A little groundhog recently told me that spring is on the way! Even though it’s been a pretty mild winter in my corner of the world, I still can’t resist the promise of something fresh and new. My page today reflects the hopes and dreams that come when a new season is on the horizon.
Credits: February Grab Bag - COMING SOON TO TB& CO.
What promises does this spring hold for you?
Grab Bags are only available for a limited time once a month and are priced on a sliding scale, so act fast for the best deal! For more information visit TB&CO Grab Bags.
To find out more about the Art Journal Emporium or the Art Journal Caravan, visit http://shoptangiebaxter.com.
Imagination is more important than knowledge. -A.Einstein
Dave, Sammy and I have been talking about this for a long time and decided that the time is finally right! We are ecstatic to announce that our entire family will be teaching this new online workshop for kids and the young at heart! We've been doing Summer camp for kids in our Studio for a few years now and Tangie owned her own preschool for 4 years!
This workshop will focus on the heart of what art journaling truly is and we hope to inspire a lifelong passion with art journaling in your child!
A few of the ideas we'll explore: Imaginary creatures, Sweets & Treats, Sammy's dolls in watercolor & collage, Robots & Not so scary Monsters, Scribble Flowers, Collage in all its wide variety, basic watercolor techniques, doodling and tangles, plus so much more!
Anyone who says you can't see a thought simply doesn't know art. -W. Reynolds
What you receive in this workshop:
Access to our secure classroom for your family (only one workshop needs to be purchased per household)
30 Videos by Sammy, Dave and Tangie Baxter creating 30 Art Journal Projects (The focus of this workshop will focus on watercolor and collage, using supplies you can usually find at home).
30 Downloadable, Printable PDF files that match the lessons with supplies used, sample of finished project and journal prompts to use while creating art journal pages from the videos. (Watching the videos will be required for the "how to" portion").
These videos will be released each Tuesday (except during spring break, classroom will have posting schedule).
Several Bonus Collage Sheets to print and use (optional)
Lifetime Access for your child to work at his/her own pace.
The journal prompts will be thought provoking but appropriate for children (or the young at heart). This class is perfect for children ages 4-14 (But truly why not 4-104?!).
Today we will get to know one of Tangie’s talented Crew members. She contributes some really beautiful and helpful projects in the Emporium and on Tangie Baxter & CO’s blog!
Let's meet Karli-Marie:
⦁Name or nickname/handle? Most people call me Karli, but my full name is Karli-Marie Avril Reyes-Dimovska. To my students it's Ms. Karli, but in writing I am always Karli-Marie. I used to go by KM in digiland and I have also designed under the name KM Ink. Clearly simplicity isn't my forte!
⦁Where do you live? Cary, North Carolina
⦁Digital, mixed media, or both? Both! Any! All!
⦁How long have you been making art? I think expression through art, no matter the medium, is an absolutely essential piece of the human experience. I've been making some form of art as long as I can remember. When I was young it was mostly collages and handmade paper dolls. I moved toward scrapbooking in high school and made the full switch to digital art after college. Around 2007 I started making forum signatures and soon after I transitioned to the exploding niche of digital scrapbooking.
I was introduced to the glory of mixed media goodness in 2010 (thank you Art Journal Caravan!), which has left a lasting impact on my artistic process. During my time in the Peace Corps I was able to spread my wings of creativity and explore everything from website creation to designing a zine for an international non-profit organization. Then, after my return to the states, I felt a pull toward digital design and launched a creative business of my very own. Unfortunately I wasn't able to gain much traction and found it hard to balance working full time and designing regularly, so I put the project on the back burner for the time being. These days I vacillate between mixed media/hybrid projects and 100% digital art. In short, I've been making art just shy of forever.
⦁How did you find Tangie & the Emporium? I've been following Tangie for years. I joined the very first Art Journal Caravan in 2010 and fell head over heals. After a break from mixed media art, I joined the 2014 Caravan and fell in love with Tangie's work all over again. Late last year I was honored to take a place in Tangie's blog team and was introduced to the Emporium (spoiler alert: it's awesome!). The past few months working with Tangie's team and exploring everything the Emporium has to offer has been a super fun experience for me. ⦁Favorite art supply? Ooof. Tough question. I can't pick just one (or two), but if I had to narrow it down I would say for physical art I absolutely need paint, pens, and anything that creates awesome texture; for digital art I love brushes, fonts, and shapes. ⦁Favorite technique? While I love to explore new techniques often, I always seem to come home to blending. It's one of my favorite things about digital vs. physical art. As for mixed media, I'll admit there's a ton of techniques that I haven't broken into yet, but I'm a big fan of layering and creating complex textures. ⦁Favorite embellishing tools? I am a sucker for scatters and splatters! ⦁Favorite color palette? I love color! I tend to gravitate toward brighter color palettes and veer away from pastels and muddy hues. That said, I do think that all colors have their time and place. ⦁What I'm exploring now? My husband and I moved in December of last year, so the majority of the Christmas season was spent knee deep in DIY projects for the new pad. I've had a ton of fun making my Pinterest boards spring to life. But, during the past few weeks, as my interior design projects have started to slow down, I've returned to my love of writing. ⦁Favorite part of the Emporium right now? The Art Journal Caravan, for sure. I am SUPER stoked for its return, it feels like everything's coming back full circle for me. I am also constantly enamored with Tangie's amazing collage sheets. ⦁I love to make... Anything I can get my hands on! I have so many hobbies it's hard to list them all, but here's my attempt to cover most of my bases. I love to make: old furniture new again, hand lettered signs, breathtaking photographs, gourmet meals for my husband, birthday cards for my nieces and nephews, educational resources for preschoolers, crochet hats and scarves, and most of all I love to make people happy.
⦁Beside the Emporium, where can we find you on the internet?
My digital reach is far and wide, but here are a few highlights:
I belong to a Facebook Group which sends out “Happy Mail” to people who are going through a tough time and need a little happy in their lives. For example, when I went through surgery a year and a half ago, I received “Happy Mail” from 3 different people from around the world. Believe me, it made my day because they knew I was an artist and they either sent me a card or art journaling ephemera to keep me occupied in bed during my recovery. Over the past two and a half years, I have send out a few “Happy Mails” myself. They go to people who have major depression, who are battling cancer, or other difficulties.
This particular happy mail is going to Australia to a mother who is battling several different diseases at once. She has two children and a very supportive husband. I thought that this beautiful Art Journal Pocket set would cheer her up! I know that it would put a very big smile on my face if I received it in the mail!
Random Ephemera from my stash including: brads, ticker words, flowers, arrow paper clips, dot stickers, feather stickers, the letter L
Color Theory Ink Pad in Coral Bay
If you would like the contact information to join such an uplifting and charitable group, you can email me at messyjessycreatesart@gmail.com or you can contact Rachel Thomas, who is in charge of the closed group enCouragement Art on Facebook!
Hello friends! Glenda here to share with you our final Art Journal Emporium Gallery Gems for January. Today we will feature three unique pieces from Tangie Baxter & Co’s Art Journal Emporium and Art Journal Caravan 2016.
Our first sparkler is a playful collage piece created by Pam McKenzie for the Art Journal Caravan Itinerary No. 3. Who couldn’t use a little “Tigritude”?
Pam’s credits include elements from the Art Journal Emporium January 2016 deliveries, font: Algerian.
From the AJE January Challenge, we have a fabulous mixed media piece created by Donna Bunch Miller. What an amazing affirmation!
Donna’s credits include elements from AJC 11 Parcel 45 and Uncaged Brushes No.1 (part of AJE January 2016 deliveries).
Finally, we have another incredible piece from the AJC January Itinerary No. 3. Feast your eyes on this encore submission created by Heather Sullivan - simply luscious!
Heather’s credits include elements from “lots of Tangie goodies”!
Thanks to Pam, Donna and Heather for sharing their amazing creations with us! Don’t forget to leave them some love!
And while you’re at it, be sure to check out this year’s Art Journal Caravan. There are three ways to join - one could be just right for you!
Hey guys, Carolyn here, Art Journal Emporium Crew Member, and I'm taking over the blog today!
I’m excited to take you inside my art journal and share a little peek at how I deal with busy backgrounds. I LOVE layers but sometimes I don't know when to stop and I end up with something that looks like this:
Yikes! That is a LOT going on. Not that it's necessarily a bad thing to get to this point. Some people love it, in fact, and will call this page done and they go on about their merry way. Well, I'm not those people. I've not evolved to the stage of moving on and letting things go and I know that many of you feel the same way. In my mind, every page needs a focal image and/or words.
So what do I do when I get to the point of no return? Well, I keep it simple (about time, right?). I look for bold shapes or images with little or no pattern. I'm not a trained artist, but for me this drastic contrast to the busy background slows things down and gives my eyes a place to settle.
For this particular background I pulled out some of Tangie's collage sheets from 2015 (yes they're still available January 2015 Collage Sheet Workshop and May 2015 College Sheet Workshop) and simply tore out what I wanted, the hearts. I really liked how they looked but I felt they needed a little more oomph so I added some words and used a black ink pen to scribble around the edges. To finish this off I pulled out my florescent oil pastels and gave the hearts and the border a little extra color. I REALLY love how it morphed into this:
I'm so glad I pushed on with this page because now I feel like I have a beautiful, inspiring page in my journal with a very deep and personal meaning to me.
I hope that you'll give this idea a try and push through those busy backgrounds and finish them up with a bold statement that will keep you inspired.
Thank you all for sharing part of your day with me, I've really enjoyed hanging out here on the blog and look forward to my next visit.
You’ve been staring at a blank page, or worse you’ve been creating vigorously, for what seems like ages, and though it’s hard to put your finger on it, nothing seems “right.” You’re starting to feel like a hamster stuck in a relentless loop of creative disappointment.
No matter your medium, we’ve all been there… the dreaded artistic slump. If your normal jump starter methods have fallen short, here are six sure-fire ways to ease the anxiety of impending stagnation that’s holding you back.
“The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.”
- Nathaniel Branden
As with most of life’s issues, awareness and acceptance have to happen before any true change can occur. Don’t hide from your slump or let it get you down. Acknowledge its existence as part of your creative process, and take some action steps to help you return to your former days of creative grandeur.
“People talk about escapism as though it’s something nasty, but escapism is wonderful!”
- Margaret Forster
Sometimes you just need to step away from your project and turn off your brain for a little while to get those creative juices flowing. Indulge in your latest paperback, watch an episode of your favorite guilty pleasure on Netflix, or open a bottle of wine and let Pandora whisk you away. In moderation, escaping the problem may be just what you need to relax and rejuvenate.
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”
- Albert Einstein
If mental escape doesn’t do the trick, try a more physical approach. In this day and age of constant connection to mass media, many of us are neglecting our instinctual connection to nature. Get out of the house, and be sure to leave your cellphone behind! Take a walk, commune with mother nature. You’re sure to come back to the table with fresh eyes and an unburdened soul.
“Really great people make you feel that you, too, can become great.”
- Mark Twain
Does the glorious solitude of nature feel more like isolation to you? Perhaps a step in the opposite direction is what you need. Who is the most inspirational person you know? How does it feel to spend time with them? If your muse lives nearby arrange to meet for coffee, if they’re a little farther off perhaps a Skype date will do the trick. The important thing is to connect with others who bring you up and can help you break through your pesky creative block (FYI… The Art Journal Emporium is an amazing environment to help you connect with other soulful creatives just like you!).
“You can’t wait for inspiration; you have to go after it with a club.”
- Jack London
In other words, don’t stop creating. I know, it feels like everything you’re creating right now is a steaming pile of dinosaur dung, but sometimes the best way to get through a slump is just to plug your nose and power on. But, if the same old song and dance just isn’t working for you, try a little something new…
“To improve is to change, to be perfect is to change often.”
- Winston Churchill
The more you practice a particular style, the better you get at it, the more comfortable you become doing it, which is great… until you find yourself square in the middle of a big fat slump. Just like your workout regimen, your design regimen should have some good healthy variety thrown into the mix. Break out of that creative stagnation that is your comfort zone and try something new, be it products, techniques, or topics. Your brain will thank you!
Hopefully these six steps will help you gain control of your creativity and set you on the path to beauty and ingenuity once again. What are your go-to tips for breaking out of a creative slump? Post below in the comments, we’d love to hear what’s working for you!
Pay it forward bonus tip: Once you’ve been imbued again in creative spirit – spread the love around! Be a driving force of creativity in your community, or at the very least your inner circle after all…
Art Journal Pockets are cute enough as they are to use as Valentines. However, I wanted to personalize them and add a little bling. Here's a video showing how I did it.
A challenge is a call or summons to engage in a contest. We are calling to you. Each month as a member of the Art Journal Emporium you can participate in a challenge and if you do, you could be one of two winners – this month each prize is a $5.00 coupon to Tangie Baxter & Co. Woo Hoo! All you need do is use one of the ideas provided, create and upload your digital or mixed media entry to the AJE classroom by January 31, 2016.
January ideas include:
Use the quote: “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” Zig Ziglar
Action step poster or affirmation.
Altering a digital stamp or brush.
Simple isn’t it?
Here is one of my creations in response to #2.
I used a cage and bird from the Matching Goodies provided in the January Challenge and Goodies; paper, one of Rebecca’s dolls, a bird, and some flowers from the January Grab Bag now available as separate kits at Tangie Baxter & Co and the TangieAJFUNimportant font.
Get those creative juices flowing, you could win a super prize! Come and join the fun!
Grab Bags are only available for a limited time once a month and are priced on asliding scale, so act fast for the best deal! For more information visitTB&CO Grab Bags.
To find out more about the Art Journal Emporium or the Art Journal Caravan, visithttp://shoptangiebaxter.com.
Hello and welcome friends. It’s hard to believe we are a week away from January ending and heading into a new month. Susan here with another edition of Tangie Baxter & CO Art Journal Emporium Gems. The Art Journal Caravan is back and in full swing inside the Art Journal Emporium. If you have never participated in AJC please check it out and join us on the journey.
There’s been a lot of goodness happening at the Art Journal Emporium this week so let’s get started with this week’s spotlights.
Our first pick is Marilyn Curttright’s “Role Reversal”. Her page is charming and just makes me smile. Love the quote too.
Marilyn’s credits: Art Journal Caravan Itinerary No. 2, Tangie Baxter's Uncaged and Rebecca McMeen’s Ami. The Font is Mongolian Baiti.
Karli-Maire Reyes is in the spotlight this week with her wonderful tribute piece to David Bowie.
Karli-Maire credits: TB&CO’s January 2016 Collage Sheet Collection Workshop Sheets currently part ofThe Art Journal Emporium.
Next we have Donna Bunch Miller’s page which is just fantastical. I adore the deer mask and pops of color.
Donna’s credits: Art Journal Caravan Itinerary No. 3 along with various paints and a mask.
Last we have Carolyn Summers and her take on the January Challenge using this month’s theme “Uncaged”.
Carolyn’s credits: Art Journal Emporium Monthly Challenge along with napkins, bird cage stamp and a few other elements including word art.
A Big Thank you to Marilyn, Karli-Marie, Donna and Carolyn for sharing their sparkling Gems with all of us! Please leave them some love.
To find out more about the Art Journal Emporium or the Art Journal Caravan, visithttp://shoptangiebaxter.com.
