“There is no path. The path is made by walking.” Time to get out there and blaze some new ones :)
For this I used Liquitex and Golden paints with my new Kyoto stencil. I love this color combination of a warm background and then a nice cool pattern on top – really makes things pop.
I used a pencil eraser dipped in paint for the dots (a good trick) and a Fude pen for my journaling.
Here are some of the supplies I used:
And don’t forget my Online Workshop Sale – ends tonight at 11:59pm EST – great savings on every online workshop except CJS20:
So happy to share with you today some video interviews I did with some of our Creative JumpStart 2020 teachers: Birgit Koopsen, Rae Missigman, and Joe Rotella. Three very sweet and talented artists to hear from :)
First up is my good friend Birgit Koopsen from The Netherlands who I have known as a friend for many years and who’s artwork I have always admired. In this interview Birgit discusses her journey into art journaling and mixed media, her natural ability to work with color, and how her artwork reflects her personality. She talks about the influence of travel on artistic choices and the lessons she’s learned from her students around the world.
Next we have Rae Missigman, who I have also known for years and who has such a wonderful fun personality that I think shows through in her art. Learn how she came to mixed media and art journaling from an interest in writing and crafting as a hobby, while today still keeping other hobbies outside her regular artmaking as a catalyst for creativity. Rae talks about carving out small amounts of time for art in a busy modern life, trying new materials without worrying too much about how they are “supposed” to be used, and the joys of her pocket journals.
Finally we have Joe Rotella, who I have also known for years and who is so much fun to hang out with that it is always a blast to have him on CJS. In this interview we joke and laugh the whole way through, but you will also learn how his mischievous and curious mind as a child sowed the seeds for his creative life to come. He talks tools, tech and magic. He encourages viewers to not be intimidated by new tools and tech. And he discusses how he visualizes and plans projects ahead in his style of working. There is definitely a bit of magic in the interview and for the ultimate laugh at the end, be sure to watch the bloopers :)
I hope you will join Birgit, Rae, and Joe and all the amazing teachers for this fun and inspiring challenge beginning in January: Sign up TODAY for Creative JumpStart 2020 and get 31 different mixed media lessons from 31 Super Hero Artists. Hope to see you in the CJS classroom soon :)
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, so I’m running a Workshop Sale ALL weekend. From December 20-23 at 11:59pm EST you can save 20% off my online workshops. This sale excludes Creative JumpStart 2020 but wait, that is still on sale for $50 through the end of the month so you don’t have to miss out on that either.
So happy to share with you today some video interviews I did with some of our Creative JumpStart 2020 teachers: Julie Fei-Fan Balzer, Mary Beth Shaw, and Carolyn Dube. Wow what an amazing group to hear from :)
First up is Julie Fei-Fan Balzer, who I have known now for many years as a friend and colleague. Her artistic style is unmistakable and her talents cover so many areas so chatting with her is always fun and informative. In this interview we talk about how to manage time in our busy lives, how her fiber art connects with her mixed media work, and how she loves to try new things and explore her curiosity for creativity.
Next we have Mary Beth Shaw, who has been a teacher with Creative JumpStart now for a long time and is a wonderful artist with an abstract style. Mary Beth is also the woman behind Stencil Girl Products so she is very busy with everything that she does. In this interview Mary Beth discusses ways to carve out time for artmaking even when time is tight and how her art journal helps with that. She also talks about different phases she’s gone through in her abstract work, and the importance of knowing what other art is out there (past and present) to be an informed artist.
And finally we have Carolyn Dube, who has been a part of CJS for a few years now and who always brings color and play to the world through her art and personality. In this interview she talks about her current obsession with gelli plate printing, the liberation and fun that comes from embracing “mistakes”, and how she found confidence working with color. Carolyn also hints at what her cjs video will be about and describes it as that glorious moment where chocolate met peanut butter :)
And now it is your turn to go after a fun and inspiring challenge beginning this January: Sign up TODAY for Creative JumpStart 2020 and get 31 different mixed media lessons from 31 Super Hero Artists. Hope to see you in the CJS classroom soon :)
Welcome to a Happy Holidays post from my Creative Squad. Today we have two tree ornament ideas from Nicole Watson to get you in the spirit. Nicole is using my Valley Road stencil and my Antique Tile foam stamp along with this month’s theme: Happy Holidays – It is a time of year where we are celebrating and coming together and enjoying some merriment. Create something holiday related (whatever holiday you may be celebrating) and enjoy the season!
Recently, I wandered around several craft stores to see what was new for the holidays and find some inspiration. There I found several blank wood and paper mache ornaments that I knew would make perfect canvasses to stamp or print on. I had the exact stamp and stencil in mind when I grabbed the round paper mache and wood snowflakes.
When I returned home, I grabbed my paint and gelli plate and began playing. First, I coated all of the ornaments with clear gesso and let it dry. Then I began to get my hands a bit messy.
To make the round ornament:
Brayer green and white paint on your gelli plate.
Place the stencil on your plate in a spot where you like how the paint brayered. I used Nat’s Valley Road stencil, however all of her other small circles would also work!
Then, place the ornament on top the stencil and press down. Make sure you use a good amount of pressure since the ornament is hollow.
Lift the ornament and allow to dry. I didn’t mind that the print on the ornament wasn’t perfect as I think it adds to the rustic nature of the ornaments.
Carefully lift the stencil from the plate and grab another ornament. Place this ornament in the spot where you lifted the stencil, apply pressure, and allow to dry.
Repeat this process for the ornaments you have. Once they are dry, repeat again to print on the other sides, but use the opposite opposite. The ones that you put on the stencil first, put those on the plate. This way each side of the ornament is unique.
Use your gelli plate as a stamp pad for the stencil, which is your stamp. This part is a little messy so have some baby wipes ready for your hands! Spread the red and white paint on your gelli plate with a brayer.
Place your stencil down to pick up ink (you can brayer over it for better coverage). Then, place the stencil on your ornament. Use a scrap piece of paper on top the stencil to add pressure for the print. Continue this process for each side of the ornament.
Before I cleaned the red paint off the gelli plate, I also rolled the edges of the ornaments in it a bit to add paint to the edges.
To make the snowflake ornament:
In between the round ornament drying time, I worked on the snowflake ornaments, and vice versa! It works really well to create both of these at the same time.
Add some blue paint and white gesso to your palette paper. You can use white paint instead; however, I like how gesso is less opaque. Brayer a mix of the paint and gesso on your Antique Tile foam stamp.
Then, place your snowflake on top of the stamp and press down. Repeat this process with all your snowflakes and allow side one to dry. Then, repeat for side two!
After both sides are stamped, spatter with silver paint and white gesso on each side. I also added a larger silver dot in the center of each flake by dipping the end of my paintbrush in the silver paint and using that to make a round circle on the ornament.
I absolutely love how both of these ornaments turned out, however instead of ornaments I’m going to use them for gift tags/package decorations. I added a snowflake to a package for our house sitter this week, and it was the perfect touch!
Nat’s Antique Tile stamp is a fun stamp to use in other ways as well. I’m also going to stamp it on my Christmas card envelopes, and last year I made wrapping paper with it!
I hope you are able to take some time to create this holiday season!
Thank you Nicole – what a great idea to use them as either ornaments or a gift tag. Want to give Nicole’s project a try? You can find all my Stencils and Foam Stamps in my Online Shop and here are some of the other supplies she used:
Feel inspired? Working on something yourself that you’d like to share? I love to see how you interpret our monthly themes. Email me or tag me #natkalbach how you used my stencils and stamps – I would love to share your projects in my next “n*Spiration From Around the Globe“.
“Better never means better for everyone… It always means worse for some!” – an interesting quote from The Handmaid’s Tale which I have read several decades ago and also watched now the show.
For my background I used my new Art Nouveau Wallpaper stencil along with a blending tool, Ranger Distress and Distress Oxides Inks. I love how these inks blend so nicely and they are a wonderful companion to stencils.
I added my quote and this sketch with a Fude pen and sumi Ink.
So happy to share with you today a special video interview I did with one of our Creative JumpStart 2020 teachers: Nancy Curry. I learned about Nancy many years ago when I got her book Rubber Stamper’s Bible and then several years ago had the pleasure of meeting her in person at an art event where we were both teaching. This is Nancy’s first time teaching with CJS and I am excited for you to get to know her more :)
A little about Nancy: Nancy is an artist, author, and educator in the mixed media world since the 1990’s and is known for her gorgeously abstract style. In this interview she describes her journey to the creative world and setbacks and discouragements along the way that in the end didn’t dissuade her passion. She emphasizes the importance of play in the studio and the joy that comes from experimenting and making without an end goal in mind. She discusses some media that she is particularly excited to use including Citra Solv and eco dye, and speaks about her background in words and her love of the written word and language.
And now it is your turn to make a commitment to creative play this January: Sign up TODAY for Creative JumpStart 2020 and get 31 different mixed media lessons from 31 Super Hero Artists like Nancy Curry. Hope to see you in the CJS classroom soon :)
Hi, Nathalie and Nancy….I really enjoyed this interview. I’m looking forward to seeing the super powers of all the wonderful artists that have so much talent to share. I was jotting down some ideas during your interview including keeping an eye out for quotes, going through my National Geographic magazines and checking out your book on stamping, Nancy. I might have it but my art bookcase is in our bedroom and my husband is still asleep so I have to wait. ?♀️ This was such a good interview…thank you for the opportunity to know about the artists that are participating this year, Nathalie…See you in January. ? Happy Holidays!
Hi, Nathalie and Nancy….I really enjoyed this interview. I’m looking forward to seeing the super powers of all the wonderful artists that have so much talent to share. I was jotting down some ideas during your interview including keeping an eye out for quotes, going through my National Geographic magazines and checking out your book on stamping, Nancy. I might have it but my art bookcase is in our bedroom and my husband is still asleep so I have to wait. ?♀️ This was such a good interview…thank you for the opportunity to know about the artists that are participating this year, Nathalie…See you in January. ? Happy Holidays!
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