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1. •  
     CommentAuthorkifo
   • CommentTimeMar 28th 2008

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   There is another well-established art material shop in Singapore since 1947.

   Straits Commercial Art Company
   420 North Bridge Road, #01-27 North Bridge Centre, Singapore 188727
   Tel: (65) 63381710
   Fax: (65) 63384729
    

   
   View Larger Map

   They carry a great range of artist materials for professional as well as the students. Some of the well-known brand they have include Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Canson, Conte and Liquidtex.

   I have recently went to the shop to check out materials suitable for painting. They sell primed canvas in various quality and quantity. Of particular interest are:

   • Student grade canvas 1.37m x 5.45m @ $45
   • Medium grade cotton-duck canvas 1.6m x 5m @ $68
   • Medium grade Linen canvas 1.6m x 5m @ $78
   • Professional grade cotton canvas 2.1m x 10m @ $420

   You can buy shorter lengths but it would cost more. I suggest some of you get together and buy them together.

   Other than canvases, there are interesting stuff like Acrylic paints and Oil paints. They carry a very cheap range of student acrylic paints which I forgot the name that is only $4.50 per medium size 75ml tube. They have have the Liquidtex Basic range which has a slightly wider range of colours at $4.80 per 4oz tube. These acrylics paints are miles better than the super cheap Chromacryl or Reeves range that you can find readily elsewhere. For oil paints, they have the cheap Lourve series from Lefranc et Bourgeois at $5.50 per 60ml tube. The only problem with all these student series is that the range of colours are usually very limited. For example if you suddenly need a colour like rich satiny purple which is glossy and transluscent, usually you can only find them in the artist series. But at least you have saved some money in the first place.

   And those buying white spirit for oil painting, please buy a larger quantity bottle like 500ml or more. They usually comes in those small PET bottles. Don't end up buying small tiny quantities that comes in glass bottles which only means you end up paying more for the glass than anything else. Art friend is one of those notorious place where they only sell solvents in glass bottles. I suggest you check out Creative Hands if you are at the Artfriend branch in Taka. Straits Commercial sometimes also run out of bigger bottles of white spirits and then they will try to sell you small glass bottles of them. Resist the temptation.

   Do check out the rest of the shops. Straits Commercial is like one of those old antiquey art shops that you find so rare nowadays. If you are the type that enjoys looking at interesting art materials, then you can surely enjoy a nice hour or so there just looking around.

2. •  
     CommentAuthorkifo
   • CommentTimeMar 28th 2008 edited

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   The link for the map is here

   Address of Straits Commercial on Google Map - http://tinyurl.com/3a2cco

   One more very important thing - bring along you student pass and get 10% off regular priced items at Straits Commerical. No need to buy over $100 to get membership unlike some other places.

3. • CommentAuthorcandy
   • CommentTimeApr 5th 2008

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   Art class alumna

   haahahahahahaha. speaking from experience.

4. •  
     CommentAuthorkifo
   • CommentTimeApr 5th 2008

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   Eh yah share your experience lah

5. •  
     CommentAuthorkifo
   • CommentTimeApr 23rd 2008

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   Some more recent information I gathered...

    

   Creative Hand

   Sale items:

   Winton Oil colours small tubes - Cadmium Red, Cadmium Yellow, Ultramarine

   2 dollars for 3 tubes!

    

   Normal items:

   Windsor and Newton White Spirt 1 litre - 20 dollars.

   Windsor and Newton Gesson 1 litre - 33 dollars.

    

   Art Friend

   Fredrix Gesso 1 litre - 29 dollars.

   Marie Gesso 0.5 litre - 7 dollars.

    

   N.B. A 1.6m diameter round board will require 3 coats minimum. It takes about 1 litre of gesso for the first coat. Subsequent coatings migth be slightly less.

6. • CommentAuthorcandy
   • CommentTimeMay 7th 2008

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   Art class alumna

   haven been down to artfriend in a long time!!! ><

7. • CommentAuthorbecsarella
   • CommentTimeJul 28th 2008

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   Art class alumna

   THEY CHEATED MY MONEY WITH MY CANVAS.. speaking from experience :D

8. •  
     CommentAuthorkifo
   • CommentTimeJul 28th 2008

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   Mrs Chan said Straits Commercial has closed down. Anyone verified this?

9. • CommentAuthorbecsarella
   • CommentTimeJul 28th 2008

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   Art class alumna

   I'm not sure, but recently I saw it still standing there. It was 8 plus though, so I'm not sure if it was just after-hours or if it had closed down!