Redeemed

Sometimes you must scrape

through the Beauty to find soul.

you must dig down and make mistakes

so that you can move forward into your

truest self and come out on the the other end

Redeemed.

there you will struggle 

but oh, there you will Grow!

Enchanted: mixed media characters with Susana and Mindy

Join Mindy Lacefield and Susana Tavares for an exploration into all kinds of Mixed Media Characters! We will have fun creating and being inspired by fables, movies, books, cartoons, and rides. Get ready because Susana and I have given you a heaping plate full of inspiration and heartwarming love into each of our characters. We each bring out own style to the characters and cherish the nostalgia of why we are drawn into this magical, enchanted space!

Details about the class and format:

• Class begins January 1st, 2016
• Early Registration begins December 1st - $89
• Regular registration begins December 8th - $99
• Mindy's projects will post on Fridays
• Susana's projects will post on Mondays
• lifetime access to the classroom (so that you can work at your own pace)
• there will be a Facebook group

READY?

Register here

Mindy will create:

• Cinderella (based on the new live-action movie)
• Alice in wonderland
• Princess Tiana (the frog princess)
• Haunted Mansion girl
• Jellyfish girl (girl inspired from the Pixar parade at Disney's California Adventure park)
• Corpse Bride
• Candlehead (from Wreck it Ralph - bonus project)

Susana will create:

• Agnes from Despicable Me
• Tinkerbell
• Little Mermaid
• Merida - from Brave
• Once upon a winter time - (storybook)
• Snow White

We have 2 guest artists: 

Micki Wilde 

She will be creating a project inspired by Rapunzel. Incredible, right?!

Mystele Kirkeeng is also on board as a guest artist! Just so stunning....Evil Queen!

Below is a supply list but most supplies will be touched on in each project. Here is a short list of what we'll be using. Please know that you don't have to go out an buy all new supplies. Use and experiment with what you have on hand already. I always encourage my students to watch the videos before getting any of the supplies.

Here is a sampling of the supplies we'll be using in this course for Mindy's projects:

prismacolor graphite pencil - 6b or 8b

catalyst wedge - no 6 (gray)

white gesso

stabilo graphite pencil

 ephemera - old book pages, song books, old receipts, tissue paper, vintage tissue pattern paper, patterned napkins

 collage pauge or mod podge - matte

1" foam brushes - michaels or any craft store

set of brushes - I like hogs hair and dina wakley brushes

small brush for lettering

scissors

gallery neon pastels 

prismacolor colored pencils - a few of your favorite colors will be fine

bleeding art tissue

foam stamps

cheap masking tape

washi tape

foam stamps

glimmer glam - heffalump and pixie dust

spray bottle

colored pencils

lotka paper pack

small butterfly stamp - here or here 

boards and/or canvas - a mix of 9x12, 10x10. You can also work in your journal or use watercolor paper. It's up to you.

 Some of Susana's supply list

cardboard 

neocolor II crayons ( ultramarine blue, olive, Russet)

oil pastels ( turquoise, yellow ochre)

ephemera such as tissue paper, music paper, scrapbook paper

gel medium

black pencil

lace

foam

watercolors or ink

watercolor pencils

tissue paper

white acrylic paint

brush black pen

paint colors you'll see Mindy using:

quin. nickel azo gold - golden

paynes gray - blick

dick blick matte colors you'll see me use:  green blue light, orange light, brilliant magenta, 

golden - no. 5 neutral gray

french gray - liquitex

heavy body white paint

americana craft paint - fiery red (neon) (found at michaels)

ultramarine blue

van dyke brown hue

shimmer paint - Aqua (any shimmery paints are fine)

olive green 

light magenta - golden

cadmium yellow light - blick

Sparkles Within

This light
her divine being is ever-present
taking a bite out of the night sky
eating up the light of the stars

This all-consuming something.
it must get out.
the more present
the more still
flourishing there in the nothingness

Revealing itself as color
light is color
vibrating energy
the slowness of blue
the patience of purple

Her art is the only way out
it is the only access to divine
to stillness
He called her there.
He showed her once more for the very first time.
His Light = the light living inside her

She sparkles from within
and then she opens
full from the light that is aching to get out.

Travel supplies

I just returned from my husband's 40th bday trip.....aboard the Disney Dream. I love taking along art supplies, because let's face it, I get a little irritable and neurotic if I don't make time to create.
Here is a visual of the things I packed:

watercolor journal  "i can fly"

buccaneer bay blue lindy's stamp gang

americana fiery red

golden quin nickel azo gold

Dina Wakley brushes

caran d'ache neocolor ii crayons

water brush

prismacolor colored pencils

oil pastel

ranger tags

stabilo graphite pencil

washi tape

set of peerless watercolors

To be honest, I really just used my peerless, stabilo graphite, caran d'ache neocolors and a water brush. very easy to carry around the ship.

Then I combine everything into packable pouches

you can find my printed studio pouches and tote bags on Redbubble.

Here are a few pages I created on our 3 days on the ship:

my favorite journaling spot was Pink....the cutest little champagne bar, themed after a scene in Dumbo:

If you haven't ever done a cruise with Disney, I highly recommend it!! think Disney Broadway plays at night, themed restaurants, character greetings, and their own private island.....truly paradise:

and they even teach you how to draw Disney characters too!!

Brave Girls University starts Tuesday September 1st!

Brave Girls University begins September 1st. That's this Tuesday. 

If you haven't already, head over and sign up. 

Brave Girls University also features a cool Brave box that you  can subscribe to as well. I just love the idea of getting a box of inspiring goodies in the mail every month. 

BGU is a subscription based online class that is featuring 100 artists. I am so grateful to be among the amazing talent that BGU has brought together. You'll find my Paint Your Story class there as well as an exclusive journaling project you'll only find on BGU. 

I hope you join us!

Here is a sneak peek of the journal page:

Birding

I am a Birder. I am just beginning but this has been coming for a while. It all started when a Black crowned night heron flew into our dining room window.
(sadly upon his crash he perished but I was glad to see he was nearing the older stage of his life)

found on pinterest

I realize now that he was an older mature night heron after purchasing  this book locally...

So far I have identified 14 birds in my neighborhood. I have heard the call of a pileated woodpecker (and have seen them in the past) but my count began July 25th and I am starting from scratch with my list. When I was in my early 30s, I saw a huge bald eagle fly over my car as I was traveling back home to Batesville. I have only seen 1 small one since then. I hope it isn't another 30 years before I see another! I love how the Bald Eagles are unmistakable. Majestic and bright white feet and head!

I am in desperate need of some binoculars! Most birds are too far away or are moving too quickly for me to identify. Right now my favorite bird is the kind bird. They are white and black and sit at the very tops of the trees (learned this from the book above). The book helped me in identifying this bird. Believe me, there are lots of black and white birds in North America.

I just love how they sit high and look down on their surroundings. There song is quiet joyous and optimistic. Look for a kingbird high up and chirping. He is one determined, happy bird.

As I am sitting here writing this blog post, a hummingbird came to visit. After looking at my book, I realize she is a ruby throated hummingbird. (however she does not have the ruby throat as the male boasts) But she was divine. She checked me and the poodles out pretty closely. Within about 5 feet. She is a brave girl, indeed!

Birding is a bit overwhelming in the beginning. There are over 10,200 different species of birds. There are less than 1000 species in North America.....and probably fewer in your area. In the area that I'm in, there are about 300 or so birds. So as you travel you may see different ones. Add them to your list and take photos if you can. 

Here is a photo of a magpie I took during my stay in Taos this past July. While there I met another birder. Her name is Laura and she spotted her 391st bird while on the trip!! I had so much fun getting to know her and talk about birds with her. She is so inspiring!

ps. The ibird app is a great app for help in identifying birds. I love the "sounds" feature! It helps you identify the song of the bird. Because most of the time you'll hear birds before you see them.

Other birds that I can't put on my list but have seen in the past are:

1. Northern flicker - yellow shafted (I buried him after he was hit by a car in the front of our house)
2. bald eagle
3. pileated woodpecker
4. Tanager
5. black crowned night heron

Happy birding!

Brave Girls University!

If you follow me on Facebook, then you may already know that I am teaching at Brave Girls University beginning this September 1st. BGU is a monthly subscription-based online school that offers many creative projects. There are over 100 teachers....and I just received the list!! Just look at all the talent. I am so honored to be among these A-mazing creatives!!

If you haven't saved your spot yet, you can head over ----> HERE
We'd love to see your there!

Here is an exclusive journaling project that I'll be sharing:

Also, you'll see that my first class, Paint Your Story will be featured there as well.

Danielle Donaldson's new book - Creative Girl

I am so so excited about Danielle's new book, Creative Girl!  What I love most about this book is that Danielle uses watercolor in a unique mixed media way. I really had no idea that watercolors could be layered and worked they way she works them. I'll be honest, watercolors are not in my comfort zone...but after reading this book I felt so inspired and compelled to create! Thank you Danielle for your inspiration.

I wanted to talk you along as I created something inspired from this amazing book:

music by the AMAZING Kate Mann!!

here is the supply list for this project:

• grumbacher watercolor transparent 24 pan set
• stabilo marks all black pencil
• prismacolor colored pencils
• faber castell gelatos
• rubber stamp by Kristen Petersen
• mister
• sharpie white paint pen - fine point

Divine Within

My Surrender makes me complete.
my vulnerability applauded.
my mistakes are cherished.
because once I knew the me that failed and feared.

Then I became one who never tried anything new.
I forgot to just Play and be ok with the chaos.
I failed yet again.
Hope told me to trust
to have faith in my own divineness within

I grabbed hold....tightly at first
Then was able to fully let go.

new Seth Apter stencils!

I had the amazing opportunity to meet Seth Apter back last April in Kansas City at art and soul. After I returned home, he sent me an email asking if I'd like to create a project with his new stencils. Uh, hello ! yes of course I'd LOVE that! I'm so excited to share with you this process that I used for my journal.

here are some close up shots:

Also, I'd love to give you the materials I used for this specific project:

• deli paper
• liquitex super heavy gesso
• palette knife
• lindy's stamp gang sprays
• Seth's new stencils
• journal
• collage pauge - matte

Congrats to Raw Simplicity giveaway winners!!

I'm here to announce Susana Burns and Kim Hine are the winners of the Raw Simplicity giveaway!! congrats, lovely ladies!! I sent you an email invitation to the classroom. thank you to everyone who shared and help spread the word about my new class!!

Raw Simplicity online course

We are going to keep it simple. If you find yourself obsessively "tidying up" your paintings and drawings, then this class is for you. Restraint never looked so good!

Join me for 4 projects/exercises to loosen you up.......

Details:

Class begins: August 3rd and projects will post Monday, Wed, Fri, and then again on Monday. The supply list will be sent to you on July 27th and you can also find the links below. After August 3rd, 2015....the class will be a self paced class for you to work through on your own.

Price: $39

projects include:

1. tag project to help loosen you up
2. primitive animal exercise
3. finished piece on watercolor paper
4. finished work on wood board 

READY? sign up ------>>> HERE

GUEST ARTIST: Nolwenn Petitbois!!

I am a young woman born and raised in France during more than 23 years before becoming an expatriate with a husband and two young daughters, in Vancouver (Canada). I was a very creative child but put it aside during teenagehood. I am an avid journaler, I’ve written diaries since I’m 7 or so and writing is really something I need to free my Soul. I realized that the emotions and events are often better on paper than consuming me from the inside. - Nolwenn

 

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Here is a list of all the supplies for this class:

• stabilo graphite pencil
• wood board - I use 8x8 size
• super heavy gesso
• catalyst wedge - no. 6 gray 
• deli paper
• ephemera - book pages, lotka paper, washi tape, old ledger paper, etc
• collage pauge matte
• dina wakley brushes
• ranger craft tag
• cheapie watercolor set  (any ol' set will do. you see me use reeves)
• GAC100 - Golden acrylic polymer
• muslin fabric
• washi tape
• deli paper
• charcoal
• hot press watercolor pad
• ephemera
• bleeding tissue paper
• scissors

paint colors you'll see me use:

• blick titanium white
• primary magenta - golden
• target craft acrylic paint - avocado (golden's green gold would also work well)
• americana - fiery red (neon)
• blick matte acrylic - blue light
• paynes gray - blick heavy body artists acrylic
• titan buff - golden
• quin. burnt orange - golden (also quin. nickel azo gold would work great)

FAQ:

How long do I have access to the class? 

You now get forever access to all my classes to work at your own pace.

Do I need to purchase all the supplies at once?

I suggest you watch the videos first before going out and buying everything at once. You may have something already on hand that you can use. The wood boards are what I like to work on but you can work on paper or canvas. Whatever you like the best!

Do you give refunds or can I share the material with others?

After payment is made, sorry no refunds. Please do not share the material or videos with anyone. thank you!

Will there be a Facebook group for this class?

No, for this class we will be sharing and commenting inside the classroom.

GIVEAWAY!!

I need your help spreading the news about Raw Simplicity

• I'm going to give away 2 spots. (if you've already signed up, no worries....if you win, I'll refund your money)
• Please share this blog post link on your blog, pinterest, instagram, or Facebook
• come back here and let me know - leave your name, email address, and how you shared
• drawing will be done on Saturday, July 19th 2015 (also please leave your email on your comment so that I can send you an invitation to the class if you win)

Here is an Instagram photo for you to download:

https://app.ruzuku.com/courses/9347/about

Movies and such

Every year I used to make a list of my top all-time favorite movies. I used to do this around the time of the oscars to build up excitement for the award season. As of late, since my journey with art...my focus as turned. But I thought, why not bring it back....movies are a huge part of my life. When I was a kid, movies were my escape....into beautiful worlds where imagination ran free.

I go once a week by myself to a matinee and many times once with my husband on the weekend. Several factors go into making this list and include.... movies i like to watch over and over, artistic creativity, special effects, story, beauty, heart

so here we go, this should be fun:

1. E.T
2. 2001: a space odyssey
3. Cinderella (live action 2014)
4. It's a Wonderful life
5. Terminator 2: Judgement day
6. Vertigo
7. The Natural
8. Edward Scissorhands
9. Return of the Jedi
10. Neverending Story

so I suppose why not go ahead with my 5 favorite male actors:

1. Robert Redford
2. Jimmy Stewart
3. Kevin Costner
4. Arnold Schwarzeneggar
5. Johnny Depp

Favorite directors:
1. Stanley Kubrick
2. Tim Burton
3. Alfred Hitchcock
4. Guillermo del Toro
5. James Cameron
Check out my inspiring movie stills pinterest board

What are some of your favorite movies?

I see you, Summer

I hear you crickets. your song surrounds me
I see you fireflies. Your light rocks me to sleep.
I see you tiny bat. Your direction erratic, but purposeful.
I feel you dusk breeze. Your quiet calm comforts me. Wraps me up.
I see you Cloak of sunset. Your garments meander from blue to pink.
I see you waxing Moon. Your light beckons me to create.
I see you summer. Alive. Lit. Singing. Flying.
I see you Lord in your subtle majesty.

I see myself. here. small. in this universe of the one big Soul where love is contained.
I am here to breathe you in. I am here in Love.
I am here to wander and feel your presence
outside of myself and within.
I see you summer, encompassed in one moment.

Saving Peter Arts Festival, The Crow and the White Stag, and other new work

I am so grateful and honored that my work as been chosen for Fellowship Bible Church "Saving Peter" Arts Festival. The event kicks off Friday, June 5th at 6:00....so if you are local please stop by.
We were asked to create something inspired by Peter's denial of Christ ....in John 13:36-38 and John 18.....or when Jesus appears to the 7 disciples on the shore of the Tiberius River in John 21. Here is my statement for these works:

Denial

Each one of us is Peter. We are overcome with sin and many times riddled by fear. But with Christ, His abundant love for us swallows up all sin, brokenness, fear and shame.

As I was painting the olive tree, I saw a face come forth and pulled it out a little more. I then put down a layer of beeswax and scrawled into it, the scripture.

Abundant Eternal Love

As Jesus appears to the seven Disciples on the shore of the Tiberias, He gives them 153 fish in their net. To me, this could be symbolized as Jesus’ abundant love and eternity that He offers each one of us if we follow Him. My soul swims with Christ, continuously washed clean by the blood He shed for me!

Abundant Eternal Love

I am so thrilled to announce that I have signed copies of my new children's book, The Crow and the White Stag in my etsy shop!

The Crow and the White Stag is a story about a girl named Emma and the animals that she encounters in the woods near her home. She is led by the moon to explore and ends up discovering more than she was searching for. A story of transformation and growth, Emma's adventures become a spiritual awakening. She becomes convinced that there are no coincidences. Emma learns that the greatest teacher can come in the most humblest of forms....... a Crow named Sage.

I've also got a some new originals available as well.

 Gilded - 11x14 original

Breaking Free

Creating Stillness

Grace Whispers