Cinnamon Pink

Artistic Roundup

Dropmark image from Swiss Miss

I have a new obsession - pen/pencil/sketching blogs - and related companies/sites. Hopefully, you will benefit from my obsession by finding out about some new sites and products that YOU NEED like I NEED. Here's a short roundup:

 Via Swiss Miss, I found out about this cool tool: 

Dropmark is a simple way to organize and collaborate with anyone in the cloud. Tina Roth Eisenberg, founder of Swiss Miss, explains: "Let’s say you want to send a friend a few links to look at. Instead of sending an e-mail and pasting in a bunch of links, you can create a Dropmark collection and instantly have one short link that you can send instead. And the collection can be updated at any time." See above Dropmark example.

Find out about a special offer, from Dropmark, for Swiss Miss Readers here. It's at the end of Tina's post.

Want some tips on sketching? Check out Russell Stutler's Web book on sketching. There's also a Sketching Forum and other links to explore.

Via the Life Imitates Doodles blog, I discovered this article on Revitalizing Colored Pencils from Dick Blick. Thank goodness for Synchronicity! I recently purchased a bunch of Prismacolor Colored Pencils. And every time that I sharpen them, the lead keeps breaking. If you know of other remedies for breaking lead, please let me know.
 

 

 

Mosaic Workshop with TAG

Last Sunday, our Tidewater Artist Group (TAG) held a Mosaic Workshop hosted by Linda Simon. Linda is founder of Linda Simon Consulting (Illuminating the Essence of Entrepreneurs).

We had over twenty members participating in the Workshop. The Creative Energy was very stimulating. And we learned a lot from the talented Linda. This was my first experience with Mosaics and I loved every minute of it - even the messy grout. As you can see above, I completed a Mosaic Mirror.

I can envision another mixed-media art interest overtaking me. I've already purchased tiles and tile knippers.

A Pink Day - Etsy Treasury

Shulamit Golod recently created an Etsy Treasury in one of my favorite colors. Can you guess which color? Why yes - it's PINK of course. Her Treasury is entitled, A Pink Day - and features such lovely pink Shop items - including my art print: Her Royal Chick Highness. Thank you Shulamit!

Shulamit also offers some beautiful, pink-hued jewelry in her own Etsy Shop, Ella Jewelry. Her Sterling Silver Butterfly Garnet Necklace (seen above) is one example.

What kind of Color Day are you having today?

 

Free E-Book from Jane Button

Jane Button, creator of  Design2Market Success, is currently offering a FREE E-Book entitled,

10 Simple Steps to Launch Your BIG Idea From Design Concept to Market. Jane tells you how to "Turn Your BIG Idea Into a Money Making Business From Design Concept to Profit " (and everything in-between). 

Jane definitely knows the Entrepreneurial Business. Her first company started in her basement as a cottage industry and went on to become a National Brand name as a multi-million dollar corporation.

Get more information on how to dowload her free book here.

 

Art Journaling with the Tidewater Artists Group (TAG)

The last few days have been hectic around here. This past Saturday, our Tidewater Artists Group (TAG) held an Art Journaling session in Virginia Beach. This is the page that I began at the Session and later finished at home. I think I may include some additional accents to the lettering on the page.

I was able to achieve some nice shading on the page by rubbing in some pink Portfolio oil pastels. I also used PanPastels in Burnt Sienna.

White Paper Peonies Tutorial from Michella Marie

Image from Michella Marie Blog

Lately, I'm attracted to paper flower tutorials via Pinterest. I must be wishing for the Beauty of Spring Blossoms.

You must check out this Gorgeous, White Paper Peonies Tutorial from Michella Marie.  Aren't her flowers beautiful? Now, I need to pick up some coffee filters.

Check out Michella Marie's other popular posts too.

Exploring Blog Land

In blog land, I usually reside in the worlds of mixed-media art, drawing and painting. Every now and then I explore different parts of the Internet. It's then that I realize that I'm missing a gazillion other wonderful blogs - and topics of interest. I wish that I could visit/follow many more blogs than I do but then I would never get anything done. Here's a few sites I like:

I love office supplies and stationery. That's how I came across The Pen Addict blog and JetPens. Which led me to Behance Outfitter (Outfitting Creatives to Make Ideas Happen) - and the cool Action Cards seen above. Do I need these cards? Yes, I think I do.

And that site led me to the Free Ebook: 20 Creative Blocks (and How to Break Through Them) by Mark McGuinness. 

 BTW, check out The 99% (Insights on Making Ideas Happen) by Behance site. Lots of good stuff on creativity here.

So where did your Blog Land Travels lead you to today?

Squeeze More Art into Your Life

If you regularly read my blog, you know that I'm always trying to Squeeze More Art into My Life. Recently, I came up with the following ideas and decided to share them with you on my blog.

BTW, How do you squeeze more art into your life?

MAKE MORE ART

• Get in the practice of doodling daily.
• Draw everywhere and all the time. An artist is a sketchbook with a person attached: Irwin Greenberg. 
• Take an online Art course.
• Draw every day for at least half an hour. If you don't feel like it then draw until you do: Author Unknown.
• Carry a stash of Artist Trading Cards (ATC) around with you – and use them daily.
• If you watch TV, draw during the commercials.
• A drawing a day keeps the cobwebs away. (Robert Genn)
• Commit to an online Weekly Art Challenge, e.g., Illustration Friday.
• Make drawing part of your Art Journaling process.
• Draw your daily purchases - food or products.
• Draw cartoons. Start a series. Check out the Drawing Words & Writing Pictures site.
• Create a drawing/painting for each letter of the alphabet.
• Draw a series of birds, realistic or comical.
• Keep your sketchbook/art journal by your laptop for quick sketches.
• Go on a Sketch Crawl, with friends or by yourself. Sketch local landmarks, or shoppers in a Mall.
• Explore a new art form through a book from the library or a book store.
• Learn the basics of Calligraphy - or brush up on Calligraphy.
• Using cardstock, cut up a bunch of inches (1” x 1”). Keep them by your desk to make instant art.
• Use the remainder of your morning tea or coffee to create a quick painting.
• Create some grids and fill them in with sketches or doodles.
• Practice different techniques in: watercolor; acrylics or pen & ink.

©Darlene Maciuba-Koppel – Cinnamon Pink

 

 

A Kiss - Etsy Treasury

In honor of Valentine's Day, Shulamit Golod (of Ella Jewelry) created the sweetest Etsy Treasury appropriately entitled, A KISS. And she was kind enough to feature my Vintage-Style Votive Candle Holders. Thank You Shulamit! Check out the lovely items that she chose for her Treasury.

Shulamit created the Valentine bracelet that you see above. I love the unique style of her jewelry. All of her pieces are handmade - and of her own unique design. You can see more of her work here.

Taking Forward Steps from Lesley Riley

In case you didn't read Lesley Riley's recent, feature article in her newsletter, take a coffee break and check it out. Lesley writes wonderful, inspirational articles for artists.

I could relate to her analogy of sidesteps in this artcle, entitled, The One Step You Must Take. Read it today and Turn Your SideSteps into ForwardSteps.

Want More Publicity for Your Art? Check Out Artsy Shark!

Are you interested in gaining more exposure for your Art? Then check out Carolyn Edlund's informative Artsy Shark article, Want Some Publicity? How Artists can Finesse the Press.

Carolyn encourages Artists to:

• Become the Story
  
• Be a Guest Blogger
  
• Be a Source
• Submit to the Right Publications
• And much more!

Check out her article for the details.

 

 

“Inspiration Deck” Swap

I'm participating in Jessica Maier's “Inspiration Deck” Swap. Jessica is host of the blog, In Search of Dessert. Participants are to make one Inspiration Deck using a regular pack of playing cards.

The rules are easy and so much fun. First, paint and embellish your cards. Then add one different Inspiring or Motivating phrase to each card. Put your Name and Blog (and/or Web site) address on the back of each card. You can get all the details here from Jessica.

So far, I painted my cards a beautiful, Robin's Egg Blue - and stamped a text image on both sides of the cards. I decided that this shade of blue would be a creative color for an Inspirational Deck.

THE DEADLINE TO PARTICIPATE IS FEBRUARY 20th. DECKS NEED TO BE SENT IN BY MARCH 1st! 

 

Harrington's Spelling Book from 1880

Here is the Harrington's Spelling Book, with the copyright of 1880, that I mentioned in an earlier post. Can you believe that this book is 132 years old? I can imagine what wonderful stories this book could tell us.

I just love how the book is aged to perfection. So lovingly worn and distressed. I like this cover so much that I think I will transform it into a notebook - filling it with assorted, and decorative pages.

Little Mama Mixed-Media

Today, I finished this mixed-media art piece. The vintage childrens' image comes from Cathe Holden's blog, Just Something I Made.

The 'counting' text is from the Harrington's Spelling Book, copyright 1880. I love the worn and distresssed look of this book's pages and cover. I actually found the book in our local library's FREE Bin. And I was thrilled to save it from the trash. I will post an image of the book tomorrow when there is more sunshine.

This mixed-media piece reminds me of all the Little Mamas who took care of their younger brothers and sisters. I was one of those Little Mamas. Were You?

Paris Blues Etsy Treasury

I LOVE Paris - and I was lucky enough to appear in this "Paris Blues" Etsy Treasury. Thank you Bec for featuring my Art Print.

Bec is owner of the SugarCubeVintage Etsy Shop. What a creative name for a Shop!

At the top of my post is her estate-find, Terrarium Apothecary Jar that you can find in her Shop. I have a similar jar and I keep vanilla meringues in them. What would you keep in the jar?