Category Archives: stampington

Crescendo

January 11, 2010 By in art, christen olivarez, crescendoh, jenny doh, stampington 4 Comments

I’m sure many of you have heard the news that Jenny Doh, Editor in Chief of Stampington, has started a new venture, Crescendoh . She has left the reigns in Christen Olivarez’s capable hands and come March 1st Crescendoh will make it’s debut.

Many, many artists will be sharing their ‘Art Saves’ stories to inspire all. I’ve been invited to be a guest curator in June, sharing my story and bringing new art inspiration in from many sources every day for a week.

Although it’s debut is still a little ways off, you can sign up for announcements to be sure not to miss a thing!

Be sure to listen to Jenny’s interview on blogspot radio.

Buried Treasure

July 23, 2009 By in art journal, cloth paper scissors, collage, creative workshops, laurie blau-marshall, mixed media, pam carriker, seth apter, somerset studios, stampington, the stampers sampler 29 Comments


March ’08

It’s finally here! My first work published in this months Cloth, Paper, Scissors. Laurie Blau-Marshall got to see it first and called me last night. She was a sweetie and scanned it for me and my issue arrived today. What a feeling opening a favorite magazine and seeing your work in there. I hope I will be able to work with them in the future. I love their publication and inspiring articles. Thanks for all of the happy dancing with me, this is a great start to an artistic 2008. Mine are the three collages on the bottom half of the page and the letter next to it.

Joining Seth Apter’s quest for ‘Buried Treasure’ gave me the opportunity to go back to the early posts of my then fledgling blog and recapture some very special moments. The most memorable and what I consider the start of a whole new venue in my art life, was the publication of my first work. Was it only a little over a year ago? It hardly seems so as so much has happened since. With the validation that came with this first little publication, I was encouraged to submit more work and the result is over a dozen articles and publications that have followed. I was even honored with a Guest Artist feature in The Stampers Sampler. And the most amazing thing, each time I find out something is going to be published I do that same little happy dance! Each time it makes me want to do more, to strive harder, to stretch my artists soul to that next level. I did not know I could write articles for magazines, I just knew I wanted to be fearless and try. I set goals for myself and did not let myself off the hook. When one goal was met, I added another. I think when you truly want something you will go after it. You will find your way. You will do things you never thought you could do.

February ’08

I just posted a new slide-show featuring pages from my first artistic journal. I officially finished it this week. No white spots left! It was a wonderful experience for me and I have learned not to be afraid of a blank page! It was intimidating to me at first. But I jumped in and just learned along the way. Now I am so excited to start my second one! This has been an valuable tool in trying out new techniques, documenting happenings in my home life, my artistic life, and just plain fun! I take it with me on airplanes, doctors appointments and school pick ups. It isn’t perfect, but that’s one thing I learned along the way, IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE!!! I kept going back to pages and adding things which was really fun, but I am ready to move on to Book 2.

This first journal taught me so much and now I’m starting journal #13! When I submitted some pictures from the first one to Somerset, they contacted me about doing an article in the inaugural issue of Art Journaling. It was a little scary letting go of my first journal and allowing it to be used without my having control over it, but the end result was one of my favorite features and I am thrilled that they are even using more of that journal and some of a journal I did this year for the latest Art Journaling due out September ’09. Journaling is such a part of my art life, I don’t know what I did before I started. My views have totally changed about it. I am no longer striving to make ‘perfect’ pages, I am just enjoying the process of it and letting the pages unfold before me. I love it so much that I am sharing my passion in two online workshops, and still journal almost daily. If you haven’t added journaling to your art life, I would highly encourage it. I don’t look at it as yet another ‘thing’ to do, this is something I do for me. I share about it because I want people to know how truly do-able it is and how to fit it into your daily routine, making it a habit that has untold benefits.

So what are your buried treasures? Have you looked back from whence you came in awhile? How did you get to here? Art is a journey. It does not stand still, it is continually evolving and taking new directions. It is important to look back to fully appreciate the path we are on.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Canvas, Act 2

July 15, 2009 By in alisa nordholt dean, art, denise hayden, glenda bailey, jodi ohl, kathy maximo, kim geiser, mixed media, nancy lefko, pam carriker, sisterhood, somerset studio, stampington 11 Comments

I have so many things to share with you! The Sisterhood of the Traveling Canvas has begun their own Blog!! We will be sharing in a sisterly fashion, all about our art journeys and include information about where we are going, what we are doing, glimpses into our art and personal lives, and lots of artsy goodies along the way. This blog will be all about sharing our love of Art and each other. We hope our little community will inspire you to create your own little communities, to share in the joys and sorrows of an artistic life.

The first order of business over there is to begin spreading the word about our contribution to aid the fight against Breast Cancer. We have joined The Pink Team and offered up the lovely canvas AND the journal that are featured in the current Somerset Studio! They will be raffled off in a very cool way. This cause has become near and dear to my heart as my step mom was diagnosed right at printing time of our article. It was our intent to auction the work and journal off for a charity right from the start, but when I shared with my sisters of my step mom’s diagnosis, they stepped right up to the plate and agreed to donate our proceeds to this worthy cause.

We would so love to have you stop by our fledgling blog and follow our journey right from the start. We will be including a post showing the never before seen pictures of the canvas in progress with some thoughts from the participants.

New Workshop! and more…

May 15, 2009 By in art journal, ATC, bevie sams, class, creative workshops, online workshop, portrait, self portrait, stampington, the stampers sampler 14 Comments

I have just opened my latest workshop for registration! Many of you have asked for a class on ‘faces’. I spent some time thinking about how I could do a class that would give you the techniques and tools and still allow for each person to develop a face that was truly their own. This workshop is designed to guide you on a journey in your Art Journal that will be about more than just creating a lovely face. I will encourage working in your journal for this workshop, but these techniques can be applied to canvas as well. As with my other workshops, they are open, so there is no ending date. You work at your own pace and have unlimited access to class videos and materials. If you are interested in finding out more, click on the button and it will take you to Creative Workshops.

Class Description:

Journal your way to a self portrait that reflects your true self. During this 6 week course you will work in the comfort and safety of your own Art Journal. This will be an exploration of our own self and the face that we see in the mirror each morning as we dig deep to find what lies behind the face that we show to the world. Your face may not even look like you, but it will be representative of the inner you. I will show you the techniques I use in my portraits and guide you towards creating a face that is uniquely yours.
Week 1~Facing the Facts – Sketching basics, learning how to draw a face and where everything is supposed to go.

Week 2~Who Am I? – Backgrounds that speak of you

Week 3~Take a Look in the Mirror – Learning how to make it your face

Week 4~Be Comfortable in Your Own Skin – Learn the painting and shading techniques that I use in my portraits

Week 5~It’s the Little Things That Matter Most – All the details that bring your face to life

Week 6~Shout Out Loud or whisper really soft – Using your portrait to express your voice

WORKSHOP BEGINS JULY 7, 2009

Oh, the mail just came as I was writing this post and two surprises were in the box! First, my friend Bevie Sams sent me this lovely ATC! It is beautiful sweetie! What a nice spring surprise!

And the latest issue of The Stampers’ Sampler arrived with a feature in the ‘Deconstructed Stamping’ department! It features step by step pictures and some instruction for creating a journal page that can be found on pages, 38-40.

Guest Artist Feature

July 22, 2008 By in art, mixed media, published, stampers sampler, stampington 13 Comments

It finally arrived! I just received the latest issue of The Stampers’ Sampler and there was my name, on the cover-OMG! I just stood there staring and then ran to show my DH. He looked so proud and said this is the most impressive thing you’ve done yet. Now, why I am blessed with a non-artsy DH, that can be so supportive of my artistic pursuits, I will never know. He puts up with Hobby Lobby and Michael’s receipts coming out his ears, lets me have time to work without feeling guilty, helps me with computer problems, and never fails to tell me he’s proud of me. What more could a girl ask for? Oh, yeah, when I tore the bumper off our brand new GTO a couple of years ago, (looong story) he sent me flowers because he knew how bad I felt about it. Does he get the Best DH of the Year award or what? Seeing the look on his face while he looked through this article, was more than reward enough for the less than glamorous times we all go through. He looked at the first page and said, “Man, they must have used like 25pt font!” LOL! Thank you my blogging friends, old and new, for inspiring me through your comments and your own artistic journey’s. Your support means the world to me.