MATS Bootcamp Gallery January 2015 is Up!

A follow up to Saturday's post - MATS Bootcamp gallery

view Edwardian inspired journal designs 

Above are just a handful of my favorites - I'm on page 5

Top: Julie Wilson, Katie Wilson, Melissa Iwai,

Middle: Rebecca Silus, *Allyn Howard, Julie Cossette,

Bottom: Andrea Muller, Erin Balzer, Gabriela Larios

Take a look at close to 500 pieces of art :)

Don't worry, it's quick & simple to scroll through!

:: Enjoy the rest of your week ::

xo, A

new & noteworthy

Happy Saturday! 

It snowed here in NYC last night :)

I spent time finishing up my journal cover for Lilla Rogers Bootcamp 2015

I got a late start on sketching, but I really enjoyed this one.

Our mini assignment was to sketch Edwardian brooches.

I got a little off track when I spotted a baby bear and tree on Pinterest, 

while looking at images.

For those of you who don't know, Lilla is a licensing agent who has paired up with

Beth Kempton, Do What You Love, in the UK to offer online classes 

that help hone your skills and gain a better understanding of the business.

I took her intensive 5 week class, Make Art That Sells 3A last spring. 

I learned a lot and gained more confidence.

Melissa Iwai convinced me that Bootcamp was just as helpful, with deadlines

end of each month rather than weekly, encompassing 5 months and for less $

The only drawback is that you don't have a chance to have your work reviewed 

by Lilla, herself, but finished pieces are displayed in the Bootcamp Galleries. 

You can view last year's projects here.

Our final assignment was to create a journal cover. You could incorporate your sketches

and reference in any way you like. I'm not the only artist who chose to frame animals

and I almost resisted the urge, but I take do what you love pretty seriously! 

It's funny, because I often sketch frames and animals in frames, "hanging" salon style.

Some of mine took on more of a Mexican folk look, with the bright color and flowers, 

but I'm happy with the mix. Lilla stresses to make what you would buy for yourself.

So I try! and hope that others share my taste in art and products :)

:::

Thanks for stopping by!

Lena is taking a snow day ... Zzzzzz

xo, A

January art, my etsy shop and Cricket magazine

The new year has started, I celebrated a birthday and I've been painting.

I began this one a year ago, then put it aside. 

I went back into it the other day and I'm pretty happy with it.

Above is the initial sketch. Hope you can tell it's a class on a field trip to the modern museum.

It's very cold this week, so I painted some bright springy flowers :)

below, with a muted grey background.

Speaking of flowers,

I just added three wristlets, a pencil case and a coin purse to my etsy shop - Blip Blop Shop

I sold two and gave one as a gift over the holidays. 

My friend, Margot Kingon sewed these for me and I think they're real sweet.

Take a look at my shop to see details.

While I was home for the holidays, I came across this vintage Cricket Magazine

from 1976. It's pretty great! The cover art is by Erik Blegvad

I don't think I ever entered a contest, but it's fun to read over this one.

I was surprised to find a poem by Sylvia Plath.

You can see The Bed Book on Brain Pickings, one of my favorite blogs btw

Sylvia wrote this series of poems for her own children 

It was illustrated by Quentin Blake 

The art here is by Emily McCully

I really like this Coming Attractions page and got a kick out of the 

worm wishing a Merry Christmas to his tail and vice versa ;)

It's in good shape overall. I'll give it a read!

Ok, that's all for now.

Off to locate more blankets!

Enjoy the rest of your week.

xo, A