Creative Squad

Let’s Go Somewhere – Cheiron Brandon

Happy Valentine’s Day Everyone! Today is Tuesday and time for a post by my Creative Squad . Cheiron Brandon is sharing a beautiful Art Journal spread using the Batik 1 and Batik 2 Foam Stamps as well as the Embroidery and Stroll Through the Hood #1 Stamp Sets and this month’s theme: Let’s Go Somewhere. We’re in the depths of winter here in the Northern Hemisphere and looking for an escape! This month let’s reminisce about past vacations and plan future adventures to help us get through these gray days.

Hi there! Cheiron here with my monthly post. This month’s theme is Let’s Go Somewhere! I always love warm weather, but I am not opposed to snow an winter either. As we are approaching Valentine’s day my thoughts for my journal page drifted to Paris and the romantic pinks and blacks. I wouldn’t mind wandering through Paris in the snow and stopping to warm up every so often with some warm food and wine…

I created this page by laying down a foundation of gesso, then stamping with paint  to create lots of layers using the Batik Pattern 1 and 2 ArtFoamies and stenciled using the Beacon Stencil. I partially applied paint to the shapes I wanted by using a foam blending tool. I used lots of stamps from the new Mixed Media Stamps Embroidery Set and the awesome graffiti style love from the Stroll Through The Hood #1 Set.

To finish off the page, I added some splatter in coordinating colors. I can tell that these new stamps are going to be a staple in my art journal. I hope you are having a great day, whether its warm or cold where you are, and if you are planning a vacation or just dreaming of one!

Thank you so much Cheiron! I love how she used bits and pieces of the Foam Stamps instead of using them as a whole image and I also love the grungy feel of this page and the wonderful colors. Now I want to go to Paris too :)

Here are the supplies Cheiron used in her post- some links are affiliate links:


Play along with us! I love to see how you interpret our monthly themes. Email me how you used my stencils and stamps with the theme and email me an image – I would love to share your projects in my “n*Spiration From Around the Globe“.

Nat

Comments (3)

  • Michelle Rydell

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    Cheiron your page is beautiful! I love how you used the stamps, and those colors are yummy!

    Reply

  • Sherri Scott

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    Hey Nat! Of course you would have a Creative Squad. I’m glad Cheiron is a member. I have always enjoyed her work, it’s light, colorful and nice to look at.

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Sherri – so good to see you here :) Yes- I love Cheiron and her work! I hope I see you soon again my friend!!!! have a great rest of the week, Nat

      Reply

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Don’t Stand Still – Art Journal

“It’s only cold if you are standing still!” – Let’s keep on moving :)

I painted the background with acrylic paint and then layered the New Orleans 9×12 Stencil onto it and moved it around using different colored spray paints. The New Orleans stencils were inspired by the beautiful wrought iron balconies, gates, and fences known as “Iron Lace” in and around the city of New Orleans. New Orleans was one of the cities I visited on my very first trip to the U.S. in 1994 – and I really have to go back – I loved it a lot.

I pushed back the background by scraping some gesso using an old gift card over certain areas of the spread and stenciled over those gesso-ed areas using the New Orleans 4×4 Stencil.

For the catalogue image that I pasted onto the spread I used markers and acrylic paints.

Which city have you been to once and really want to go back to?

Here are some of the supplies I used for the spread – some links are affiliate links


have a wonderful day!

Nat

Comments (4)

  • Julie

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    What lovely layers and great quote! thank you for the process….I have a page with too much gesso on it to push back the color. Laying down stencils over it is the perfect solution (I’m slapping my forehead as I can’t believe I did not think to do this LOL!) I love how the white marker makes the page & image pop (another “why didn’t I think of this). Thank you for the inspiration, as always.

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Thank you Julie! Yeah- got and stencil over that spread- hope you share what you did!!! hugs, nat

      Reply

  • Sandi Miaskoff

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    This piece is beautiful. And the way you integrate pictures from different publications is awesome.
    I have a question about that, when you use a marker or paint on an image, does the paper warp?
    Keep ’em comin’. Sandi

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Thank you so much Sandi! As for the wrapping – When I use an acrylic marker, I don’t have any problems at all as the flow of paint is pretty low. As for using paint – I make sure to dry brush the paint on and use not super fluid paint. So with all that I so far never had a problem with the paper warp. It can wrap more likely when I apply it to the background – so I try to do that slow and make sure I apply the gel medium evenly. Hope that helps Sandi! have a wonderful weekend, nat

      Reply

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A Stroll Through the Hood – Art Journaling Page

Strolling through my hood really makes me happy – I love my city and I love the inspiration I get from it. I wrote a little about these warm feelings towards my home city in this journaling spread. For the page I painted with white gesso over a spread which I had used before to clean off some paint during painting on a canvas. I applied the gesso in areas more like a wash, as I like to have the underlaying background showing through for visual interest, but it does look way better knocked back a lot.

I had used the Beacon 9×12 Stencil on a different art journal spread with spray paint and cleaned off the access paint on the stencil with a deli paper sheet, resulting in the negative imagery of the Beacon Stencil- I love it- I love both versions. I ripped out an area of the printed deli paper and applied it with Gel Medium to the Background.

I also used the Granada 9×12 Stencil after using it on a different spread to clean it off on this page. Since it has the same colored red spray paint those marks here and there add some nice marks.

I stamped  using black archival ink with the stamps included in the Stroll Through the Hood 1 and Stroll Through the Hood 2 and applied them around the page- I love how the black ink makes the images really pop off the page

I also used a red ink pad to stamp with the Love Knots Stamp here and there and to repeat the read color used yet again.

I like this spread a lot- it is a bit different from my usual very paint filled page – but I think you can still see me :)

Here are the supplies I used in this spread- note that some links are affiliate links:


Nat

Comments (4)

  • gerriejohnnic

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    Had to wipe my keyboard off…..I drooled on it staring at this print you made! Really, really love your work GF!

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      LOL- Gerrie that made me laugh! Thank you so much for your sweet words! have a fantastic weekend!!!

      Reply

  • Joi@RR

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    Oh yes… even though it’s different – definitely can see YOU all over these pages Nat. And… this is SPECTACULAR. Love the openess but with so much dimension and hidden treasures to discover. One of my favorites now!! Xj.

    Reply

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Teaching at Artiscape in Dublin, Ohio April 28-30

I am teaching 3 Mixed Media Classes at Artiscape alongside with 21 other instructors April 28-30th in Dublin Ohio. You can choose between 48 different workshops and I hope I will see some of you there. Those events are always some of my favorite to teach at because of the size and the amount of likeminded peers you will meet and be around. There is something truly invigorating and inspiring to have so many creative people gathered in one spot. Here are the classes I am teaching:

April 28 – Fri @ 12:30 pm – 5:30 pm

It starts the moment you sit down, an experience that is distinctly art journaling. A quick exhilaration, a sense of control, the art media’s surprising responsiveness as if they were simply an extension of you. There is a word for this creative experience: Artvergnugen! Artvergnugen is what makes your journal a piece of art. Join me and play with different art media and supplies; discover fun layering techniques with stamps, stencils and acrylic paints. Let’s talk about colors, composition, love-it or list-it to truly reveal your own style, and learn techniques, tips and tricks to take your art journaling further and turn it into Artvergnugen.

This workshop is part of the three day Artiscape event in Dublin, Ohio. Artiscape is an artistic event of more than 50 mixed media workshops presented by a select group of professional instructors. Come for the weekend or the afternoon. The goal is a fun, educational weekend among friends, old and new!

Register Here

 

April 29 – Sat @ 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Imagine you could take a trip through Europe and at each stop one of the many masters of European art would materialize and invite you to explore their art to implement into your art journal. Let’s take this imaginary trip together and explore different European artists at each station, taking their artwork as an inspiration for mixed media techniques and colors. We will discuss why some things work and why some things don’t work and will solve the little “problems” that sometimes occur while creating art. Work with acrylic paints, acrylic inks, different tools and materials and gain a deeper knowledge about the versatility and possibilities of your art materials. Let the travel itself be part of the journey and take the elements of art in to push your own art journaling style just a notch further.

This workshop is part of the three day Artiscape event in Dublin, Ohio. Artiscape is an artistic event of more than 50 mixed media workshops presented by a select group of professional instructors. Come for the weekend or the afternoon. The goal is a fun, educational weekend among friends, old and new!

Register Here

April 30 – Sun @ 8:30 am – 12:30 pm

There is something so beautiful about a book – the cover, the spine, the paper, the typography and it makes a beautiful companion on a journey. Walk with Me and give an old and maybe discarded book a new colorful life. Learn fun stenciling, stamping and book altering techniques, how to draw when you can’t draw and use the book as a wonderful substrate to create a beautiful keepsake. Use acrylic paints, and inks and fun tools and techniques and be ready for a fun ride.

This workshop is part of the three day Artiscape event in Dublin, Ohio. Artiscape is an artistic event of more than 50 mixed media workshops presented by a select group of professional instructors. Come for the weekend or the afternoon. The goal is a fun, educational weekend among friends, old and new!

Register Here

Cannot come to Artiscape, but want to take a class with me? Check out my In-Person- Classes Page – where I am constantly updating where I will be teaching in the next couple months. For example, I am teaching with my sweet friend Birgit Koopsen in New York City as well as at an event near Syracuse, NY and I am right now finalizing a couple more in the US and outside of the US :) I love teaching in person and I hope to meet you (again!)

Nat

Comments (2)

  • stephanie

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    hi Nat – SSOOOOO excited to have you coming to Cbus! I am signed up and ready to go. Stephanie

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      wohoooo- that is sooo cool! I cannot wait to meet you :)

      Reply

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Your Dreams Are Valid – Art Journal

“No matter where you are from, your dreams are valid” Lupita Nyong’o

I created this art journaling spread a couple weeks ago when I was making samples for my new stencil release and as I am writing this blogpost right now the quote resonates with me more than ever.

I used my new Kassel 9 x 12 Stencil with this spread. This stencil was inspired by the modern elements that can be found in Kassel, Germany (where I went to school for a couple years) , home to the Documenta art fair for modern and contemporary art.

I used this magazine image with Lupita and so I think a family member (I don’t remember anymore because I tore the image out of the magazine a while ago to use it later) and painted over it with acrylic paints and markers.

Hope you like the spread and the stencil :)

Here is what I used for it – some links are affiliate links:


Nat

Comments (6)

  • pandygirl12

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    I love this one, Nathalie. Your style really inspires me. I’m a self-taught novice when it comes to all of this. I did my first CJS this year and enjoyed it so much. Do you ever teach classes in the Raleigh, NC area?

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Janice, thank you so much! So glad you enjoyed CJS. I would teach in NC if I would get invited. I am always open to travel to teach. Hopefully some day. I always post my classes on my blog or on my Facebook page. HOpefully we will meet each other some day. Have a wonderful rest of the week, nat

      Reply

  • aksusan

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    Nathalie,
    Thanks for sharing this awesome quote and your beautiful page with us!
    s

    Reply

  • Cheryl

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    Oh, this is just wowzers! I love the color pops and dresses. Especially love the scribble details on both dresses. Awesome journal spread!!❤

    Reply

  • Barb Charlotte, NC

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    Just a note to tell you how much I enjoy your work. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

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Be the Light – An Art Journal Spread

“Be the light you want to be in this world”

I love this quote – such a beautiful thought and call to action!

For this spread I used my new Beacon 9×12 Stencil . The stencil design itself was inspired by the gorgeous Art Deco era buildings known as The Beacon in Jersey City. It used to be a hospital and some people believe they are haunted. The Beacon towers sit on a hilltop not far from me and I can see them from the deck.

I used different colored spray paint through the stencil. I cleaned the access paint off the stencil by dabbing a deli paper onto it – you can see a torn out piece of the “clean up” deli paper as an collage element revealing the negative image of the stencil.

I added the journaling and some marks with a pencil.

Do you have a building close to where you live, that inspires you?

Here are some of the supplies I used in this spread- some of the links are affiliate links:

 

Nat

Comments (2)

  • Julie

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    I got this stencil but stumped for inspiration so thank you for this post. Love the layers, colors and message. There you go again with the spray paint LOL! I had so much fun playing with them in class. Thank you!

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Yeahhhh- so glad you liked the post and hey there will be more with that stencil to come :) And …do the spray paint —it is so much fun! So glad I was able to show you girls in the San Jose weather :)

      Reply

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Photos of my Workshops at A Work of Heart in San Jose, CA

Last week, after attending the Creativation Show, I flew to San Jose and taught three classes there at  A Work of Heart

I stayed in a lovely little pool house and this was my view out of my room. I wanna come back in the summer :)

My first class was “Walk With Me” an Altered Book class and it was so much fun to see the student’s take on it

HA – I loved how Julie put my business card with me new book cover behind the window of her book cover :) FUN

It was such a sweet and talented group and I was really lucky because I was terribly sick last week. I was helped with medicine, fresh oranges and tea- thank you girls!!

Love the studio space- so much color- so inspiring. Below you see some photos of the “Mixed Media Collage – Play Transform” Class

So much beautiful collage paper was being made – color bliss!

Lots of pattern play too

And then on Wednesday I taught my whole day “Artvergnugen – Art Journal ” Class .

 

Look at the awesome tile pattern – yum

and heaps of layers were added to create beautiful art journal pages.

And since the weather was brightening up we could even experiment with spray paint out side – now that was super fun!

I think they liked it a lot ;)

Time to add some finishing touches to the pages :)

And slowly all came together – Art Vergnugen …the pleasure of playing in your art journal ;)

Thank you all for a wonderful time- you were truly inspiring and amazing!

And here is my wonderful host Andrea – Thank you so much for having me Andrea, I am looking forward coming back  :)

Do you want to take an In-Person-Class with me ?- here is where you can find me in

MARCH: 

Mono Print Painting with Nat Kalbach and Birgit Koopsen at The Ink Pad in NYC

 

Artful Transfers with Nat Kalbach & Birgit Koopsen at The InkPad in NYC

Color Crush – 3Day Art Journaling Class with Nat Kalbach & Birgit Koopsen at OOAK Artisan Showcase in Syracuse, NY

Check out more workshops this year on my In-Person-Class Page

Have a wonderful day!!!!

Nat

Comments (4)

  • Jean Goza

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    The workshop was awesome! Learned a lot and had so much fun. Thanks for sharing your photos. So much inspiration and beauty. Looking forward to your next visit to California.

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Awe- thank you so much for coming Jean- it was so awesome to finally meet you after “meeting you online” . Looking forward to come back :)

      Reply

  • jbonomo

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    Thank you, Nathalie, for making two days of arting so much fun filled with color, inspiration, and learning what is possible. You are one fabulous talented teacher and tempting me to fly out for your upcoming classes. HA!

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      AWE – thank You Julie! You girls were just so amazing ! I cannot wait to see you again in California or elsewhere :)have a gorgeous weekend!

      Reply

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Breathing Dreams Like Air

Dreams, we all have them, or so I hope ;) I have a couple more dreams, right now a very easy one … SUMMER – LOL. Yeah- that is one dream, but of course I have a couple more.

I used my new Manhattan Stencils on this page with acrylic paint- the 9×12 and the 4×4 – different sizes, same pattern- BLISS.

I also used the Grunge XXX Stamp with acrylic paint, yup, that’s how I roll. Just make sure to clean the stamp right away so that you don’t ruin it. Baby Wipe is your friend!

Hope you like my pattern play and you are breathing dreams like air today.

Here is a short list of supplies- some links are affiliate links:


Nat

Comments (2)

  • jbonomo

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    Love that stencil and the Manhattan stamp too……but seriously, how did i miss the Mark Maker Stamps in class. That’s been on my wish list for awhile….guess I will have to go shopping once again.

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Thank you so much Julie – Yeah the Manhattan stencil and stamp are one of my faves – it feels to me super vibrant, just as Manhattan – LOL ! The Mark Maker stamps are out of stock but should be back in stock in a couple days again – I reordered them :)

      Reply

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Go ahead, underestimate me! – sassy Art Journal Spread ;)

I thought it was funny :) And I love Lupita Nyong’o and I wanted to use her image from a magazine.

I used my new Chicago Stencil and sprayed over it with acrylic spray paint.

I used different markers to paint over the magazine image. When I applied the magazine image, it crinkled up a bit, which I add to “oops, oh – good now it has some wrinkles and texture- good”

I added the journaling with a red and pink marker and traced the outside of the letters in black. I like the page- even though it is a pretty simple one in terms of layering

Here are the supplies I used – some links are affiliate links:


Wishing you a gorgeous day!!!!

Nat

Comments (6)

  • Julie B

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    Love this (and even better in person)……can’t wait for the stencil; love how clean the image from this stencil is with spray paint and the quote cracks me up. Thank you!

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Thank you Julie! HA and now that you played with spray paint in my class…maybe you are on it yourself ;)

      Reply

  • LauraB

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    yaaaassss, Queen, yaaaaasssss!

    Reply

  • Barb Charlotte, NC

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    Very creative. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

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