Pinch me, guys! My childhood dream has come true. When I was a little girl and people asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up I didn’t answer “be an artist” – I said I wanted to become a writer.
I took a lot of detours, and even if it wasn’t in my original plan I became an artist AND a writer. My book, Artful Adventures in Mixed Media – Art and Techniques Inspired by Observation & Experience, is going to be released on June 8th, 2017, and is now on PRE-SALE.
I’d like to share the back-story…
My father passed away when I was a baby and my mother had to work a lot to take care of us. Neighbors who lived in the apartment below ours took a liking to me and I spent hours with them almost every day – they became my honorary Aunt Isabell and Uncle Günther. They had a living room with floor-to- ceiling bookshelves on all sides, they took me to the library and helped me get my first library card. I read to them and with them, everything I could get my hands on. And I wrote stories! In fourth grade my teacher sent one of my stories to a national school magazine, it was printed. I was sooooo proud. In my teens I got an old typewriter, heavy as lead, but I banged on it with gusto, starting – but never finishing – epic novels.
I was going to study journalism, I had big plans, but for some reason (perhaps a practical streak) I decided to study law. Well…at least I did a lot of writing as a paralegal, but legal arguments weren’t very interesting. I knew that writing a book would be awesome, but I wasn’t sure what story I would tell.
Things changed when I left the legal world, became a full-time artist, designer, blogger and teacher and then moved to the States. I wrote for my blog, so things were beginning to brew. And this time when I thought about a book I knew it would be about mixed media. A student in my Creative JumpStart 2016 class wrote that she’d like to ‘jumpstart me right back’ and suggested I should write a book about the things that I was already writing about on my blog. This email was so well-timed. It gave me the nudge I needed to write and send a book proposal. (Thank you, Denise G.)
A year later, here I am, an author. Artful Adventures in Mixed Media – Art and Techniques Inspired by Observation & Experience! It took me and the publisher a long time to decide on the title. (They considered calling it Uber Artful Adventures, but maybe they figured that could look like a manual for self-employed drivers so that one didn’t pass muster.)
So, what’s this book of mine about?
It’s an invitation to YOU to go on an Artful Adventure with me. I wrote it to reach everyone I can’t meet in person with my classes, to share the methods that make mixed media accessible to all, no matter their skill level. It’s about the process from inception to realization, how observations and experiences can be turned into works of art. I give practical guidelines and oodles of examples of how I find inspiration, how I gather and keep my ideas in sketchbooks, journals and photos, and what materials go on the journey with me in an Art-on- the-Go kit.
In each chapter there are techniques and step-by- step instructions for projects – stencils, layering, collage, textured painting, mono-printing, photo manipulation, and more, to ensure that the reader can go on their own Artful Adventures and create their own meaningful mixed media artwork!
I cannot wait to finally hold the book in my hands and I cannot wait for you to read it. I am scared and excited at the same time and sometimes just thinking about it makes me jump up and down …To everyone who has followed my blog, taken my classes, shared this journey – YOU made this book possible and for that I thank you!
Comments (18)
Julie B
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Linda said it best. I,too have been blessed with attending one of your live classes and being able to say “yes, I can do this!”. Love, love, love your teaching style, wisdom, humor, laugh but what is this about an accent? Thank you for sharing your backstory. You worked hard to realize your dreams and could not be happier for you and anxiously awaiting my per-ordered copy (hope you will visit next year so I can get it autographed). Congratulations!
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nathalie-kalbach
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Thank you so so much Linda- you are the best! I had such a good time with you- your enthusiasm is contagious. And I think I will be back ;) and I cannot wait to see you again! Loves!
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Sherry Canino
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This is so beyond exciting!!! A huge congratulations to you!!! I can not wait to get a copy and thank you for sharing your story with all of us. It’s an honor to be here cheering you on and I so can’t wait to meet you in person it’s all I can think about lol ❤❤❤. Congrats again !!!????
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nathalie-kalbach
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I cannot wait to meet you either! thank you so much for all your support- you are amazing. Have a wonderful week!
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Gill K
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Congratulations on writing your book. It will be great to have, as I can’t get to any of your classes. I enjoy reading your blog & seeing your art. Thank you.
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nathalie-kalbach
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thank you so much gill!!! Have a gorgeous sunday! <3
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Natalya Aikens
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What a great story Nat! Can’t wait for my autographed copy!!!
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nathalie-kalbach
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Awe!!! So happy you are in it Natalya!!!! <3
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Maura
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Nathalie, what a wonderful and inspiring story that led you to realizing your dream of becoming an author! Kudos!!!!
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nathalie-kalbach
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Awe- thank you so much Maura – you are the best! Looking forward seeing you in a couple weeks at Color Crush!
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Sue Clarke
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How WONDERFUL for you and your readers Nat!!!
Your creativity rocks my world and now I can have it in a book to cherish, hold, read and use.
Can’t wait to get my copy.
And congratulations for achieving another dream.
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nathalie-kalbach
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Aweee- Sue!!! You are a big part of this! Thank you for all your support throughout all those years!!! <3 Big hugs and I wish you a wonderful weekend!
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Nancy G.
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Congratulations on your book and pursuing your dream. Life doesn’t take us in straight lines, yet it gets us to where we need to be. Your story is inspiring.
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nathalie-kalbach
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Thank you so much Nancy! You are wonderful and I agree – no straight lines in life :) Have a wonderful weekend!!!
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Linda Corbin Young
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I am so very proud of you and so honored to have attended your classes, absorbed your wisdom, reveled in your humor (and your completely comprehensible accent, thank you!). You’ve given me inspiration, courage to try new techniques, and so many skills. Can’t wait to have you autograph my copy of this masterpiece!
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nathalie-kalbach
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Awe, Linda- thank you so much – you are amazing and always so supportive! I always love having you in my classes and I hope I will see you in OK again in June …right after the book is out :) Big hugs and have a wonderful weekend!
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stephanie
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Thanks for sharing more about yourself and the inspiration behind the book. So excited for you!
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nathalie-kalbach
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Thank you so much Stephanie <3
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