Help!I need to know about arts and crafts products (paints, brushes etc) for my new job & i dont have a clue!?

Question

Ive got a job in an art and craft shop and im expected to be able to advise customers on the products, but I don't know a thing! Please could anyone advise me on basic knowledge of paints, brushes, craft materials like ink etc, papers and pencils, oil pastels and things like that and what are they used for, and anything else that you could tell me so I could pass myself off as an experienced artist!! Thanks! :]

Answer 1

Most of the major manufacturers of craft products have web sites. Instead of spending too much time here, get on line and read about the products. In addition, many products have brochures that have very good information with in them. So when you are unloading a truck and restocking a shelf, take a few moments to do some reading. And don't hesitate to ask a customer about opinions. Most art people love to talk "shop" like any other profession.

Answer 2

A handful of paragraphs on Yahoo Answers won't make you an expert.  And, for the clients that need real advice on the tools and materials offered, "faking" it will be worse than not knowing.

Questions like "Is this acid free archival paper?" are very important, if not critical pieces of information that makes the difference between whether an irreplacable, heirloom photographs survives to be passed down, or dissolves in a brown, untidy mess.

Others, like,"It says that this acrylic paint can be thinned in water.  Does that mean that I can leave my expensive brushes out to be cleaned tomorrow?" can get you in real trouble with your bosses if that customer complains about equipment ruined because of your bad advice.

Here's what I advise.  Pick an area in which you have, at least, SOME real knowledge.  Then, in a library, online or other sourse, research that particular field and study up on some details.  That way, you can become more knowledgable in THAT area, without having to fake it in others.  Not everyone knows EVERYTHING about ALL crafts.  

I am a 2D artist, with some experience in a couple of kinds of sculpture.  My knowledge of ceramics is limited and my experience in woodcarving is almost zero.  I could work in a crafts store.  I would have, absolutely no trouble in telling someone that "I don't know" about something, and help that person find someone who does.  That's what customer service is about.  I help that person find the solution, sometimes by helping find the person who DOES know.

If you want to KEEP the job that badly, you need to "get to work" before you GO to work.

I once got a job in an auto parts store without any knowledge about cars except to turn the steering wheel clock wise to turn right, and counter clockwise to turn left.  I did a LOT of reading of lables and walking the aisles learning WHERE everything was.  90% of my job ended up being that I just had to point and say "Aisle four.  Look for the Armor All shelf."  The worst case scenario would be when someone walked in, wearing grimy coveralls and torn tee shirt, dropping a greasy, oily lump of metal on the counter and saying, "Gimme one of these for a sixty-four Olds."  I would turn to one of the other countermen and innocently ask, "Do we still carry these?  Which cataloge would it be?"  Then, the other guy would, either, tell me, or look it up himself.

Easy!

Answer 3

Maybe go to the library and read some How-to and basics books. And browse other craft stores and read the packages so you know what is out there and what they are for. Here are some sites that might help:

Painting Basics: http://painting.about.com/od/artsupplies...

Types of Brushes:

http://connoisseurart.com/html/Hint_Brus...

Videos on other basics:

http://www.ehow.com/articles_3004-art-su...

Answer 4

  You'll  be  fine  ,you'll  be  surprised  how  much  knowledge  you  have  when  someone  ask  you  a  question,just  wing  it,it  will  come  to  you  as  time  goes  by;  walk  around  heads  up  and  act  like  you  know  what  you  are  doing ......ask  co-employees  and  don't  hesitate  

if  needed , you  are  training  while  getting  paid  and  be  friendly  to  all.you  are  an  artist  and  you  don't  even  know  it  SMILE,HEADS UP,

     every  thing  will  be  OK ,................................  WATCH

Answer 5

i would say that i am crafty.. in my opinion there are way to many different types of crafts to tell you about all of them..

the best thing i could sugguest is try them. read boxes while at work.. listen to conversations when your at work.. see what everyone likes... just pay attention pretty much..  if you want to be on safe side,, tell customers.. i havent used it much, so i havent really formed an opinion yet..  really it comes down to... the style of the person.  i have never used oils..   simply because you have to use chemicals to clean up.. i use acryllic. water clean up..  some like pastles,, those how like the style but not the mess go for oil pastle. not as messy. look at the pros and cons of products.

\brushes you pretty much get what you pay for. the cheap ones loose hair much more than the high priced ones.  i lean toward the orangie brown colored hairs. for me they seem to last a while. i am pretty rough on brushes.

best way to learn is to do it.. there is no right or wrong, there is not good or bad... there is no rules.. it is art. an interpretation from one point of view. a moment expressed in ones personal style.  good luck, have fun  

Answer 6

Read a few books   Study your stock in the shop   .Must be  some sites relating to artists  materials and tools  on here    ...   Your employer probably knows your limitations  and  will help train you