I cannot believe I have not posted since April! What!? Well, no wonder I don’t have any followers. I said when I started this (new) blog that I am a terrible blogger. I guess I’ve proved myself right. What can I say? Life is crazy, these times we live in are crazy, I am crazy, yeah all of that.

Anyway… I am here now and I’ll get ya caught up if I can. This blog isn’t the only thing that has suffered, although not as badly, my YouTube channel has been waiting for a new post for about a month now, which is really something new for me. I usually post a couple times a week! I think Covid-19 has finally gotten to my depression nerve! I am pretty unmotivated EXCEPT for one thing.

I have taken two classes with the incomparable Deb Weiers over the last couple of months. I am totally and utterly obsessed with painting faces in her style – quirky, abstract, unproportional and FUN! Take a look (I have painted one almost every day for a couple of months now, so I’ll just show you some highlights.)

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Let’s see, besides painting wonky faces, what have I been doing? I am the copy editor for Punch Needle & Primitive Stitcher magazine, and we have puiblished two of our quarterly issues while this virus has been around. It takes a lot of time and effort, but our subscribers love the projects and we are happy to provide them a high-quality publication. Check us out at pnpsmagazine.com (we have a digital version, too.)

What else? Not much, really. Buying a lot of art supplies from Amazon that I have yet to use. Trying to keep up with the lawn and flower beds – the weeds are winning there. The usual summer chores you know?

I miss seeing my family in Cinncinati (youngest daughter’s family) — I’m a little leary of traveling down there (about 4 1/2 hours for me.) Even though Ohio hasn’t reported a ton of cases of Covid, I still am scared that on one of my many pee stops along the way, I could pick it up unknowingly and transmit it to the kids when I get there. They all say I am too paranoid about this thing, but I don’t think that’s possible. Am I overly cautious? Maybe, but I’d rather be that than risk it, for me and for them. But boy, I sure do miss those babies!

Brooks Archer & Reid Mathew

They are growing like crazy (17 months already!) They are IVF twins that we are so very blessed to have. Ain’t they cute?!

So there you go — that’s been my summer with Covid so far. I hope this virus settles down quickly so we can have some semblance of normalcy (whatever that might end up being.) I hope you are all safe and healthy. Take care of yourselves and your loved ones. We are in this together and we will come out the other side.

And, in the meantime,

Go Make Some Art!

In this brave, new world, there is a lot of arting going on. We have all taken to staying in and being productive. Yes, it’s scary and lonely and isolating. But, it is also a very productive time when we have less outside distractions and activities to keep us from making art. No more dropping the paint brush because it’s time to take the kids to baseball practice (sadly) or it’s time to run out the door to go grocery shopping or run errands. At least for me, everything gets done quicker online and I am right back to my studio space making art.

The uncertainty of this time has made me braver. I am willing to just go for it and say the hell with it! I am NOT squandering art supplies because maybe I can’t get out to replenish them. I am NOT saving substrates for the perfect project. I am NOT worried about making something with no mistakes. I am simply making art for the sake of making art. It is therapeutic and soothing. It is rewarding and fun. It is not scary and it makes me brave! I can forget the world for a few hours and just enjoy the process — no TV or radio to distract me with all the sad news. My playlist is giving me the beats I need to dance around the studio (alone) and just let it all go to God. The worries, frustrations, and isolation can just be gone for a few hours and I can dance and create and be me again!

Here are just a few of the things I’ve created in the last couple of weeks. I paint in the studio during the day, and in the evenings while I watch my favorite Netflix shows, I sketch in my sketchbooks in front of the TV.

“Until We Can Be This Close Again” graphite in sketchbook

“COVID Sucks” intuitive acrylic ink painting – YouTube process video available

“This Too Shall Pass” acrylics and collage in art journal – YouTube video available

“How High Will You Go?” acrylics and stencil in art journal

“She Got Brave” graphite in sketchbook

In the style of Toni Burt, pen and watercolor in an art journal

My YouTube channel helps me stay connected to artist friends and others who I have come to know and love through YouTube. It’s a place where you can choose your own community and bond together through common interests. I am so thankful I started my channel long before this virus decided to invade our lives, otherwise, I would feel very differently right now. Why? Because I wouldn’t have that community to interact with or to share the art I am making. I wouldn’t have those fellow artists and art students to converse with, to find out how they are doing in their parts of the world. And, I wouldn’t have anyone to share my art with – good or bad, it doesn’t even matter. Sharing is the best part of making! And I’ve been granted Channel Memberships now, so I have an even better way to share and give to folks who like what I do, and want to do it themselves. I am a ‘teacher’ by nature – I love to share and teach what I know and love, hoping that it brings as much joy and satisfaction to others as it does to me. I think that is what art should be!

What keeps you distracted from the sadness in the world? Tell me – I really want to know!

Wherever you are in the world, whatever you are doing, do it safely and be well.

And in the Meantime, Go Make Some Art!

Back at the turn of the new year, someone in a YouTube live stream asked me what my resolutions were. I am a terrible resolution keeper! But I’ve been working hard to share a lot of my art with my YouTube subscribers, so I told him I am not making resolutions, but I have set some goals. My goals were to pass the 2k subscriber mark, and to get enough watch hours to monetize my channel (4k) by April 30.

At that time, I had just past the 1k subscriber mark and I had about 1500 watch hours. It seemed like a lofty goal, but it helped motivate me to work extra hard after I publicly stated those goals. I promoted the heck out of my channel, subscribed to other like channels and became a good, loyal subscriber to them by watching their videos, commenting on them, and sharing their successes. In turn, those creators began to do the same for me. I was on a roll, and it felt so good.

I would just turn on my camera daily as I worked in the studio, collecting footage of the various pieces that I created. Soon, I was uploading process videos almost daily. The editing added to my time, but I actually enjoy that part of sharing my work. I was invited to be part of an art hop with a group of YouTube artists, and that helped push me ahead quite a bit.

Long story short, this past week, I achieved both of my goals well ahead of my stated end date. It took about 30 hours for YouTube to review my channel and I am now monetized. I’m excited…not because I have any expectations of making much money, but because I achieved the goals I set for myself (with a lot of help from my friends.)

I am currently running a celebration giveaway on my channel. All the entry details are in this video:

https://youtu.be/M0u3pl69pqc

If you would like to grab that download, head over to my web site, HERE, and download it for free!

So, I guess the moral of my story is, even at my ripe old age, setting goals and working toward them really works! If you are one of my subscribers, thank you for all your help and support. If you aren’t subscribed to my channel, I welcome you to click on over and have a look…I am closing in on 200 art process videos, so I am pretty sure you’ll find something you like!

And in the Meantime….Go Make Some Art! ~Bye

Was January just the longest month ever? At my age, the months usually pass so quickly, I can’t believe it. But January 2020 seemed to be 75 days long at least. Maybe it was the endless string of dark, dreary days filled with rain and a bit of snow, but no real winter weather. Sure, it was cold but not wintry cold with pretty snowfalls, but rather grey skies and puddles of rain and slush. Yuck! Today, the sun shone brightly and the stupid groundhog saw his shadow…six more weeks of winter? Well in Ohio, that’s a given regardless of groundhog shadows. But it was nice to see the sun, plus it was almost 50 degrees. Unheard of for an Ohio day in February. But it gave me a boost to actually get some things done, like a blog post.

January was full of art projects for me. My YouTube channel has grown significantly and my subscribers seem to really enjoy my videos. I’ve done mixed media, as usual, but also offered up some other fun art projects to try, like this huge piece of collage paper.

I have quite a few creators who are participating in my altered, playing card challenge, too. Want to see them? Just search #ytcardchallenge on You Tube or Instagram. It’s so interesting to see how each person creates cards entirely differently than the next.

Speaking of creating, it’s time for me to get in the studio and do some of that myself. So, until next time, go make some art!

Earlier this year, I threw out a challenge to my YouTube subscribers and Instagram followers for an altered playing card challenge. No hard and fast rules…just play and sharing. It’s a personal challenge to see how many you can make before you get tired and bored. To my surprise, those who have accepted the challenge have become addicted to the process. Most of them have already far exceeded what I have done!

It has been so much fun to see their posts and watch their progress. I don’t think anyone is stopping anytime soon. I decided to use a deck of Old Maid cards that belonged to my kids in the 80s. Each time I pull some out to work on, I am reminded of how fast our kids grow up! I remember playing Old Maid for hours with them, and how mad my son would get if he ended the game as the old maid. They just make me smile.

Now they will be hanging in my studio as small works of art and I will have the memories of transforming them from an old, cast off deck of kids cards to something I love to look at, and which gave me joy to create.

This is a video of the last three I created. I hope you enjoy watching and maybe you’ll join us and make some for yourself. It’s a quick, easy project that anyone can do. And it’s a great way to use up all those scraps you’ve been hoarding “in case you need it someday!” And if you care to share, use the hashtag #ytcardchallenge on any social media where you share your little masterpieces.

Altered Playing Cards #ytcardchallenge

If this ends up being my last post for 2019, I want to wish you each a happy new year. I hope it brings you good health, love of family, and whatever your heart desires.

In the meantime, Go Make Some Art! Bye…

Did this year go by fast, or what? Maybe it’s my age, but time flies by and I am so grateful to have my art to keep me busy and productive. Every day, you will find me in the studio doing something or other. This past year, I have really done a lot more mixed media and art journaling. It’s my new favorite! However, I am starting to miss painting and I plan to do more acrylic painting next year.

I also began cold wax and oils this year and while I enjoy it a lot, I get a little tired of abstracts all the time. So, plans for 2020 also include more cold wax painting in a less abstract genre. It seems like it will be difficult, so we will see how that goes.

I completed work in my large Dylusions journal the other day. It was hugely satisfying to finish it up. I won’t miss working in it though because my sweet daughter bought me a spanking new one for Christmas! So a new one waits for me when I am ready. One of the most exciting things about that is planning a new cover design! Yes, you heard right…I am actually planning something. If you follow me, you know I work intuitively and rarely plan anything! It’s just how I like to work. If you would like to see the last few pages being done, those videos are here:

Mixed Media Christmas

Custom collage tissue pages

My next big venture is to start live streaming some art sessions on YouTube. I have no idea how I will do it but I am going to get set up and try. I recently hit the 1k subscriber milestone on my channel, and now I will work on watch time so that I can monetize my channel. That will take a while, but it will help me replenish art supplies. In the meantime, I do have a PayPal.me tip jar and I just started a Patreon account. No patrons yet, but I am hopeful! My Patreon page

So to those of you who follow, thank you so much for doing so! I hope your holidays are the best ever, and that 2020 brings all you hope it will!

And in the meantime….Go Make Some Art! Bye!