Yet

 

If you've followed me for a while, you already know my wordsmithing passion. When it's time to decide my focus for the new year, I mull over many choices.  Usually one comes to the forefront during the mulling period and when this one did, it surprised me.  Yet is a small but powerful word.  It can be applied in many circumstances, positive and negative.  Who can forget the "Are we there yet" from the backseat of the car or in my case, out of my mouth in the car?  Merriam-Webster has two entries for yet.  It can be a conjunction substituting for but.  I remember those papers where teachers said that my verbiage was redundant.  I'm sure that at some point I substituted yet. Studying the dictionary, the far more interesting usage is as an adverb and that's how it spoke to me as I leaned in to what I want out of my 2021 life. Don't worry.  I am not going back to my roots to present an English usage review, but I was interested in how such a little word can change how you think about something.  In 2021 I am looking to yet as a door to possibility rather than a focus on the fact that something hasn't happened.  This way of framing may teach me some patience in my artful and personal life.  Yet will be a precipice of sorts in my head. Something out of current reach but not completely out of the realm of possibility.  I'm going to try that thinking on for 2021. It's a little word as I said, but little words can pack quite a mental punch either way.   I'll let you know how it goes.  I'd love to hear what your words are so please comment back any time. 

A hearty thank you to all of you who came to my online sale.  It was the most successful one since I started selling this way.  I loved sending art to other continents.  I still can't believe that happened.  My show I spoke about in the last entry has done well considering the lockdown situation here and I am happy that so many originals went to people not only in Missouri, but in other parts of the country.  I was so honored to be part of Green Door's Signs and Wonders exhibit. Check out their site to see the resident artists' works.  They are fabulous.

Today is the last day to get the December reduced rate for Creative Jumpstart.  It starts tomorrow.  Holy Moly. I've talked about it for a month but if you want to get in at the reduced rate,  click on that link.  It will blow your mind.  

Well, I must get ready for dinner and champagne.  I leave you with a hearty thank you for supporting me and enjoying my art, my poodles, my ramblings, etc.  I appreciate all of you.  

xoxo

Nancy

Everything Happens at Once

 It's the last day of November and not only was this a holiday week, it's also a week with small business and cyber sales galore and announcements ....drumroll, please.

 

I'm so excited to announce that I'll be teaching with Creative JumpStart (CJS) 2021 again. This year CJSis celebrating its 10th Anniversary and is bigger than ever! If you're not familiar with CJS, it's a one-of a-kind knock-your-socks-off online workshop hosted by Nathalie Kalbach, designed to kick your creativity into high gear in the New Year. 

Beginning January 1st, each day a new video lesson will go live in the classroom. As this is the special 10th Anniversary edition, CJS includes 45 different mixed media artists and videos will go up through February 14th. Participants get access to 45 downloadable videos from 45 featured artists, called “JumpStarters.”

You'll learn techniques, discover new materials, and connect with other artists and crafters. I am always blown away at the different points of view and styles.  It’s quite an international crowd, too, and that in itself broadens perspective. I've thoroughly enjoyed every year I've participated at any capacity. I alsolove that so many of the participants showcase their own work as they are trying out the techniques.  It's not required, of course, but it does seem to become contagious and the inspiration flows.

Here's a little preview of what you can expect:

With Creative JumpStart 2021 you will get 45 videos - over 8 hours worth of video content. It is just $49 USD if you sign up today until 11:59 pm EST. Yes, it is just $49.00 for today.  Afterwards it will be $59 USD through December 4th, 2020, and $69 USD until December 31st 2020, before it goes to its normal sale price of $89 USD on January 1st 2021. Here's my special link to head on over to Nathalie's site to sign up and learn more: https://nathaliesstudio.com/learn/online-workshops/?wpam_id=61


 
                                                                                                                 You'll be glad you did!!!!!   

 

CJS21 Trailer from Nathalie Kalbach on Vimeo.

MORE NEWS....MORE NEWS... MORE NEWS

I launched my yearly sale to thank all of my collectors, supporters, enthusiasts and friends near and far on Saturday and it runs until Friday.  This year I have a huge collection of pandemic originals and new prints joining my Bird Brains series, watercolors, and alcohol ink in different genres. I loaded videos showing my new and returning work on YouTube here: 

The sale itself is taking place over on my Facebook business page and below are the direct links to the two sale albums.  Something new this year is the extra sale I'm offering to you with additional % discounts for multiple print purchases.  Everyone needs something fabulous during this long roller coaster we've been on this year.  Just comment sold and I'll find you with the shipping details. If the print you like is sold out, comment that you'd like to be on the waiting list for one when I print again in December.  You will still get the sale price.  Below is a mini sneak peek of some new prints.  Merry Merry!!

                                PRINTS SALE                                      ORIGINALS SALE

Portals

Come Together

Bayou

I also have a large wall at the Green Door Gallery's Stars and Wonders exhibition for one more month. The work is all Citra-based mixed media and I had a blast during partial lockdown pushing the envelope and really seeing what else I could do with the organic process.  The gallery will ship so if you want to see the originals that are in the show and get more info, check out this photo and close up video.  Message me for any details. 

MORE NEWS..... MORE NEWS.....MORE NEWS

                                   

StencilGirl is having a whale of a sale.  Head on over and get in on the freebies and unbelievable sale prices

FINAL TIDBITS ........................  FINAL TIDBITS

 PANDEMIC PUPPY ALERT:  If you haven't already met him, this is Waffle.  He joined big bros, Angus and Tucker on August 10th.  Yes, we now have three standard poodles.  Insanity. Chaos.  Mayhem.  And much love.  Healthwise, currently all my doctors think I am cancer free.  I will continue on my regimen for as long as they tell me to.  The side effects are off putting, but I am grateful that I feel the most normal in my studio.  The family is doing well and staying as safe as we can during this endless roller coaster of a pandemic.  It has been wonderful having the Sams here with us, although I don't think Jim and I are exactly rousing company sometime.  I imagine it's been a tough year for all who will read this. I wish all of you a more peaceful, normalized life as we head towards a vaccine in 2021.  

xoxo,  Nancy

 

Coming Up For Air

Who knew that 2020 was going to be full of chaos, mayhem, worry, enforced solitude, frustration, worry, anger, helplessness, intense faith, worry, renewed focus, and a partially overhauled studio?
So many emotions exist in limbo.  I speak my emotions through my art when I'm overwhelmed. I also tend to head further into the whimsy spectrum as a brief getaway. 

In between searching for toilet paper and Clorox wipes, I've spent about 75% of my time in the studio, sometimes working and sometimes decluttering and reorganizing.  I also had some deadlines and commissions to keep me fairly focused.  Some of you may have noticed my return to watercolor.  I've become obsessed with improving my technique and upgrading my paint stock. Some of my recent adventures can be found on the StencilGirl blog today.  I won't spoil the surprise, but here are a couple of my recent meaderings. 

  Who are these masked marvels?

Matchy Matchy

While on the subject of masks, here's a scoop for you.  I have a couple of art friends who are putting your art on masks.  I just ordered three tonight and can't wait to get them.  Message me if you're interested in wearing your art and I'll send you the deets. 

In the midst of all of this world chaos, I had my six month oncology visit with Giancarlo in May (yes, that really is his name) and yearly cancer check this month.  I am happy to say that I was cancer free and we're all working together to help me with the drug side effects.  While I was waiting to hear, I headed back into alcohol inks with a trial of a relatively new manufacturer, T-Rex inks. I was really pleased with the movement, saturation, and price point.  It was a nice distraction for me and I can't wait to play with them some more. 

 

I also have taken a lot of time during the pandemic to work on my Citra art for an art show later this year.  I postponed and then taught two classes (social distanced w masks) this month and it was so much fun watching them discover how interesting it is to work with the random backgrounds.  All went home with extra papers to play with, too!  I hope to teach the follow up collage class later this year at Checkered Cottage here in Kirkwood, MO.  A reminder to those in my classes (online or in person, contact me to be added to the Citra art facebook group.  More shameless plugging:
Subscribe to my newsletter here to be the first to know about classes and art sales.  It's very low volume. 

 

Stencil by Cecilia Swatton

 

Art Foamies stamp By Nathalie Kalbach

I plan to teach at Stampaway this year again unless something changes in the newly open Ohio.  Class size will be limited to allow for social distancing. As always, for daily art, follow me on Instagram.  I also put art on my facebook personal and business page as well or go to my website for all my links. I plan to continue with the last 20 days of #the100dayproject and flow into World Watercolor Month on July 1.  Lots of art coming your way.  Stay safe this summer everyone.