Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts

For the Love of Pen Art

Just sharing some love of pen art today! One day last week, I had about a half-hour of computer-down time at work, and I made this little bird drawing. I left it for my co-worker who was on vacation, to spread some joy created during a time of complete technological frustration. Ha!

I had forgotten how therapeutic it was to just DRAW. Anything. Nothing. More leaves, fewer leaves. A bird? Sure. I loved the calming blue.

And that inspired me to complete a card-a-day. I cut them to artist-trading-card sizes (2.5" wide by 3.5" tall), particularly so I could store them in baseball-card sleeves in a binder. Much to my surprise, Ellie picked up this fun little exercise too and has been filling her own sleeves with painted and doodled cards. She's drawing all of the My Little Ponies. It's adorable. Pics to come on our Instagram account!

And, for more pen-art inspiration, check out Andrea Joseph's blog. I've shared it before, but it's worth sharing a million times! Every time I visit, I feel inspired to just sketch and draw. Her loose drawings seem so simple, but her composition is stellar, so her scenes are really interesting and fun! So, the goal is to fill my own sketch journal in the same way!

Some other things we're up to: teaching more classes at The Art Store. If you haven't already, follow their Facebook page (here), so you can be notified about upcoming classes, workshops, and doodle exercises!

Five Dandelions

Hi everyone,

I'm excited to unveil the next project I've been working on besides doodle paintings! I've created a beginner-level teaching guide that is now available in our Etsy shop for print purchase (here) or digital download (here)!

This workbook is free when you attend one of our relevant workshops!

Here's an excerpt:

Five Dandelions explores five different ways to capture a dandelion on paper! Brought to you by the artists at ArtSourceVT.com, this tutorial is presented at a beginner level and encourages you to express yourself in a fun, stress-free way that captures your unique style and story.

Which is your favorite dandelion style? Are you a stickler for inking details, or do you like to splash fluffy, yellow paint?

We hope you enjoy exploring some new techniques and learn a little about yourself in the process!

Thanks for drawing with us!
The ArtSourceVT Team


Etsy!

We are slowly building our Etsy shop! My assistant is a 3-year-old, so we've experienced some delays. Though, she's much more efficient at running a business than I am! Ha!

Our Etsy Shop Link


What's New, What's Next

Okay, there are SO many new things going on that I think I need a bulleted list. Prepare yourselves:
  • This weekend, May 23rd-24th is Vermont's Open Studio Weekend! This map (from the Vermont Crafts Council, here) shows all participating artists and the location of their amazing studios! I can't wait to visit some of my favorites, like Sweet Enemy Art (site here).
  • May 23, 11am-12:30pm at The Art Store, 409 Mountain Rd., Stowe, VT. Come on in and see some Journal Jam demonstrations (more info here), and make your own pages for FREE! I'll provide all supplies including watercolor paper, OR bring your own journal! The Art Store has supplies to purchase as well, including journals!
  • Stay tuned this week for a new blogging schedule and new site content, right here, including daily journal updates (via our Instagram page, @artsourcevt), time-lapse tutorials, and inspiration from local artists.
  • This summer is all about nature art, in our beautiful state! We're going to fill our journals with field notes and nature finds. I promise I will try not to scream like a maniac when a beetle lands on my sleeve.
  • I got approved for a grant from the Vermont Arts Council to start a summer apprenticeship with Kristin Richland of Sweet Enemy Art (her site above). I can't wait to start -- hopefully in June, and I'll document my progress for ya'll to see!
What else? Any questions about what we do/who we are? Email me at artsourcevt@gmail.com, or contact me via Facebook!

Our Shop!

Just a tiny, little, mini grand-opening of our new Zazzle Art Source VT Shop (here)!

Now you can buy prints of some of our favorite journal pages OR pocket journals (below) with one of our journal designs or paintings on the cover.

I'm really excited to be able to offer these and expand our journaling world a bit!

Also, if you want a different size of any of the prints or a larger journal, just let me know via email (artsourcevt@gmail.com), Facebook, Twitter, or IG!

PLUS stay tuned to our IG feed tomorrow (@artsourcevt OR #journaljamvt) to follow our Journal Jam table activities at the BVT Moms Blog Swap & Shop Event!




Journal Jam!

I have two words that will entirely sum up why it's been sooo quiet over here at Art Source VT: Journal Jam!

ABOUT
For more information about what it is and what we do, check out our Journal Jam section (here).

SAVE THESE DATES!
  • Sat., April 11th, 10am-1pm
    Journal Jam will have a table at the BVT Moms Blog Swap and Shop event (event's Facebook page, here). Stop by and create a journal page by yourself or with your kiddos! We'll provide paper, (washable) watercolor paints, simple writing prompts, and doodle ideas/instruction!
    Where: The Schoolhouse; 8 Catkin Drive, South Burlington, VT
    Cost: FREE
  • Sat., May 2nd, 11am-2pm
    Journal Jam is leading a complete art-journaling workshop with art and writing prompts! You'll work with two instructors for the price of one! At this event, you can begin your art journaling journey! Need help finding your own creative voice? Learn basic techniques for artistic expression, document life moments, and celebrate all the beauty that is you! We'll create pages by blocking out text areas, splashing paint, and adding our own doodles and handwriting.
    Age: No experience required, geared toward teens and adults, appropriate for ages 10+.
    Where: Artists' Mediums; 300 Cornerstone Dr., Williston, VT
    Cost: $75, and check out our short supply list.

Cartoon Yourself Workshop!

If you're in the Stowe area this Saturday, I'll be leading a workshop to Cartoon Yourself! Check out our Facebook Event page (here) for more information and to RSVP!

All ages are welcome, and I'm happy to create an activity for younger attendees if needed!

No drawing experience required! I'll provide traceable templates and guides. I'll demonstrate some easy techniques for adding color and shading.

Saturday, Feb. 28th
10:30-11:30am
The Art Store, Stowe, VT


Bookbinding Class with Kristen Watson

Some women get their sisters cards for birthdays, clothing, even art supplies. I've been blessed with all those things from mine! And on top of all of that, my sister-in-law surprised me with tickets to two amazing art classes this month -- a 5-hour bookbinding class and Part 2 of the creature-drawing class that I've been dying to take, at Artists' Medium (next weekend)!

I've spent every weekend this month with one of my best friends, making art, laughing, driving in snowstorms, laughing until we cried, listening to serial killer podcasts, and dining at (sometimes fancy) restaurants (by accident). Age 32 feels a lot like 22 with this lady in my life!

The bookbinding class this weekend was phenomenal. Kristen gave us the choice of spending more time on the design and creative part (painting/illustrating covers) which would have meant making fewer books (3) versus a pretty intensive schedule focused more on binding processes but making more books (4).

As much as I love design, I wanted to get good use out of our bookbinding time. We all agreed that we wanted to create 4 books in 5 hours. Kristen said she would move us right along, and she did! I was so impressed with her time management skills. I am the type of artist (and apparently bookbinder now) who has her head stuck in the clouds, who has no concept of time when it comes to art. Kristen kindly guided us along, so that we got the most out of this incredible class.

We painted our covers and completed: a perfect-bound book, a ribbon-tied concertina book, a saddle-stitched portfolio-style book, and a Japanese-style (Asa-no-ha Toji) stitched book.

Yep! All that in 5 hours! I was so pleased with the final results. Since I've gotten home, I've gone a little crazy making the accordion, concertina books. I can't stop!

This was the second class I took with Kristen, and I highly recommend checking out any of her classes (here). She is patient and respectful of everyone's learning speeds. She skillfully offers one-on-one instruction while leading the entire class, to keep everyone on task. I can't wait to take another class with her in the future!

Tangle Tuesdays

Today, we're pulling some inspiration from this awesome doodle resource (Zainab Khan) to create some fun creatures and faces! I'll be leading a demonstration for our office!

Then, our office Zentanglers can tangle around the images. I'll post photos of our process via Instagram. Any questions about how to make your own? Just ask!


And We're Off!

So, believe it or not... I'm actually going away ALONE this weekend! Okay, not exactly, but you know what I mean... a little non-toddler time! Kim and I are going to the Breaking into Business program put on by the Vermont Arts Council! We leave tonight and come back on Sunday.

I expect lots of silliness and a little serious business talk too. We're also hoping to find time to visit Robert Frost's grave... will we make it there? You'll have to follow us on Instagram/Twitter to find out!

If you're following our Instagram feed, you'll know that we are busy updating our daily doodle calendar (#asvt2015calendar). That has been so fun! We're using @Tinkerlab's #tinkersketch list for prompts this month.

Also, stay tuned the weekends of the 21st and 28th as we attend a book-binding (by Kristen Watson) class AND an advanced version of the creature-drawing class, both at Artists' Medium in Williston! If you can, check out their site and join us!

PLUS, if you haven't yet donated to my Zentangle certification, please consider either donating, linking, sharing, or liking on Facebook! All those things help spread the word, even if you can't donate funds!

Until next week, happy creating!

Valentine's Day Doodle Class!

Come join our Saturday morning Valentine's Day Doodle Class at the Stowe Art Store! Make a print or card for a loved one! All ages welcome. To RSVP, visit our Facebook event page (here) or email me at artsourcevt@gmail.com!

For those of you who aren't local, please let me know if you would be interested in a web doodle class (see poll on the right), and I'll try to set up one for the month of March, if I get enough interest!


Birdhouse Kit

Today in the studio, we're building a birdhouse kit! I feel a little ripped off with this particular kit, because the finished birdhouse is about the size of a blueberry muffin. I'm not sure any real bird could fit in it.

But Ellie absolutely loved painting it. She even said, "I love painting with you, Mama!" Melt my heart!

Though, I think next time we'll pick up one of the pre-made ones at A.C. Moore in the woodworking section and just paint it. It'll be cheaper, more fun, less glue, less mess, and we'll have a bird-size birdhouse for our feathered friends!

My dad said he'd send us binoculars, so we could watch and see if any birds move in!

Also, I have to admit... though highly unlikely, Mark and I were a tad worried that we may run into this situation if we left the tiny birdhouse outside...
 


Alexandra Dzh

Just feeling inspired by this beautiful print by Alexandra Dzh. I'd like to incorporate this style into my artwork more! I love the balance of the black ink with the watercolor. I struggle to find that balance, and she manages it so successfully!


Easy DIY Newsletter!

Lately, I've been trying to think up some ways to share our family photos with my grandmothers who aren't on social media! I came up with a few different options, but this one is definitely the easiest!

PicMonkey (link here) is a free photo editing site that lets you quickly drop your digital photos into a pre-designed template. You can get super creative with this, but my tutorial below offers a quick solution!

Three things to remember:
  1. If you want to maximize your printable space, set the document dimensions to 1275 x 1650. These numbers are the pixel (or computer-screen) equivalent of 8.5 x 11 inches, so it'll print well to a standard-sized piece of paper.
  2. Choose the highest quality option when you save ("Sean" -- a silly name that PicMonkey gives to their highest quality setting). This will mean clearer pics in your print!
  3. Once you save your collage or go into Edit mode, you can't go back!
Here are some other ways you can get creative with PicMonkey:
  • Experiment with color!
  • Try different layouts with more or fewer photos.
  • Leave some boxes blank to add more interesting journaling spaces.
  • Print your collage without adding text in the blank spaces, and hand-write your notes!
  • Let your little ones color in some of the blank squares
  • Add stickers and stamps, doodles, a hand-lettered header, etc.!
PicMonkey Newsletter - Video Tutorial!

Stamp It Out!

We're obsessed with stamping lately. It's become a huge focus in my art journals, and I mean... who doesn't love the simplicity of sticking ink on a surface and quickly transferring it to a clean page!

It's quick, and I love the simple blocks of color.

LilBlueBoo.com


In all my Kindle research lately, one of the most valuable pieces of advice I found was to spend time focusing on what you love and then building it into your daily journal page or illustration. I love a lot of things, so I jump around to different designs and techniques.

But ultimately, one of the things I love most is big blocks of color and interesting plays on graphic design and composition -- a painting that is heavy on one side and light and airy on another.

This can so easily be achieved with stamping and wood block prints. Of course, our little art studio is on a tight budget, so imagine my shock, awe, and wonder at finding Lil Blue Boo's DIY Foam Stamps page.

This lovely lady made stamps out of foam. Simple, rustic, beautiful. Be still my beating, artsy heart!

You can read more about her Foam Stamps (here). Also, her Family Art Journal idea (here) is just stellar!

Creative Calendar

As we look ahead to 2015, our happy little family is vowing to be more creative! More time for creativity, less guilt about spending time on creative projects!

One way we're doing this is by making a Creative Calendar! I'm going to section out some pages in my planner or pick up a $1 notebook, and draw some squares for days! Then, each day, I'll spend 5-10 minutes filling that day with something pretty. Or ugly. It doesn't really matter. I just want to put pen (or paint) to paper!

http://marthalever.blogspot.com

You could even use your 2014 calendar, if you haven't thrown it away yet! Just doodle/paint/sketch over last year's days!

As usual, when I looked for ideas and inspiration for doodle and art calendars, I was completely overwhelmed with the options. So, if you want to join us, I recommend picking the easiest, most convenient, mobile option you can find! That's what I'm hoping to do!

I've collected a bunch of different options and some prompts on our Calendar Pinterest board (here).

And, if you do decide to join us and post your pics to Instagram, tag them #asvtcalendar2015! We'll share your work on our blog!

Now I need to go catch up from yesterday!

Happy New Year, artsy friends!


Free Art Books!

So, though I've had a Kindle forever, I just learned about Kindle Unlimited, and I'm hooked! I've basically promised my husband anything to keep this monthly service, as you can "check out" 10 free books at a time from the Kindle Unlimited library. The first 30 days are free (then $9.99/mo after).

In doing so, you have access to MANY great, free books! But, my favorites are, of course, the doodle and drawing ones! I then can reference them on my PC Kindle program, my real Kindle, or the Kindle app on my phone! I can carry them with me anywhere! Some of these books were on my Christmas wishlist, and they're great for reference! I think I'll keep the Whimsical Lettering book forever! So much inspiration in that book!

If you're NOT into signing up for Kindle Unlimited, most of these books will be an inexpensive addition to your digital library anyway!

Art Journaling
The Art of Whimsical Lettering
Art Journal Freedom
No Excuses Art Journaling
Raw Art Journaling
Inner Hero Creative Art Journal
Artist's Journal Workshop
Journal Spilling
The Journal Junkies Workshop
Art Journal Prompts & Points to Ponder
Journal Bliss: Creative Prompts
Dreaming from the Journal Page 

Doodling
Doodles of Life
Doodles Unleashed
Doodling in French
Doodleology
Draw What We Love 

Drawing
Drawing for the Absolute Beginner
Drawing Nature for the Absolute Beginner
Drawing Portraits for the Absolute Beginner
Drawing for Beginners
Making Faces
Secrets to Drawing Realistic Faces
How to Draw Cool Stuff
Sketchbook Confidential
Creative Thursday: Everyday Inspiration 

Zentangle
Zen Doodle: Tons of Tangles
Zentangle Art for Beginners
How to Draw Zendoodle Art
The Zentangle Untangled Workbook
Zentangle for Beginners: Ultimate Guide
Learn Zentangle FAST
Zentangle Basics
Zentangle for Beginners: Relaxing with Zentangle 

Mixed Media
Artist Trading Card Workshop
The Mixed Media Artist: Tips, Tricks
Mixed Media Self Portraits
Mixed Media Revolution
Acrylic Techniques in Mixed Media
Creating Art at the Speed of Life: 30 Days of Exploration
Art at the Speed of Life: Motivation and Inspiration 

Other searches to try:
acrylics, collage, stamping, design, creative, crafts, paper crafts, painting, kids art, journaling, etc.!

Craft a Doodle

I'm really in love with this Craft a Doodle book by Jenny Doh. It has doodle exercises from some of my favorite artists in it, including Carla Sonheim! You can find it in most bookstores and on Amazon, of course (here)! To be honest, I went out in search of another creative illustration book and stumbled upon this one. And I love this one more!

The doodle prompts are fun, and I'm reminded that everyone is talented enough to do these doodles, including me! It just takes time and practice!

Though my day wasn't super exciting, I had fun trying out the Visual Diary prompt, at left, on Sunday!



Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays from Art Source VT! See you in the New Year!