There can be no doubt that great masters, like Rembrandt, were touched with a rare genius, but what about the average painters of his day? How can we account for the skills of average painters of those times? Why are their paintings better than most of what we see today?   Fifty years ago, methods it took centuries to develop were tossed out in favor of the idea that art was something other than a profession demanding specific skills and knowledge.   Let’s face it, the secrets of the old masters could not be kept secret for very long because their studio system employed apprentices. In order to make the paints and mediums for the masters, the apprentices had to be taught those secrets. When the apprentices went on to become masters of their own studios, they passed those secrets on to their apprentices — and so it went. Secrets were revealed.. Every one of those “secrets” was recorded somewhere. After a few decades of research, testing and experimenting we were finally able to make and use many of those “secret” mediums and techniques — mediums and techniques discarded by contemporary art teachers. Did it make us into clones of Rembrandt? Hardly. But the new knowledge and skills did help us to improve as painters in our own right.   The methods that worked well in the 15th century — worked just as well in the 19th century, but like so many skills, they were discarded in the last half of the 20th century. That’s why so few of us can paint as well as we'd like to.   At Studio Products, in the Cennini Forum, and in our private practices, our focus is on pictorial painting and painting technique. Our goal is to help the serious professional and dedicated amateur cut through the walls of myth and misinformation in order that the visions inside their minds can flow out and onto the canvas.     Who’s running this place?   The simple answer is . . . artists . . . working artists, not web entrepreneurs, merchandisers or shopkeepers. Every one of us has decades of experience in making a living by creating and selling our artwork. Over the years, we’ve learned what works and what doesn’t work.   This site is directed by, Rob Howard, the founder of the oldest and largest source of online art advice, the Artist Forum on CompuServe. As with Artist Forum, this site offers uncompromisingly honest information. In an art world swirling with bad information, we provide solid technical information for the serious artist, both professional and amateur.      Our Promise   The Cennini Forum is where you’ll learn professional tips and tricks seldom written about or taught in schools. Many of the materials and mediums can be made at home. Some are specialized and hard to find. If we don’t handle them, we’ll guide you to the best sources. We’ve worked with chemists to find out how different materials interact. We found that much of what we had been taught in school to have no basis in reality. So are many of the frightening health scares. We always tell you the truth based on clear research and on our years of experience.   Speaking of the truth, this website has many more technical pages, many more teaching pages, many more professional’s tips and tricks than pages devoted to selling.  We enjoy passing on what we’ve learned. Of course, we hope that you become interested in expanding your art past the same old off-the-shelf materials. We especially hope that you will buy the materials we’ve collected for sale . . . if for no other reason than they are the very best money can buy. They will make your painting go easier and smoother. That’s a promise.   Any professional knows that great materials enable you to get your inner visions from your mind’s eye onto the canvas. We’re so positive that you’ll benefit from using top quality materials that we offer a unique guarantee . . . 110% of your money back  . . . period. No weasel words. No hassles. If you don’t like anything, return it and we’ll send back 110% of the purchase price, no questions asked. We're located at 10 Duncan Street, Haverhill Massachusetts, surrounded by the artist's colonies of Rockport, Gloucester and Newburyport on the North Shore of Boston. If you need to contact us, please email webmaster@studioproducts.com. If it's an emergency, you can reach us at the studio, 1-978-373-4900, but please understand that we are what we say we are..artists, not shopkeepers. As such, we are not good at taking telephone orders. Better yet, join us in the lively and informative Cennini Forum click on the link for the best online source of accurate art information.   Great information. Great materials. Great guarantee. This is the chance to unlock your potential as an artist. Rob Howard P.S. even though we’re pros, we never forget that we started as amateurs — and we try never to lose the passion and joy that is the best part of being an amateur.