Discovering new joys: book folding

If you've been reading my blog, you already know that I'm one of those new year's resolutions people. I shared my art resolutions for 2017 here. One of my other resolutions this year is to bring back something we used to do when the kids were younger: a monthly family evening. Back then this always consisted of a night of playing board games after dinner - a mix of fun and dread for all of us - which made it delightful.

Now the kids are both adults and in college and life is really hectic so I proposed that we get together once a month for family night again. They all seemed amused at the idea but everyone was game.

Last night we had our first monthly family night of the year. We had Pho for dinner (a crowd pleaser at our house) and then I got them going on the idea I had for our evening. Book folding. (I’ve recently learned about book folding and have really wanted to give it a go so I imposed it on everyone.)

Dave played up how little interest he had in this but in the end we were all pretty happy to sit around the table and discover this fun craft. Here are some pictures of our finished projects. Supplies wise, all that is involved is old books, wire and a few dots of hot glue.

Successful family night for January: check. New craft to explore further: joyful!

Dave's finished book

Cassi's finished book

My finished book

Danny's finished book

“It’s a helluva start, being able to recognize what makes you happy.”  – Lucille Ball

Young artists learning from the masters

Today is the last day of a class I've been teaching to teens for the last four months. We've had a lot of fun exploring famous art and artists from the past. Here are some of the paintings created by my students. LOVE!

Inspired by Vincent van Gogh

Inspired by Giuseppe Arcimboldo

Inspired by Leonardo da Vinci

Inspired by Georgia O'Keeffe

Inspired by Pablo Picasso

Inspired by Pop Art

Inspired by Pointillism 

Interview with Paul Jackson

A few years ago I had the privilege of interviewing some of my favorite watercolor artists, including the talented Paul Jackson! I met Paul in 2011 and since then have taken several workshops with him, including one in Italy. Peak experiences all!

I shared these interviews in the Northwest Watercolor Society newsletters over the years. Now I'm dusting them off and sharing them again, with all of you. These featured artists are some of the rock stars of the contemporary watercolor scene. I hope you find inspiration in these interviews.

For the complete article, just click on the image of the first page of the interview below. Enjoy!

Happy 2017!

Happy 2017! As I reflect on the past year and look forward to the new one, I want to thank you for being part of my journey as I am honored to be part of yours.

I wish you a magical and creative new year!

I heart the beginning of a new year

Maybe it's the promise of a clean slate, a shiny new beginning, but I've always loved the new start and freshness that a new year promises. I'm the only person I know how actually likes new year resolutions and goals and bucket lists. Yes please!

My goals include artistic, business and personal. I get all giddy thinking about listing my goals, books I want to read this year, movies I want to see, places to travel to... Setting goals helps me clarify for myself what priorities I want to pursue; it helps me organize my days, and strive towards finish lines. Without my lists of goals I would be like one of my Great Danes, distracted by every squirrel (or inspiration) I see, darting in one direction and then the next, but never really getting what I want.

Below are some of my goals for 2017. If you like to set goals too, please share them!

I want to get better.

How do I get better? I focus on specific techniques, materials, subjects or styles that speak to me and pursue them. I read, fill sketchbooks, take workshops, and push forward. I schedule time to do this. For this year, I am putting botanical watercolors at the top of my list. I want to put together a portfolio of botanical studies. 

“Art is born of the observation and investigation of nature.” - Cicero

I want to expand my boundaries.

I love watercolors, and sketching, and drawing. But I am inspired by all kinds of art and I want o explore creating beyond my comfort zone. So I've decided to learn about paper arts, in particular I want to explore book folding and paper cutting art. This will push me to venture into new techniques, mediums and tools. There is simply too much joy in learning new ways of seeing and creating to limit myself to what I am comfortable with! All learning helps me grow as an artist.

Movies

I discovered a list of great movies about artists. I want to see these all in 2017. The count down of the top ten movies listed is:

10. Basquiat (1996)
  9. Frida (2002)
  8. Pollock (2000)
  7. Chi-hwa-seon aka Painted Fire (2003)
  6. The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965)
  5. Seraphine (2008)
  4. Andrei Rublev (1966)
  3. Mr. Turner (2014)
  2. Lust for Life (1956)
  1. Edvard Munch (1976)

Books

I have so many books on art, it's a mini art library at my house! So I want to make time to read several of them this year, including:

 The Art of Botanical Painting by Margaret Stevens

 Botanical Sketchbook by Mary Ann Scott

 Powerful Watercolor Landscapes: Tools for Painting with Impact by Catherine Gill

 When Wanderers Cease to Roam: A Traveler's Journal of Staying Put by Vivian Swift

So this is how I love to start each year. Setting goals and coming up with a plan to put them into motion. I understand that this approach is not for everyone. You have your own temperament. Figure out what you would love to do this year and then figure out your own plan for getting closer to those dreams. Get better, get closer, get happier.

Happy 2017 to you all! 

Wishing you happy holidays and a shiny new year!

It's snowing! It's Christmas week! I have a glass of delicious merlot! And I have some beautiful holiday cards painted by my 9 - 13 year old students to share with you!

Merry! Merry! Merry to all!

By Samay

By Jack

By Annalise

By Ava

By Grace

By Katie

Sketchbook Tour: Travels to Washington DC, NYC, Cozumel and Alaska!

Here is one of the sketchbook on my shelves: 2016, Volume 5. (If you've missed my other sketchbook tours, I posted them in previous blog posts.)

I hope you enjoy flipping through my sketchbooks. And if you have any comments or questions, don't be shy. For as much as I love painting big watercolor paintings, traveling & sketchbooks are my real source of daily creativity, my inspiration, my joy. I hope you enjoy!

Interview with Nicholas Simmons

A few years ago I had the privilege of interviewing some of my favorite watercolor artists, including the inspiring and innovative Nicholas Simmons! More than any watercolorist I know, his work pushed the envelope of what is possible in watercolors. I'm crazy about his work.

And how can you not be intrigued by a man described as:

Often referred to as the bad boy of water-colour for his defiance of the rules and practices attached to the medium, Nicholas Simmons takes water colors to newer and fresher heights. His ability to take risks with his artwork and letting the painting take its own course without over planning and trying to control the colors too much is what sets his paintings apart and breathes life into them.

Last year, the world was saddened by his unexpected death, at 47 years old. He was an enthusiastic artist and accomplished musician, a husband, and a father. He is missed by so many around the world.

I shared this interview in the Northwest Watercolor Society newsletter a few years ago. 

For the complete article, just click on the image of the first page of the interview below. Enjoy!

Sketchbook Tour: Botanical Explorations

A few years ago I discovered the wonderful watercolor botanical artist Anna Mason and signed up for her online school. Here is a sketchbook of the lessons from that time. I hope you enjoy: Sketchbook 2015, Volume 2. (If you've missed my other sketchbook tours, I posted them in previous blog posts.)

I hope you enjoy flipping through my sketchbooks. And if you have any comments or questions, don't be shy. For as much as I love painting big watercolor paintings, sketchbooks are my real source of daily creativity, my inspiration, my joy. I hope you enjoy!

I have a new partner, World Tours Studio, and it's a love fest!

Earlier this year I started working with World Tours Studio and now we've made it official, we are partners! Let me gush a little about World Tours Studio. 

World Tours Studio was founded by a group of passionate travelers inspired to create peak experiences for others. As the sister company of Verona International Programs and inlingua, World Tours Studio offers the experience of a team of professionals who have organized hundreds of travel programs for adventurous individuals, U.S. universities, international companies and groups of friends.  We offer tours, study abroad programs, and niche programs such as food and wine tours, sketch booking workshops, and wellness retreats. Whether you want to sign up for one of our scheduled tours or want us to create a trip tailored to your specific interests, our expert team will be there for you every step of the way. Let World Tours Studio show you the world.

Headquartered in my beautiful hometown of Verona, Italy, I have come onboard as the U.S. contact for travel programs. We have three programs scheduled for 2017 and you could register for any (or all!) of them. Or we can organize a tour for your preferences.

Ready to start traveling? Have a group you want to travel with? Or do you want to join a group? Have a specific itinerary? Need ideas? Reach out to me and I will get you going on the adventure of a lifetime. Andiamo!

Winter Break Workshops for Kids & Teens

I'm looking forward to the two workshops I'll be leading for kids and teens (ages 9 and up) on December 27 at Arts Umbrella Art Center located at Country Village (23732 Bothell Everett Hwy, Bothell, WA 98021). To register, click here.

Fashion Sketchbook for kids & teens  

$45.00

December 27, 2016. 10am - 1pm

Designed to inspire and explore the world of fashion design. We will sketch fashion details, play with colors, and create our own fashion designs. Supplies will be provided.

Architecture sketchbook for kids & teens 

$45.00

December 27, 2016, 2pm - 5pm

Designed to inspire and explore the world of architecture. We will sketch famous buildings, discuss perspective, draw details and have fun. Supplies will be provided.

Iron Horses

I have always had a romance with trains, signs, things that develop a beauty all of their own as they age and wear. The beauty of functionality and purpose. And all these crushes come together for me in a series of photographs I took of old trains, a collection I named Iron Horses. 

Iron Horses was exhibited for over a year in a one-person show at the Dayton Historic Depot in Dayton, Washington and for three months as the first exhibit to be presented in Seattle's historic Union Station. This series of photographs won a 4Culture grant in 2011 and was exhibited in several King County Libraries.

Many of the photographs from the Iron Horses collection have been sold. Please see my Shop if you are interested in purchasing an Iron Horse photograph.

“It was totally enjoyable going through your portfolio. You take some very lovely and poetic shots.”            

Suzi Andiman, Editor, www.GreatAmericanStations.com

“Stations, airports, seaports and various locations of transition are wonderful points of personal reflection. 

"Where am I going in life?" "Where did I get off track?" "What do I really want?"

Questions of this sort lead us to search.  This search becomes aspiration if we are surrounded with suggestive beauty.  

And then, one looks up and there is your exhibit.”

Richard Collins, Art Collector, inLingua, Verona, Italy

Gratitude

At Thanksgiving, more than usually, my thoughts turn gratefully to those who have made my art life possible and in this spirit I say, joyfully, thank you.

Best wishes for a happy thanksgiving.

Warmly,
Charlene

Students learning about Jim Dine

Student Brag Alert

I introduced my teen and youth art students to the work of the the American 20th century artist, Jim Dine. Jim Dine has created a vocabulary out of subjects that are nostalgic, commonplace and universal, such as tools, hearts and bathroom robes. His work is both autobiographical and open to interpretation.

Below are some of the works the kids produced from that lesson. Pretty awesome!

Izabela

Katie

Kristen

Samay

Jack

Eli

Jacob

Lauren

Carmela

Annalise

Sketchbook Tour: Traveling through Italy & France

Here is my sketchbook from this past summer's adventures to Verona, Venice, Lake Garda, Mantova, Giverny and Paris: 2016, Volume 4. (If you've missed my other sketchbook tours, I posted them in previous blog posts.)

On the list of the top five things I love you will find traveling, sketching, friends, family and enjoying food. These all came together during this trip. Color me joyful!

I hope you enjoy flipping through my sketchbooks. And if you have any comments or questions, don't be shy. For as much as I love painting big watercolor paintings, sketchbooks are my real source of daily creativity, my inspiration, my joy. I hope you enjoy!

Interview with Mary Whyte

A few years ago I had the privilege of interviewing some of my favorite watercolor artists, including the spectacular Mary Whyte! I shared these interviews in the Northwest Watercolor Society newsletters over the years. Now I'm dusting them off and sharing them again, with all of you. These featured artists are some of the rock stars of the contemporary watercolor scene. I hope you find inspiration in these interviews.

For the complete article, just click on the image of the first page of the interview below. Enjoy!

Sketches of my camera collection

I've been collecting cameras for decades. Earlier this year I decided to start sketching my collection. I have a ways to go and I imagine I will be collecting cameras and sketching them for years to come. The sketch above is of a camera I inherited from my grandfather. I copied and attached a little note he had typed up about the camera's history. I found it in the leather camera case. A gem.

I do love Polaroid cameras and still have some Polaroid film I treasure.

I've photographed quite a few weddings with this trusted Canon Rebel XTi.

I have about a dozen more cameras, flash bulbs and projectors on my shelves. I look forward to the winter days ahead when I can cozy up to some hot chocolate and Baileys and sketch them.

My favorite light box

I recently bought this light box and LOVE it. Hard do beat the price too. And at $36, it's the best price I've come across. Go get yours!

Tracing Light Box, AGPtek 17"(A4 Size) LED Artcraft Tracing Light Pad Light Box For Artists,Drawing, Sketching, Animation

• 9' 8" long with 30 non-blinking, mini, LED rice lights
• Super Thin & Portable design. The thickness is only 6.2mm and the light box weights 625g which makes the it portable.
• The light IS adjustable so you can set it to whatever brightness you wish.
• Touch sensor Switch Design , turn on/off and brightness control easily just by slight touch.
• Ideal for Stenciling, 2D Animation, Calligraphy, Embossing, Scrapbooking, Tattoo Transferring, Sketching & Drawing, Sewing projects, Stained Glass, Quilting etc.

Sketching at the Snohomish Pie Company

About once a month I plan a sketchbook field trip and invite fellow sketchers to join me for these art adventures. Today, about ten of us met at the wonderful Snohomish Pie Company downtown Snohomish. It was a perfect Autumn day: sunshine and bright colors everywhere so, despite the smell of baking pies, we headed out taking to the streets of Snohomish with sketchbooks and watercolors. 

My sketch of downtown Snohomish

Another one of my sketches of downtown Snohomish

After a few hours we met back at the Snohomish Pie Company for lunch and to share sketches. Loved love the sketching, loved the camaraderie, and loved the pie!

Sketch by Emily Brown

Sketch by Beverly Anderson

Sketch by Anya Toomre

Thank you for joining me all!

Tasting Tuscany Tour 2017

I am thrilled to announce that I am working with World Tours Studio to offer several workshops and tours to Europe for 2017. I'm excited to share with you the Tasting Tuscany tour, focused on food, wine, art history and the good life. Come join me!