Hello dear Souls !
I tend to love December for one specific reason: it is the month (with September, my birth month) when I introspect about the year coming to an end. What was amazing, unexpected, loved. What was a challenge, an issue, a mistake.
And I decided to share a bit of them with you 🙂
For this first edition, I wanted to talk about online classes.
I decided last year that in 2012, I will be way more careful in the classes I would get involved in, in my choices. Not wanting to spend money on classes that I thought were for me and then, never watch a single video of it.
«Paint you story» and «Neat stuff» by Mindy Lacefield (aka Tim’s Sally)
I remember being waiting for «Paint Your Story» to be announced. I knew that Mindy’s class would be what I was needing at the moment, that it would help me to go deeper in my own style without becoming her (no wonder how much I love her art, but I still want to be me).
Her style is recognizable. You see it, you know it is from her. And usually, I instantly fall in love with it because it speaks to my Soul, to my deeper core. She is a maker of magic.
And what is very important to know is that once you sign up, you also will be part of an amazing community of artists. There is Ning, and Facebook where we all connect. We share our art from the workshops. We talk about our doubts. We seek for support, knowing we will receive kindness and understanding. The classes are now available at self-pace. But the community around it is still strong. I met
And a while after, she announced her she will also be doing an art journal class, «Neat stuff» in which she would demonstrate her way of doing a more realistic face. I was sold…
And I still do bind the journal the way she shows it at the beginning of the class, for me if I want a quick, small and easy journal. And for my daughter Koala who is a drawing machine (lol).
I think these two classes were the most life-altering for me, as an artist and as a human bean, this year. And I don’t regret any penny spent on it.
Can’t wait to finally meet Mindy next June in Port Townsend !
«LifeBook 2012» by Tamara Laporte (aka Willowing)
This is a year long journaling and healing oriented classe, in which Tam has gathered lots of teachers to share their techniques and healing with us every single week.
And at the end of the year (so for the current edition, last week or this week I don’t remember), Tam shared her way to bind all of our pages into a journal.
I love that all the videos are downloadable because I often run behind, so I download everything when it is available, I classified it by months’ folders on my computer, and I can watch the videos and read the pdf-s whenever I am ready for it.
Tam succeeded in gathering a very diverse line up of teachers.
I know you may be afraid of not being able to follow, and I did have that fear. However, as I said: you can download all the content, and go at your own pace.
There are already more that 700 people registered for next year’s LifeBook (I will be one of them), that will begin in a few weeks (you can still sign up if it has already started, don’t worry). The teachers line up is out of this world, just to name a few: Christy Tomlinson, Mindy Lacefield, Jane Davenport, Aimee Myers Dolich (from Artsyville), Dawn Devris Sokol, Shiloh Sophie McCloud, Dion Dior and more more more.
Tam has several options you can choose from when you decide to sign up, here is what she says:
There are 4 different packages to sign up to! 🙂 I am offering several packages which include 1 or 2 more of my courses for a reduced price, yay! These are the packages on offer:
1. Basic package (Life Book 2013 only) – £60 GBP (approx $99 USD) for the whole year)
2. Premium package (LB2013 + 1 course of Tam’s) – £75 GBP (approx $120 USD)
3. Rainbow package (LB2013 + 2 courses of Tam’s) – £85 (approx $137 USD)
4. Life Book Extreme (LB2013 + all of Tam’s lesson from LB2012) – £95 GBP (approx $153 USD)
5. Super Art Party Bonanza! (LB2013 + all of Tam’s lesson from LB2012 + 2 of Tam’s art courses) – £120 GBP (approx $190 USD)Installment plans are also be available.
It is really a good opportunity to commit to your art journal, to learn from so many different artists (that all have their style, their take on art and on healing).
«Artsy Bangles» by Christy Tomlinson
I have a love for bracelets. If you’ve watched some of my {Painting In Motion} videos, you can often spot the many bracelets I wear on my right wrist (I wear my big cuff watch on my left one, so no place for anything).
I love to alternate everything that is «me»: some simple gem bracelets (currently: my favorite gem, Labradorite, Quartz, Landscape Jasper and Cornaline). A cuff I bought on Etsy, and other kind of bracelets.
Artsy Bangles is a class Christy did with her daughter Allie. They teach us about 25 different styles of bracelets.
There are very surprising bracelets (like repurposing a plastic bottle for example), some I already knew, some that were totally unknown to me.
It is a «mini» workshop. And I guess it is still available to work at your own pace. Christy had a kit available to purchase, that was a really good addition (sometimes, I just don’t want to run around to find what is needed, honestly).
«21 Secrets» from Connie Hozvicka (Dirty Footprints Studio)
I was honored to be one of the 21 teachers on this third edition of 21 Secrets.
If you are not familiar with it, it is a virtual playground focused on art journaling. Techniques, healing, fun were honored.
This session is coming to an end, but you can sign up for the 2013 one, that has a real good line up of teachers as well (if you like Kate Crane, this will be her first online class ! I have been waiting for it, personally. My friend Danielle Daniel will be teaching there too). The classes themselves won’t be announced before January though but I am sure it will be diverse and amazing. I signed up for it every year, and never was disappointed by the content.
The teachers pour their heart into it, and you can totally feel it in their lesson.
I also love the community that builds around it.
Next, I will talk to you about what made my life easier in 2012 😉
Thank you! I love your work, and trust your opinion. Mindy united many of us!
Love the classes you took! I signed up for loads of classes this year and have only worked my way through about half of them. I need to get cracking on the remaining secrets on 21 secrets since that will close, but a lot of the others I can keep )download= or have a bit more time. I have only signed up to life book for next year since I want to focus on finishing the ones I have, and because I want to be a bit more selective. So wish I had taken a class by Mindy though…