Articles

A Message to Our Customers about COVID-19

UPDATE AS OF MARCH 25, 2020 As of Thursday, March 26th, the Opus Harbour Centre location will be temporarily closed. All Call or Click & Collect orders that were destined for this location will be sent to Opus Granville Island... Read More

Gamblin Reclaimed Earth COLORS

Every speck of pigment in these tubes has been painstakingly reclaimed from waters tainted by iron released from mines. Iron oxides make lightfast, natural, and safe oil paints. We want to put them where they belong. On your palette. Three... Read More

Colour On The Move

Shaking up the familiar with alternate visions of the world     By awakening new understandings and raising consciousness, street art can re-engage the viewer with their environment. Vancouver artist Sherri Rogers, documents these colourful encounters, juxtaposing both natural and... Read More

Cadmium-Free Watercolour: Another Innovation from Winsor & Newton

Winsor & Newton’s innovation has always been driven by artists’ needs – from developing the first glycerine-based moist water colours in 1835, to introducing glass syringes to hold oil colour, in place of pigs’ bladders in 1840. The first to... Read More

Nature’s Abstractions

British Columbia boasts some of the most beautiful and unique terrain on the planet. This wild landscape, even in its urban form, has long entranced its inhabitants and inspired generations of artists.  Whilst there are many ways of expressing our... Read More

Just Imagine…

Unleashing your Creative Potential in the Promise of the New Year As we approach the new year and the creative possibilities that lie ahead, it’s a great time to reflect on our ideas – where they come from and where... Read More

Opus Daily Practice Challenge

  Join us from February 1–29 and be a part of the Opus Daily Practice Challenge! Practice makes progress! Connect with your arts community, keep your creative momentum up with a daily challenge throughout the month of February, and imagine... Read More

The Greatest Gift

Art therapy can facilitate conversations. Clients – from people with mental health challenges to women and children fleeing abuse – are encouraged to express themselves creatively; the therapist then uses the work as a springboard for discussions about what the... Read More

Sowing the Seeds of Wonder

Emily Carr graduate Nicole Dextras is an award-winning Vancouver-based artist. She cleverly transforms natural materials into elaborate and highly imaginative costumes, characters and supernatural universes, promoting a message of self-sufficiency as an alternative method of sustainability. Creating a sense of... Read More

Face it, Portraits Speak Volumes

LAUREN BREVNER Divine Skin – Oils, Acrylic, metal leaf, resin, and mixed media on wood panel “I find that people are endlessly fascinating and there is so much to explore within portraiture.”   Why is it important to you and... Read More

Try-It Stations

Each of our locations have try-it stations where you are free to come and explore select art supplies, with the guidance of our experienced staff. Discover new materials and techniques, and get real-time advice on products before you commit to... Read More

Growing Up Together: A Tribute to Artists & Art Forms

In celebration of our 45th anniversary at Opus, we connected with eight artists who have grown with Opus over the years, and got a look into their lives as artists. Images will expand when clicked on.  Joe Coffey | Oil... Read More

Celebrating 45 Years: How Opus Got Its Start in 1974

Opus Art Supplies founder David van Berckel looks back on how it all began, 45 years ago: It was the 1970s and I was a hippie. I had landed in Canada after getting my engineering degree in the UK and... Read More

How to Ice-Dye

We tried out ice dying as a new way to use pigment. This technique is great for a non-traditional looking tye-dye or a one of a kind print for fabric. The results can be as planned or as unexpected as... Read More

Summer Festivals & Community Events

Summertime is about “fun”. When late June rolls around and we look to the outdoors, feel the warmth of the sun on our skin, smell the freshly cut grass, and think about how to use our “down time”, the outdoors... Read More

Taka Sudo

We caught up with our cover artist and 2016 Vancouver Mural Festival artist, Taka Sudo in his studio to learn about his art. Contrasting elements are a major inspiration for Taka. His work mixes cityscapes with nature, neon colours with... Read More

8th Annual Opus Outdoor Painting Challenge

Click to jump to images from the day! We were lucky to have a beautiful, sunny day at all seven locations during the Opus Outdoor Painting Challenge on Sunday, May 26th. Hundreds of creatives came out to paint, draw, and... Read More

Fresh Takes on Landscapes

Take a trip with watercolourists Leslie Redhead and Sandhu Singh, and oil painters Michael King and Ken Faulks! With their fresh takes on traditional mediums and a love of landscape, they share ways to break free and find your own... Read More

Creating a Sensory Experience Through Art

The Embrace by Marney-Rose Edge Fill your senses with Spring! Two artists share how their sensory experience of their subjects, flora and fauna, becomes part of their work, both in process and in the completed piece. Thank you to Marney-Rose... Read More

How to Paint a Blossom with Marney-Rose Edge

The Embrace by Marney-Rose Edge Marney-Rose Edge’s watercolour florals capture the delicacy of the blooms and juxtapose them with dramatic backgrounds. The results are stunning works filled with light, colour, and the beauty of nature. For the watermedia piece, The... Read More

Ideas for Decorative Papers

Our expanded selection decorative papers is offering inspiration this spring! In addition Japanese Chiyogami and tissue papers . Their beautiful and delicate patterns, interesting textures, and wide variety of colours offer you a plethora of creative possibilities, whether you’re making... Read More

OPC Test

Seasoned plein air painters & novice artists who love the great outdoors. Groups of friends looking for a creative activity & families celebrating spring a painting picnic. You are all invited to the 8th annual Opus Outdoor Painting Challenge on... Read More

Faber-Castell Week at Opus Art Supplies

Join us in-store from until Friday, April 12th to try out Faber-Castell products at our tester stations. We will provide materials and our knowledgeable staff will be present to help answer questions and provide guidance. Also, purchase a minimum of... Read More

April 2019 – Fill Your Senses With Spring

Let the beauty of spring’s blossoms open up your creativity! The watercolour florals of our featured cover artist in April, Marney-Rose Edge, capture the delicacy of the blooms and juxtapose them with dramatic backgrounds. The results are stunning works filled... Read More

Thank You for Sharing Your Gift in 2018!

The holiday season is a time for giving and receiving, and both have happened in abundance in the last few months thanks to your participation in our 2018 Share Your Gift Donation Drive. Your donations of lightly-used art supplies have... Read More

Working Studio: Staying organized with BC artist, Amy Stewart

Amy Stewart paints in her studio. More space, more art, more life! We visited the studio of artist Amy Stewart for an inspiring look at how a clean, organized studio space influences her art practice. Amy Stewart’s studio is located... Read More

Opus Downtown Vancouver: Grand Opening Events!

Join us for an art-filled February at our New Opus Downtown location!   The new Opus Downtown Vancouver by Kyrra Kosar NEW LOCATION: U1 – 555 West Hastings Street (across Cordova Street from Waterfront Station) You’re invited to our new... Read More

Oh My Gouache!

Quickly gaining in popularity among painters and illustrators alike, gouache combines the ease of watercolours with the workability and flow of acrylics. The matte, opaque finish of this paint is perfect for photographing or scanning work for digital reproduction. There... Read More

Mastering Mixed Media

We got the opportunity to check in with four Canadian mixed media artists and delve into their art practices. Each artist experiments with media, forming the basis of their art practice. Gain fresh insight into the processes of the artists,... Read More

Inspire & Renew with Experimentation

With the coming of the fresh new year, it’s the perfect time to experiment and explore with new media, techniques, and subjects. Let’s take a look at how you can freshen up your work! Four Mixed Media Artists’ Thoughts on... Read More