Blog: Nice to Meet You

Nice to Meet You! with Jill Russell

It’s time to get to know an artist with… Nice to Meet You! Today I’d like to introduce you to the inspiring art and story of Jill Russell!

From time to time I learn about some amazing artists out there who are working in mixed media and creating some fun and exciting projects. It’s always inspiring to see what others do. Sometimes they even introduce me to a new way of seeing my own materials. That’s why today I’d like to share with you Jill Russell:


Please introduce yourself to our readers and tell us where you live:

I am a librarian, artist and educator from Alameda, California. I love to garden, read, swim, craft and sew. I like to take what I have on hand and transform it into useful, colorful and beautiful art.

How do you make time to be creative?

I’m at my most creative in the early mornings, so every day I carve out dedicated time to create art, even if it’s just for 10 minutes. I feel at my best when I am creating, so it really is an act of self care. Everything I need to make art is set up in my home at several work stations, so I am always able to create when the mood hits.

What is your favorite medium to work in?

My current love is Gelli printing on a variety of papers using acrylic paints and stencils. I love creating brilliant colored paint layers with my handmade stencils and Caran d’ache wax pastels. I also enjoy the process of creating collage layers in my art journals using a variety of my handmade and collected papers. Being a lifelong sewer, both hand and machine stitching often add the finishing touch.

What inspires you to be creative?

Nature is one of my biggest inspirations. I am drawn to the beautiful patterns that nature creates. I love the idea of taking design elements from nature and incorporating them into my work. My art is inspired by other artists, art books and magazines. Cloth, Paper, Scissorswas one of my favorite magazines and I was so sorry to see it go. Other inspirations include YouTube videos, blogs and the Instagram community. Trips to museums also keep my creative flow inspired. I surround myself with local creative artists as often as possible.

Do you have a favorite artist?

I am fascinated with the work of the painter and ecological activist, Friedensreich Hundertwasser. I love his bold colors, irregular architectural designs and how he incorporated the natural features of the landscape into his work.

hundertwasser.com/en

 

How did you get into art-making?

I have been creating since I can remember. My interests include collage, abstract art, sewing and contemporary quilting. After college, where I studied Food Science, I dove into the arts of papermaking, loom weaving, yarn spinning and dying, batik and shibori. These artistic experiences were a welcome change after studying for a rigorous science degree.

While teaching elementary school in 2008 I swapped art journals weekly with a creative friend and became hooked into the expansive world of art journaling. I still love swapping and collaborating with other artists and have made several friends on Instagram continuing this creative path.

In three words, how does art-making make you feel?

Expansive, free and delighted.


Thank you Jill for sharing your unique artwork and your story with us!

Be sure to check out all our Nice to Meet You! posts to learn about all the inspiring artists we’ve featured.

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Nice to Meet You! with Priscilla Read

It’s time to get to know an artist with… Nice to Meet You! Today I’d like to introduce you to the inspiring art and story of Priscilla Read!

From time to time I learn about some amazing artists out there who are working with my stamps and stencils and are creating some fun and exciting projects. It’s always inspiring to see what others do with my designs. Sometimes they even introduce me to a new way of seeing the pattern or a new technique to try on my own. That’s why today I’d like to share with you Priscilla Read:


Please introduce yourself to our readers and tell us where you live:

I am a mixed media artist living in San Ramon, California. I want to do it all. I love working in all kinds of media, but especially love using fabric and quilt making techniques in my artwork. I continue to learn by taking classes and was lucky to find Nathalie’s online classes through Sketchbook Skool and her recent Time Traveler class.

How do you make time to be creative?

I make it a priority to do something creative, even just for a few minutes every day. People say, “you’re so creative”, but I believe that creativity is a practice that anyone can learn and become more creative. Classes like Nathalie’s help to open our minds and hearts to our own creativity.

Priscilla’s Deco Wallpaper quilt using my Art Deco Wallpaper and my Art Nouveau Wallpaper stencils.

What are some of your favorite n*Studio stamps / stencils? How do you love to use them?

I only have a few of her art deco stencils so far, but plan to get some of her foam stamps. I used the stencils to gelli print fabric for my Deco Wallpaper quilt and for the cover and pages of the journal I made in the Time Travel book. I also used some in fabrics printed to add to my stash for future projects.

Priscilla’s journal cover using my Broadway 4×4 and my Art Nouveau Wallpaper stencils.

What is your favorite medium to work in?

Fabric! So many possibilities from surface design techniques like dyeing and printing to sewing and quilting.

What inspires you to be creative?

I connect with others through my art. I belong to a couple local quilt guilds and Studio Art Quilts Association (saqa.com) which connects me with like minded artists and exposes me to new ideas and opportunities.

Do you have a favorite artist?

Faith Ringgold. I first learned about her through my interest in quilting and wanted to learn more when I saw her story quilts. I am inspired by her originality and fearless depiction of social justice issues.

faithringgold.com

How did you get into art-making?

I was drawn to the crafts and making things from childhood when I learned to knit and sew. I didn’t really know much about art until high school when I took a humanities class in my junior year and an art class in my senior year. I wanted to become an artist, but the only other person who thought it was a good idea was my art teacher. I continued making art and taking classes whenever possible.

In three words, how does art-making make you feel?

Connected. Grateful. Joyful.


Thank you for sharing your inspiring artwork and perspective Priscilla! Love to see my stencils used in your gorgeous fiber art and a peek into your personal workspace is always so fun to see.

Be sure to check out all our Nice to Meet You! posts to learn about all the inspiring artists we’ve featured.

Comments (2)

  • Janene

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    I love the colorful free-form quilt designs. Thanks for sharing your art, Priscilla and thanks for bringing her to us, Nathalie.

    Reply

  • Robin

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    I love your quilts! They are so colorful and imaginative! Truly inspiring!

    Reply

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Nice to Meet You! with Josefine Fouarge

It’s time to get to know an artist with… Nice to Meet You! Today I’d like to present to you the inspiring art and story of my Creative Squad member Josefine Fouarge! We love Josefine’s expert use of layering and collage in her art journal pages and mixed media projects. Read on to learn more about her background:


Please introduce yourself to our readers and tell us where you live:

Hi, I’m Josefine (aka HolyLise), a blogger and teacher with a focus on card making, art journaling and mixed media. I love sharing tutorials on my blog and YouTube channel as well as teaching classes in my local craft store or online. Originally, I’m from Germany but I moved to the US in 2014 to be with my (now) husband. Together we are living in Southern California and sharing our house with a princess dog, named Freedom (she has her name from the fact that she always jumped into freedom when she was a pup).

How do you make time to be creative?

I always manage to squeeze in some minutes here and there. Plus, I usually hide in my craft room over the weekend. Being creative helps me to relief stress and calm down, so it’s very important for me to find at least 5 minutes every day.

What are some of your favorite n*Studio stamps / stencils?

Kassel is my all-time favorite, shortly followed by Hamburg (no, there is no theme with German city names ;) ). The elephant parade is great for layered techniques. And let’s not forget the foam stamps, Manhattan being the one that I tend to use most often.

How do you love to use them?

I’m a fan of experimenting with patterns, mediums and techniques, and try to combine them differently every time. I like playing with contrasts, either by using complementary colors or by aligning patterns in new ways (or both together). Nathalie’s stamps and stencils are perfect for these types of experiments without making it complicated.

What is your favorite medium to work in? 

The messier, the better. It doesn’t matter if it’s inks, paints, texture mediums – I love getting my hands all colorful. A few of my favorite craft items are my Gel Press, PaperArtsy paints, Liquitex paint pens (thanks to Nathalie for introducing me to those) and Dreamweaver texture paste.

What inspires you to be creative? 

That’s a good question and I have a hard time answering it. I was never creative when I was younger (my mom would tell you something different, but really, I never was). I discovered all of this only after I moved to the US. Now I feel inspired by watching other artist on YouTube or during classes, by the weather, by impressions from anywhere or just by sitting in front of my craft table and looking at my supplies. Really anything, I guess. I definitely couldn’t narrow it down. Plus, my husband is a total enabler. Sometimes he gives me ideas for a page or a card. The fun part is that he knows exactly what art supplies I have and how I could use them.

Do you have a favorite artist?

Carl Spitzweg has been joining me my entire life. His painting “Der arme Dichter” (the poor poet) was hanging in my grandma’s house and I always liked it. When I was young, I didn’t know the name of the painting and I thought that his life must be amazing – laying in bed and reading all day, looking out of the window – not realizing what lifestyle I was idolizing. Later she added “Der Buecherwurm” (the book worm) which I also loved, considering that I’m an avid reader thanks to my grandma and mom who always supplied me with the best books.

Another artist that I have learned about just recently is Yayoi Kusama. Her polka dot pumpkins are amazing and she has such an amazing way of expressing herself. I was lucky enough to get tickets for her exhibition in LA to see her mirror rooms and her textured paintings (which are huge). Goosebumps, I’m telling you.

How did you get into art-making?

When I moved to the US in 2014 I was not allowed to work till I received the appropriate paperwork. So, I spent my time with watching videos and scrapbooking my wedding pictures. After I was done, I started looking at YouTube, searching for other people and their scrapbook pages to get ideas for more. Not long and I got into card making and once I found a local craft store and took my first art journaling class, I couldn’t stop. Today, I don’t scrapbook much anymore, but the love for making cards and filling my art journal pages is still there.

In three words, how does art-making make you feel?

Happy and calm


Thank you Josefine for sharing your story! If you’d like to learn about every member of our Creative Squad, be sure to check out the Nice to Meet You features for Maura, Tania, and Jennifer too! And here are some of the supplies that Josefine used to create the pieces you see in this post:

Comments (2)

  • Sue Clarke

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    I had to look up The Poor Poet Josephine…so much to look at in that painting.
    I especially love the page you made with the earth tones…so delicious.

    Reply

    • Josefine Fouarge

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      Thank you, Sue! Yes, the poor poet is great for looking at it for hours! :)

      Reply

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Nice to Meet You! with Jennifer Gallagher

It’s time to get to know an artist with… Nice to Meet You! Today I’d like to introduce you to the inspiring art and story of my Creative Squad member Jennifer Gallagher! Jennifer has been creating for us for several months now and is a master of clean beautiful colors and fresh patterns and layers. Read on to hear her story:


Please introduce yourself to our readers and tell us where you live:

My name is Jennifer Gallagher and I’m a wife, mother to two boys, and an artist. I teach fine art courses for children and adult art journaling classes in my local community. I live in Scott Depot, West Virginia. It’s a small town surrounded by the natural beauty of the mountain state.

How do you make time to be creative?

I look for opportunities to spend time in my studio when the rest of my family is busy. My kids are teenagers now and are involved in activities with sports and friends which allows me to have more creative time. I take advantage of every moment.

What are some of your favorite n*Studio stamps / stencils? 

It’s hard to pick favorites! I love the geometric flair Nat’s products have. My must-have stencils include Toledo, Manhattan, Buenos Aires and Santiago. I cannot get enough of the artistic style of Nat’s rubber stamps. I love the Stroll Around the Block series, especially the Art Deco house.

Toledo Stencil

Manhattan Stencil

Buenos Aires Stencil

Santiago Stencil

Stroll Around the Block

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How do you love to use them?

I use my n*Studio products in many ways. One of my favorites is to create stunning pates in my art journal. I also use Nat’s stencils religiously when I am gelli-printing and painting canvases.

What is your favorite medium to work in?

Since I consider myself a mixed-media artist, I don’t have one absolute favorite. I try to combine inks, acrylics, paper, and watercolor in almost all of my pieces. I definitely couldn’t live without my inks.

 

What inspires you to be creative?

Part of my desire to be creative is just a natural part of who I am. I am also very inspired by other artists. I live in a rural community, so social media has become a vital part of my connection with other artists and finding new inspiration.

Do you have a favorite artist?

I love the work of Kandinsky. I also find Albert Oehlen and Willem de Kooning to be wonderful.

How did you get into art-making?

My earliest creative memories include drawing outfits for my barbie dolls and stitching small items like handkerchiefs from scraps of ribbon and cloth. As a teenager, I focused my time on drawing and fashion design. My love of fashion led to me to study design and textiles in college and my progression from fashion into the visual arts has been natural.

In three words, how does art-making make you feel?

Centered
Connected
Fulfilled

Thank you Jennifer! To read more of these inspiring interviews, just click HERE! And if you’d like to try out some of the projects that Jennifer has shown, here are some of the supplies that she used:



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Nice to Meet You! with Tania Ahmed

It’s time to get to know an artist with… Nice to Meet You! Today I’d like to introduce you to the inspiring art and story of my newest Creative Squad member Tania Ahmed! I are so happy to have her on the team and I thought this would be a great way for all of us to get to know her :)


Please introduce yourself to our readers and tell us where you live:

Hi! I’m Tania Ahmed a crafts tutor, blogger and creative from Hertfordshire, UK. I’ve been actively working in the crafts industry for over 6 years now. I am grateful to be able to contribute to the industry in my own little way. I love working with people and at the moment I produce creative content for magazines and craft manufacturers and teach at independent stores, craft shows and for local charities. I also work part time as a professional interpreter and I do financial administration for an interpreting agency. I am originally from Pakistan and have lived in the UK for 10 years. My work in the creative industry has introduced me to many new hobbies and the sweetest of people including Nat!

How do you make time to be creative?

I have to make time to be creative to flourish and function as it is so deeply entrenched in me. I have been creative all my life so I feel the need to express my creativity regularly. I can be found either crafting, enjoying (amateur) photography, writing, gardening or cooking. I try and incorporate some sort of “arting” into my daily routine. I either craft on days when I am at home or craft at night which suits me as I am a night owl!

What are some of your favorite n*Studio stamps / stencils? 

All of the ArtFoamies and the Stroll Around the Block Cling Rubber Stamp Set.

Nat’s ArtFoamies

Stroll Around the Block Set

 

 

 

 

 

 

How do you love to use them?

I sometimes teach block printing which I adore as I love building patterns. I find it very relaxing! I am really looking forward to using Nat’s designs on fabric and stitching on them. I also love Nat’s sketch style building stamps which are perfect for colouring in which appeals to the intricate-detail-crafter in me, haha!

What is your favorite medium to work in?

Embossing powder and acrylic paints. No question! Basically anything that will make my hands looks like a rainbow at the end of a craft session, the messier the better. At the moment I am really into mixed media and papercrafts.

What inspires you to be creative?

I am inspired by nature, bright colours, good conversations, textures and trying new creative techniques. And tea … lots of tea! I also love focusing on individual products and discovering unique ways to use them. I would highly recommend Creative Jumpstart to someone looking for inspiration as it is an awesome introduction to many different artists, techniques and new kinds of art!

Do you have a favorite artist?

I have far too many favourites, but if I am pressed to name one it would be Frida Kahlo.

How did you get into art-making?

I have been crafting all my life and growing up have been surrounded by creative people. My aunts and grandmothers either knitted or sewed or embroidered. I grew up wearing dresses my mother lovingly sewed and played with a giant doll house that my father made from scratch. He is a very talented carpenter. I never thought I would pursue creativity as a profession until a few years ago when I was encouraged by friends and family to pursue my passion.

In three words, how does art-making make you feel?

Uplifted, nurtured, wondrous.


Thank you Tania and a BIG Welcome to you from the Creative Squad! We can’t wait to see what creations you dream up beginning in April :) Here are some of my stamps and stencils that Tania used:



And if you had fun learning about Tania, be sure to check out all of my Nice to Meet You features on the blog – they are super inspiring! And join the Creative Squad on Instagram for weekly project ideas.

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Comments (1)

  • Sue Clarke

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    Welcome Tania!
    I am not so good with embossing powder so I look forward to your projects using it.
    Love the little house.

    Reply

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Nice to Meet You! with Sarah Donawerth

It’s time to get to know an artist with… Nice to Meet You! Today I’d like to introduce you to the inspiring art and story of Sarah Donawerth!

From time to time I learn about some amazing artists out there who are working with my stamps and stencils and are creating some fun and exciting projects. It’s always inspiring to see what others do with my designs. Sometimes they even introduce me to a new way of seeing the pattern or a new technique to try on my own. That’s why today I’d like to share with you Sarah Donawerth:


Please introduce yourself to our readers and tell us where you live:

I am Sarah Donawerth, a writer, blogger, and artist from Orange County, CA. By day, I work in the marketing department at Stampington & Company and by night I am trying to use my creativity to make a lasting impression on the landscape of the world. I have two little dogs, Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley, and I love playing violin, knitting, crocheting, reading Jane Austen, and making mixed-media art.

How do you make time to be creative?

I am dreadful at finding time to be creative. I am fortunate that I get to create art as part of my day job, but I also find that my creative time is sporadic. I will create for an entire weekend and then not pick up a brush for the next month. I’ve had to accept that life gets in the way, but it will never stop me from trying to make time and to make art a priority in my life.

What are some of your favorite n*Studio stamps / stencils? How do you love to use them?

I absolutely love the Art Deco Wallpaper stencil from StencilGirl Products. I absolutely love that it is a repeating pattern that can be used as an entire background, but the fans can also be used to decorate corners, used in strips, and used in so many ways. I have used this stencil so many times that it is completely mangled. It has been melted in one corner by a failed wood-burning experiment, it is stained with permanent ink, and it has clumps of gel medium still clinging to it from previous projects.

Art Deco Wallpaper Stencil

What is your favorite medium to work in?

There is something so satisfying about spreading paint out onto canvas. I like to collage a background so that it has plenty of texture, then rely on the paint and finishing touches to create the foreground picture. My absolute favorite materials to use in my artwork are vintage book text and the Stabilo All Marking Pencil. The vintage book text provides the perfect neutral-colored, patterned background for my work. I enjoy using the lines of text to create different designs in the background. The Stabilo All Marking Pencil is a great way to distress a painting. Just draw all over, wet with a brush, and dab away with a paper towel until the effect is achieved. It also helps to cover a myriad of mistakes with distressed, grungy goodness.

What inspires you to be creative?

I am constantly on the look out for new ideas and visual inspiration. I look on Pinterest, in magazines, on Instagram, and on blogs. I continually store information so that I can reference it later. I have clippings from magazines in folders, hanging on bulletin boards, and even taped to the supplies that I want to use for that project. My Pinterest boards are usually filled to the brim with paintings, images, and photos that I can use as the jumping off point in my own work. I also like to have my phone available while I’m creating so that I can google things along the way. Surrounding yourself with creative people is also a great way to stay inspired. With my job, I am able to share ideas with a great group of artists and also be challenged to try new techniques and ideas.

Do you have a favorite artist?

It would be too hard to name just one. Right now, I am so inspired by the work of Danita, Laly Mille, Mindy Lacefield, and Jane Davenport. I absolutely love these sort of whimsical, romantic, melancholy, and delicate images that these artists are producing right now. I love plenty of distressed details on artwork and a very free style that allows for splatters, scribbles, and whimsy. These artists are always getting my gears working to create new things.

How did you get into art-making?

I have always been creative (I was banned from taking trash out of the trash can to turn into art when I was young). I was encouraged to have plenty of hobbies when I was in elementary school, which greatly helped during bouts of illness I experienced later in life. It was my knitting and music and drawing that got me through the tough instances of life. My first job out of college was at Michaels, which allowed me to be surrounded by the latest trends and supplies. Eventually, I was teaching classes in crochet, knitting, jewelry making, and paper crafting. Every time a new class was scheduled, I had to review the materials and learn how to make the new project. It was a great foundation for my life as an artist because it exposed me to all the basic techniques I would build upon later. When I began my job at Stampington, I started making some basic jewelry projects and they asked if I had ever done any mixed-media work. I said yes, but in reality I had only done one basic class at Michaels! It was a big learning curve and my first piece of mixed-media artwork is posted on their site. I have picked up loads along the way, but it wasn’t until I was thrust unexpectedly into the job of Project Designer that I truly began to understand my journey as an artist. It was the first time I viewed myself as an artist and it was amazing to transition from thinking of myself as a hobbyist to treating myself like an artist.

In three words, how does art-making make you feel?

Joyful, Accomplished, and Challenged


Thank you Sarah for sharing with us! I love all the ways you’ve rocked my Art Deco Wallpaper stencil and I just love your can do attitude – it’s something we can all use a little reminder of now and again :) Be sure to check out all our Nice to Meet You! posts to learn about all the inspiring artists we’ve featured.

Comments (3)

  • Renee Zarate

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    I have enjoyed watching Sarah’s journey through the Stampington & Co. publications. She had an amazing piece pictured recently on the cover of one of the magazines. Go, Sarah, Go!

    Reply

  • Jeanette Ross

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    Love the article and the artist!!! You are the bomb Sarah Donawerth! You keep on creatin’ and making the world a better place.

    Reply

  • Laura Weed

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    Super loved seeing Sarah on the blog today since she’s a dear family member. Her family always loves, appreciates and cherishes her art (yes we do, Sarah!), and she is so generous in sharing it with all of us. Very exciting to see two people I value highly get to meet each other. What a small world!

    Reply

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Nice to Meet You! with Dana Tatar

It’s time to get to know an artist with… Nice to Meet You! Today I’d like to introduce you to the super creative Dana Tatar!

From time to time I learn about some amazing artists out there who are working with my stamps and stencils and are creating some fun and exciting projects. It’s always inspiring to see what others do with my designs. Sometimes they even introduce me to a new way of seeing the pattern or a new technique to try on my own. That’s what I’d like to share with you today. Let’s meet Dana!


Please introduce yourself to our readers:

My name is Dana Tatar and I am an artist who creates paper crafts, mixed media pieces, and DIY projects inspired by music, poetry, pop culture, and current events, in an eclectic style. I was a biochemist before I decided to stay home full-time with my daughters and my analytical mind is always present when I’m crafting. I really enjoy playing with wet media; mixing things together, heating and drying things out, and trying to find creative uses for products.

How do you make time to be creative?

I’m very fortunate to have the majority of my days free to create in my studio. When home and family life becomes stressful, time in my studio helps keep me balanced and is a great stress-reliever.

What are some of your favorite n*Studio stamps / stencils?

I like to include birds in many of my art pieces, so I reach for the Bird Foam Stamp, Cling Rubber, and Stencil Set a lot. I was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, so I also love the Urban Scribble Foam Stamp, Cling Rubber, and Stencil Set, and I use it when I miss the bustle and grittiness of a big city. Nathalie’s new City Streets foam stamp collection is also amazing! I love the round designs and that the sets include both a positive and a negative foam stamp.

Bird Foam Stamp Set

Urban Scribble Foam Stamp Set

Valley Road Positive Negative Foam Stamp

 

 

 

 

 

How do you love to use them?

I use Nathalie’s stamps and stencils primarily for mixed media and altered art projects to help create texture and fun prints, but I also use them for paper crafts.

What is your favorite medium to work in? 

I love to try new things and stretch myself as an artist. I work with a variety of materials and don’t really have a favorite medium, although I do really love patterned paper. A fun mix of supplies helps ensure that no matter what mood I’m in I’ll have something that catches my eye, and oftentimes short, attention span.

What inspires you to be creative?

I’m greatly inspired by song lyrics, quotes from my favorite authors, and pop culture references. Often times I’ll hear a verse, or read a line, that I relate to and immediately want to run to my studio to create.

Do you have a favorite artist?

My favorite contemporary artist is Ralph Steadman. If we’re talking about the masters, I’d pick Rembrandt.

How did you get into art-making?

I started my journey into the craft world after the birth of my first daughter as a way to preserve memories. I had an almost obsessive need to document every moment and milestone. Having a second daughter a little more than a year later forced me to reevaluate the high and unrealistic expectations I set for myself. There are only so many hours in the day! Over time I started to create less traditional scrapbook layouts and began to explore other forms of art. What started out as memory keeping has transformed into artistic expression that I need to do, mostly for my own enjoyment.

In three words, how does art-making make you feel?

One With Myself


Thank you Dana for sharing your story, art, and outlook with us! Be sure to check out all our Nice to Meet You! posts to learn about all the inspiring artists we’ve featured.

Comments (2)

  • Jackie P Neal

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    Awesome to learn more about you Dana! And I love your creative space!WOW!
    Thanks for sharing this Nat!!
    Merry Christmas!
    Jackie xo

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      It is such a cool studio – loved getting to know Dana more too!

      Reply

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Nice to Meet You! with Maura Hibbitts

Hello and welcome to Nice to Meet You! Today I’d like to introduce to you the very talented Maura Hibbitts! From time to time I learn about some amazing artists out there who are working with my stamps and stencils and are creating some fun and exciting projects. It’s always inspiring to see what others do with my designs. Sometimes they even introduce me to a new way of seeing the pattern or a new technique to try on my own. That’s what I’d like to share with you today. Let’s meet Maura!


Please introduce yourself to our readers and tell us where you live:

Hi, I’m Maura Hibbitts. I love to work in mixed media and play with color! I especially like to use my imagination when creating my art, and am often inspired by books I’ve read or places I’ve traveled. I live with my family in upstate New York in a small rural village on the border of the Adirondack Park. I am blessed with a beautiful view of the mountains outside of my studio area (a corner of our living room).

How do you make time to be creative?

The short answer is, I retired from many years of teaching science, LOL! The longer answer is, I have always tried to live a creative life. I would bring art  and creative projects into my science classes at work. When my sons were growing up, my creative time was late in the evenings when I stamped out cards, sketched, colored, embroidered, and worked on scrapbooks. It was important to me, so I found the time for it.

Now, I usually go to exercise classes in the morning and work on my art in the afternoons.

What are some of your favorite n*Studio stamps / stencils?

I love the Elephant – the stamps and coordinating stencils are great! Another fave is the Wired set. I also really like the Batik Art Foamies and Batik stencil, and the sketch stamps from around the Stroll through the Hood sets, like the Brownstone.

Elephant Set

Batik BIG Stamps

Batik MINI Stamps

Batik Stencil

Stroll Through the Hood #1

Stroll Through the Hood #2

Brownstone Stamp

 

 

 

 

How do you love to use them?

I find myself reaching for Nathalie’s stamps and stencils most often when I am working in my art journals or creating an altered piece. I also like to use a lot of them for mark making when I am creating a layered piece.

What is your favorite medium to work in? 

Hands down, acrylic paints! A few years ago, I had never used acrylics, then signed up to take some classes with Nat, where she opened the world of possibilities that acrylics offer. I learned so much in her classes and have been working in this medium ever since.

What inspires you to be creative? 

I draw my inspiration from the world around me – colors, shapes, designs and ideas from nature as well as the human world. I often will take photos of details, like an interesting door, or a pattern in the water, and use these to jumpstart my art. I love to read, and books often inspire me to use my imagination. I am a lifelong learner, and I get a lot of inspiration from classes I take and the amazing teachers out there, both in person and online, like Creative Jumpstart each January.

Do you have a favorite artist?

I like a lot of artists, from old Masters to contemporary, and I truly admire so many mixed media artists today, but don’t really have one favorite.  Rather, I have a favorite painting – Fumee d’Ambre Gris (Smoke of Ambergris) by John Singer Sargent. This painting just seems to speak to my spirit, and I love to view it at the Clark Art Institute.

How did you get into art-making?

I set a goal for when I retired from teaching, and that was to develop my art and the right side of my brain. I had taught classes at my local scrapbook store which got me started working with different product lines and challenging myself to see what I could create with them. I wanted the challenge of working with a design team, and I can proudly say I now work with three, and I think really pushed my art-making forward.

In three words, how does art-making make you feel?

Joyous, Fulfilled, Balanced


Thank you Maura for sharing your art and story with us! Stay tuned for more Nice to Meet You! posts to learn about other artists :)

Comments (3)

  • karen bearse

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    Wow love the pages!! Can’t wait to see more!

    Reply

  • Maura

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    Nat, I am honored! Thank you so very much. Hugs, Maura

    Reply

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Nice to Meet You! with Jenny Rohrs

Hello and welcome to another Nice to Meet You! From time to time I learn about some amazing artists out there who are working with my stamps and stencils and are creating some fun and exciting projects. It’s always inspiring to see what others do with my designs. Sometimes they even introduce me to a new way of seeing the pattern or a new technique to try on my own. Today I’d like to introduce to you Jenny Rohrs from Craft Test Dummies  and cohost of Hands On Crafts for Kids on PBS.


How do you make time to be creative?

Being creative is part of my flow for the day. Generally I get my “mom” duties and chores done in the morning so I can spend a few hours after lunch every day for doing reviews, crafting, and blogging.

What are some of your favorite n*Studio stamps / stencils and how do you use them?

I lived in Manhattan last year, so I really was drawn to the Brownstone and Warehouse stamps- they are perfect for watercolor techniques, which is one of my favorite things to do with markers. I also am in love with the Kassel and Hamburg stencils! I have been on a gel printing kick as of late, and I  reach for these over and over.

Brownstone Stamp

Warehouse Stamp

Kassel Stencil

Hamburg Stencil

 

 

 

 

 

What is your favorite medium to work in?

I couldn’t possibly answer this- I use multiple mediums every day! Some days it’s liquid oils, another day I’m pouring resins, and yet another I’m playing with collage or polymer clay. I think that the quest for novelty and new techniques is just part of my creative process.

What inspires you to be creative?

As strange as it sounds, doing product reviews for my website actually sparks my creativity. I like to see how a product or medium works, how I can push it’s limits, how it will respond. By swatching and testing I get new ideas all the time. I also love to travel- new places, foods, music, and architecture make my brain bubble with new possibilities.

Do you have a favorite artist?

Not really- different artist’s work rotates in and out of resonance with me. However, I am ALWAYS struck by one piece by John Rogers Cox (contemporary American painter, 1915-1990.) This piece is in the Cleveland Art Museum (where I lived for 20 years, until last year) and it strikes me every time with those golden fields of wheat and roiling grey skies. Breathtaking!

How did you get into art-making?

Years ago, as a newly-minted board certified Music Therapist, I would come home after a day of playing instruments and singing. I craved quiet and needed a way to process all of the emotions and issues that I had experienced with my clients. I turned to painting and quilt-making to “squeeze the sponge” so to speak, and it really helped me cleanse myself for the next day of work.  After I “retired” from Music Therapy, I started crafting with my kids and I created my blog as a way to inform and connect with other artists/crafters. I’m still on that journey today.

In three words, how does art-making make you feel?

Present, energized, validated.


Thank you Jenny for sharing your art and story with us! Stay tuned for more Nice to Meet You! posts to learn about other artists.

Comments (1)

  • Deb

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    Thanks for sharing Jenny Rohrs with us! Always nice to hear about others’ journeys.
    Love the variety of your blog posts. I eagerly await them and am always learning.
    Thank you soooooo…. much!
    Deb

    Reply

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