Nat
Artist Quote of the Week – Sigmar Polke
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nathalie-kalbach
Artist Quote of the Week – Alberto Giacometti
Nat
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stephanie
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Joi@RR
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh – so we shouldn’t be surprised when it comes out different!!!!???????? Wow – such an interesting quote. This painting has incredible dimension – it looks like a real room. So interesting the way it is done… I really like it a lot. Thanks for starting my day off with a great quote to think about Nat. j.
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Finally Be You or … In My Art Journal Today
What if every day is the perfect day to finally be exactly who you were always meant to be?
I love playing in my art journal before starting to paint on a canvas- it loosens me up and get’s me in the groove.
Played with Soft Body Paints and Inks as well as my Batik Stencil and the orange marks are actually from a baster :) I love using weird tools for mark making.
For the journaling and sketching marks I mixed soft Liquitex Soft Body Paint and some Acrylic Ink into a Fine Line Bottle.
that was fun :)
Before I get to the supplies – please check also out my guest blog post on the Cloth Paper Scissors blog showing a sneak peak tutorial for my upcoming Art Journaling Live Workshop together with Dina Wakley , Julie Fei-Fan Balzer and Mary Beth Shaw. :)
Thank you for stopping by and have a wonderful day!
Nat
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Joi@RR
So love seeing you in the magazine Nat – that makes me feel so proud and happy for you! YEAH!
I think this journal page is fabulous. LOVE the colors and totally laughed about your orange baster marks!! Love the outfit your gal is wearing. SUPER FINE creation!
In answer to your question…. yes! I would like a day to be who I was truly meant to be but… I couldn’t tell you what that is!!!! Not there yet – that’s for sure!!! j.
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Art Journaling Live 2015 – Workshop in Arlington, Texas -June18
So stoked to teach along my friends Julie Fei-Fan Balzer, Dina Wakley and MaryBeth Shaw an Art Journaling LIVE class on June 18 in Arlington, Texas.
My part of the workshop is called “Tooling Around”
Let’s tool around and make the most of your supplies! Use brayers, brushes, palette knives, stamps, and stencils and other inexpensive tools along with acrylic paints and media in different ways. Learn how to create unique and layered backgrounds in your art journal. Create dimension and texture by painting, scraping, stamping, stenciling and glazing. All techniques in this class can be used outside your art journal too—think mixed-media projects, canvases, and even paper crafting projects. The sky is the limit.
Learn how to:
• Get more use out of familiar and unfamiliar tools.
• Work with paints and mediums to create compelling pages.
• Use stamps in new ways to make layered backgrounds.
You can read all details about the workshop the four of us are teaching together and sign up here.
Special Note: when you purchase a ticket to Art Journaling LIVE you will also receive an ALL ACCESS PASS to the Great American Scrapbook Convention happening on-site throughout the weekend at the Arlington Convention Center.
I hope you will join us- cannot wait to see you!
Nat
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Dee Spillane
I am already signed up. Can’t wait. It will be good to see you again.
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nathalie-kalbach
awesome Dee! Looking forward seeing you soon !
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Artist Quote of the Week – Helen Frankenthaler
Nat
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Joi@RR
Thank you Nat. You are actually the person that taught me this… last fall and then again in CJS. BUT… I still forget… try to get it perfect or right or just so or what others think it should be! NO RULES…. OK. YEAH. Just what I needed to hear today doing a project for a group with “rules”!!! Now I’m going to finish it like I (me, myself and I) like it!!!! Hugs. j.
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Trying to learn Finnish or … Europe Tour is coming up!
I cannot believe I am leaving for my little Europe tour already in 1 1/2 weeks. I am so excited.
All the paints are shipped and waiting for us (thanks to Liquitex for all the help!!!), a new suitcase is ordered after the last one broke on the trip to Oklahoma and I am starting to think of the temperatures in the different places I will be …from super hot to …maybe a bit cold ;)
First stop will be Madrid, Spain on May 30th for Cuchy and my 4th Art Mesa Mixed Media Event !
There are still some spots available- so if you are in the area :) – Sign up and join us!
Then I will stop over in Germany for a couple days to visit my loved ones in my old home :) I am so looking forward to see my peeps and I have a whole list of what I want to eat and where I want to go and…oh wait..I only have 3 days…mhhh !
Next stop is Turku, Finland June 6&7 for Matka Luovuuteen together with my friend Birgit Koopsen.
There are only 2 more seats available- so if you are in the area- come and join us!
After Finland I will spent some time with Birgit in her home in The Netherlands …we have creative fun plans! Maybe instead of just chatting we will actually even paint together- we will see ;)
And last but not least a stop in Ede, The Netherlands on June 13&14 for the De Craftorij Retreat 2015
There are still a couple seats left and you can sign up for Saturday, Sunday or both days!
Working on getting everything ready on time – and trying to learn some new words ….like:
- Leikkuualusta askarteluveitsen kanssa käytettäväksi
This means Cutting Mat in Finnish …I think I will fail this language …off to learn Cutting Mat in Dutch and Spanish – maybe I am better there – I am sure I will make a fool of myself trying – LOL
DOEI (that means Bye in Dutch …one of the few words I know!) – have a gorgeous day!
Nat
Comments (6)
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Joi@RR
Oh myyyy Nat – I would never have the courage to do what you are doing even if I were as fit as a fiddle as in my younger years! I’m such a home body! But… I totally admire you for going and know – without a doubt – that everyone is looking forward to you arriving and teaching and hugging. IT WILL ALL BE SUPER FINE in every way. I will be thinking of you and keeping you in my prayers. HAVE FUN… and bring back lots of pictures!!! Can’t wait to see them. j.
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nathalie-kalbach
Thank you Joi! you are the sweetest and I will post a lot of photos – promised :)
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lynda howells
oh wish you were coming to London .. maybe next time? I have a spare bed!!x lynda
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nathalie-kalbach
I would love to come to London for workshops-! thank you Lynda!
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michelle ward
Sounds like a whirlwind adventure!! I’m green with envy you are going to Finland! Can’t wait to read about upon your return. Safe travels!
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nathalie-kalbach
thank you Michelle!!! huge hugs to you!
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The Chunky Monkey Painting or … City Spring
I started a new urban painting and wanted to change things up in how I start my paintings . So instead of the normal procedure I forced myself to do it a bit differently.
I was inspired by some sgraffito in paintings by Paul Klee and Jean Dubuffets – which I have just shown in my Post here. Here is how my painting looked for a couple days when I was undecided if I should leave it like this or not. I actually really liked it.
I love taking photos of my work in progress to see in hindsight what I did and sometimes also …where I should have not taken the next step. As in this. Now that I look back …I almost ;) wish I would have just stopped. But I didn’t …a weird “this cannot be it” – feeling kicked in …and so I continued. And I went a bit overboard with it … kind of like when you hand me a jar of Ben and Jerry’s “Chunky Monkey” Ice Cream …nothings gonna stop me there either ;) although I know pretty much after two scoops that should be it.
Pretty soon I realized that it is not going into the right direction, but then I just wanted to see how far I could push it and I painted a lot with palette knifes -which I usually only use for texture. That was cool. And then I also got totally addicted to sketching with a mixture of Soft Body Paint and Ink (Titanium White and Carbon Black) filled into a Fineline bottle. I know now exactly the consistency of the mixture of those two paint media I need to make it work. I just loved the way the lines came out and the erased dimensional look.
Do I regret going further although I am not loving the outcome? Nope …absolutely not. I learned a lot by doing this and I found some new things I definitely want to incorporate more into new paintings. I also learned that less is sometimes more and not boring …although overall more is more for me… I might just sulk and eat some Chunky Monkey now ;)
I think it is important to do things in our creative process that we are not loving in order to stretch ourselves and learn . I really enjoyed the process and keeping track of this, so the time was not wasted. And you know what …I can always make a new painting … maybe I even just gesso over this one …the texture underneath will probably already define the city skyline …what do you think? Now that makes me excited about this again … LOL – maybe it will be the continuing City Spring Canvas Saga.
Are you a less is more or more is more person?
Nat
Comments (10)
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Cheryl
I really like it, for it looks quite professional. I loved all the colors you used, and it looks and feels like an inner city. I hope you will keep it, frame it, a d. E pleased with the results of pushing yourself. I would hang it in my home!
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nathalie-kalbach
Thank you Cheryl for your sweet words!
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JanJ
Wow! I like both. In the original the colors are soft and light. I struggle trying to keep in pastel colors. To me, your completed one is more dynamic and powerful. I just can’t choose. Thumbs Up!
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nathalie-kalbach
yeah- the pastel was my problem too – it is just not me – mmmh mhhh – LOL
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Joi@RR
Good morning Nat. I like the first one – the more pastel one BUT… here’s the thing… if I went in a gallery looking for your paintings – I would never have picked the first one as YOURS. Sooooooooo…. my fav is the second one. PLEASE don’t gesso over it!!! It’s really Wonderful. Totally love the brown building especially the staircase and the sign on top. To me… it just is so you and also – to me – it’s a work of art. The first one is lovely – and it could be a new side of you – but the second one is FABULOUS… I love it. j.
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nathalie-kalbach
Thank you for your feedback Joi! I agree- the first one was just not feeling me – but I liked it :)
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Deborah A. Pierro
Nat, I like the soft look of your new urban painting. I also like your previous urban paintings.
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nathalie-kalbach
Thank you Deborah! it is good to see you!!!
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Bea
sorry, i like it…b
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nathalie-kalbach
Thank you Bea :)
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About weird paths, art, rejection and on keeping on going
Connie from 21 Secrets recorded a fun conversation with me with some fun questions about my journey as an artist, about my art itself, persistence, and how to deal with rejection and there is no shame , and other things … I had a great time – I always love when questions make you think and realize things for yourself.
Here is the interview it is about 45 mins long (boy yes…I have a lot to say – LOL) – hope you enjoy it :)
21 SECRETS Conversations with Nat Kalbach from Connie Solera on Vimeo.
Thanks Connie for having this fun conversation and also for having me for the 21 Secrets Spring Workshop.
Nat
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Joi@RR
This was wonderful Nat. I did/have 21 Secrets and of course… as always… you were/are one of my favorite teachers. GREAT interview – so fun – enjoyed it so much that I was sad that it ended so quickly (well it seemed quick!!!). j.
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nathalie-kalbach
Thank you so much Joi :) So glad you enjoy the 21 Secrets workshop !
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Nah No Worries My Friends …or NYC Adventures
I got some questions if I am alright as I have been neglecting my blog a bit – Nahhhh, no worries my friends – I am well off. I am just scrambling right now with time! The last couple weeks I have been doing a lot in NYC and there was just not enough hours in the day to get everything and blogging done :) I’m just keeping it 100!
I spent some time at Pratt Institute to prepare things for my workshop and took dorky pictures at The InkPad later ….but hey …I think my high school art teacher would faint if she could see this – LOL
I had amazing students and I loved the room I am teaching in too …and btw …I got a locker for my supplies – YEAH- hahahaha- I know, crazy Europeans …get excited over lockers ;)
The other reason I spent loads of time in NYC …particularly at MoMA, was that I took a four week long class on Cubism there. Corey d’Augustine was the Instructor and as the classes I had taken with him in the past, this was awesome. I learned a lot.
Here is Corey in front of Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon showing some early signs of cubism and the influence of African Masks.
One of the best things of the class was, that I could convince my friend Julie to join me …although she told me she “hates” cubism and if the class stinks she would “let me know” every single session. We are still good friends…so I think it wasn’t that bad for her- LOL
The most amazing thing about these classes is, that you are with about 5 people alone in the evening in the gallery – you can see paintings up close and without a crowd of people poking their cameras in front of you – love !!!
Even on the flatest Cubist Paintings the brush strokes and hand of the artist are evident …makes me always super happy to see this!
here a close up of Umberto Boccioni’s Dynamism of a Soccer Player. I definitely appreciated the return of color into Cubism – the super intellectual approach to Cubism is interesting and I appreciate it but it is not really my cup of tea
Picasso’s Three Muscians make me happy :)
and collage elements like in Kazimir Malevich’s Reservist of the First Devision.
While walking around I also took notice of those non-cubist paintings – which totally inspired me at home to take a different approach to a new urban painting- I will share later :)
Paul Klee’s Pastorale (Rhythms) – the sgraffito …LOOOOOOOVEEEE
Jean Dubuffet’s Building Facades – OMG – I wanted to touch it …so so cool – I didn’t …believe me…I would not want to be excluded coming back to MoMA- LOL- it is my second home ;)
but seriously …look at that!!!
And then some wonderful friends from back “home” came to visit
And it was wonderful to spent time with them and speak Denglish …that is what happens when you have English in your head and try to speak German ….the first three sentences are a weird mix – LOL. Miss my friends already.
We went to ….MoMA – yep – I spare you with more MoMA pictures and walked from there to the Rockefeller Center and well…then just up ;) Nice view… I like that you can see Jersey City on the right corner :)
After a stop for Korean BBQ in Korea town we passed the Flat Iron building and walked down to the Highline. It is fun to play tourist in NYC especially when the weather is so nice!
I just love the Highline- yes it is crowded but the views and the different perspective of the city is just awesome.
I loved this sculpture called “physical graffiti” by Damian Ortega which looked so cool against the wall.
And this is the last picture …which is a pretty good one for a last picture of a post :)
Hope you had fun seeing what I was up to in the last weeks in the city …now …of for some studio time ! Have a gorgeous day you all!
Nat
Comments (9)
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Joi@RR
Always always enjoy a glimpse at your world Nat. This was wonderful. The gallery and paintings were so interesting. Thanks bunches and bunches for sharing. j
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nathalie-kalbach
Thank you Joi- glad you enjoyed the photos! If I cannot take you guys with me into the gallery, then it has to be this way, right? :)
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Sue Clarke
I’m guessing that the Flat Iron building is the one on the corner that is kind of a triangle? I LOVE to take pics of those types when I am in Boston.
Thanks for the photos and no worries on not posting…figured you were crazy busy being successful.-
nathalie-kalbach
Sue, yes that one is the Flat Iron Building. We have a tiny one here in Jersey City too – maybe every city in America has one :)
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Angi eharis
Living in the jungle in a remote part of an island most of my life, I have not gotten to see many museums so I cannot tell u how much I enjoyed this post, all of the cool city pics! Tx for sharing and inspiring, I cannot stop staring at the kazimir collage, I am in Loooove! Aloha, angi in hana
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chrisdomino
The Three Musicians is one of my favorites.As I grew up in the NYC area, I so miss MOMA as I live in Michigan but do enjoy the DIA here.
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nathalie-kalbach
Oh I would love to visit the DIA some time -sounds like a treat too :)
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Seth
What a wonderful tour of such wonderful experiences. Looks like you have been having the best time!
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nathalie-kalbach
thanks seth! As you know NYC is always worth a visit ;)
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awesome quote!
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