JOURNAL — Creativity

(My beautiful new olive green notebook, isn't she pretty) A few weeks ago, I came into my daughter's room and was pleasantly surprised to find her journaling.  About a year ago, we had started journaling together. We both had gotten new notebooks for Christmas and we were on vacation with plenty of time to kill. We enjoyed doing a few journal entries together, but the hobby fizzled out like things sometimes do. Which is why I was surprised to see her journaling again. Apparently, she had gotten interested in it again after she had watched some videos on YouTube and became...

‘Reflections on art process and making connections through subject matter’ Some reflections today while packing up a couple wholesale orders for art prints from my studio + shop Rare Bird Co.  For those who don’t really know what that means - I sell my work (art, jewelry, accessories, home decor, etc) to shops around the country. It’s one of the ways I earn income as a designer/artist. As opposed to selling my products straight to the customer, I also sell my products to shops (both brick and mortar and online shops) and they sell my goods to their customers. It's...

What is an Art Style? An art style is a consistent and recognizable way of creating art. It's the unique characteristics that make your work identifiable. Having a distinct style is important because it not only helps people recognize and connect with your work, but it also strengthens your identity as an artist. Why Have an Art Style? A recognizable art style can set you apart, making your work more memorable and helping you build a stronger connection with your audience. It provides a sense of cohesion across your portfolio and allows others to know what to expect from your art....

'How to make an abstract art color study and my first color study of the year' Abstract art, with its freedom from the constraints of reality, is one of my favorite forms for self expression when making art. One of the most alluring aspects of creating abstract art is its exploration of color. It’s amazing how much sentiment can be expressed through color, without having to say a single word. Below is loosely my process for how I delve into this type of abstract color study. Exploring the subject and colors you’re trying to portray My first color study of the year -...

'Peach fuzz 'color of the year', how I use peach in my art + our favorite peachy color palettes' Each year, The Pantone Color Institute selects a shade that they feel will best reflect the color trends in the upcoming year. Pantone’s color of the year for 2024 is ‘peach fuzz’ and as a long time lover of the color peach, I’m all for it. Peach Fuzz, color of the year 2024 via Pantone Peach is a delicate orange-y pink color that exudes warmth, softness and playfulness. It’s muted tone makes it the perfect, warm neutral that can play nicely with so many...