FLASH SALE! painting bundle

Whose in the mood to paint?  I've got a FLASH SALE happening for the next 24 hours!

I've bundled four of my favorite online painting classes together for $30 (compare at $145 for all three) a cost savings of $115!

If you are interested in learning all kinds of expressive, messy and FUN painting techniques, head on over to the shop HERE for more details or to register.

Offer ends Tuesday, October 1 at 10am PST

Once you register and pay, within 24 hours you will receive an email confirmation with class information.

LARGER THAN LIFE

There is nothing more liberating than working big, and this class will introduce you to working larger than life with paint and a variety of different surfaces. Forget about being confined by the size of your surface and start embracing what it feels like to get inside your paintings. We will experiment with working on the floor and on the wall, as well as reaching, crawling, and stretching around our large surfaces to get up close and personal with the creative process. You will learn about simple/affordable supplies, composition and a variety of painting and collage techniques to use on a large surfaces.

POETRY AND PAINT

I love drawing and painting in my art journal but I also really love using words, lyrics, quotes and my own writing and poetry on those pages. In this class we will work through a variety of poetry and free writing prompts and turn them into art! We will explore handwriting, expressive free writing, color, composition and a variety of creative ways to turn those words into art.

ARTFUL HANDS

You haven't lived as an artist until you have used your fingers and hands to make art! In this class we are throwing away our brushes and tools and using our hands. I'll be sharing a variety of my favorite tricks, tips and techniques for using our hands and fingers to create beautiful and expressive art.

This class is what I like to call a "micro class" it is structured into 1 LARGE lesson.

PAINTERS BLISS

Join me for a colorful and messy class dedicated to breaking free and finding the bliss that comes with the process of acrylic painting! I will be sharing all my favorite supplies, techniques, tips, tricks and prompts when it comes to painting from the heart. From art journal pages, to small surfaces to painting on a variety of unique materials, we will explore different painting surfaces. We will explore color, expression, movement, composition, how to "let go" and discover ways to listen to our intuition when painting. 

Class is structured into 5 lessons

FACTS:

• Classes are held on a private blog that only registered students are able to access.  
• All information for the class is all posted at once and ready for access and work at your own pace.
• YOU WILL HAVE UNLIMITED ACCESS once you register
• Basic computer skills are needed (be able to login, access a blog, etc) 
• There will be : LOTS of photos step by step visuals, video lessons of yours truly teaching and teaching in my studio.
• A high speed connection is definitely recommended (because of the above!) 
• Supplies needed are very simple, inexpensive art/craft items- (I strongly believe creating art should not cost a lot of money!!) 
• Feel free to register at anytime.
• No refund unless there are special circumstances.

express yourself

Today permission is granted to make a mess! Get lost in the process, be wild and unabandoned.

Permission granted to just embrace the process, let it all go and get messy! I promise, it will feel really good.

And when it comes to creating in messy ways, the best advice I can give is to make time to throw out all that pressure and just express yourself with those supplies! Forget about your art looking like anything beautiful, forget about pressure to show or sell it, forget about fear and just express yourself! 

• Work fast and off the top of your head- go with your gut!

• Music can make a HUGE difference! Blast your favorite music and see what kind of brush strokes and marks it inspires.

• Challenge yourself to move your hands, arms, or even your entire body while you are creating.

• Experiment with holding your materials in different ways. I've found that holding my paint brush in different ways enables me to capture different kinds of energy and emotion in my mark making process.

• Try picking colors with your emotions. Instead of planning or spending too much time thinking, try selecting colors quickly based on what you are feeling.

• Try assigning a word or an emotion to your brushstrokes.

• Embrace expression and abstraction!

• Try to forget about things looking and feeling perfect and instead give yourself permission to get lost in the process.

a peek inside my process- working in layers

If you've been following me for a while, you will know that layers are my jam! I love combining a variety of supplies and techniques to create colorful surfaces with lots of detail and pattern. Over time, I've developed my own little layering process that really helps me stay inspired but it also gives me the opportunity to be messy and refined throughout my layers.

Today I've got a keep inside my process and a few tips for layering! 

When it comes to painting I love beginning most of my surfaces with a couple layers of fast messy color- sometimes I use my hands, a brush, a palette knife....basically I will use anything to get color on that page- the messier the better!

Those layers are when I work free, expressive and from a place of intuition and zero plan. Just lots of color!

The only way to keep those colors bright and dynamic is to let each layer dry in between. I always have my handy hair dryer next to me so I can hit each layer of color with warm air.

I also enjoy using complimentary colors or contrasting colors in different layers. This keep that color popping and looking really dynamic.

Once it’s all dry, I slow it down and use these messy and colorful backgrounds as a place to draw or work with lots of detailed pattern or line work. My favorite tools are permanent black pens and a Uni-ball Signo white pen.

Layering can be intimidating but once you get the hang of it, it’s super fun to combine lots of different techniques and color on the same page!

happy weekend!

dahlia season

a peek inside my process- blue watercolor flowers

let's talk money!

When you are an artist or a creative entrepreneur, talking about money can feel awkward but it’s totally normal and necessary especially if you are trying to build something successful. Today I am opening up about my own philosophy on money and pricing. Spoiler alert- it doesn’t include profit margins, formulas or overhead rates!

new class! journal it out!

I am so excited to announce my next online class Journal It Out and today I've got a little preview for the next two weeks we have an early bird sale happening!

JOURNAL IT OUT

begins September 23rd

$50.00 EARLY BIRD SALE $35.00

I teach a lot of classes on how to make art but what I haven't shared is one of the most profound and important ways that I USE art and the creative process. I've discovered after a lifetime of creativity- that sometimes you don't have words or images or even the time to create your next masterpiece. Honestly, sometimes you've got so much going on in your life, your head and your heart that you don't feel like making "something" beautiful. It is in these moments that I let all of that go and I use the creative process to express myself, get my feelings out, work through my emotions and document my experiences and memories.

In this class I share how to use your art journal as a personal and sacred space to connect with your feelings, memories and experiences. Without pressure, we will work through over 40 expressive, abstract and intuitive concepts and techniques that will give you the courage and the confidence to tap into your own unique narrative. My hope is to show you simple but proufound ways to connect your art with your emotions and your life and how amazing it can feel to just journal it out!

IMPORTANT NOTE:

I am not a therapist, I am simply an artist who has used the creativity to process, heal, celebrate and find power in my experiences and I want to share these things with you! I make no promise of healing, finding joy or overcoming hard things by taking this class- but I do promise that you will walk away with really simple and applicable concepts to connect creativity to your experiences. 

more information or register HERE

a peek inside my process- watercolor flowers