The evolution of the Tradition Resin Acrylics and the Traditions Educational System is quite interesting.   The system started as an idea in 2000 and grew into what you know today as the Traditions International Educational System. 

David Jansen MDA started Decorative Painting in the 1970's at his family's business "JoSonja's Folk Art Studio".  He started and painted in oils for many years.  During this time, JoSonja's worked very closely with Delta paint company promoting and developing the Ceramcoat line of acrylics.  In 1993 the family wanted to build a new acrylic system because of the advancement in acrylic paints.  Better binders, pigments and mediums were now available to make higher quality paints.  Late in 1993 Geoff Hesketh, president of Chroma Acrylics approached JoSonja's with the idea of building a new paint system with higher quality acrylic binders.  Over the course of the next 18 months, the JoSonja line of acrylics were developed.  As technology increased, new mediums were added to the JoSonja line trying to keep the system up to date.

In 1997 David and Martha left the family business to start their own studio eventually moving to Elizabethtown,  Pennsylvania.  In 2000, David was approached by several international companies to design and develop a new generation, multi-media paint that could be used safely in schools and the painting industry.   There was a need for a new line of safe resin acrylics that would elevate acrylic techniques since there had been so much advancement in acrylic technology since the development of older acrylic systems.  David contacted Geoff Hesketh who now had his own company in Sydney Australia.  Together they set out to find the right paint company to manufacturer and develop this new line.

In the spring of 2002, Stan Clifford of DecoArt Inc agreed to develop this new line.  DecoArt assigned a chemist named Rich Potter and Dana Conover to work with David to develop the Traditions line of resin acrylics, and an educational system for the line.  A new division of DecoArt called JansenArt would be created to develop this new paint line.  Rich and David tested the paints and system for over 1 year.  Dana and David sat down and began to outline what would become the Traditions International Educational System.  The system would be built on "grassroots" education and slowly educate both artists and teachers.  The system would establish Traditions Artists, Traditions Teachers then eventually Heritage Artists and Heritage Teachers.  All levels built on education and painting techniques.

Beginning in 2003 Traditions launched the first chapters education program with the goal of getting the painting market and its chapters familiar with the paint.  In June of 2003, 35 artists and teachers from Australia, Kula Lumpur, Europe, Japan, Canada and all over the United States came to Pennsylvania to learn and test new painting techniques using Traditions.  These 35 teachers would eventually become the first Traditions Teachers of the system.

Later that year in the fall of 2003 the first Traditions Artist courses were run.  David went to various cities around the United States, Canada and Europe teaching what would be the first Traditions Artists.  This continued on through 2004.  Demand for the Traditions Artist courses increased.

In the summer of 2004 it was decided by JansenArt that system needed Heritage Artists that could assist in teaching the Traditions Artist courses and also assist in developing the Traditions Teacher Program.  7 experienced artists and teachers who had taken the Traditions Artist course were asked to join the system as Heritage Artists.  These artists, Gaby Hunter, Susan Abdella MDA, Sue Pruett MDA, Neadeen Masters CDA, Donna Rose Prestridge CDA, Josette Fleury, and Donna Richards came to Pennsylvaina in late 2004 to begin this process. 

By 2005 the first Traditions International Educational Manual was released.  It featured 3 modules of education with additional modules to come later.  The new Heritage Artists set out across the world to teach and certify Traditions Teachers using the Traditions International Educational System.  This module system of education was designed to teach and train new teachers within our industry.

The Traditions system of education continues to grow.  In 2009 the new Brush with Color series launches to teach and train new artists at home.  This system will feature hundreds of teachers and educators across the industry working together to teach new entry level painters.  An educational system built on a quality, multi-media paint!