Merry Christmas Friends!

Today I'd like to send out warm and joyous Christmas Greetings to all my family and friends that celebrate the Christmas season!

For those of you that celebrate something else, I send you best wishes and Happy Holiday's greetings to you as well!

Thank you all for reading my blog, enjoy your day! 

From BLAH to Ahah!

As an artist I have come to the realization that my art has various stages it goes through -- and they range from beautiful to ugly -- each and every time. I start each piece with grand ideas of what I want to create -- always having hope of what it might be. No matter how it starts, and how many I love this stages it has -- it ALWAYS gets to a super ugly stage, where I really don't like it.

Kinda like this.

This is a critical stage, I think where many artists abandon the piece they are working on. When really, all you need to do is walk away for a day or two or ten years -- and come back to finish what you started with fresh eyes and a different perspective.

 

After a while, you end up loving what you do, and it might end up looking like this and making you super happy!

All these pages needed were some details -- some black and white lines to make them interesting and beautiful.

These two also had the same "ugly stage" but now they make me happy.

Thanks for dropping by today, have a great week!

Guest over on the Ranger Ink Blog

Good Morning friends, just dropping by to let you know you should check out the Ranger Ink blog today for a fun tutorial using Distress Paints.

Enjoy and thanks for dropping by!

Mixed Media 4 -- the Holiday Edition

I have been working hard to get the last touches put on the latest Volume of Mixed Media -- and I'm happy to say it's finally done. You can download and read it over on ISSUU -- but I have to say this is the best one so far. With 3 guests and lots of amazing inspiration, recipes and projects -- I think there is something for everyone! 

Click on the image, or here to go directly to ISSUU and see all FOUR Volumes. Sign up for my Newsletter, link to the left -- to be the first to know when Mixed Media is out -- and lots of other fun announcements.

Have a great weekend!

Three Things...

Today I wanted to share another art journal page made with my Art Gone Wild Stamps. This page was created using the Clematis stamp -- I framed the page and then finished up the lines with a marker.

For color I used Peerless Watercolors (Geranium Pink) and added color to the flowers and stems with Tombows Dual Tip Brush Markers and Caran D'Ache colored pencils.

The background is a little wonky because my waterbrush was contaminated with yellow watercolor paint - so the geranium turned a little orangey in areas -- but I love it. The color was also quite a bit brighter than I anticipated so I toned it down a little by drawing the leaves in the background with a white acrylic paint marker.

In the end, I thought it was going to be a disaster when I painted the geranium in the background but I think I love it. Here's to sticking with the uglies.

Have a great day, thanks for dropping by. 

Evolution of an Art Journal Page

Yesterday I worked on my Positivity Journal and thought I'd share how I create a stamped and painted art journal page.

I'm disappointed with the video quality....hopefully I can find a new program for making quicky little slideshows that works better than iPhoto. Do you have any recommendations?

Thanks for dropping by, have a great day!

Inspiration for You

I've got a crazy busy week, so sharing this little art journal page. Not finished, but I hope to inspire you to create something today!

In the end, there will always be flowers. 

Thank you for stopping by, have a lovely, creative day.

Creative JumpStart 2015

I'm excited to announce that I'll be participating as an artist in Creative JumpStart (CJS) 2015, run by Nathalie Kalbach. If you're not familiar with CJS, it's a one-of-a-kind online event to fire up your creativity in Jan 2015.

 

By participating in CJS15 you will learn fun techniques, discover new materials, and connect with artists and crafters across the globe.

Throughout January participants get 25 videos from 23 featured artists. I'm proud to be one of those artists, called “JumpStarters.” Watch the video and see for yourself:

Creative JumpStart 2015 Trailer from Nathalie Kalbach on Vimeo.

Head on over to Nathalie's site to sign up and and find more details about CJS15: 

http://nathaliesstudio.com/shop/online-workshops-ubermedia/creative-jumpstart-2015/

You get 25 videos for just $25 (USD).

But wait – it gets better: if you sign up today you’ll get $5 off. Use this coupon code during checkout:

cybercjs

*This is a limited offer valid from 9:00 am Dec 1, 2014 to 8:59 am EST on Dec 2, 2014.

So what are you waiting for? Sign up here, and apply the coupon code during check out process

CJS 2015 is proudly sponsored by Liquitex.

the hoard

I am not embarrassed to admit that I buy a lot of art supplies -- and some I have never used or used once and get frustrated with them and never to be used again.

This week I was pawing through my pen drawer and discovered a Pentel Color Brush that I bought some years back. I remember opening it and being immediately disappointed with it.

But, for whatever reason I decided to give it another try.

And this is what happened. I like the way it turned out. As with everything new and different, it takes a fresh perspective or giving it a few more minutes to see how it works. Or setting it aside for a few years to grow as an  artist and give it another shot.

I really like the results so far.

With anything, it takes practice. So, I've decided to fill a little notebook with 10 minute sketches to get better with using it.

Thanks for dropping by, have a great weekend!

How was your THANKSGIVING?

Ours was cold, dark and phoneless for a good part of the night before and Thanksgiving Day.

Normally we don't have Nor'easters in November that dump a foot of heavy, wet snow on us -- though I do remember one way back in the 70's when I was little. We usually we have decent weather -- maybe chilly or a light dusting but not like we had yesterday.

 

It is beautiful, I will admit that much. 

 

However, it's not so lovely when you have a sink and counter full of dishes from the night before when the power went out -- that can be a little frustrating. Especially on a holiday. With a big meal to prepare. We got through it and I even learned something new.

Yesterday I learned that when melting snow to wash the dishes there's a right way and a WRONG way to do it. Who woulda thought that?

The right way to melt snow is to punch a hole in the snow through to the bottom of the pan and let the steam that is forming at the bottom out or the snow will steam away. The snow on top of the melting snow at the bottom causes a Vapor Barrier to form and in the end you'll cook (melt) the bottom of the pan and have no water.  Thankfully my husband knows these things and saved me from a melted pan.

I also learned that my Mother never throws anything away, hence this tin of hot chocolate from like 1942. ha ha. Actually, it's probably from the 70's -- but still. No one drank it and we all lived through the day.

In the end, the power came back, we watched a movie, ate a delicious dinner and went to bed early. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving with your family and friends, thank you for stopping by!

Random Thoughts...

I am so excited to share my latest release of stamps with Art Gone Wild -- and I must say, I really love the way the alphabet stamp set turned out! They are all lovely -- but I think the alphabet set is going to be popular. 

They will be in my Etsy shop on Wednesday, November 26th -- along with a few other fun surprises I've been working on this fall.

Thanks for dropping by, have a wonderful Thanksgiving! 

Planners Available

For those not interesting in creating a custom planner - but want something creative, colorful and full of great illustrations -- I am in the process of finishing up 5 planners that will be available to purchase -- what a great idea -- get some ORIGINAL art and get organized for 2015!

I have 5 different planners coming, I'm showing three of the cover designs that will be available on this blog post.

The planners are a generous 8 1/2" x 11", have been bound together with a black coil and have 64 pages. The front cover is a colorful, original piece of art that I have adhered to heavy weight chipboard and the back- cover is a solid color that coordinates with the front. The covers have been sealed to protect the original art for daily use.

Each planner has 21 illustrations, a two page per month planner design and is printed on 80# Bright White Accent card stock. They would make perfect gifts (to yourself or someone in your life) and will be available from my etsy shop or can be picked up locally.

These planners are a limited edition, so you'll want to get order one while they are available! I will only 5 available to purchase with original art this year!  All other designs will be reproductions!

New Stamps are AVAILABLE!

I'm so happy to let you know that my latest line of stamps with Art Gone Wild is available and even more excited to share my new designs with you!

First thing I did was make a new phone case!

They look so pretty, I love the way the catalog designs are colored. 

You can order them directly from Art Gone Wild (link to catalog on their website: http://agwstamps.com/catalogs/late_2014_catalogs/Catherine_Scanlon_late_2014.pdf) To order, call 1-800-945-3980 -- they will be happy to take your order, but I'm told they have a new fangled website coming in the new year.

I will be ordering some for my Etsy shop -- so stay tuned! THANKS for dropping by, I'll be sharing some colored pages from my Positivity Journal soon!

Vintagy Recycled Christmas Ornaments

It's hard to find ornaments that aren't made in China or have that glittery, vintage flair that many of us love so much. Join me at Merrymeeting Art House tonight from 6:30 - 9 to make three sweet ornaments to cherish for a life time!

Winter is here….

I think it's official, winter has arrived in Maine. Two different storms from last week and then more snow today.

I think I'm getting old as I really don't have the stomach for it this year, LOL. Or, maybe it's because it always seems to compromise my plans. 

Whatever the reason is that I'm not ready for cold and snow, at least it's pretty to look at and will be gone before tooooo long! Thanks for dropping by, have a great day!

My Artful Life Planner Covers

The kits for My Artful Life Planner have finally arrived and I have had a few classes at the studio to teach my students how to assemble them and during the class they create custom covers and at the end they using my binding machine to bind their planners. 

I think that having the supplies and instructions to create the covers works well and from what I've seen they have really enjoyed the experience.

I'll be making the kits available soon, and have also decided to create a limited number of completed planners using the covers I demo during class.

Thanks for dropping by -- have a great weekend! 

Catherine Scanlon Designs Quilted Banner

A few weeks ago I received a mysterious package from my sweet friend in Canada, Karen Ellis. Since I was at her beautiful studio and shop I thought maybe I had forgotten something and she was sending it back to me.

Instead of being reunited with a lost supply -- I was happily presented this beautiful quilted banner that she artfully created. She used my stamps and her new Brother embroidery machine to create this.

It's so beautiful -- and the detail she was able to stitch on the fabric is so amazing.

I haven't decided what I'm going to do with it, but I certainly do feel blessed to have thoughtful and talented friends!

THANK you Karen! Be sure to check out all the artsy goodness she shares on her blog, you won't  be disappointed! Have a great day!

An Encounter with a Praying Mantis

A few weeks ago my son came home from school and told me he rescued a praying mantis from the middle of the road. Since I'd never really seen one I went out and checked him out.

It was a really cool experience, I was surprised at how big it was, as you can see by looking at the images here.

You can see the video here, in my Instagram feed.

He (she) kept looking at me and then walked toward my phone. Several times he tried to climb on it -- I think it might have been because I have a colored flower design on my phone case.

After a while we let him go in the remains of my garden, not sure if he will hibernate or what he does as winter approaches and come back next year!

Thanks for dropping by, have a great week!

Stamp Carving at Merrymeeting Art House

I had a guest teacher at the studio last month that taught stamp carving -- one of the few mediums I haven't tried yet. I loved it. Here's the progression of my 4" x 6" stamp:

I traced one of my daily practice sketches in my notebook with a "B" Pencil on tracing paper and transferred it to the red rubber.

This was what it looked like when I stamped it the first time. I liked it but really thought the lines down the flower petals needed to go.

The second printing, working on removing the background areas.

Third, testing out what the petals would look like.

And the block, printed on mixed media paper using distress paint.

Painted with watercolor paints -- it turned out so much better than I thought it would.

And glittered up and made into a card for a stamp carving friend's birthday -- I think she loved it. We're going to have another stamp carving class at the studio, make sure to check out the schedule and see if you can make it!

Thanks for dropping by, have a great weekend!