Blog: Interview

Jumping with… Nancy Curry Part 2 – 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 have known about Nancy for many years as an arts educator and author and this is her first time teaching with CJS. In this second interview Nancy talks about the inspiration behind her lesson and the joy she experiences from seeing student work and how they transfer the ideas and skills to other projects. She also discusses her current artmaking and the meaning behind the imagery that she is using, her journey to work through some fundamental art skills, and how she likes to experiment with new materials.

Thank you Nancy!

You can learn more about Nancy (including links to her workshops) on her website.

Sign up now for Creative JumpStart 2020 if you haven’t yet and make use of our special sale now – just $45 through the end of April 2020. If you have already jumped into the classroom, check out some of the tutorials and also work of other students again. There is so much inspiration in there: 31 different mixed media lessons from 31 Super Hero Artists like Nancy.  Hope to see you in the CJS classroom soon :)

Nat

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Jumping with… Kae Pea – 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: Kae Pea. I have known Kae Pea for years and in addition to being a talented artist and educator, she is also the head of RubberMoon and ArtFoamies. In this interview Kae Pea talks about her artistic super power, a surprisingly approachable way to use watercolor paints, and an encouragement to use some of the stamps in your stash that you haven’t for a while. She also discusses her business and the heart that goes into that, as well as her educational content on Patreon. And we end the interview getting good and mushy so you definitely want to check that out!

Thank you Kae Pea!

You can learn more about Kae Pea (including links to her Patreon) on her website.

Sign up now for Creative JumpStart 2020 if you haven’t yet and make use of our special sale now – just $45 through the end of April 2020. If you have already jumped into the classroom, check out some of the tutorials and also work of other students again. There is so much inspiration in there: 31 different mixed media lessons from 31 Super Hero Artists like Kae Pea.  Hope to see you in the CJS classroom soon :)

Nat

Comments (1)

  • JoAnn Campisi

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    Enjoyed your video. Congratulations on purchasing Art Foamies – love them. I enjoyed your CJS class Kae Pea and I immediately bought the da vinci watercolor brush that you recommended. But…….it is still in the package it came in…..need to fix that. Need to revisit CJS 2020.

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Jumping with… Jen Crossley – 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: Jen Crossley. I have known Jen for a few years now and have had the pleasure of teaching with her in the past. This is her 3rd time teaching with CJS and I am happy to have you get to know her a bit better now. In this interview Jen talks about loving to create from a very young age, then a professional start with paper arts, and finally moving to metal and found objects. She describes how art making helps her get a release from the pressures of life. She also talks about using vintage items and the stories and history that those items may or may not bring to a project.

Thank you Jen!

You can learn more about Jen on her website.

And now it is your turn to make a commitment to creative play this year: Sign up TODAY for Creative JumpStart 2020 and get 31 different mixed media lessons from 31 Super Hero Artists like Jen.  Hope to see you in the CJS classroom soon :)

Nat

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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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