Art Classes & Workshops
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Ground Floor Gallery
Ground Floor Window
Print StudioAbout Us
Welcome to Wyndham Art Supplies!
If you haven’t been here before, let us introduce ourselves. We are partners Tammy and Chris, current owners of the family business started by Chris and his parents Otto and Marg in 1992. Tammy has worked here off and on since 1995, and this is where the two of us met! Our son Odin worked with us through high school and is currently pursuing other interests.
Our original store was on the other side of Wyndham Street, but in 2008 we found this lovely three-story stone building at 125 Wyndham and moved in. Wyndham Art has been a fixture in Downtown Guelph for over 34 years, welcoming regular visitors from all over the region, and for those further afield, we have become experts at carefully packing and shipping goods to artists from coast to coast.
We like to think of the store as a community resource as much as a supply shop. To strengthen our community engagement and improve accessibility, we opened our new sister location, Ground Floor Arts, just a few doors down (and across the street) at 112 Wyndham. Here we host workshops and classes for all ages and stages, have regular shows in our gallery, and sell locally hand-printed artwork and cards.
Our amazing staff team are talented and knowledgeable individuals with a variety of art skills and practices. They eagerly share their passion and experience with customers (and each other!) to make shopping fun and help with problem-solving. We think they are some of the kindest people we know, and you can check our online reviews to see what other people say about them too :)
Our goal is to create a welcoming, professional and helpful environment for everyone. While we specialize in ‘fine art’ materials, we welcome all, regardless of where you are on the spectrum of creative pursuit! As well as being visually stunning and packed with goodies, our store is a safe space for all, regardless of ability, gender, race, age or faith.
Meet Our Staff!
Keep scrolling to learn more about who's behind the counter!
Tammy Ratcliff - Store Co-Owner
I know a lot about: Printmaking and paper are things I love the most in the art world and I have been engaged in various printmaking media over the past 40 years. My specialty is anything I can do on an etching press: intaglio, drypoint and etching, pronto plate lithography, linoleum / relief printing and many of the wonderful ways of making monotypes. My prints are often made with chine collé using washi, or handmade Japanese tissue papers. Chris and I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Tamakasa Kubo, a fifth-generation papermaker and his family in Japan a few years ago to learn about all the work that goes into making these beautiful and deceptively strong papers. One of the papers that Tamakasa Kubo and his family make, Ogawa Kozo Mix, is available for purchase in the store! Two years ago I made paper of my own with 30 years of washi scraps, under the guidance of the lovely people at Paperhouse Studio in Toronto.
My favourite art supply: Inshu gampi tissue and mitsumata pink and grey tissue which we stock in store, imported by the Japanese Paper Place in Toronto
Fun fact about me: I love frogs and tadpoles and will wander on swampy spring walks to enjoy their early songs.
Check out Tammy's Website!Chris Ahlers - Store Co-Owner
I know a lot about: The technical aspects of how art supplies are made, how they behave and mix, their compatibility and longevity issues are my strong suit. My personal practice is with acrylic paints and mediums, often combined with drawing (pastel, charcoal etc) and collage. There are so many great acrylic mediums and additives that can help artists achieve specific effects, or work in ways that suit them, and I love introducing people to these. The versatile, flexible and fast-drying nature of acrylic also makes it a natural for exploring different mixed media approaches. So while I'm happy to talk about any material, I can really draw on my personal experience as an experimental painter when talking about acrylic and mixed media.
My Favourite Art Supply: It's hard to pick a favourite, but for years a studio must-have has been Speedball Matte Medium. It's an unassuming fluid acrylic medium that I have used to seal and prime surfaces, dilute / extend / transparentize paint, to glue and seal collage elements etc etc. The problem is, it has just been discontinued by the manufacturer, argh!! So I know what it's like when your favourite thing suddenly becomes unavailable. I am now in the process of rationing my remaining supply, and I'm on the lookout for a replacement, which should not be too difficult, considering all of the acrylic mediums on the market :)
Fun Fact About Me: One of the things I do to let off steam is throw axes! I go to a weekly fun league with a bunch of nice people and it's a great way to chat and relax while learning a 'skill'.
Miranda - Ground Floor Arts Director
I know a lot about: I have a love for the tactile nature of clay and the transformative properties of the ceramic process. The endless opportunities for surface variation with ceramic forms allow for a relationship to exist between my clay pieces and printmaking, painting and mixed media work. In the last 20 years I have studied ceramics both formally at Haliburton School of the Arts and Emily Carr University and experimentally in my own practice. I am particularly fascinated with the organic, unpredictable nature of alternative firing processes and have been involved with high temperature, long burning wood firings, as well as much quicker and lower temperature processes of raku, saggar, pit and smoke firings. I currently fire in a gas kiln and work in both porcelain and other high temperature clay bodies.
My Favourite Art Supply: Black watercolour ground from Daniel Smith. Super smooth to apply and deep black. Similarly, black gesso; Demco and Golden are both wonderfully matte and opaque.
Fun Fact About Me: I have an established (and growing) mindfully sourced collection of animal bones, fur and feathers and am learning to use natural materials to make my own brushes and tools.
Jenna - Floor Manager
I know a lot about: I have a passion for pigments & paper... I have a strong interest in colour theory, pigment production & history. I am fascinated by how the pigments artists have used historically are influenced by their physical, social & cultural environment. Since beginning work at Wyndham Art Supplies I have been expanding that curiosity to the history & production of paper!
My Favourite Art Supply: FW acrylic inks are my go to in my personal art practice - they are heavily pigmented low viscosity paint that I find incredibly versatile. I have used them for years & love how they keep their vibrancy over time.
Fun Fact About Me: I had my favorite art supplies tattooed on me years before I was hired (I like to think it helped in my initial interview!)
Jay - Website Manager
I know a lot about: As the one making things available on our website, most items in the store have passed through my hands, which is a really good way to get familiar with products! I have the most personal experience with the printmaking supplies, and our paper department, but I try to know a little bit about everything, and learn more every day from our talented customers
My Favourite Art Supply: Right now, my favorite art supply has been the Tri-Art Impressions Printmaking Ink. Reliable, good detail and coverage, easy clean up and fast drying time. The best acrylic printing ink I've ever used!
Fun Fact About Me: When I'm not making art, I enjoy hikes with my dog, tabletop games, and baking!