Page 12 - The Decorative Painter - Fall 2019

New England Traditions presents
An Autumn Garden October 8–13, 2019
Join us for New England’s premiere decorative painting experience...
Great Teachers, Great Classes, Great Shopping, Fall Foliage & more!
We’re all together
UNDER ONE ROOF!
Shop in your slippers!
Painters:
ONLINE CATALOG and online registration make it easy! Join, Like & Share us on Facebook!
Businesses:
Advertise with us!
Teachers:
Thank you for your creativity and dedication to NET!
All inquiries to
Robin Prout, NET 2019 Chair chair@newenglandtraditions.org
Sponsored by the New England Chapters Council, Society of Decorative Painters
Best Western Royal Plaza, Marlborough, Mass. NET 2019 artwork by Sonja Richardson ©2018 NECC
plaid
dedicated to decorative artists
by Prudy Vannier cda
Plaid was founded in 1976 by David Cunningham in Atlanta, Ga., where it is still located. David’s vision was to create a diversified yet synergistic company that would provide products for painting and decorative artists. Today, Plaid Enterprises, Inc. is powerful proof that dreams can become a reality.
Plaid’s first product category was publishing how-to books covering the hottest crafts of the era. This included macramé, beading, découpage and, of course, decorative painting. To that end, paint was one of the first products targeted, and production of FolkArt Acrylic Paint began in consultation with leading decorative artists of the day including Priscilla Hauser mda and Betty Byrd.
Plaid attributes its growth and success to two main things – product innovation and a keen focus on the ever-changing needs of the painting consumer. It was one of the first companies in the industry to have a consumer-facing website, for example. Plaid has also been a leader and early adopter of social media. This direct- consumer, two-way communication helps Plaid keep its finger on the pulse of the painting community.
Today, Plaid manufactures over 5,000 products and is the industry’s leading small batch paint manufacturer. All are made in its Georgia-based facilities. Plaid also has a permanent office in Shenzhen, China.
Plaid is helping to keep alive and grow the art of decorative painting with its new Let’s Paint Program, an online education program designed to bring the joy of painting to people right in their homes. It consists of painting tutorials, skill builders, tips and techniques. It has downloadable patterns, live streams and more, all free
of charge. Let’s Paint lead instructor is SDP member Andy Jones cda along with recurring guest artist Donna Dewberry. There is even some bonus content from Priscilla Hauser mda.
Plaid has been affiliated with SDP as a business member for years. They have been present at countless SDP shows and, in 1987, Plaid partnered with SDP to publish Celebrity Sampler of Decorative Painting to commemorate SDP’s 15th anniversary. Now, passing the torch to a new generation of painters is an honor and responsibility that Plaid takes very seriously and is central to the company’s mission. To learn more about the Let’s Paint Program, see plaidonline.com/letspaint.
Many thanks to Chris Williams and Jon Bogle of Plaid for helping to create this article for The Decorative Painter.
10 TheDecorativePainter • FALL 2019
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