Blog: Netherlands

Workshops in the Netherlands in April 2018

I’m happy to announce that I will be coming to the Netherlands in the spring to teach 2 workshops at De Scrapheap. Come join me on April 21 and 22, 2018 with some workshops to help you take your Art Journal to new places :) I am so excited to see both old friends and new faces at these workshops!

April 21, 2018

My Master Art Express workshop is a journey through art history that will help you find new inspiration for your art journaling. We’ll look to the work of master artists from all over Europe and then we’ll play with new techniques to help you push your own personal art journaling style.

April 22, 2018

Artvergnugen is all about taking your art journal to the next level! We’ll play with different media and techniques, we’ll use stamps, stencils, and acrylic paints to create rich layers, and we’ll discuss composition and making tough choices. Artvergnugen is what makes your art journal a work of art, and this workshop will get you there!

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My City Speaks to Me – Marsha Valk

CS April My City Speaks to Me Blue

Happy Tuesday!  It’s time for my Creative Squad to share a project with you with this month’s theme: “My City Speaks to Me”.  Throughout the month, the team will be using my new Urban Scribble Foam Stamp, Rubber Stamp and Stencil Set. This month’s theme is all about expressing what your hometown or city is all about.  What makes it special, vibrant, and important to you?  This month, our Creative Squad will take us on a trip to their city!

Today we have a super dimensional art journal page from Marsha Valk. Her interpretation of the theme takes us all the way to the Netherlands, and she asks us: how well do we really know our own city?
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Marsha April Headshot

I live in the middle of the Netherlands in a city with a beautiful medieval city centre.  The neighbourhood I live in was mostly built around the 1930-ies. I decided to concentrate on the question: ‘What does my city say to me?’ and explore that through art journaling.

I’ve never lived anywhere longer than I’ve lived here. I know the best places to eat, to shop, I know the most important sights, I have my own favourite ‘sights’, I know some of the history, but… what else do I know? Well… turns out that I’ve still got a lot to discover. My city is telling me to finally open my eyes. To view it in a different light. There are many places that I have always intended to visit, but that are still on the list. I really, really need to stop and look.

MarshaValk_NStudioCreativeSquad_MyCitySpeakstoMe

I started my page by stamping the Urban Scribble cling stamp at the bottom of the page with black ink. Then I created a mask by stamping the Urban Scribble foam stamp (twice) on a sheet of paper and then cutting the stamped image out. I used the mask to mask off each previous row of buildings before stamping another row behind it.

When I had about three rows, I switched gears and inked the Urban Scribble foam stamp with two different tones of Distress Ink and spray mist. To create the watercolour look, I sprayed the stamp with water after inking it up. I used this method to stamp until my whole page was covered, masking off each previous layer.

MarshaValk_NStudioCreativeSquad_MyCitySpeakstoMe_BeforeJournaling

I coloured the buildings with Distress Ink. I tapped some ink onto my craft mat, diluted it with a spritz of water and then picked up the colour with a watercolour brush.

MarshaValk_NStudioCreativeSquad_MyCitySpeakstoMe_Details

Once everything was dry, I added details and depth with markers, charcoal and coloured pencil. I also picked up some of the leftover ink from my craft mat with a make-up sponge and used that to stencil subtle little squares onto the buildings with the stencil that comes with the Urban Scribble Foam Stamp Set.

MarshaValk_NStudioCreativeSquad_MyCitySpeakstoMe_Journaling

Lastly I wrote down my journaling. I decided to put it in a circle, to emphasise the city being (my base) in the middle of the country.

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I think we can all relate to Marsha’s desire to take the time to slow down and explore more!  In her art journal page, I love how she used the Urban Scribble stamp with a mask to create a cityscape with many layers of buildings.  It’s also a gorgeous example of how certain colors and details can transform the stamp into a completely different place; last week it was NYC and this week Marsha brought us to the Netherlands.

Besides the supplies listed below, Marsha also used 13arts Ayeeda Mist in Pastel Yellow:
SuppliesCJS




And maybe you will even play along -we would love to see how you interpret the theme – email me how you used my stencils and stamps with the theme and email me an image – I would love to share what you did at the beginning of next month!

See you next Tuesday for the another project with the theme ‘My City Speaks to Me’.

Comments (6)

  • Dee Ann O'Brien

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    What a fabulously beautiful color combination- the foam city sky is inspired!

    Reply

  • EmK

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    I love this! I almost never work with brown, but you make it so appealing with this page! Lol. I love the circle writing too. You must be a very patient woman. :)

    Reply

    • marsha.

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      Hi Em! Thank you! LOL! I never work with brown either!!! But yes, it works on this page!

      Reply

  • Michelle LaPoint Rydell

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    Wow! Marsha, your piece is such a beautiful work of art! The layered background that you did with the foam stamps is simply amazing! Love everything about this!

    Reply

    • marsha.

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      Thank you Michelle!

      Reply

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Announcement: ArtFusion in The Netherlands Changes of Location and Date

We Heard You!!

Yes, we did! On our announcement of the Artfusion Event we planned we got a lot of comments about the location. Many of you asked us why we didn’t plan it somewhere in the middle of the Netherlands. It would be easier for you to get there and it would also increase the travel distance/time for a lot of you. Also we heard that April was already so full of events and stuff.
And we agree! So we decided to postpone the event and find a better location. We think we found the perfect place!

Artfusion will now take place June 15-16 in the middle of the lovely city of Utrecht. Being a big railways junction in the Netherlands and only 45 minutes by train from Schiphol airport we think Utrecht is one of the best places we could have chosen.

The facility (Kade Ateliers) is a canal house at the Leidsekade 17, near the center of Utrecht where we have the availability of 2 lovely, light rooms. As we see it, we have all the ingredients for an amazing creative weekend on hand here.

Here are some pictures of the location:

kade alteliers atelier 2

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We also made some changes in the workshops. You will find the schedule, the workshops and prices below:

SATURDAY, JUNE 15:

9.30 – 13.00 – Season Canvas Workshop by Nathalie Kalbach

In this Workshop with Nathalie Kalbach, you will create a stunning and unique canvas that will be a wonderful home décor item.

Learn how to create dimension and texture with tissue paper, items of daily life, acrylic paint, lace, burlap, and gesso.

Learn how to reveal the interesting and eye-catching texture with acrylic paints and acrylic inks and add some fun stamping techniques on top.

We will be adding lots of layers and dimension to make this a spring, summer, fall or winter canvas… just as you like. All the techniques can easily be applied to future projects.

14.00 – 17.30 Embossing and Beyond Mini Album Workshop by Birgit Koopsen

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SUNDAY, JUNE 16:

10.00 – 12.30 Mixed Media Meets Scrapbooking, a layout workshop by Birgit Koopsen

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13.30 – 16.00 Chalk on The Wild Side Mini-Album Workshop by Nathalie Kalbach

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Artfusion – Early Bird Packages:

Sign up before May 15 -2013 and the packages will be as followed

Saturday Package: 2 Workshops including lunch, drinks and snacks – 85 EUR

(signing up after May 15 – 95 EUR)

Sunday Package: 2 Workshops including lunch, drinks and snacks – 85 EUR

(signing up after May 15 – 95 EUR)

Weekend Package: 4 Workshops (2 on Saturday/2 on Sunday) including lunch, drinks and snacks – 160 EUR

(signing up after May 15 – 190 EUR)

On Saturday evening we also have a room available for those of you who just can’t stop and want to crop for a couple of hours.

You can sign up by emailing Birgit to  info@birgitkoopsen.nl  She will sent you the information and the requirements. Until upon payment you are on a waiting list. Your space is secured once your payment was received.

We are very much looking forward to see you for some Artfusion :)

Birgit & Nat

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