nathalie-kalbach

2 Tallest – Mixed Media Painting

2Tallest

New Painting inspired by the view from the Statue of Liberty towards Jersey City and Manhattan.

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On the left there is Jersey City with the tallest building in New Jersey

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on the right Manhattan …with the tallest building there…

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It is funny, when I was the first time in NYC in 2000 I took a ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island and on the way back I took a huge amount of photos of the skyline of both cities (of course back then the skyline looked a bit different) and I really fell in love with this view, but if you would have told me then, that one day I would live right there …I would have told you, you are insane- LOL

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Here is a 15 second video of the canvas progressing

Progress of the Mixed Media Painting 2Tallest from Nathalie Kalbach on Vimeo.

I think it is fun to see the different stages, what do you think?

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The size is 18×24 inches – here are the supplies and media I used:

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Wishing you a wonderful weekend – I am off to Oklahoma this weekend to teach workshops at My Heart’s Fancy – there are still a few spots for the friday and sunday class available – so maybe I see some of you there :) .

Nat

Comments (9)

  • Gina Sismilich

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    Fabulous painting – I really admire your ability to portray feelings when painting buildings!

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  • Barb J

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    Outstanding artist work.

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  • Lisa Flaherty

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    Such a cool painting, Nat! Seeing the progression of layers in the video is really inspiring. Funny how life unfolds and finds you in unexpected places. :)

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  • Madeline Rains

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    This is one of my favorites that I’ve ever seen of your work!! I love it.

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  • stephanie

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    great piece!

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  • Joi@RR

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    I’m so glad you made the video Nat. I can see the gorgeous background with the letters better. The letters make it soooo New York looking in my imagination. The colors are perfect. It is a beautiful piece. I so love seeing your work. And TOTALLY glad that you came to New Jersey to live and teach and create! :) I KNOW they will love your Oklahoma workshop. I was married in Ok – 43 years ago!!! Have a blessed weekend.XX j.

    Reply

  • Marg Dinn

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    Love this painting Nathalie. You are really good. I enjoy the feelings I get when I look at all your paintings. to bad you are not close enough so I could view them close up amd in person. Maybe one day when do an exhibit I will be able to com. Keep up the fantastic work. As long as you are having fun I guess it is not work.

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  • Angie

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    Very excited to have you come to OKC!!! See you tomorrow! :-)

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  • Sue Clarke

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    Funny how we sometimes end up in a place that we never imagined.
    After 12 years of being at home with my son I recently returned to work as a lunch lady since it suits my schedule. I never would have guessed that 15 years ago (I was a social worker in the mental health field).
    Life is full of surprises!

    Reply

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Playing with Gesso and Acrylic Ink

GessoInk

I love colors and I love texture …and I love adding both of it into my art journals, which is pretty easy :) Here is a fast forward video on how I create texture with Gesso and then add the super vibrant and pigmented Liquitex Inks to emphasize the texture even more.

Playing With Gesso and Acrylic Ink from Nathalie Kalbach on Vimeo.

Hope you liked this little playful video :)

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Please note: I am an official Brand Ambassador for Liquitex, but all my ideas are my own and the opinions, comments and my love for their products are genuine!

Have a wonderful day

Nat

Comments (14)

  • Sabine Schneider

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    Liebe Nat,
    Wow! Gerade zur rechten Zeit ein kleiner Schubser von Dir!!!! Gleich ausprobiert und ich bin super Happy mit dem Ergebnis! Danke Dir für die immer guten Tips!
    Liebe Grüße, Sabine

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      woot woot, freue mich, dass Du es gleich ausprobiert hast :) Danke, Sabine!

      Reply

  • Michelle LaPoint Rydell

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    Hi Nat! Love your journal page! The video was awesome! So inspiring! I think it’s time to bust out my gesso and inks! Thank you!

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Thank you Michelle- so good to see you – and happy you bust out your gesso and inks !

      Reply

  • Tracy

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    Wicked awesome! Love the colors and watching you do the lettering!

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  • Joi@RR

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    Just could watch you create forever Nat. This is SUPER FINE FUN in every way. I don’t have the acrylic inks yet but ohhhh how I want them! One day soon. Loved this…. love you too!!! j.

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  • rebeccavt

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    Just what I needed to watch this morning! Love your technique, the colors, the interesting tools, AND the music. Nice! Thanks!

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    • nathalie-kalbach

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      thank you Rebecca :) glad you liked the music too – always hard to choose :)

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  • Kathy P

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    Totally, totally awesome, Nat. The things you did to texturize your paints were fantastic…going to try this today! Thanks for the ongoing inspiration!

    Reply

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Photos of the Workshops in Toronto, Canada

It was so much fun to be back for the fourth time at Bizzy B’s in Toronto. I taught an Altered Book Class and as full day classes “Acrylics Demystified” and “Raw Canvas Staining” – it was messy colorful fun!

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Thank you for an amazing weekend ! It was very inspirational to spend a whole weekend with those talented and wonderful students and my super hosts!

If you want to take an in-person class with me- I am teaching at My Heart’s Fancy in Oklahoma City on March 27-29 serval classes, and at The Ink Pad in New York City on May 16 I will teach the Raw Canvas Staining Class (mega fun!) . I hope you will join in!

Have a wonderful day!

Nat

Comments (6)

  • Joi@RR

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    Our precious grandchildren were here this week and we only see them once a year due to expense etc so I am behind leaving my comment this week! Having too much fun playing in a different way! Although two of them did do a journal page – woooo whoooo!!! BUT… just a note to tell you Nat that I just LOVED seeing all these pics from your workshops in Canada. WOW – it looks like everyone did some wonderful work and were having so much fun. Lots of smiling going on. You are so sweet to include so many pictures. I just looked and looked at them. So many different creations and colors and combinations. I know they all just loved having you there. Thank you so much for bringing it home to us! j.

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    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Thank you Joi- I am glad you enjoyed the photos! How fun to do something creative with your grandchildren- such a precious time!

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  • Peggy Oliver

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    Looks like so much fun!! wish I were there!

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  • Stampendous Stamps

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    This looks like it was soooo much fun, Nathalie! Thanks so much for sharing it with everyone!

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    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Thank you :) It was loads of fun and we used loads of your stamps :)

      Reply

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Creative JumpStart Meetups in 3 Countries

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This post just makes me so happy and giddy  :)

For Creative JumpStart I had joined together with some stores to organize official Creative JumpStart Meet-Ups. And how cool is that – stores from three different countries participated:  in the USA, Canada and The Netherlands. Everyone participating was a Jumper and had signed up for Creative JumpStart 2015 online and the stores provided materials and space to indulge in one of the projects or techniques shown in Creative JumpStart 2015 on a certain day. Here are some fun impressions from those CJS Meet Ups around the globe :)

Creative JumpStart Meet Up at Bizzy B’s in Toronto, Canada

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Creative JumpStart Meet Up at REVolution in The Netherlands

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Creative JumpStart Meet Ups (Jan+Feb) at Everything Scrapbook and Stamps in Florida, USA

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There will be actually a third Creative JumpStart MeetUp at Everything Scrapbook and Stamps on March 21st!

I think this is truly amazing that people around the world are being connected through an online event like Creative JumpStart, create together and even make new friends :) BTW- if you missed out on Creative JumpStart online…you can still sign up & read more about it here.

Wouldn’t it be awesome if there was some day some kind of huge CJS event worldwide ?  Like a tourbus with all 21 artists doing Mixed Media Retreats based on CJS – LOL- that is one crazy idea ;) Well…one can dream right? ;) Have an awesome weekend!

Nat

Comments (2)

  • Joi@RR

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    YEAH – soooo exciting. BEST workshop online! So happy that CJS continues on. Wonderful news. Loved the pictures too. Thanks so much for sharing Nat. BIG Woooooo Whoooooo!!! Xj

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    That is awesome and yes, you gotta dream and some of them even come true! This one just might.

    Reply

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I Just Want to …. or In My Art Journal Today

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“I just want to spend the rest of my life laughing”

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I painted the background of my art journal spread and then used various left overs from mono prints I had done on deli paper and watercolor paper. I collaged the papers onto my background with Matte Gel Medium. Especially the Deli Paper fuses nicely into the background and is an awesome paper to use for collage.

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I used Markers for the image and the journaling and highlighted areas with the white Signo Pen. I actually liked working with a very light background and adding darker focal points to it- I often tend to work from dark to light … time to challenge myself to change that up a bit more often.

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Nat

Comments (3)

  • Joi@RR

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    Just love your smile so… I want you to spend the rest of your life laughing too Nat. Laughing when your heart is aching is good medicine but it’s hard too. Love this layout! Thinking of you. j

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  • Sue Clarke

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    Oh I see dogs. Nice saying as well.

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  • pretzelcityusa

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    I am so inspired by your style of painting. I love all the magazine figures and how they are evolving. I am a beginner learner and doing this style of artwork is really encouraging me to get creative. Thank-you for all your sharing.

    Reply

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Gone … or In My Art Journal Today

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“Gone. the saddest word in the language. in any language.”

I read this quote on a pinterest board and it resonated with me. Thank you for your kind and sweet words a couple weeks ago in comments and emails- that was very touching and wonderful! Thank you!

 

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I had a more vibrant but pretty ugly background which I totally covered with black acrylic pant and then lifted up some of it again to reveal the background here and there- I stamped and stenciled on top repeating some of the colors in the background and also added journaling to a mono printed water color paper sheet in black and white attached it on top.

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Art Journaling is a great way to deal with the good and the bad – it is amazing how much comfort messy hands can bring :)

Here are some of the supplies I used

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Have a wonderful day!

Nat

Comments (6)

  • Leadonna Kimmel

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    Nat, she may be gone in body, but her spirit and love live on in you, sweet friend. It really is amazing how much comfort creating brings to the soul. As always, your work is stunning and this journal spread is particularly poignant. Love and hugs! xx

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  • Joi@RR

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    ❤ Big hug. j

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  • Sue Clarke

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    The colors go with the feelings.
    Yes, working in one’s art journal can help deal with feelings for sure.

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  • andrene

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    Beautiful page, Nat! Lately I am so drawn to black backgrounds…wonder what that means (something ominous I’m sure!)

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  • nurse-ratchet

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    It is an infinite word! Perhaps you could journal ” Gone but not forgotten”

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  • Nancy Keslin

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    hugs…..this is lovely and what a wonderful way to express your feelings.

    Reply

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Paper Clay Play

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A couple months ago I was looking for some little bowls or plates that I could use for dropping of my bling in the evening but nothing really made me truly wanna spent money as colors or shapes weren’t what I was looking for.

So I remembered a tutorial that I had seen a long time ago on Pinterest on using Paper Clay and Lace to make your own little bowls and decided to give it a try with my newly arrived Stamp Sets. The Paper Clay I used doesn’t need any firing or heating and just air dries. Easy peasy :)

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For this bow I rolled a piece of Paper Clay to a little ball and then rolled it out with a rolling pin to a flat wonky circle. I then stamped into the clay with some of my Kaffee Klatsch Stamps. You don’t need to press to hard to get a nice sharp impression. I found a bowl where I liked the shape on the bottom as a guide – since I wanted mine to be not a high bowl and a bit quirky – and pressed the top onto the clay to cut out a nice circle. Next I  formed the clay circle into the bottom of the bowl.  I let everything in the bowl dry for 12 hours and then carefully took the new paper clay bowl out. Since the moisture in the paper clay mostly is evaporated by then it shrinks a bit so that it is easy to get it out of the template bowl. It was still a bit moist on the bottom since now air could get there so I just put the paper clay bowl upside down and let it dry for another 12 hours.

I did the same steps with this plate – just using a plate as a template and the Fiesta Stamp set for the Impressions

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Once they both were dry I used Liquitex Soft Body paint thinly over the surfaces, waited a couple seconds and then using a paper towel rubbed some of the paint off again, so that the impressions were more colored and more prominent. That way the texture really popped off. For the plate I used two colors to and blended them. I painted outside of the bowl and the bottom of the plate and then everything dry again. I applied some Liquitex Transparent Raw Amber Acrylic Ink over the circle impression of the bowl to have it pop up even more and to give it some patina and let that dry again. To finish everything off I coated the bowl and plate with Liquitex Pouring Medium which gave it a nice shiny glossy and glass like look and feel. I coated it twice leaving a couple hours in between for curing.

Done :) Hope you like this little crafty fun project – I also made some christmas ornaments using the same technique…there is a lot of potential in this – you just have to play . Here is the full supply list:

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Nat

Comments (11)

  • AmyO'

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    I have some Paper Clay in my stash from long ago – I’ll be digging it out this weekend to see if I can still use it – I love these!

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  • Stephanie

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    Great project. Thanks for the tutorial

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  • andrene

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    OK I am so doing this. Hope mine turn out as beautiful as yours!!

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  • Sue Clarke

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    That dish is so sweet and I love the new stamp on it.
    It’s nice to have a place to place one’s rings and such at the end of the night (or while washing yucky pots and pans).

    Reply

  • Petrin Diaz

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    Oh, Nat…so long not writing, but always take time to read all your publications…Love thiis “little idea”…and will try asap, as soon as i can. Thanks always for your kindness! lovely colors!

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    • nathalie-kalbach

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      So good to “see” you again! thanks for your sweet words!

      Reply

  • Kathy Gledsdale

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    Oh these are gorgeous, I adore them, thank you for sharing the idea.

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  • Win Dinn

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    Love these, and I love it that you made it rather than buying something that was less then appealing – living the art-ful life!

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    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Thank you Win! I agree, making something your own instead of buying is always double the fun!

      Reply

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More Workshops: The InkPad in NYC and 21 Secrets

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I am teaching this Raw Canvas Staining Class at The InkPad in New York City on May 16, 2015 – 10.30am – 5pm

The technique of painting on unprimed, raw canvas is most often associated with artists such as Morris Louis, Kenneth Noland and Helen Frankenthaler just to name a few.

Color-field artists poured, dripped, or brushed thinned paints onto the canvas that soaked through the surface and stained the fabric, creating a velvet-like appearance.

Join me in exploring fun techniques of staining and painting raw canvas and open a whole new creative world to apply these techniques on stretched canvases, pillow cases, bags and home decor items or even clothes.

You can sign up here 

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21 SECRETS Spring ART

And a reminder that the 21 Secrets Art Journaling Workshop starts in April 2015. You can still sign up for this downloadable Workshop which is contains actually 21 workshops by 21 Artists . You will download an eBook which contains written text, loads of videos and photos. I am super thrilled that I was asked to participate.

What I teach? The Story Within a Story 

For me art journaling is visual story telling. It might not be a story that everyone can read but I can read it and that is all that counts. All my stories consist of many viewpoints and layers – thoughts, emotions and the story itself. I love to express the complexity of a story by building up layers and dimension through various techniques and texture.

In this workshop I would like to walk with you through my art journaling process. I will show you various layering techniques and I will tell you why and how I am doing what I am doing.

Join me in telling a creative story within a story.

 

How much does it cost?

Right now the PRESALE is happening !

PRE ORDER NOW

Note: The link that I am using to promote 21 SECRETS is an affiliate link and I will receive a small percentage of any student who registers through my link. If you want to register, and want to support me as an artist it would be wonderful if you would consider registering through my link .

 

Hope to see you either in person or online :)

 

Nat

Comments (2)

  • Jackie P Neal

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    So cool for you Nat! looks like you are one busy gal! xo

    Reply

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De Craforij Retreat 2015 in The Netherlands in June

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So stoked that I will be rounding up my European Tour in June  with an Artfusion Weekend teaching with my dear friend Birgit Koopsen at the De Craftorij Retreat 2015 in The Netherlands.  The retreat will take place in a gorgeous hotel in Ede on June 13 -14, 2015. You can read all details about the event, workshops, hotel etc.  in Dutch and English here.

Sign up is open now, you can book single days or a whole weekend .  I hope I will see some of my European friends there!

Have a wonderful day

 

Nat

Comments (6)

  • Marie-Anne Raeman

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    Hey Nathalie, I’m so excited to do the craftorij weekend and see the both of you again. It is so long ago :-)
    Just can’t wait

    Reply

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