. In fact, much...

Purple & Violet RULE!

Purple & Violet RULE!

This June we'll be taking a look at the purple/violet range – a color space that's rich in history and meaning. Every UArt store has displays showcasing products, information and art supplies featuring this celebrated color range in different ways: pens, pencils,...

Think PINK!

All through May UArt stores will beExploring PINK!We were so surprised to find all of the amazing information about the history and meaning of this sweet color! You'll find "Exploring Pink" displays in-store showcasing a variety of products, information...

Love Your Mother!

Love Your Mother!

Earth Day is Monday, April 22nd. UArt has all kinds of "green" art supplies that are recycled, eco-friendly and environmentally sound. Earth Day and Mother’s Day are in the Spring, the season that ushers in the “watercolor months”…probably because Spring...

Caution – Don’t ignore YELLOW!

Caution – Don’t ignore YELLOW!

All through April UArt stores are Exploring YELLOW   Check out the YELLOW display at your local UArt store to find all of the many paints and other products we offer in this bright, bold, beautiful color. From mellow to bright, we've assembled a wide variety of...

Youth Art Month

Youth Art Month

Every March University Art celebrates “Youth Art Month” – a chance to celebrate kids of all ages – as well as introduce them to and excite them about all aspects of art.

Exploring GREEN

Exploring GREEN

UArt Redwood City UArt Sacramento Fun Fact: at the bottom of this post are links to Kermit the Frog's song, "It's Not Easy 'Bein Green" : )Right now all UArt stores are Exploring GREEN! Check out the GREEN display at your local UArt store to find all of the "green...

Inspiration

Inspiration

Sometimes the best way to find inspiration, unleash your inner child and get your juices flowing is to read what others have said and thought. Throughout history many artists and musicians have shared their thoughts about their craft and we can all benefit from their wisdom. Consider these quotes about art and creativity from those in the know : )

Living Art

Living Art

For many people, “art” is a noun, for others, a verb. If you’ve always dreamt of giving your artistic pursuits your full-time attention, or transforming your creative hobby into a part or full-time business, you may be ready for your art to play a primary role in your life. Aside from a desire to focus on your passion, it requires considering some important issues.

Get Framed!

Get Framed!

Everyone has treasured family photos and artwork – but framing them artfully and tastefully can be challenging. Quality ready-made, photo and custom framing make it possible to create beautiful displays to complement any space. UArt can help you achieve the look you’re after, affordably and elegantly.

The Art of Gift Giving

The Art of Gift Giving

UArt Gift Cards make terrific gifts! We’ve got the most creative and unique gifts in Sacramento and the Bay Area. From art supplies to frames and custom framing to games to jewelry to pens to toys to greeting cards to DIY kits. Everyone will love the gift of a UArt Gift Card, it’s the gift of creativity!

Chronicle Your Journey

Chronicle Your Journey

July is the month for journaling! It’s a time to get out your sketchpads and pencils, your watercolors and acrylics, your scissors and magazines, your clippings and camera and create some art that tells your story.

Frame your Dad, Gift your Grad

Frame your Dad, Gift your Grad

Father’s Day is June 17, and May and June are graduation months, so be sure to remember the special people in your life.  UArt has all kinds of cool stuff to make your Dad’s & Grad’s days great.

Mother+Earth = Love!

Mother+Earth = Love!

Earth Day is in April, Mother’s Day is in May, and Spring ushers in the “watercolor months” – probably because it’s always so full of dreamy color palettes of flowers exploding everywhere.

Celebrating Youth Art

Celebrating Youth Art

Every March we celebrate “Youth Art Month” – focusing on the importance of STEAM: Science-Technology-Engineering-Arts-Mathematics. STEAM promotes a well-rounded educational curriculum to develop creative and critical thinkers.