CBoggsArt - Blog

Three Ways to Use Cyanotypes in Your Art

4/1/2021

Traditional cyanotype prints are lovely all by themselves. The simplicity of a deep cyan blue background with white images of flowers, leaves, and grasses is quite satisfying. But every now and then, you end up with pieces that don't quite work out. In this post I'll share some easy ways to use those unloved prints to create mixed media art suitable for framing.

Add cyanotype elements to a painting....

This mixed media painting was done using acrylic paints, stencils, and brushwork on 10x10 inch cradled wood. Tearing the shapes will give a softer effect. I use matte gel medium as my adhesive.

Use multiple cyanotype elements to create a collage...

This collage used several cyanotype papers along with some painted gingko leaves and images printed from an online download that I purchased from Vectoria Designs on Etsy. The flower shaped cyanotypes were made on silk fabric. You can learn how to do that in my YouTube video here. I used matte gel medium to glue the pieces to a sheet of handmade cotton rag paper with a stenciled leaf print cyanotype. The finished collage was then glued to a dark colored mat board using the gel medium.

Stitch a fabric cyanotype...

Cyanotypes can be made on cotton or silk fabric using the same process you would use on paper. The key to success is to prewash your fabric to remove any sizing that might affect the color after exposure to sunlight.

I use Pebeo gutta to outline the wings and body.

This butterfly is finished with metallic acrylic paint, metallic thread, and beads.

This butterfly is painted with metallic acrylic. Metallic thread is used on the wings.

To learn more about cyanotypes, check out this blog post. You can also visit my Skillshare channel for a class with step by step instructions. This link will give you a 14-day free trial membership to Skillshare. You'll be able to access not only my class, but many more on art, digital photography, sewing, writing, technology, and many more!

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Easy Sun Prints with Kids....

9/12/2020

Are you a first-time home school parent looking for a way to add more art to your lesson plans? Or are the kids in a hybrid plan at school this year with less time for the arts at school?
Cyanotypes, or sun prints, are a great way to combine an easy, no-mess creative activity with a simple science lesson!

First a little science background...

A cyanotype is a form of photo printing that uses sunlight to form an image on a chemically treated paper or other surface. The process was invented by Sir John Herschel in 1841 and was used by engineers and architects to make technical drawings called "blueprints" because of the high contrast blue image that was produced. Blueprints were made in this manner well into the 20th century. Photographers and artists also used this process to create botanical prints and for proofing photographic negatives. Today, artists use this nineteenth century technique in many creative ways, incorporating it into stand alone and mixed media artwork.

Two chemicals are mixed to make cyanotype solution: ferric ammonium citrate and potassium ferricyanide. The chemicals are diluted with distilled water, mixed together in equal proportions, then applied to the paper or fabric on which the print will be made.
(NOTE: The sun print paper in these kits has NO toxicity dangers, even if you purchase the "do it yourself" mixing kit to make your own sun print paper or fabric. Like all science and art materials, keep the paper away from your face and wash your hands after using. That's basic safety for any materials used in science or art!)

Once the paper is dried, objects are placed on the paper, which is then exposed to bright sunlight. The ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun reacts with the iron salts on the surface in a process called oxidation. After exposure, the paper is immersed in running water to wash away the excess iron salts, leaving behind a white image on a deep blue background. The amount of contrast between the white and blue areas is determined by the amount of sunlight hitting the surface. Objects that are opaque and lie flat on the surface will appear as a high contrast white, while objects that are translucent or three-dimensional will allow the surface to be exposed to varying degrees of UV light, which creates a shadow effect between the lightest and darkest areas of the surface.
NOTE: The highlighted terms are not live links, but make for a good opportunity to add a vocabulary lesson!

But no worries! No mixing of chemicals is required for this lesson...

Sun Print papers are ready to use without any chemistry, which makes this introductory lesson perfect for younger children. Click here or on the image below to access my YouTube video for the complete demonstration! The Sun Art paper kit that I used for this video is available on Amazon. Another good quality kit for young children is Super Sunprint Kit, also available on Amazon.

To learn more...

If you're working with older children or teens, the two chemicals are available as a kit at most craft stores or on Amazon. This allows the young artist to mix the amount needed to prepare paper and fabric in a variety of types and sizes to create unique cyanotype prints. The chemicals are safe to use when directions are followed, although I consider adult supervision necessary with elementary and middle grade kids to minimize risk and the mess caused by spills!
To learn more about this process, I have a Skillshare class that you can access here: Cyanotype Prints for Your Mixed Media Art.
NOTE: Skillshare is a membership site which offers hundreds of classes taught by experts in different fields: the fine arts, crafts, business and marketing, computers, photography, and many more. With my link, you will be invited to a two-month free trial which will allow you to access every one of the classes offered on Skillshare. There is no obligation to continue with a paid subscription once the free trial ends.

After you check out my free YouTube tutorial, share your results to Instagram with #cboggsart2. I'd love to see your cyanotypes!

Works in Progress... Cyanotypes

8/23/2020

We've had a stretch of hot, dry, sunny days this summer, which have been perfect for experimenting with cyanotype prints. I had made "sun prints" in the past using commercially available pre-treated paper, which is fun, but mixing my own cyanotype solution has taken the process to a whole new level!

I purchased a set of cyanotype chemicals at a local art supply store, followed the simple instructions, and began to harness the power of the sun to create beautiful deep blue prints on a variety of materials - watercolor and mixed media papers, handmade papers, and cotton and silk cloth.
Natural plant materials, stencils, found objects, and digital photo negatives provided the templates for the designs and patterns. I now have a collection of lovely cyanotypes in varying shades of cobalt blue to use in my mixed media art!

These prints are now all part of "works in progress" that I'll be working on even when the sunny outdoor days have ended and cold winter winds are blowing across the Ohio landscape.

To learn how to make your own cyanotypes, click here or the photo below to check out my Skillshare class! On Skillshare, not only will you be able to access all my art classes, you'll have access to hundreds of other classes for art, crafts of all kinds, photography, technology, and many other fascinating topics! One click will get you a two-month free trial subscription to a world of new things to learn!

And if you do try experimenting with cyanotypes, be sure to share your work either on my Skillshare class page or on Instagram with #cboggsart2. Until then, enjoy the sunshine!

Creative Family Fun...Teacher-Tested, Kid-Approved

5/19/2020

Depending on where you live, school may be ending for the summer in the next few weeks. Although as a parent, you may be glad to see this crazy time of "distance learning" and Zoom chats coming to an end, it also means more time to fill, especially if your area is not yet opening summer camps and other activities. And even if the neighborhood kids are able to get outside to play a pick up baseball game in the yard or park, sooner or later the rain will come and you'll be faced with cries of "I'm bored, Mom" and "What can we do, Dad?

Since this pandemic began, many creative people have been sharing ideas for keeping children and teens engaged in learning beyond their digital classrooms. You'll find us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and our own websites.

I teach art lessons for teens and adults on my Skillshare Channel, but that's a membership site and I know that right now money is tight for many of us. So I'm working on bringing some of my teacher-tested, kid approved art activities to my YouTube Channel, where you can access them at no cost.

The first ones are ready now and more are on the way in the next few weeks. Check out this slideshow to see what's available now! Click here to visit my YouTube Channel to get started! And follow me on Instagram to be the first to know when new tutorials are posted!

If you do try any of these activities with your kids at home, please share them on Instagram with #cboggsart2. I’d love to see what your creative kids have accomplished!

It's Valentine Time!

1/30/2020

Are you tired of trying to find just the right greeting card for someone special? Often spending way too much time deciding between cookie cutter cards that all look alike and even have the same words? And worse yet, do you sometimes wonder if you've already sent the one you're considering...more than once...to the same person?

Your loved ones aren't ordinary, so why settle for an ordinary card from the local card shop?
In my latest Skillshare class, Tooling Foil Valentines, you'll learn how to craft beautiful cards using tooling foil and some basic art supplies, many that you may already have on hand. I'll be demonstrating with a Valentine's Day theme, but you can apply this technique to any holiday or special occasion!

I’ve even included a pdf template with sample drawings and a list of the supplies you’ll need to complete your foil tooling project.
Once you try this easy to learn technique, you'll be able to design and create unique cards for all occasions!

Check out a little preview below:

Happy heARTing!

TIME FOR A COLOR CHANGE!

1/2/2020

Do you have a favorite color? You know, the one you always seem to choose for your wardrobe ... your home ... maybe even your car? Or do you have a different color preference for each of those areas of your life? I used to think that last description fit me best. My wardrobe is predominantly blue and black, my home leans toward neutrals with an occasional splash of blue and green, and my car is a silvery tan color.

When I looked at collections of my paintings and other artwork, I saw the same color choices, with a very strong preference toward green.

I was pretty sure that my paint palette needed some brightening, but I had no idea how much until I used Year of Color on my Instagram feed! I expected to see lots of green since my tubes of sap green hue and chromium oxide green are always needing replacement, but all these grays, tans, and browns took me by surprise. It's definitely time to brighten up my palette!

The little circles of chartreuse, bright blue, and red gave me hope and a place to start, so I came up with an action plan for the new year...

January 1, 2020 #aquajanuary with @kickinthe creatives (Watermedia challenge)

For this first week of 2020, the focus color is YELLOW. Bright, clear yellow ... soft, yellow with a hint of orange ... maybe even a little chartreuse to liven things up!

January 2, 2020 #quickkickjanuary with @kickinthecreatives (Abstract Photo challenge)

If I stick with the plan, in six weeks I will have added a rainbow of colors to my paint palette and a much brighter look to my Instagram feed! Truthfully though, I am looking forward to "green week"!

Ice painting... a great way to take advantage of a close to zero winter day!

Follow me on Instagram to see if my plan for colorful transformation is successful ... and have a very happy, colorful 2020!

Create Budget-Friendly Mats for your Art

6/8/2019

Are you looking for an easy and budget-friendly way to display small prints without spending money on frames? This technique is perfect for your personal photos as well as prints to sell at your local artisan market or your online shop.
Check out this video from my YouTube channel for an easy DIY thanks
to Miriam of Miriam's Nature on YouTube and Alex of MatboardShop on Etsy.
Note: This video was formatted for Instagram Stories, so it is not wide screen.

There's more in the works now that summer has arrived here in Ohio!
Follow me on Instagram or join my email list to get a monthly update on new YouTube videos and Skillshare classes.

Add Some Bubbles to Your Art!

3/24/2019

It all started in my Thursday morning watercolor class when the instructor gave us a day to play with unconventional materials and ended up a YouTube tutorial ten days later! In between, it tried to be an Instagram story, but kept getting interrupted by daily life. Here's the video...enjoy this family fun art activity!

MATERIALS USED TO CREATE PAINTED BUBBLES:
Dawn dish detergent
   Tube gouache paints (or tube watercolors)
   Straw
   Paper and water

Click this image to learn how to create the fish prints used in this tutorial.

If you try this project, leave a comment and let me know how it turned out!
Even better, share a photo on Instagram using #cboggsart2 !

Brrr... Making Art in the Deep Freeze

1/28/2019

We've been in the deep freeze here in Ohio the past few days. Temperatures have dipped into the single digits with well below zero wind chills from time to time.
So I decided to make the best of the weather and use the cold snap to artistic advantage. One of the women in my Thursday watercolor class had told us about what she called "ice painting". Her samples looked quite intriguing, with crystal shapes and lovely blended colors, so I decided to give it a try.
The results were mixed, depending on variables like paper, amount of watercolor paint, and temperature, but it was a lot of fun and a great way to spend some time outside in wintery sunshine!

If you happen to live in a wintery part of the world, try this out yourself. This is also a perfect activity to share with kids of all ages. Just watching the crystals form in the paint in fascinating! Post a photo on Instagram and tag me with @cboggsart. I'd love to see what you do!

To see how I turn these frozen watercolors into mixed media paintings, follow me on Instagram or sign up here for email updates when new blog posts are published.

Continuing the Journey ... One Word 2019

12/30/2018

My "one word" for 2018 was JOURNEY, which I divided into two primary focus areas: FAITH and CREATIVITY. Looking back at my journey through the past year, I can note some successful times and some not-so-successful times.

Of the 12 books I had selected for my FAITH journey, I only managed to read four. A few of the others are begun, but not finished, so for 2019, I am going to reevaluate the selection and continue the journey. To keep myself on track, I'm going to block out 30 minutes every morning before I open a digital device or pick up a paintbrush. For me, it isn't enough to "just read"; I need to actively do something with the reading, so as part of the 30 minutes, I'm going add a quick journal entry to respond to what I have read each day.

My CREATIVITY journey went considerably better. I began taking watercolor class through the local community college in February and returned for the fall semester in August after a summer break. I'm signed up to return in two weeks and have even added a second painting class for this coming semester. In addition, I've taken online classes and workshops on Skillshare and other sites, as well as started teaching my own Skillshare classes.
To keep myself on the CREATIVITY journey path, I've joined The Circle, a six-month online community of artists led by Carrie Brummer of Artist Strong. I've taken two of her short online workshops and really like the way she encourages artists and helps them wherever they are on their creative journey.

So for 2019, my "one word" is CONTINUE. I have an unfinished JOURNEY to explore more of my FAITH and to add to my adventures in CREATIVITY.
How about you? Do you choose a "one word" for the year, or are you a "New Year's Resolution" planner? Leave a comment here or chime in on Instagram,

Whatever your preference, have a very Happy New Year!

Kid Craft Christmas... Weave a Ribbon Tree

12/22/2018

Weaving is so much fun for kids of all ages! This is a perfect way to introduce the skill to your young ones...and use up some of that holiday ribbon, too!

Start by gathering the supplies for the project:

Click the photo below for the tutorial:

This is my last YouTube video for 2019. Check it out and then subscribe to my channel for updates with new video tutorials are published.
For now, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and best wishes for a creatively wonderful New Year!

Never Say Never ... I'm on YouTube Now!

12/16/2018

Yes, it's true! I finally took the plunge and set up a YouTube channel for CBoggsArt. Creating classes for Skillshare has been fun, but sometimes I don't really want to design and create an entire class, I just want to share a quick tutorial or technique in fifteen minutes or less. I'm starting out with just a few fun projects for the Christmas holiday season, like this one for creating simple chipboard ornaments:

And this one for adding hand-stamped and hand-painted tags to your gifts:

I'll also be publishing art projects for parents and caregivers to do with children using my "grandma" name, Mimi. This first one is an easy Christmas tree project that can be completed in about an hour. It was a favorite with my first grade students when I was teaching art full time!

Take a look and if you like what you see, subscribe to my YouTube channel and my email list to get regular updates when new videos are uploaded. This new venture is a work in progress, but I'm looking forward to sharing more art tutorials and DIY project ideas in 2019. Until then, best wishes for a very Merry Christmas and Holiday Season!

Kid Craft Day! Make a Christmas Tree Print

12/13/2018

If you don't mind a bit of a glitter and tempera paint, this is a great way to spend a wintery afternoon in December! This printmaking project was a favorite with my first grade students when I was teaching art full time, so it's ideal for young children with just a little help from a parent or older sibling.

Check out these trees created by first grade students...

When working with young children, especially ages 4-6, it's really all about the process of printing and the joy of paint and glitter, so no need to be concerned about the shape of their trees. Some children will be very precise with the placement of the circles and others, not so much. But either way, the results will be charming!

Start by gathering supplies for the project:

Click the link below for the complete tutorial on my YouTube channel:

youtu.be/FQOSqlUViP0

I'm new to YouTube! If you like this project, subscribe to my YouTube channel for regular updates when new projects are available. In the meantime, make art and have a wonderful holiday season!

In my last blog post, I provided a list of my favorite art teacher tested, kid approved art supplies. If you missed it, click here.

Art Teacher Tested ... Creative Kid Approved

11/6/2018

Now that the holiday season is upon us, it's time to start thinking about the children... and not just what they have on their six-foot long "All I Want from Santa" list! Christmas time means longer breaks from the school routine in most places, with an accompanying chorus of "I'm so bored" once the glow of electronic toys and gadgets fades.

I can't promise an end to the "I'm bored" chant, but having a few basic art supplies on hand can certainly cure some of those post-Christmas blues in your household!

Over the next few weeks, I'll be posting demonstrations to go with the supplies listed below:

I also have a gift for you, no strings attached! Click this link or the photo below to get FREE access to my kid-friendly class Printmaking Basics: Print with Markers. This link will allow you to view the entire class for free. If you like what you see, click here to learn more about Skillshare.com and my Skillshare classes.

Not ready for a class just yet? Click the link below and sign up for email updates when new classes are released here on the blog, on Skillshare, or on my YouTube Channel.

Click here for email updates

Time Out for LOVE ... Robert Indiana Style!

8/11/2018

How lucky was I for this one? Recently, I was in Orchard Park, NY, to watch my oldest grandson play in a baseball tournament. While I love watching Aiden and his friends on the field, it's also refreshing to have a little break from all that activity in the hot sun. Fortunately for me, the Cougars didn't play until afternoon on Saturday, so I had the morning free to explore on my own. A quick trip through the entertainment guide provided in my hotel room landed me at Buffalo's Albright Knox Gallery and this fabulous exhibit!

Usually I don't bother with the audio guides when I visit an art museum because I just like to view the art and read the labels at my leisure. However, the woman at the reception desk assured me that the audio guide would provide a fascinating backstory to the artwork, so I let her hold my precious Ohio driver's license hostage and took the audio guide. Good decision! I learned so much more than I would have just reading along.

My favorite room in the exhibit also proved to be the most difficult to photograph. Nine of Indiana's "LOVE" sculptures, each from a different type of marble formed a circle facing his iconic "HUG...EAT...DIE...ERR" mantra, which was lit up with hundreds of bright bulbs that flashed in a variety of different patterns. The final piece in the room, a gleaming metal rendition of "Ahava", the Hebrew version of these famous LOVE sculptures, stood alone in the middle of the circle. The room was so large, the lighting was constantly changing, and other museum visitors (and a very diligent museum guard!) were constantly in my viewfinder. Not a single one of my panoramic photos did this room justice, so the one above is the best one I have to share.

Having the audio guide was truly a gift since understanding the story behind Indiana's work added so much to the experience. The repetition of the words "eat", "die", "hug", and "err" are references to the artist's mother and the phrases he remembered her saying. Some works are direct references to literature, such as Moby Dick, and others, such as the one below, connect to the work of other artists. Before viewing this exhibit, I had no idea that Robert Indiana had created pieces inspired by the work of Charles Demuth. I was a bit startled when I walked into one of the exhibit rooms to find myself in front of the painting pictured below!

Demuth's painting "I Saw the Figure Five in Gold" was inspired by a William
Carlos Williams poem "The Great Figure", which describes the sight and sound of a fire engine racing to the scene of a fire. This may be the first time since my retirement from teaching art that I wished I had a classroom to return to in the fall! I had been using the poem to inspire art by my fourth graders, which we then compared to my large print of Charles Demuth's painting. Robert Indiana's work was also part of my fourth grade curriculum, so what a connection this would have made!

Two hours later, it was back to the Orchard Park Little League Fields to cheer for my favorite 8U Cougar and his teammates. For the record, the Cougars ended their tournament run that weekend with a second place trophy!
If you happen to be near Buffalo, NY, or have plans to visit the area soon, the Robert Indiana exhibit will be on display at the Albright Knox Gallery until September 23, 2018. I highly recommend a visit!

Create Your Own Wall Art... No Drawing Required!

8/9/2018

It's easy to create unique, colorful artwork on canvas using stencils, spray paint, and acrylic paints! In this video, I'll show you how to add a pop of color to any room in your home!

To see more of this class, visit my Skillshare channel. You'll be invited to a two month free membership, which will open up hundreds of classes in art, technology, social media, and many other fascinating areas of study. Click here to check it out!

Art is Truly Magic!

7/14/2018

Getting started with acrylics...

Right on the heels of my fabulous experience at the Dayton Art Institute came another wonderful art experience, the Art is Magic Creative Retreat. I was able to participate last year (see post here) and was thrilled to learn that Galia Alena was once again bringing together an amazing group of creative women to share their insights and techniques for mixed media art.

Fun with Gelli Plates...something new to try!

The weekend retreat flies by quickly! Eighteen classes are released over a two day period, each only remaining accessible for 24 hours after its release. There is an option to join the Ongoing Creative Retreat, which I did last year, but this year my funds were limited and I had to come up with a strategy for making the most of each class offering.

Creating backgrounds with spray paint and stencils... fun, fun, fun!

I knew that I couldn't possibly watch each class and complete each project in the time that was available, so I took notes and made a few quick sketches as time permitted, then bookmarked the websites of the artists so that I could find them later.

Collage backgrounds...something I've never tried before!

Now my plan is to work through the various techniques and see where the explorations take my own creative work. I'll be sharing my creative adventures here and on Instagram in the coming weeks.

I'd love to have you join me! I'll be sharing video clips and tips as I explore and experiment with new materials and techniques. You can come back any time, but ....

Don't miss out! Click the button below to receive updates and creative inspiration delivered directly to your inbox twice a month!

Yes, please inspire me now!

How an American Film Star and a British Author Reignited My Creativity

6/29/2018

Don't get me wrong, I love summertime as much as the next person...long, sunny days outdoors...nature trails, camera in hand...visits to grandchildren unencumbered by homework assignments...travel time adventures. It's all good... except for ....

THE CREATIVITY DRAIN!

Those long, lazy days can certainly drain the creativity right out of my brain! I was sure that a weekend of baseball games with the grandsons, followed by a few days soaking up the natural wonder known as Niagara Falls, would be just the ticket for fresh ideas for painting and printmaking.

I WAS SO WRONG!

I came home with some wonderful photographs and great memories, but not a single bit of motivation to pick up a paintbrush or even a drawing pencil.

UNTIL THIS PAST WEEK!

I no longer remember whether it was a Facebook post or an email, but somehow I discovered that the Dayton Art Institute "Language of Art" program had a book-related gallery tour coming up on June 27. That was only about ten days away at the time, but Amazon delivers quickly and I'm a fast reader, so I decided to take a chance on "The Purple Swamp Hen and Other Stories" by British author, Penelope Lively.

MEET MY NEW FAVORITE AUTHOR!

This book was a perfect introduction to Lively's writing style and sometimes quirky take on the human condition. Plenty of unexpected endings and a mix of past and present made each short story a delightful read on a hot summer day, but the whole time I was wondering how our DAI tour leader would relate these tales to art in the museum collections. I was sure that a trip to the Ancient Art galleries would be on the agenda since the first story in Lively's collection provided a bird's eye view of the life and times of ancient Pompeii at the time of the Mt. Vesuvius eruption that buried this once-thriving Italian city.

NOT QUITE CORRECT...

The title story was indeed the first one on the tour, but the artwork chosen for our discussion was Georgia O'Keeffe's "Purple Leaves", a lovely painting by one of my favorite American artists.. Purple pencils were distributed for some quick impressions, followed by a lively (sorry, couldn't resist!) discussion about the meaning of purple from the point of view of both artist and author.

Our tour included two other works, well-chosen for their connections to several stories from Lively's book. I came away with a new appreciation for artist Robert Brackman's "Life About Me", a wall-size painting that I had simply passed on by for years while on my way to view my favorites by Hopper and Wyeth.

SO, WHAT ABOUT BOGART?

Not just the famous American film star, but famous faces from another place and time, thanks to the amazing black and white photography of Yousuf Karsh. This exhibit of 48 iconic portraits, is on loan from the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. through mid-September. I wasn't able to stay that same day to visit this exhibit, but returned two days later to soak it in at leisure. Photography was forbidden, but suffice it to say, that I was enthralled by Karsh's work. I had seen several of the photographs over the years in other contexts, but had never given a thought to who may have been the photographer. What a life he must have had, with the opportunity to fulfill his dream of photographing the movers, shakers, and history makers of the 20th century!

AND WHAT ABOUT THAT INSPIRATION?

As part of the Yousuf Karsh exhibit, the works of 20th century Dayton photographer, Jane Reece, were also on display. Unlike Karsh's sharp contrast black and white photography that so perfectly captures the personality of the individual, Reece's work has an ethereal quality with soft images and occasional color overlays with colored pencil and crayon. I've only dabbled a bit with black and white photography, and have much to learn, but I am going to get a few of my photos printed and give adding a bit of color a try in the coming weeks.

COMING NEXT...THE RESULTS!

I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM OR SIGN UP FOR EMAIL UPDATES AND GET CREATIVE INSPIRATION DELIVERED DIRECTLY TO YOUR INBOX!

INSPIRATION, PLEASE!

You can PRINT with acrylic inks?

5/31/2018

Yes, acrylic inks are a great medium for making monoprints!

I learned this technique from Skillshare teacher, Linda Ormiston. Her class is called "Make a Monoprint Using Acetate, Pen, and Ink". Click here to access her class... it's simple to learn, yet gives such impressive results!

I'm so glad I found Lisa's class! It's a perfect blend of two of my favorite mediums, print-making and watercolors. I'll definitely be exploring this technique further in the coming weeks!

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Inspire Me Now!

Printmaking Basics...Beginners Welcome!

5/3/2018

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Is it really May... already? According to the bright yellow crop of dandelions making their appearance in my yard, I guess it is! Somehow in the rush of daily living, I lost track of February, March, and April. It's been a busy few months filled with family activities, a little quiet time for reading and reflection, and plenty of creative busy-ness.

Back in January, I started my journey through 2018 with two goals: spiritual reading and daily creativity. I have to admit that the reading goal took a hit during March, but I've managed the creative journey a little bit better, thanks to a good friend's suggestion that I join her in taking a watercolor painting class through our local community college. Talk about a humbling experience! My watercolor skills have a way to go, but the class was fun, I learned a lot, and I've already signed up for the fall semester.

In late January, I learned about a website called Skillshare from some Facebook group friends who were teaching classes on the site. I checked it out, took their classes, and decided to take the February "Teach on Skillshare" challenge just to see if I could do it. Found out that I could ... and I did!
I recently published the first two classes in a series I am calling "Printmaking Basics". As a classroom art teacher, I know how much my students loved printmaking, so I'm creating the series to encourage parents to bring this creative activity into their family time at home. The classes are perfect for beginners of any age, five to ninety-five. Supplies are minimal, the mess is worth it, and the results are amazing!

Click here to view this class and create your own colorful floral prints!

This happy green fish is from Printmaking Basics: Print with Markers. Using water based markers eliminates the potentially messy inks and makes printmaking an easy and fun activity for children as young as five years in age. Click the link and check it out!

Now that springtime and warm weather have finally arrived here in Ohio, I'll be spending more time in my favorite outdoor creative spaces, my flower gardens, the local parks, and the outdoor "studio" on my back deck. I'm working on two more classes in the Printmaking Basics series, so take a moment to sign up for my email updates and be one of the first to check them out!