NEW Painting - An Amazing Journey

An Amazing Journey. Original (SOLD).
Prints available in my shop.

This is the November project for my online course SERENDIPITY - A Year In Mixed Media.

SERENDIPITY is all about overcoming creative blocks and strengthening your own unique style, so with every project I try and push my paintings in new directions and share just what inspired each piece. 

So An Amazing Journey came about after I'd been inspired by my friend and artist Efi Kokkinaki. 

by Efi Kokkinaki. 

by Efi Kokkinaki. 

I just love the dreaminess in Efi's work. But when I tried to let her imagery inspire my paintings, I froze. 

I had been trying so hard to repeat Efi's beautiful four-legged creatures in my own way, that I lost the beauty I felt while looking at her work. So I gave up. I set my expectations aside and decided to let go of any idea of what I wanted to paint. 

I grabbed a background I wasn't liking and decided to cover it up. 

I was looking for something new and remembered an image Efi had shared with me of one of her fluid backgrounds. So I repeated the motion I saw in her background. From there, I started having fun again.

I found a way to incorporate something from her work into my own. I let go of trying to push my artwork in a new direction and allowed what was inside of me to be set out into my own painting. 

And immediately I saw a horse running in the paint. 

An Amazing Journey. Original (SOLD).
Prints available in my shop.

I titled this piece An Amazing Journey as a reminder to keep letting go, allowing new inspirations and revelations to lead me just where I need to be. 

Happy painting!

xo,

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ps. If you're interested in seeing An Amazing Journey in progress and painting lots of different characters together for the entire year, find details on SERENDIPITY-A Year In Mixed Media and register here.

A NEW Painting - STAR RISING

STAR RISING. Original (SOLD).
Prints available here.

This is the October project for my online course SERENDIPITY- A Year In Mixed Media.

It was a painting I created to demonstrate two characters based on inspirations from some of my past paintings. 

However, as I was painting, I realized I was "trying" so hard to paint certain things and to make the left character a moon and the right character a girl. 

Because I was "trying" I stopped having fun. 

Then I remembered these characters could be whatever I dream. And from there, the painting evolved into a new story I never would have thought of. 

STAR RISING. Original (SOLD).
Prints available here.

For this piece I used some of my favorite art supplies (especially when I got stuck)... shiva oil paint sticks, spray paints, tissue papers, cookbook pages, acrylics, and water soluble oil pastels.

My favorite part in this painting is the rainbow on the bear's forehead. That was one of those beautiful mistakes- something I never could have planned for, but that I let work into the painting.

I had been painting something in the girl and smudged red all across the bear's forehead. Instead of covering it up, I made it into a rainbow.

Happy painting!

xo,

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ps. For more art supply inspiration and lots of painting find details on my online courses here. 

A NEW Painting Video & A GIVEAWAY!

SERENDIPITY. Prints available in my shop.

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.  Live the life you have imagined". – Henry David Thoreau

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Thank YOU so very much for all of your kind words and enthusiasm about my newest online course, SERENDIPITY - A Year In Mixed Media. 

I cannot wait to paint with all of you for the entire year!

Your support means more than I can ever express, and I can't even say how excited I am for class to begin on September 16! This is the first time I'm teaching a class throughout the entire year and after hearing from so many of you that you just don't ever get enough time to create, it seemed like the perfect thing to do. And the classroom will be open for 2 years.

Find all of the class details and register right here.

And to celebrate it all, I'm having a GIVEAWAY! 

*update: the giveaway has ended. thank you to everyone who entered.*

The winner will receive a spot in SERENDIPITY. Just leave a comment to this post and include your email address by September 10, 2013 11:59 EST and I'll randomly choose the winner and announce it here on Wednesday before class begins. If you've already registered, no worries, you can still enter and either choose to be refunded or pass your free spot onto a friend.

And now for a little video inspiration...

I hope you enjoy this video. It's a snip-it from the first project we'll be painting in SERENDIPITY - A Year In Mixed Media. 

In class, I slow down most of the video from start to finish and talk you through each step, so you can see just how every layer got there and know why I create the way I do to make it easiest for you to paint too. 

I can't wait to see the gorgeous artwork you create!

*Update: The sale spots are nearly sold out. Payment plans are always welcome. 

Find all of the class details and register right here.

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ps. A HUGE Thank you to my husband Brian of Humanity. He's not only in the process of developing my new website, but also edits my painting videos and builds the platform for my online courses. 

You can see what Brian's been working on here.

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pps. Did you catch the fabulous song in the video by my amazing song-writing friends the wiggly tendrils? I just can't even say how grateful I am to them for letting me use their music in all of my painting videos. 

Check out more of their songs here.

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ppps. I'm sending out my monthly newsletter soon-ish. if you'd like to hear all of the latest and be the first to see new paintings and get coupons. 

Sign up here.

Have a wonderful and inspirational weekend!!!

Registration is Open & an EARLY, EARLY BIRD SALE!

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

To celebrate, I'm opening registration with a very special EARLY, EARLY BIRD SALE this weekend only (this will be the lowest price for this class this year).

Sign up for EARLY EARLY BIRD registration at $119 until 11:59PM EST Sunday August 18, 2013... after that the course will go to regular early bird pricing of $139. Once that tier is filled up, the cost will go to full pricing of $169.

Register Here.

I am so crazy excited for my new online course SERENDIPITY - A Year In Mixed Media where we'll be painting together for an entire year!

This class has been on my mind for some time as I've been wrapping up many creative projects to allow more time to create. I just can't wait to dive back into painting and exploring new techniques, styles and playing with all sorts of fun art supplies. 

My hope for you in this class is that these paintings and inspirations throughout the year will give you a place to begin, so you can get over creative blocks, have fun and paint in a style that is unique to YOU.

That means we'll be painting whimsical animals, girls, imaginary creatures, owls and so much more (I'll even demonstrate one of my new BIG paintings)!

The classroom will remain open to you for two years when you register now, so if you'd like to get the most out of this class, be sure to register early!

I just can't thank you all enough for your kindness, encouragement and support! THANK YOU! I cannot wait to paint more with you. Painting has always been my passion. And I am so very honored to be able to share my art with you!  

See What We'll Be Painting In Serendipity, Read the FAQ and REGISTER HERE.

Have a phenomenal weekend!

xoxo,

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ps. Read what past students have said about my workshops here and see the GORGEOUS artwork they've created!

Serendipity Registration Opens Tomorrow!

I'm so excited for this new year-long painting class to begin! Thank you for all of your support and kindness.

To celebrate, I'm opening registration for SERENDIPITY - A Year In Mixed Media with a very special EARLY, EARLY BIRD SALE. 

Sign up for my newsletter if you'd like a little reminder in your inbox. 

Registration Opens at 6AM EST TOMORROW (August 16, 2013). I cannot wait to share all I learn about painting for the entire next year!

In the meantime, here is a new BIG owl painting I've finished...

DREAMS IN COLOR. Contact me to purchase the original.

This piece is one of the latest 2.5 foot square canvases I've been painting.

It's been so fun to bring all of my art supplies out onto the patio and paint BIG.

I call this owl DREAMS IN COLOR... it's a bit of a nod to all of the hope, beauty and peace that lies waiting for you, right around the corner.

See you tomorrow when registration opens for SERENDIPITY- A Year In Mixed Media!

xoxo,

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ps . Sign up for my newsletter for a little reminder when SERENDIPITY registration opens and to get in on the EARLY, EARLY BIRD SALE.