How To Pick Which Project to Do {VIDEO: The 2 Ways of Creating}

Hey Love

I have recently discovered something about creativity. Through observing my own patterns of creating, and those of others through my creative coaching, I have discovered there are two main ways we create.

These two ways are SUPER useful to help you through many different stages of your projects, but mainly at the very beginning when you ask 'what project should I even do?'

Click here to watch the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmOEs5jR6tI

Things Mentioned In Video -

*The Creative Instinct Video: https://youtu.be/f6qUP55I42k

*Lots of new things added to my shop including artist goodies & classes as well as the creative coaching mentioned: http://www.paperclayjunkie.etsy.com

If you would another new video from me then I recently did a facebook live Monthly Challenge* which you can watch here: https://www.facebook.com/Jennibellie/videos/1795888037094865/ & I also sent around my monthly newsletter containing new videos so check that out if you are on my list (or if you're not you can sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/jbgoodies & receive a free Creative Ebook, Exclusive Videos, Collage Sheets, Posters...to name a few - and you get brand new private giveaways, videos, articles & offers each and every month)

I'm off to go pick the winners for the fb live challenge, as I did a giveaway on there also, which I'm intending to do more of so if you've not already 'liked' my facebook page please do so (also hit the 'add page to favorites') to stay informed of these new fb lives and giveaways ;) 

Hop you're having a great creative weekend

Jennibellie

*The Monthly Challenge is a free group I host on my online art community Journal Workshops. It is a monthly art date for us to stretch our art/journaling comfort zone in a supportive collaborative environment. If you are not yet a part of this Group come & join in with over 5000 creative comrades and get access to YEARS worth of archived challenges, complete with art vids from me & project shares from the other members, here: http://journalworkshops.ning.com/group/monthly-challengehttp://journalworkshops.ning.com/group/monthly-challenge

journalworkshops.ning.com

[Video] Art Technique Plus Over 50 Art Resources

Hi love

I've a treat for you, if you weren't at the Birthday Bash Art Party last month here's the 'cool down' technique I shared at that event. It is one of my favourite repeatable art journaling techniques; simple, yet you always learn something new when you do it.

The Birthday Bash Group is still open if you want to see what else we got up to that day, while the event itself is over new people are joining everyday as all the projects are still visible. Join here: http://journalworkshops.ning.com/group/the-2017-birthday-bash

Note: you will need to be a member of my art community, Journal Workshops, to join any groups or classes. If you are not a member yet it's free and easy, you can join my art community here: http://journalworkshops.ning.com/main/authorization/signUp?

The CRAZY AWESOME Deal of the Week:

This week saw the release of the Art Bundle for Good. This is an amazing package of tons of art courses and resources (over $2500 worth for only $97!)

http://tinyurl.com/artbundle

There are LOADS of goodies from artists you may know and love, such as Flora Bowley, Micki Wilde, Andrea Gomoll, Willowing, Tracy Verdugo, Angela Kennedy plus many others. I’m including $165 worth of my own courses, zines and kits ...so even if you only want one or two things out of this bundle it is well worth it.

I’m truly excited about this as it is a great way to get a whole bunch of treats for you while supporting your favourite artists and charity, as 25% of all proceeds go to art charity Free Arts:

You seriously do want to check this out, it is too good to miss - but it's only available for this week so don’t delay:

http://tinyurl.com/artbundle

There’s also a free ebook to grab at that link even if you decide the bundles not for you (though at all that’s in here I don’t see how that could be possible lol), to which several artists including moi have contributed to called ‘The Business of Art’! 

Happy Arting

Much love

Jennibellie

xoxo

Tell All Tuesday ~ Featured Artist: Mel “Bunny” Sparkles

Hello!

Hope you've had a fabulous start to February?

I have, what with 48 new gel pens on sale, snowstorms, the awesomeness that was February's Monthly Challenge and now I have TAT! What more could an arty girl ask for??

I hope you enjoy this inspiring interview

Tell us a little bit about yourself & what kind of artist you are.
My name is Mel “Bunny” Sparkles. I have always been a creative person, but only in the past several years have I considered myself an “artist”. I have enjoyed all sorts of creative and crafty pursuits over the years, but it wasn’t until the last 4 years or so that I began seriously working at art. As a child I wrote plays, made costumes, and did lots of daydreaming. As an adult I continued my various creative pursuits off and on through the years. Over the past decade I’ve grown more and more dedicated to my creativity and it’s currently the most important aspect of my life. My primary art form is painting (mostly with acrylics). I also enjoy sewing, crochet, book making, and many other fun creative things.

What is the biggest challenge you personally face as an artist and how do you overcome it?
My biggest personal challenge in life and in art is chronic illness. A few years ago I became very ill with an autoimmune disease. Being chronically ill and experiencing severe chronic pain means that I have limitations in my life and abilities. I am not always able to create art when I want or need to. I cope with this by remembering to be grateful for the times I can create…remembering to really savor those times. The times when I can not create due to illness and/or pain I remind myself that it will pass and I will most likely have another chance to create again. Nothing in life is permanent…not the good times and not the bad times. It’s really been one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned about life…savor the good times because they don’t last forever and don’t get caught up in the suffering of the bad times because they don’t last forever either.

What is your greatest personal achievement either in your art, or because of it?
The greatest thing I’ve achieved with my art is bringing a very rich and consistent source of joy into my life. I have a life long history of debilitating depression and anxiety. Art is something that brings me a lot of joy. It’s been my best “therapy” and a wonderful method for coping with life challenges. This is why art is the most important thing in my life…it’s critical to my health, happiness, and well being. 

Have you ever found anything that originally daunted you as an artist that you can now overcame easily?
Early on in my art making I would be afraid to “waste” my “good” supplies. I would often avoid using my good/expensive/special supplies for fear of “wasting” them by making art that wasn’t “good”. Essentially I was afraid of failure and didn’t want to feel I had wasted money on top of “failing” at art. So, I collected a lot of supplies for a long time, but used very few of them. It’s funny to look back on it…how did I expect to grow in skill and as an artist if I wasn’t willing to use my supplies?! How did I expect to grow in skill and as an artist if I wasn’t willing to “fail”, to make mistakes?! One day I decided I was finally going to use some of the polymer clay I had been saving. I took out a package and it was rock hard. I had waited too long and the product was unusable. It was just what I needed to snap me out of that fear of failure. I realized I could truly waste my supplies by continuing to postpone using them, until they all ended up expired/unusable OR I could “waste” them on art projects that might (or might not!) be “failures“. I realized that no matter how badly I might “mess up” a project…it was a far greater waste to let supplies go unused than to use them up while I was learning. I no longer fear “failing” at art. For one thing, it’s impossible to fail at art. Art is a personal expression of humanity, emotion, perception, and more. It’s not possible to “fail” at expressing one’s experience of life-just not possible. Also, I see mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow-which is what they truly are!! 

Tell us where can we find out more about you & your art?

You can find some of my crafty type work in the book “Microcrafts” 

Thanks so much Mel “Bunny” Sparkles, I really enjoyed your art and story. Your answer to what originally daunted you that you now overcame was awesome! I recently did a blogpost where I mentioned that I've been investing heavily in supplies - I've brought more 'proper' paints, pencils, pastels, tools, books etc than I would ever have allowed myself to believe I was 'allowed' before. Like so much in art I think it is truly about giving ourselves permission....permission to play with these expensive products, permission to mess up, permission to express ourselves! Let's give ourselves permission (& whenever we hear a niggly non-permission voice come in ponder this: if you don't give yourself permission to go where your creativity wants you to go in that moment in time how will you ever reach or know your fullest potential?....art food for thought!)

Do you want to be a TATer??

To be featured email me or find all the details here =)

Tell All Tuesday ~ Featured Artist: Tracey Lee

Hi guys

last tuesday of November HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?? lol

but it is tuesday so here's a fab artist interview for you - check out these bears, I'm in love!!

Tell us a little bit about yourself & what kind of artist you are.
I have always found it hard to put into words what kind of artist I am. I love all mediums and I like to try everything. I never follow patterns or rules, I just see an image in my head and go for it. I have had no formal training. Like most kids I learnt how to knit and sew before starting school. After mum had done all her chores she would pull out a box of wool and bits and pieces and we would play. Before I knew it I had created something for my dolls to use. I have never known restrictions on creating. So I guess I’m a free form artist. I love spinning fibres into beautiful wearable art and I never repeat the same thing twice. I love that there is only one of it’s kind out there. At the moment I’m very much into making books, journals with secret compartments and different handmade papers inside for people to add to and make it their own. I like to create art that people can interact with and add their own flavour too. Art that keeps on giving.

What is the biggest challenge you personally face as an artist and how do you overcome it?
My biggest challenge is getting started. Especially when all my ideas come to me at night when it’s too late to start anything. At times I do. My husband and I will be chilling watching a movie and then I jump up turn all the lights on and start pulling everything out of my stash, spreading beads, threads, wool and paper all over the dining table and just going for it. If I don’t and the notion passes and its lost forever. My husband is quite used to it now lol.

Do you ever lose your mojo, and if so, how do you get it back?
Yes, I do lose my mojo and it’s a horrible feeling! I hate! When I do, I like to surround myself with other creative people. Even if it’s just chatting about their last creation. Their passion on what they do normally rubs off. Or I will get on line and see what the rest of the world is up to, but nothing beats it more than going into a fantastic book store and running my fingers through the books in the Arts and Crafts section getting inspiration from endless possibilities.

What advice would you offer to any perspective new artist?

I would have to say don’t be afraid to just start creating. Don’t put yourself into an “ Artist" category, get rid of the labels until you know who and what you are. Be and do what comes natural to you. Don’t worry if your friends and family don’t get it (as its them that’s missing out) for there will always be someone who loves what you do. It took me many years to overcome this, so don’t be hard on yourself and just enjoy the creative journey. 

Tell us where can we find out more about you & your art?
You can find me at www.traceylee.com.au I have face book and a blog. I’m a bit naughty not keeping my blog updated, but I’m hoping to get better.

Thanks so much for sharing your art and work Tracey, as I said at the intro, I am in LOVE with your bears! Doll making is so on my creative to do list, but like all of us there is a bunch of other stuff on there I want to do & art journaling and journal making is always my first love so it gets sidetracked but seeing those gorgeous creations gets me inspired for it again - even if all I do is sketch a couple of ideas in my ideas journal so thank you so much for that =)

Do you want to see your work here?

To be featured email me or find all the details here =)

Tell All Tuesday ~ Featured Artist: Lisa & Yolanda

Hi Guys

Welcome to todays TAT post, but before we get into it it's CONFESSION TIME! I have had these ladies (yep today you get two lovely artists!) TAT interview for a shamefully long time, due to placing it in a wrong email folder (see technology isn't all that, filing issues still happen when we go paper-free!), so I want to publicly apologise to these ladies who I first met on online what feels like aggggeeees ago now & who are lovely not to mention talented. Sorry, sorry, sorry, with puppy dog eyes & trembling lip on top!

Please enjoy their interview =)

Tell us a little bit about yourself & what kind of artist you are.
Our names are Lisa and Yolanda, and we are lionpaw55 on YouTube. We are a married lesbian couple who love to create art using different multidisciplinary approaches. It is a common sight to see us crafting together in our scrap room as we enjoy challenging ourselves with the different colors, papers, techniques, and themes. That being said, "who are we as artists?" Lisa is a multimedia artist. She is also a bookbinder and paper crafter. Her art style is Impressionism, and she loves to draw buildings and villages.  As for me, Yolanda, I am multimedia artist too. I enjoy creating multimedia on canvas, encaustic wax painting, 3D animation skits/plays, and some bookbinding. My style is influenced by a mish mosh of various art movements.

Mixed Media Canvas by Yolanda

What is the biggest challenge you personally face as an artist and how do you overcome it?
The biggest challenge Lisa faces is not to put everything on a project. When she begins a piece, she doesn't even want to stop crafting until she is finished. It is also hard for her to stop thinking about future ideas while she is working on a current one. I really don't know if I have one as I look at everything I do as a learning experience. When I begin a project it is difficult for me to choose which idea I should try to do. I decide upon my direction, generally, when it feels right to me. 

Bookbinding by Lisa

Do you ever lose your mojo, and if so, how do you get it back?
No, Lisa doesn't lose it at all. She feels that she doesn't have enough time to create and craft because she already has the next project or two planned out. Do I ever lose my mojo? No, I don't. At best, I am usually very distracted by a new art technique or mediums that I want to incorporate into my artwork.

3D Art by Yolanda

What other issues to you overcome to accomplish your art?
Other issues Lisa overcomes to accomplish her art is broadening her spectrum of colors that she enjoys using in her projects.

What is the best thing that art has brought into my life?
Lisa discovering and sharing her enjoyment of creating mixed media with me.

Mixed Media Tags by Lisa

Tell us where can we find out more about you & your art?

You can find my art on our YouTube Channel: lionpaw55

We would like to thank Jennibellie for giving us her support, and a chance to introduce ourselves and artwork. Until then, we hope that some of you will stop by and say "hello" on our YouTube channel: lionpaw55.

Thank you so much ladies, and again I'm so sorry for misplacing your interview I feel so awful, but thankful I didn't actually delete it lol thank you for sharing and you know what? I think you guys are one of the first ever to say you don't lose your mojo, and for both of you to say it it made me think that you guys probably have a huuuuuge advantage by having your partner interested in the same hobbies as you...or at least even if you are working in completely different mediums at times, it's still similar enough so that both of you are interested in what the other is creating. Completely awesomesauce thanks guys =)

Do you want to be TATed?

Email me or click the link to find all the details here =)

P.S We're now into day 3 of my 7 Day Art Journaling Challenge
(http://journalworkshops.ning.com/group/monthly-challenge/forum/topics/november-2014-bonus)
 which I haven't mentioned on here except to announce it so here's the video of where were currently at - come join us anytime =)

Tell All Tuesday ~ Featured Artist: Penny A. Bragg

Hi guys

Welcome to todays Tell All Tuesday Artist Interview, whoop!

It's Remembrance Day and today always make me feel like it's a day to be thankful. Of course for those people of past that we perhaps never even knew, but who may have had a great impact on our lives as we know them today, but also to be thankful for today, and everything in it. I am grateful for you guys, for artists who want to share their stories here and for other artists who want to listen. I am grateful for artists, for people, who get me, and for people who just get each other who may not (or even need to) meet.

Everyday I am feeling this appreciation grow & grow, stronger & stronger, I am thankful for you. 

Thank you for being you.

Tell us a little about yourself and what kind of artist you are.
I was born and raised in northern California, but now reside in Florida. While I have always had my hands and feet in creative endeavors, it was a recent tragedy in my life that somehow unearthed my work as a mixed-media artist. After battling mental illness for years, my younger brother took his own life in December, 2011. As a way of grieving and healing, I picked up my brushes, pencils, and pens and began to work through my pain and loss.

What is the biggest challenge you personally face as an artist and how do you overcome it?
My greatest challenge as an artist is rooted in experiences from my past...when I was told, in so many words, that my art (and my writing) wasn't “good enough”...and that no one would ever really want what I created. It has taken me a long time to forge ahead and believe otherwise. The encouragement of friends and fellow artists have been key. This year I have also participated in LifeBook 2014 and that has greatly encouraged me. I also had to learn to fight off old feelings with prayer and verses from the Bible that encourage me.

What is your greatest personal achievement either in your art, or because of it?
I feel that an essential achievement has been learning to grieve and heal from the pain of losing my brother so traumatically. It takes a lot of hard, intentional work to find peace and hope. One specific thing I have almost completed is the writing and publishing of a grief response journal entitled, "For Those Who Weep," which contains my art and writing. In addition, through my local hospice and the non-profit organization my husband and I started, I now facilitate free art classes for people who are grieving traumatic loss from either suicide, murder, or accidental death. All the proceeds from my Etsy prints and cards are used to fund these free classes.

What do you most wish your art to achieve?
Through my art I long to offer hope to those who, like me, have lost a loved one. I want to help those whose hearts are broken to find healing and strength and to honor my brother's life. I also want to bring glory to God and to make scripture come alive on the canvas.

Tell us where we can find out more about you and your art?

I created a blog in my brother's memory at www.ForThoseWhoWeep.com

My Etsy Shop: (all proceeds are donated to fund free art classes)

Thank you Penny for opening your heart to us and sharing your art and your love, which I think is very evident in the route you have taken since your loss. You have created something wonderful from something devastating, and I hope you manage to bring much healing to many people through your free classes. I am again thankful that there are people like you in the world.

Do you want to join the fabulous 

list of Tell All Tuesday interviewees??

To be featured email me or find all the details here =)

Tell All Tuesday ~ Featured Artist: Denise Cassano

Hi guys

Happy Tuesday =) tuesday here means TAT day but I'm not gonna lie to you, I feel really funky junky funk today! Not sure what's going on, tried numerous ways to get out of it/shift it/ignore it completely and just enjoy myself. Nada! I'm honestly telling you this TAT interview has been the best thing I've come across to lift my junky mood a lil and get me motivated! 

Serendipitous you may say.

I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did =) 

Tell us a little bit about yourself & what kind of artist you are.
I am an illustrator & art teacher in New York and mommy to two adopted dogs. I am personally interested in narrative art- telling a story through pictures and words, details, textures and mood. I lean towards dark, ambiguous images that may be interpreted in different ways. I primarily work in oil, but have had success with graphite and watercolor. Working with children for the past 20 years, I see how they intuitively intertwine words and images, which lead me to investigating transmediation. It means seamlessly moving between symbol systems, i.e. images and words. Coincidentally, that’s what you do with your beautiful journals! More recently I have been working on painting dog sculptures. I have two rescue dogs and I volunteer at a shelter, so dogs are very important to me. My new series will include dogs and Art Deco motifs. Maybe that’s the influence Downton Abbey is having on me, who knows!

What is the biggest challenge you personally face as an artist and how do you overcome it?
Producing a body of work that is cohesive and that I am proud of. Most people want to sell, as I do, but what is much more important to me is that I have produced many pieces I can stand behind. This is probably the challenge most artists have, regardless of the medium or style. I remember an art professor I had in Venice, he said, “We all have 24 hours in the day: 8 hours for work, 8 hours for sleep, you have to decide how to spend the other 8.” I think that is the point. If you live with purpose and are aware of how you spend your time, you will make time for making art. My wake up call was this spring realizing that it was many months from the last time I finished a painting. I made the decision to work every day. What does that mean? For at least one hour every day I work on my blog, paint, clean my studio, try new materials, draw in my sketchbook, etc. Something creative. In my opinion it is much more important to have small but steady incremental steps than to have fits and starts, with no direction. But that doesn’t happen unless you intentionally make a commitment to make art. Until I can make art full time I have to be careful how I make my schedule. That means I may have to say no to other things, and that’s ok. Think about it, in your final days, what will you regret: Not having spent more time on Facebook, or not having made more art? I have never regretted a minute I spent creating. It’s like anything else- you have to make the time.

Do you think you have achieved a uniquely recognizable style as an artist, or do you find it a struggle to find your own style?

Yes, I think this is common problem. You can see from my art that there is a range. One reason is that there are too many materials, options, new ideas, and techniques that pop up all the time. It’s the Shiny Penny Syndrome- you are focused on thing, and then get distracted by some other ‘shiny’ object. The problem? Nothing gets done. It is easy to be distracted. I don’t think you can ever be prolific at anything unless you narrow down what you are doing. That doesn’t mean to close yourself off to other artists or ideas or materials- but if you keep changing your mind as to what you want to do, you’ll never be at the highest level you can. In a nutshell, I’ve realized I need to focus on less things, but do them better than anyone else. I need to see it through. The other reason I think it is difficult to narrow down a style is as soon as something is difficult, or does not turn out the way you intended, our tendency is to shift gears, give up and go in another direction. Maybe that is the exact time we should push through and see what happens. I made an analogy to a musician friend of mine. I said, “ Do you think you have to write a lot of bad music before getting to the really good stuff?” He laughed and said, “Yeah I do, tons, but you just have to get through it.” Bottom line, art is a work of love, but work none-the-less. So I have to tell myself what I tell my students, “Less talking, more working.”

What inhibits you most from being the artist you want to be?
I call it ‘negative speak”, you know, the voice in your head that needs to get a life. I have an artist friend of mine who went back to art school at the age of 42, after working in banking (ugh!). She is a little insecure about her ability. I said to her, “Look, when you see an amazing piece of art, remember that the artist was once a beginner and it took years to get to that point- you didn’t see the 500 bad versions he made.” I think about that when the voice calls. I have a quote posted in my studio, “What one man can do, another can do.” Immerse yourself with positive, creative people. That’s why I like Tim Gunn so much. All of us can learn from him- don’t be intimidated by others, be inspired!

Tell us where can we find out more about you & your art?

My Website

My Twitter

My Facebook 

My Pinterest

Thank you so much Denise, as I said at the beginning you really motivated me with your interview. I'm so glad that I now of one more encouraging art teacher on this planet (I was not blessed with one myself), you've inspired me enough to put in a lil time arting this eve (when I might have just buried myself in chocolate instead) so I'm off like speedy-gonzales, thank you xx

Do you want to see your work here?

To be featured email me or find all the details here =)

Tell All Tuesday ~ Featured Artist: Michelle Templeton

Hi guys today I have a real treat for you. 

This weeks featured Tell All Tuesday artist is a woodblock printmaker and I have to tell you I'm in looooooooooooooove with her work. Hope you enjoy this weeks share and FYI I NEED ARTISTS TO FEATURE HERE! So if you would like to see your name in *l*i*g*h*t*s* (...or as close to lights as I can get them for you) see below for details ;D

Tell us a little bit about yourself & what kind of artist you are.
My name is Michelle Templeton and I am an artist in Seattle, USA. I’m also a wife, mama to a seven-year old boy, and a writer and editor. I also read many books and eat too much chocolate. I trained as a painter and figurative painting was my first love as an artist. About five years ago I rediscovered woodblock printmaking and I became obsessed with it. I love the process of carving the woodblocks and then having the final image revealed in the printing process as you peel back the paper to see what you’ve got. I also love the graphic quality of the black and white images. I still make paintings, but I have worked primarily on woodblock printmaking for the last few years.

What is the biggest challenge you personally face as an artist and how do you overcome it?
Time! I have learned to be very protective of my studio time but, even so, there never seems to be enough of it. I have the school runs, my part-time editing job, a million household errands…it’s the same struggle all working parents face. The difference is that making art isn’t a job you clock-in and out of. It’s certainly easier now that my son is a bit older but when he was a baby/toddler it was nearly impossible to have any work time at all. I think the only way to survive the working parent/studio time problem is to schedule the studio time and protect it at all costs. This sometimes means no time for the gym, tea with a friend, etc. but it’s the only way to make the art happen.

What is your heart’s greatest desire for your life as an artist?
I often think about this question as how do I decide whether or not I am successful as an artist. I sell work, but I’d love to sell more work. I’d love to have more exposure; more people who see and experience my work in whatever form (live or online, etc.) But when I am still and quiet the truth that lives inside my heart is that I’m successful because I get to live and work as an artist. I get to have a studio and spend time making art. This is such a fantastic thing to have the honor and joy of doing. So I guess the answer is that my hearts desire is to keep making art for as long as I live.

Do you ever lose your mojo, and if so, how do you get it back?
This tends to happen when I complete a particular body of work or series and I’m poking around in the studio trying to sort out what to work on next. It’s frustrating. I like to look through art books, make sketches and look back through old work of mine to find new ideas. Sometimes I find it helps to read or listen to music in the studio without doing anything else – relaxing and taking the pressure off. But I do think it’s important to be in the studio. To show up even if you sit and read all day and get nothing done. I think it takes real bravery to keep showing up even when you don’t have the next idea. So I always tell myself, “if you can’t be brave, be stubborn…”

Tell us where can we find out more about you & your art?

My website is here, I sell woodblock prints in my Etsy shop and I also write a blog. I’m on Facebook at Michelle Templeton Art, Twitter as @mtempletonart and on Pinterest as mtempletonart. Please come hang out with me online!

Hi Michelle, thank you so much for participating in Tell All Tuesday, I reallllllly enjoyed seeing your work and know others seeing this will be inspired by it also. 

I also really like what you said at the end of your interview 'I think it takes real bravery to keep showing up even when you don’t have the next idea. So I always tell myself, “if you can’t be brave, be stubborn…”' I LOVE this, and I think it's so true for many of us to remember when we get discouraged to still TURN UP! I too get this way after I have completed a big project, I've been taking much better notice of my patterns this past year and realised I should allow this, without adding the pressure to 'get back on it, straight away, now' (as the little voices say). Like anything else we do we need time to recuperate, recharge our batteries & our inspiration tanks when we have given a lot of energy to something now complete, and I for one will be taking the idea on being in the studio more during these times without any pressure to do with me from this interview, so thank you. 

Do you want your name in *l*i*g*h*t*s*??

To be featured email me or find all the details here =)

Tell All Tuesday ~ Featured Artist: Laura Opal

Hi guys

Happy September,

I've a new exciting artist interview for you today, as quite a spiritual 'new agey' type person myself I'm really happy to share with you this weeks artist, 

hope you enjoy the interview =)

Tell us a little bit about yourself & what kind of artist you are.
I always have a hard job describing my work. Mainly it has quite a spiritual theme: Ancient Goddesses, Totem Animals etc. I write for and illustrate a lot of New Age type books and magazines. I've always loved everything spiritual and of course I love art, so its nice to bring two loves of mine together. I've always had a huge passion for art and last year I decided I would give being an artist a go as it had always been my biggest dream. It was hard putting my work out there as I am so critical of my work and thought everyone else would be. But I had a good response and after a while I managed to get work. Its been a dream come true!

What is the biggest challenge you personally face as an artist and how do you overcome it?
I would say my biggest challenge is putting too much pressure on myself for things to turn out perfect. As I get older I'm getting better at not being as obsessed with perfection. For example: Instead of wishing I could paint/draw super realistically I work with what I can do.

Do you think you have achieved a uniquely recognisable style as an artist, or do you find it a struggle to find your own style?
I fought against my own style of art for years. Now I embrace it. I'd say I have three styles depending on what the work asks of me. When you're younger and newer to art it can be difficult to find your own style as quite often we try and paint like famous artists we admire and look up too. In time and with practise you settle into things and get your own recognisable style.

What is your greatest personal achievement either in your art, or because of it?
My greatest achievement was to see my illustration in a book for the first time. Its something I had always dreamt of and it happened. No matter what I achieve in the future I have that!

Tell us where can we find out more about you & your art? 

http://29art.blogspot.co.uk/

Thank you so much for sharing Laura, firstly I LOVE the painting of Isis that you shared (first photo) so gorgeous and colourful and exactly how I imagine ancient life in Egypt to be. Secondly I love what you were said regarding being a perfectionist and fighting against your own (naturally occurring I'm guessing) style of art, I've had my own learning curves with those issues this year and too think it's important to emphasize as much as possible to work with what we have now & release those pressures of things in our art that essentially take the joy out of doing it in the first place. Thirdly LOVE your last name, very jealous you are named after a crystal ;)

Guess what? I'm looking for artists to interview

Do you want to join the TAT ranks??

To be featured email me or find all the details here =)

Tell All Tuesday ~ Featured Artist: Angela Vale

Hi guys happy tuesday

So last week I was very bad on my blog and didn't do any of my normal posts (but I did some other stuff so hoping that goes into my bloggy bank and my blog's not too mad with me lol).

Last week was a clear case of burn-out, I had a lot going on and then on top of that the creative things I tried to do just drained the tank completely dry. So I've had a couple of days just self-caring and now I'm back. Moral of this story: Rest and listening to yourself ARE A PRIORITY! (really, they're not just an option!) Anyway onto this weeks TAT, who's featured artist is a lovely lady I've got to know recently and hope you relish that privilege too, enjoy the interview =)

Tell us a little bit about yourself & what kind of artist you are.
My name is Angi Vale and I currently live in Michigan, in the United States. I am a very new artist and I have never in my life ever believed that I could draw anything. One day I bought a sketch pad and some pencils to play around with and I just started drawing, but nothing ever came out “right”. Then I found Jennibellie’s YouTube channel and I was addicted! I found my love for art journals and I wanted to know more. When I heard about LifeBook 2014 my love for Art Journals turned into this new passion that I just can’t get enough of! My favorite type of art is mixed media and making art journals.

What is the biggest challenge you personally face as an artist and how do you overcome it?
My biggest challenge that I face as an artist is knowing what I want to put on the page. I can stare at a blank page for far too long if I’m not careful. You gave some really good advice in one of your videos Jenny, when you said just let the page tell you what it wants. So that is how I overcome the challenge. I will start with some collage and watercolor crayons and let the page decide what it wants out of it. My latest thing is shimmery watercolors as a background and then building from there. Once you let go it just becomes easier to just put your heart on the page and let it all just fall where it wants to.

What is the best thing / worst thing that art has brought into your life?
The best thing that art has brought into my life is that for years I have struggled with depression and anxiety and no way to release it or to get things out of my head for fear of someone reading my secrets and being judged for them. I have struggled with depression since childhood due to some pretty personal events that have taken place in my life and in later years developed an eating disorder that I still struggle with to this day. Art is now my safe haven. It is my place where I can get everything out on paper, every dark thought, feeling, every tear, and every pain. Every fear that I am experiencing at that moment spills out of me onto paper. Because of art, I feel safe because I can cut it up into bits and use it as collage, or paint a beautiful picture over it. No matter what happens to those words in the end, no matter how they end up on the page, it is no longer bottled up inside of me where it can fester and grow. It’s out! It’s done! It’s buried in beauty in my journal.

What advice would you offer to any perspective new artist?
My advice to any artist or perspective artist would be this… there is no bad art! Period! It’s you, it’s who you are so get it out and if you don’t like what you see paint over it but don’t give up. There are many places online to learn different techniques on how to do things but if you don’t try you will never know if you got it in ya! I never knew my whole life that I too can be an artist, until I tried.

Tell us where can we find out more about you & your art?
I have a website, but it’s still under construction. I am currently working on it putting pictures up and it should be ready to view soon. For now, anyone can find me on facebook, it’s my personal page but I do post my artwork there.

Hi Angi, thanks so much for sharing with us.

I really love that you were so honest with us and so hope it gives others courage to share openly their art and story like you have in this interview, not necessarily here but just in general, I really think 'pooling' our experiences and thoughts etc really does enrich our community...and it takes bravery to do it in the beginning especially so THANK YOU =) 

So would you like to...

To be featured email me or find all the details here =)