photo credit: rickz’s
Da Vinci Paint hails from Irvine, California.
There are a few, actually more than a few, paint companies named after famous painters. (Da Vinci, Holbein, Matisse)
Da Vinci is best known for watercolor paint. As for acrylic paint, Da Vinci offers both heavy body and fluid acrylic product lines. (offered in Tubes and bottles respectively.)
They sell four mediums:
- Acrylic Iridescent Medium
- Gesso Acrylic Canvas Primer
- Semi-Gloss Acrylic Gel
- Semi-Gloss Acrylic Medium
It appears from the Da Vinci website that the paints are sold in USA and Canada.
Company Background:
Started by an Italian immagrent to the Peru in the 1930′s, the company is still family-owned. The company moved to California in the 1970′s.
Today the company is managed by the original founder’s grandson, Marcello Dworzak.
The Story:
The Papa Marcello Dworzak worked as a chemist and and artist in Italy in the 1930′s. He left for Peru and working in formulated paint in the new country. He was so good at it he opened a art store. He did so well with the art store, he then bought a paint factory. From the Da Vinci website:
“As part of his promotional efforts, Marcello would occasionally provide small paint samples to local artists at a nearby park who met every Sunday to paint. Artists quickly recognized the quality of the paints and enjoyed the low prices Marcello had in his store. The Da Vinci reputation for providing high quality artists’ products at a value had begun.”
Cool Story. I wish someone would come and give me free samples of paint when I paint in the park on Sundays!
Papa Dworzak passed away in 1968. His son, Rodolfo Dworzak, moved to California n 1975, and started the new company called DaVinci Paint.
Connect with Da Vinci Acrylic online:
Note: I can’t find them on facebook or twitter; although the Da Vinci Paint Company Website does have an opt in for a e-newsletter.
Da Vinci Spokesperson Nicholas Simmons:
Most art cataloge I receive usually have a picture and short bio / ad about water-media artist Nicholas Simmons. From what I can tell by the his web presence, Mr. Simmons uses mainly the fluid acrylic paint line with watercolor techniques.
Here is a video of Nicholas Simmons in action:
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