Penelope's Garden Halloween Giveaway

Penelope's Garden will be on sale October 1, but until then I am offering a glow in the dark giveaway.

I will give three copies of the coloring book along with black light markers to make the images glow!

Check it out here.

Enter the giveaway here! If you click the little YouTube sign at the bottom of the video as your watching it will take you over to YouTube and you can subscribe there.

Thank you and good luck!!

xo

a Rafflecopter giveaway

An Artistic Plan ~ How to Enhance Your Creativity Even as a Beginner + Downloadable Journal Page

Pablo Picasso said "the chief enemy of creativity is good sense."

This is probably true, but as you can tell there are some inherent issues with this statement. I am certainly not trying to argue with the master of creativity who would surely say that his art came before anything else.

But many of you out there live in a home, possibly have a car, have some type of job, and eat on a regular basis. Most would say their family comes before anything. Having good sense allows us to keep our homes and jobs, eat decent meals, and stay out of jail. That being said I cannot be a complete proponent of throwing good sense to the wind.

But if we can laser focus our good sense to our artistic endeavors, I think the advice is perfect.

Rejected

A few years ago I was chosen to illustrate a children's book. The text was lovely and I instantly had an idea of what the pictures should look like. I quickly put together several images and sent them over--and they were just as quickly rejected. 

So I tried again, and again, and again--no luck.

All my great ideas were gone. 

At this point I had nothing to lose. I drew a far more grown up image, but the made me happy. I loved the colors and the whirling dreamy background. I figured what the hell! At least I could go out with a bang.

Accepted

 Those were the pictures that were chosen for the book. 

I had nothing attached to them--no fear, no worries, no preconceived notions. I figured it was already too late, and a tiny voice in the back of my head said the images would never work. So I sent them.

My roundabout point is this: sometimes the thing that gets in our way the most is our own negative thinking. 

So when it comes to art, do what they say in Frozen: LET IT GO!

If any of you are true beginners here is my advice:

* Go out and get whatever you like to create with--markers, paints, yarn, fabric--whatever! (Even if you are scared and you never tried, all the more reason to go for it.)

* Find a magazine or Google article about whatever medium you chose. 

*  Choose a project--a picture, a painting, anything--and copy it. (That's right--copy. You can trace, copy, recreate, or do your own version of anything you see. Some people need this little kick start for their creativity--especially if they have not used it since they were little. Plus copying or tracing actually helps you learn very quickly. Before you know it you'll be itching to create your own stuff.)

*Start right away and DO NOT worry about being perfect.

* Finish it!

* Start another.

* On the same day you start this project, get a notebook or journal--even a piece of paper will do, and write about your artistic dreams each morning. Feel free to tear out the page and rip it up after you write if you are afraid someone will read it. (Great idea from a friend). The point isn't to have a book to read when you are done, but to get your mind on creativity and what it means to you. Just do one page, and try and include one positive thing you are feeling about your creative process. Also, follow Picasso for this too--just write with abandon, write from your soul. This could be something you have waited to do for years. (I have included a downloadable journal page to hopefully inspire you HERE. It is free, and you can rip it up when you are done if you like.)

* Last but not least, do art with kids. Watch how free they are, they are not worried, just happy to be in the creative moment.

I'd love to see your work--especially if you are just starting. I feel art is so important and can be a wonderful way to express yourself.

Here are some words of wisdom that every. single. creative needs to hear. Only two minutes and super worth it. Click HERE

Video Cat

Today's video is How to Draw a Cute Cartoon Cat. If you like it I hope you share it with a young person who likes art too.

Don't forget to enter the Six Shades of Grey Faber-Castell Giveaway HERE for a chance to win SIX Faber-Castell PITT artist pens. Good luck!


xo

Congratulations to Our Brush Pen Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to our Jetpens Brush Pen Giveaway! 

I would like to thank all of you that entered the contest, tweeted, and signed up for my blog.

I hope you will all enter February's contest, the Faber-Castell Six Shades of Grey Artist Pen Giveaway.

Again, congrats Barrie!

xo

Downloadable Turkeys!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Since I won't be eating any turkey tomorrow I drew some that you can download and color--one for the big kids (and adults, let's be real) and one for the little ones.

For the little ones

For the older set, and adults.

Have a wonderful day!

xo

CRAFT for KIDS ~ Make a CUTE HALLOWEEN GHOST!!

Ooooo!! It's almost October, that spooky time of year. Trick or treating and Jack o'lanterns abound.

Kids love this chilling time of year so every weekend of October we will post a creepy craft for kids.

This weeks craft is Adorable Apparitions. What you will need for this cute craft is:

Mod Podge fabric stiffener (Buy here)

Cheese cloth

A bowl

Balloons

Wine glasses or other cups or containers to hold the balloons

Scissors

 A small amount of black felt or a black marker or Sharpie

First blow up as many balloons as you will make into ghosts

Insert them into the glasses so they are about halfway in, and popping out of the top. You will be resting the damp cheese cloth on these balloons so make sure they are blown up enough that they will not sink into the glasses. Tuck the knot into the side so you don't get a bulgy ghost.

Cut the cheese cloth into thick strips, about 3 or 4 inches wide. Make the bottoms of the strips uneven. This makes for a spookier ghost. If you are going for cuter use more of a square shape rounded off at the bottom.

Pour some Mod Podge fabric stiffener into a small bowl, and dilute a bit with water. Now dip the strips of cheese cloth into the Modge Podge, and wring until slightly damp.

Place one strip over the top of a balloon with the ends hanging spookily down, then place another strip criss-cross over the top, the ends hanging down also. Set aside to dry.

Repeat on the other balloons.

When they are dry to the touch, you can glue some little black pieces of felt for eyes, or use black markers or googly eyes from the craft store.

Now take a pin and pop the balloons, and remove them carefully from the bottom. Thread a bit of fishing wire or floss through the tops of their heads and Voila! You have a happy little family of spooky ghosts.

You can hang them anywhere, but I will be painting a branch black and adding them as the season goes on to make a Haunted Halloween tree. (I'll show you next weekend.)

Show me your ghosts! I'd love to post them.

Happy Haunting!

The craft next Friday will be Pet Ghosts--see you then for more spooky fun.

xo