ponderings

Jenni Bowlin & Ranger projects...

I'm back from CHA...it was a quick trip. My favorite thing about CHA is meeting people and seeing friends. I've got some more teaching gigs lined up (hello Toronto, Boston, and Baltimore!). Plus some others in the works...yay.

Thought I'd share the projects I made for the Jenni Bowlin wall of the Ranger booth. Jenni's product line has really wonderful ink pads and acrylic paint dabbers. I combined those with her new release (perforated papers and an alpha stencil....be still my beating heart!). Love.

 

Samples I made with the NEW Dyan Reaveley stencils & inks...

Oh, how I love my friend Dyan Reaveley. She's one of my most favorite people on the planet. I'm *so* thilled that her new signature line with Ranger Ink is being released at CHA this weekend! The line includes new stamps, spray inks in bright colors (be still my beating heart!), and fabulous stencils. I didn't have as much time as I would have liked to play, but I did manage to eek out a few projects...

I am seriously inky today...

I am seriously inky today...

Because every technical writer loves a bulleted list...

• I've had a few questions about my online classes. We are sooo close to getting my old classes up on my website. We're hoping to have them up by February. My hubby is actually waiting on me to get down to the city offices and make sure I'm "legal" for selling classes. Make sure you join my newsletter...I'll announce when they are up and also have a "grand opening" discount.
• New classes...I have lots of plans for new classes. However, they are on hold a bit because...
• I am writing a book! I am literally in the studio for 12+ hours a day. So right now, that's taking all my time. But never fear...new classes are on the to-do list right after "submit final manuscript."
• Will you be at CHA? Come and say hi...I will be in the JBS booth on Sun & Mon mornings. On Monday from 1 to 3 pm, I'll be demoing in the Crafter's Workshop booth. Then on Tuesday, I'll be back home and working on the book!

February Class at The Occasional Artist...

I'm repeating some of my popular classes from the last year or so at The Occasional Artist. Next up: Encasutic Tag Book. This is a fun & easy class...it's so fun to work with Beeswax! Call the store directly (623.847.2215) to sign up.

Encaustic Tag Accordion Book

Saturday, February 25, 2012

10:30 am - 1:30 pm

 At The Occasional Arist

Come and play with stamping and beeswax. We’ll make six encaustic tags (acrylic paint, spray ink, modeling paste, beeswax…oh my!). The tags will go in an accordion book structure. Beeswax is fun and addictive...come and play!

 Supplies Students Need to Bring:

--Standard crafting tool kit (scissors, paint brushes, pencil, etc.)
--White acrylic gesso
--Gel medium
--Acrylic paint in your favorite colors
--A small collection of collage papers & fabrics that appeal to you. I will bring my box of papers, but your project will be more personal if you use papers & fabrics that you like.
--Any of your favorite stamps. I will bring an large assortment for class use, but bring any that you like as well.
--Black ink pad. I use an Archival black pad by Ranger, and will bring several for class use.
--OPTIONAL If you have an encaustic iron, please bring it. I will have 3 for class use, but if you have your own, you won’t have to wait in line.

My mess today...

Utter chaos! There's a desk under there somewhere...

A face for this holiday Monday...

Felt like painting last night while I was watching the Golden Globes...this is the result. I traced my face to use as a template (but wasn't trying to make a self-portrait). I have to say, I have a big nose. heh.

Just pushing color around...

I'm just pushing color around on my pages...using a favorite silhouette. I've been sick + CHA assignments + another big project = stressed out me. So it feels good just to move color around & not worry about it turning out good. Have a happy, artful Friday!

A flair for buttons...

My sweet friend Shelley Haganman made these buttons for me...they're an image from my artwork, and then she also put my new website on them (dinawakley.com). How fun is that??

Check out Shelley's "A Flair for Buttons" blog and Etsy shop. Seriously cute stuff! Thanks, Shelley!

Fella #3 took this picure of me on Saturday...he thought it was so funny that I had black paint up to my elbows, yet couldn't explain *how* I had ended up with black paint up to my elbows.

See that massive file in the background that is exploding with stuff? That's my "unfinished/warm up" box...where I put stuff I've started & might need another time. Me thinks I need a bigger box, eh?

Getting carried away today...

I've been in the studio all day...spent the morning prepping for my PanPastels demo at The Occasional Artist tomorrow (from 11 am to 1 pm...come say hi!). I'll be demoing backgrounds, stamping, and a bit of drawing.

I've also been going a bit nuts playing with Jenni Bowlin reinkers...so fun! I've been using up scraps of watercolor paper that I had leftover from other projects. They're great for my inky experiments.

Have you been able to play lately & just see what happens?

Answering a question about the tags...

I can't thank you enough for all of the positive emails & comments I've received regarding my video that was posted today in Nat's Creative Jumpstart 2012. It has been so uplifting & fun to read...thank you!!

Several people asked me where I buy my tags. I get them from Xpress Tags. They're a great company, I've always had really good service from them. I prefer the heavyweight tags over the standard manila ones. My favorite size is size 8...but I also buy size 6 and size 12 (and sometimes even bigger ones).

If you don't want to commit to an entire box of tags, Ranger makes great tags in various sizes. They're heavweight & wonderful to work with.

Let me know if I can answer any other questions! Happy creating!

ETA Answers to a few more questions!

The ink is Ranger's Adirondack Color Wash  and Maya Mist. Ranger colors I use constantly are: Sailboat Blue, Sunset Orange, Wild Plum, Lettuce, Butterscotch. Maya Mist colors I use constantly are: Green Apple, Fig Magenta Metallic, Lemon Metallic. Really you can't go wrong with ANY of the colors from both lines, they are all fabulous.

The little book that I wipe ink in is a 7 Gypsies notebook. They are called "Petit Carnet." The pages are a nice heavy manila, and they are a great size.

Haaaapy New Year! Lots of news & reminders...

Happy New Year! We've been working furiously behind the scenes to get my class page up and running. Well, let me clarify that. My husband has been working furiously...doing custom programming to make his artist wife happy. I will keep you updated...won't be long now and my classes will be up.

 

Local Class Info! Join Me for a Class!

The new book arts & stamping store, The Occasional Artist, in downtown Glendale will have its Grand opening on Saturday, January 7th. I will be in the store from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. doing demos with Pan Pastels...come and say hi!

By popular demand I am teaching my Introduction to Art Journaling class at The Occasional Artist on Saturday, January 21st from 10:30 am. to 1:30 p.m. Call the store (623.847.2215) to sign up. Please bring with you white acrylic gesso, paintbrushes, and acrylic paint. We'll be working on watercolor paper, but if you'd like to work in a journal, feel free to bring one. We'll cover making a simple background, adding images and layering with spray inks, and adding top texture and color. Join me!

 

21 Secrets Registration is Open!

Don't forget that registration for 21 Secrets starts today! There are some great artists participating...what a great gift to give yourself for the new year.

Click here to go to 21 Secrets.

 

Creative JumpStart Starts Today

Nat Kalbach's Creative Jump Start starts today...and my video is up first!  You can see it for free, but you do have to sign up first.

Here’s how it works:

• 1. Throughout January we will share videos, audio or pictures to inspire you.
• 2. You sign up for a newsletter HERE and, in January 2012, you will receive a link and the password to unlock the view of the daily materials as soon as they go live. (My video went live TODAY)
• 3. You watch the presentations and you will be hopefully inspired to be more creative—all for FREE!