Blog: cjs2020

Jumping with… Julie Fei-Fan Balzer, Mary Beth Shaw, & Carolyn Dube – A CJS Interview Series

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 :)

Nat

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Jumping with… Nancy Curry – A CJS Interview Series

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.

Thank you Nancy!

You can learn more about Nancy on her Instagram page.

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 :)

Nat

Comments (1)

  • Sue

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    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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Jumping with… Marieke Blokland – A CJS Interview Series

So happy to share with you today a special video interview I did with one of our Creative JumpStart 2020 teachers: Marieke Blokland. This is Marieke’s first year teaching with CJS and I am so excited to have her joining our amazing teachers. I have known Marieke for many years and I’ve always admired her artwork and all the online workshops that she also organizes.

A little about Marieke: Marieke studied graphic design and was able to take that training and turn it into a career that she is so passionate about as an artist and educator. In this interview she talks about balancing this home-based business with the demands of family, and about her love of artistic expression in the world of art journaling. She discusses how important it is for her to be in tune with emotions when she is creating and also how she feels about sharing such personal art. She gives advice to beginner art journalers, talks about what artists and designers she is really interested in now, and explains how she keeps her artistic inspiration strong.

Thank you Marieke!

You can learn more about Marieke Blokland here on Instagram and also here on Facebook and Youtube.

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 like Marieke.  Hope to see you in the CJS classroom soon :)

Nat

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Jumping with… Jane LaFazio – A CJS Interview Series

So happy to share with you today a special video interview I did with one of our Creative JumpStart 2020 teachers: Jane LaFazio. Jane joins us again for this season of CJS and I couldn’t be more excited. I have known Jane for many years and long admired her artwork before finally getting to meet her in person at a teaching gig we were both attending.

A little about Jane: Jane began her artistic journey as a technical illustrator but after some drawing classes she realized her talent (and wow is she talented!) with drawing and later added watercolor, stitching, and all manner of fiber arts into her mixed media repertoire. In this interview she talks jewelry (oolala) and the joys of the simple things in life. She talks about how she combines various media and the flexibility that mixed media as an artform provides to an artist. Jane also explains how she uses her art journal while traveling to gather inspiration for future pieces, and how she makes color choices in her art journal and fiber art pieces.

Thank you Jane!

You can learn more about Jane here on her website and here on her Facebook and Instagram pages.

And now it is your turn to find the simple and expressive joy in creating this January: Sign up TODAY for Creative JumpStart 2020 and get 31 different mixed media lessons from 31 Super Hero Artists like Jane LaFazio.  Hope to see you in the CJS classroom soon :)

Nat

Comments (1)

  • Sue

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    To Nathalie and Jane: Good morning…How could you not love Jane? I took a class from Jane when she taught her class at Sketchbook Skool. I was looking through my class sketchbook the other day and I have photos of me and my husband standing in a yoga position in a movie theater in front of a poster because of a suggestion in Jane’s class….I’m in my 70’s and my husband is in his 80’s. I still remember the feeling I had when we were being silly that day. I love Jane’s teaching style, her art and especially her happy, positive personality. Her super power through my eyes would be her ability to lift people up and encourage people to live life to the fullest. I’m looking forward to her class. Thank you for these interviews, Nathalie….so fun and informative. ? Happy Holidays!

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Jumping with… Jodi Ohl – A CJS Interview Series

So happy to share with you today a special video interview I did with one of our Creative JumpStart 2020 teachers: Jodi Ohl. Jodi has done CJS with us before and we are very happy to welcome her back this year! I have known Jodi for many years through online and in person workshops and I have always admired her artwork, so this interview was a lot of fun to do!

A little about Jodi: Jodi is a full time artist, author, and creative instructor who is well known for her whimsical and abstract artmaking styles. In this interview she discusses how her path led her to creating art and how at transitional moments in her journey, her art making played a huge role. She talks about overcoming rejection when submitting art and seeking out opportunities, and the rewards of taking risks in the creative process. I think you’ll also enjoy hearing how she uses color and brushwork to express what is going on in her life, and how powerful that can be.

Please enjoy this Jumping with… Jodi Ohl Interview!

Thank you Jodi!

You can learn more about Jodi Ohl here on her website and also here on Facebook.

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 like Jodi Ohl.  Hope to see you in the CJS classroom soon :)

Nat

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Jumping with… Cheiron Brandon – A CJS Interview Series

So happy to share today another great interview with one of our Creative JumpStart 2020 teachers: Cheiron Brandon. I have known Cheiron now for a while and she was also a wonderful addition to my Creative Squad a few years back.

A little about Cheiron: Cheiron works by day in the world of finance but returns to her studio at night to refocus, rejuvenate, and explore another important aspect of her life – creating! She is an extremely talented card maker and mixed media artist and both teaches classes monthly in NYC and enjoys taking classes to expand her artsy skills. In this interview she speaks about balancing her career and her art, and she talks about how creative activities improve all aspects of her life – from ways of dealing with problems at the office, having the courage to try new things, and even realizing the power of artmaking to bring joy into your life and surrounding relationships. Wow. Yup there’s a lot of great stuff in this interview :)

Please enjoy this Jumping with… Cheiron Brandon Interview!

Thank you Cheiron!

You can learn more about Cheiron on her website or on her Instagram feed.

Are you ready to get artsy in January and experience all those benefits of being creative? Sign up TODAY for Creative JumpStart 2020 and get 31 fun and inspiring lessons from 31 different Super Hero Artists like Cheiron Brandon. See you soon in the CJS classroom :)

Nat

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Jumping with… Tonia Jenny – A CJS Interview Series

So happy to share with you today a special video interview I did with one of our Creative JumpStart 2020 teachers: Tonia Jenny. This is Tonia’s first year with CJS and because I have known her a few years already, I am very excited that she is joining our awesome lineup this year.

A little about Tonia: Tonia was an editor for many years for North Light craft and art books where I met her, before she started her own editorial, writing, and life coaching biz. And of course she is also a super talented and versatile mixed media artist, who is very attuned to self exploration and also seeing the potential in everyday materials and items. I think you will love seeing her talk about her creative philosophy and also you may find it inspiring to hear how she approaches tackling new tools, media, and artistic challenges, because hey, Creative JumpStart is all about having fun while trying some new things :) And… she talks about the most creative job application I have probably ever heard about. You don’t want to miss it LOL

Please enjoy this Jumping with… Tonia Jenny Interview!

Thank you Tonia!

You can learn more about Tonia Jenny here on her website and also here on Facebook and Instagram.

Are you ready to Jump into something new in January? Sign up TODAY for Creative JumpStart 2020 and get 31 lessons from 31 Super Hero Artists like Tonia Jenny. Learn, have fun, and challenge yourself in the New Year! Hope to see you in the CJS classroom soon :)

Nat

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Announcing Creative JumpStart 2020: On sale today!!!

I’m excited today to announce Creative JumpStart (CJS) 2020! What is CJS? It’s a one-of-a-kind online mixed media workshop, now in it’s 9th year, designed to kick your creativity into high gear throughout January 2020. And it goes on sale TODAY!!!

With the Creative JumpStart workshop you will learn techniques, discover new materials, and connect with other artists and crafters. Learn more HERE.

I’m proud to be the founder of Creative JumpStart and one of those artists, called “JumpStarters.” See for yourself what it’s all about:

Creative JumpStart 2020! from Nathalie Kalbach on Vimeo.

How does it work? Throughout January participants get access to 31 downloadable videos from 31 featured artists. With easy-to-digest 10 minute lessons, you get over 5 hours of video content. You can also participate in our online classroom with the other “Jumpers” and even share your creations in our classroom gallery. There will be product giveaways from our sponsors too. So much fun!

And today only, you can get CJS20 for just $40USD. You better hurry though, this Cyber Monday Sale ends tonight, December 2 at 11:59pmEST. Sign up HERE.

The Theme this year is “Super Power”. There is no doubt about it: art can be beautiful, personal, and really fun to make. It can capture a once-in-a-lifetime moment, feeling, or idea. And artists can influence everything from the walls of a home to world events. If you think about it, creativity really is a Super Power! Whether you are creating simply for the joy it brings you or creating to share your ideas with others, that is a pretty awesome pursuit.

So we asked our artists: What is your artistic Super Power? Is it a tool or technique that helps you achieve your unique style? Is it a way of thinking, organizing, or planning that leads up to a finished piece? Is it something else entirely? What Super Power do you use to create?

They have created video lessons that explain and show their artistic Super Power in action. They take us step-by-step through their creative process and signature art making style. Creative JumpStart 2020 is this collection of mixed media lessons to help us learn about different artistic Super Powers and how to use them in our own artmaking.

Find out all the details and sign up TODAY:

n*Studio CJS2020 – Let’s Jump!

You get 31 videos – over 5 hours worth of video content –  for just $40 (USD) if you sign up by December 2nd, 11:59 pm EST. Afterwards it will be $45USD until December 6th 11:59pmEST, and $50USD until December 31 11:59pmEST, before it goes to its normal sale price of $60USD.

So what are you waiting for? SIGN UP HERE

So can this Cyber Monday get any better???? YES IT CAN!!!

My Five Day Frenzy SALE in my Online Shop ends TODAY at 11:59pm EST. This is the BIGGEST sale of the season. Just use the coupon code FRENZYFIVE when you check out for a 25% discount on all physical products: stamps, stencils, books, mugs, original paintings, prints, cards and more. This is your last chance to get 25% off and buy for everyone on your list – maybe even yourself ;) – the sale ends at 11:59pm EST TONIGHT December 2nd, 2019.

Here is my Online Shop.

And I hope to see you soon in the Creative JumpStart 2020 Classroom!

Nat

Comments (1)

  • JoAnn Campisi

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    Hi Nat,

    Hi Nat, So looking forward to CJS 2020 – it is always so well done and the artists you select are all inspiring. My January is made. Thanks. JoAnn

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