Copic Altered Art/Mixed Media class in Indianapolis

All I can say is I am plum worn out to a frazzel!  But, it was the most fun, awesome day, and fab classes! Love the Hilton Hotel here. Super nice. We got a suite, large rooms, and we are on the 16th floor. Great view of the city.  I've been very impressed with this place, people friendly and the streets are very clean.  We have felt safe and the accommodations are exceptional.
But, back to the classes...oh my gosh! We did so much my head was spinning.  Covered a lot of different techniques

• Layered Backgrounds:  Monoprinting, Drop and Spread, Painted Inks
• Found Object Resist
• Colorizing Transfers: Magazine transfer, Laser Printer transfer
• Working with Heat and Photos (Hot Photos):Photo 1-burned look, Photo 2 - How heat effects patterns
• Bleaching Photos
• Magic Textures Image
• Ink, Paper, Paint - A colorful story (collage on canvas)
• Copic Ink & Art Dying Fabrics

All this was accomplished from 9am until 5:30pm with an hour for lunch. It was a busy day but so creative and fun.  Can't wait to get home and sort out everything we did and continue to saok it in.
Pictures to come once we get home on Monday.

Copic markers - working with Reds

Good morning bloggers! I am up early ...like Christmas when I was young....as my bags are packed and will be leaving in a couple hours for Indianapolis, Indiana to attend another Copic class.  This one is Altered Art/Mixed Media with Copic Markers taught by Colleen Schaan and Biance Mandity, Regional Art Instructors with Copic Markers..  I love altered art for various reasons but now I can't wait to see how to use my markers in this venue.  I will report back here at the end of the day as I am taking my lap top with me.  In the meantime.....
Here is another image from the Copic Intermediate Certification class....working with reds. I don't know about you but  I love coloring with reds but sometimes reds don't love me so much.  Maybe I try too hard but of all the colors, I have the hardest time blending red.  Here are some of the ideas that Colleen Schann, Regional instructor with Copics, shared with us:

• Work on an absorbent surface.  Try using something other than scratch paper under your work...For example...paper towel or tissue paper.
• Try a different paper.  Neenah is a softer side of the card stock papers.. Bazzil Simply Smooth won't bleed as much but then it might be harder to blend. Experiment with different papers and see if this will help.
• Use less ink.  Don't soak thru the paper as much when blending.  Stay on the surface and if it looks good then that's good enough.  Ignore the back of the paper. Red is such a strong, vibrant color and it soaks into the paper quicker and completely fills it up.
• Try feather blending ....instead of circles.  Coloring in circles really lays a lot of ink on the paper.  Feather blending uses less ink and thus may cure the bleed problem
• Let the base layer dry.....before adding blending colors.....slow down.
• When working on an image...color the reds first.  That way if it does bleed out you haven't wasted a lot of time/work and energy....not to mention ink.
• Finally...avoid working right up to the edge of an image.  Often an ink will bleed after you have completed it.  Coloring up close to but not touching the edge of an image might work.

Here is an image I worked on that was included in our manual.  This image was drawn by Marianne Walker.

I know I gained a lot of good information at the Intermediate certification.  If you already have your basic Copic Certification...don't hesitate to go for the Intermediate level.  You will love it!

Copic Skin Tones

At the recent Copic Intermediate certification we did a lot of coloring and challenged on many levels.  Skin tones was one of those challenges.  This is an image from the student manual for practicing skin tones...specifically using more than 3 colors. In this facial image I used the 9 colors suggested in the manual: E000, E00, E01, E11, E13, E15, E04, E93 and BV00.  When all you have ever used is the basic 3 this really was a leap for me.....but I really like the look.  I must tell you this was my first attempt so don't look too close.  My blending and shading is not perfect but I wanted to post this to challenge you, too. One thing, when you are using this many colors you want a larger image to work on.  When you do, don't be afraid...it's only paper!  And practice, practice, practice!

Copic Intermediate Certification

We made it! My friend Micki and I drove to Columbus, Ohio this past Thursday to attend the Copic Intermediate Certification class being taught by Colleen Schaan, Copic Regional Instructor.  What a Blast!! It was an awesome class, on pace, power point instructions, lots of goodies from Copic and a fun, empowering, and educational class.  You might notice the new Copic blinkie now on this blog.  I am posting this image of Lilacs so you can see how we were challenged.  I highly recommend this class, worth the cost, and do not be afraid of the coloring form needed as part of the application.  They only need to see that you have been practicing and learning how to use the markers and have knowledge of the basic skills.  If I got in anyone can.....so go for it!You won't regret it.  I heard that an intermediate class might be coming to the Atlanta area this fall.  Just go to the Copic website, click on instructors and certification and fill out the form to be notified when a class opens up near you.  You must of completed the basic certification to be considered for this next level.
This image is not a stamp but drawn by Marianne Walker, Copic product specialist/product director.  We learned Shading, Shadows and Cast Shadows, Shadow color theory, and properties of light and shadow.  All that was just one part of a 5 part program.

Heartfelt Thanks

Good morning.  I am having a lazy day but last night I made this card for The Mercantile and I wanted to share it here on the blog.  This is made using a fold I found in a book "Fabulous Folds for Card Making" published by House of White Birches.

Front folded and tied with ribbon

Inside

Heartfelt Thanks             

Stamps:
Art Impressions  single flower

Hero Arts C4462 A Little Kindnes
Hero Arts F3914 Wavy Heartfelt Thanks

Penny Black Transparent set Enjoy 30-024

Ink:
Momento Tuxedo Black

Marvy Matchables  #96 Jungle Green

Copic Markers:

R02, R05, R08

YG21

Paper:
K & Co. "Sweet Nectar"

             

                

One of those days....!

I taught at The Mercantile Store in Pendleton, SC this morning.  It was another Art Impressions water color class and we focused on sky, ocean and sand and then they picked how they wanted to finish the picture using different stamps. Everyone did something different and it was a lot of fun to see the variety and creativity and also talent at work.  We had a good time together.  A big thank you to Cindy and Terry for making it so.  Love this store. Also I need to state here that this coming Saturday I will be at The Mercantile doing Copic make and take.  If you missed this during the Spring Fling the first of April here is your chance.  If you were there for the first event...then come on back and you can have a second go!
While at The Mercantile they got in May's shipment and board of the stamp of the month by Great Impressions. It won't show up on Great Impressions website until after the 1st of May but let me tell you these are CUTE! They let me purchase two of the stamps early and I had to make them up into a card right away...besides tomorrow is the workshop at Powdersville Community church from 10:00-3:00 and there are some cat lovers there who will love this stamp(s). Enjoy! And if you can, stop by the church or come play and stamp some images. By the way inside the card it says, "Sorry, I haven't been in touch. I've really been in it up to my neck!"

One of those days!

Stamps:  Great Impressions D420 One of those days

               Great Impressions E715 Cat bath

               Art Impressions H-1920 To My Neck

Ink:  Momento Tuxedo Black

        Ranger Distress Faded Jeans

        Ranger Distress Spiced Marmalade

Spellbinder Curved rectangles

Punch Martha Stewart Ribbon Loop 42-60053

Paper:  KC&Co Sweet Necter

Copic Markers:

B21, B23, B24

E07, E09, E11

C00, C1, C3

R01, R11, R14

Have a Wonderful Day

This is a stamp I did last week for our Laughing Stampers group at Powersville Community Church. I brought it home to post last Thursday and then forgot....no surprise there.  Well I am catching up today!
I just love these little hedgehogs from Penny Black and this is a really nice clear set.
I am sure Lynn Scott at The Paper Rabbit in Greenwood, SC could get you one...give her a call.at (864)223-6969  or The Mercantile Store  (864)646-9431 in Pendleton, SC.  Please support your local stamp store...they are getting harder and harder to find.

Stamp:  Penny Black clear set “Wonderful Day” 30-045

            Stampendous K086 “Bee Message”

Ink:  Momento Tuxedo black

        Ranger Distress Wild Honey

Copic Markers:

     Skin:  E0000, E02, R02

     Fur:  E25, E29, E31

     Flower pot:  YR12, YR14, YR18, BG72

     Bee:  Y15, Y17, B0000

     Grass:  G20, G24

     Snail: Y15, Y17, BG72. YR18

Punch:  Martha Stewart Hydrangeas

Tilda on a stack of Books

As you can tell I had some extra time over the weekend and got some images colored that I have intended to do for awhile.  This one is two Magnolia stamps.  I stamped Tilda first, made a mask, and then placed the mask over the stamped image of Tilda. I then stamped the stack of books and she then appears to be sitting on the stack of books.  If you have any questions about masking just leave a comment and I will respond.

Tilda sitting on a stack of books

Stamps:  Magnolia "Books with wrappers"

              Magnolia "Tilda writing diary"

Copic Markers:

Books: B0000, B21, B24, B60, B63, B66,

             Y11, Y13,Y17, W3

Skin:  E0000, E01,R02

Hair:  E31, E25, E29

Dress:  R81, R83, R85

Pansy Bunny

This is a Penny Black "slapstick" stamp that I worked on last Thursday at our Laughing Stampers group. Finished it up this past weekend.

Stamp:  Penny Black "pansy bunny" 40-066

Flower Pot: YR12, YR14, YR18

Pansy:  BV13, BV12, BV17, Y13, Y17

Leaves:  G20, G24, G28

Bunny:  W00, W1, W3, W4, R20

When doing this image I had one of my gray markers spring a leak and made a gray circle over the bunny's face.  In case this ever happens to you this is what needs to be done.  You remove both caps from the markers, holding it horizontal for a few seconds, and let it repressurize (balance out) between the two tips.  Then I took my colorless blender (remember this is a color remover...not so much a blender) and I removed as much of the "gray blob" as I could.

 I also made another mistake....I colored the bunny's paw on the left...green because I thought it was a leaf. Goofy me...so out came my colorless blender AGAIN, removed the green and then colored the paw gray.  Now take a good look (click on image to enlarge) and tell me if you can see my mistakes?

:

Enjoy Life!

I am hoping everyone had a glorious Easter and was able to spend time with family, friends and worshiping our Risen Lord! Our service at Powdersville Community Church was wonderful.
Here is my first card of the week.  I hope you like it.

Stamp:

Penny Black 30-032 Enjoy

American Art Stamp 7031G

Ink:

            Momento Tuxedo Black

Ranger Distress Forest Moss

Ranger Distress Broken China

Spellbinders:  Framabilities Classic Frame

Copic Atyou Spica Butterscotch

Copic Markers:

B21, B24

R46, R81,R85

Y11, Y17

G20, G24, G28