Copic Mixed-Media Workshop

Copic Ink and Art Workshop is coming up soon!

June 4th, Indianapolis, IN, taught by Colleen Schaan and Bianca Mandity

Applications and information went out yesterday for the upcoming workshop. If you did not get an application, then you can download one here.

We have been getting a LOT of inquiries about this program! This class is the first one we are offering, and if we see good response, then we will look at future workshops. These classes will not be offered as frequently as Certification Classes, so if one comes up in your area then we encourage you to attend. Register early, as space is limited. Class fills on a first-come, first-serve basis.

No Pre-requisites required!! Come and make some beautiful mixed-media creations in this project and technique-based class. I hope to see you there! If you have any questions, please send Nancy an email. nancy@copicmarker.com

Certification Updates

Upcoming Events
For those of you who are local, I will be teaching a basic Marker Rendering class on Thursday, April 21, from 7 to 9pm at DIVA Gallery in Eugene. We'll cover basic marker care, techniques, choosing papers, and airbrushing,. If you are interested, please contact DIVA, at www.divanow.org


Standard Certifications, North America
There are classes open all over the country right now, as Spring and Fall are the most popular times for classes. Check the following list to make sure you don't miss out on a class near you. Classes are filling FAST, especially the Intermediate classes, so get your applications in right away! A few minor changes to the upcoming list of Certification Classes, as Jennie Black will no longer be hosting Certifications, but she will be teaching plenty of consumer classes at her local stamping stores in the LA area.

Just to remind you, retakes are only $40, and it is always a good idea to hear material a second time. I personally will be teaching Las Vegas, San Diego, Coos Bay, and Berne, so come visit me if you haven't experienced one of my classes. Otherwise, look for classes in your area that might be taught by someone new. After you've taken one of our Certification classes, sign up for an Intermediate class, as that's where the real fun happens.

For international Certifications, please visit my class updates from last month.

Upcoming locations
April 27th, Charlotte, NC taught by Colleen Schaan Open to Public

May 1st, Las Vegas, NV taught by Jennie Black Open to Public
May 12, Columbus, OH taught by Colleen Schaan Open to Public
May 26, Minneapolis, MN taught by Debbie Olson Open to Public
May 26, Pensacola, FL taught by Colleen Schaan CANCELLED
May 22, San Diego, CA taught by Marianne Walker Open to Public
May 28th, Toronto, Canada taught by Sherrie Siemens Open to stores and Designers

June 3rd Berne, IN taught by Colleen Schaan & Marianne Walker Open to stores & Designers
June 4th Kelowna, BC taught by Sherrie Siemens Open to stores & Designers
June 10th, Santa Fe, NM taught by Jenn Balcer CANCELLED
June 11th Boston, Mass taught by Lori Craig Open to stores & Designers
June 12 Spokane, WA taught by Jenn Balcer Open to stores & Designers
June 18th Coos Bay, OR taught by Marianne Walker Open to stores & Designers

Classes Opening Soon, applications have NOT gone out yet:
June 23rd Wichita, KS taught by Lori Craig
June 23rd, Lexington, KY taught by Colleen Schaan

Tentative Summer Classes:
July 16th Houston, TX taught by Jenn Balcer
July 18, Chicago, IL (Before Summer CHA) taught by Lori Craig
Aug. 7th Manhattan, NY taught by Lori Craig and Jenn Balcer
Sept 8th Savannah GA taught by Colleen Schaan
Sept 22nd Orlando, FL taught by Collen Schaan
Sept. 30 Portland ME taught by Lori Craig

Intermediate Certification
Intermediate Papercrafting Certification classes are popular! These classes are open to ANYONE who has taken the standard Certification class, and who wants to learn how to color and design more like an artist. The Phoenix class was a huge success! This class is a MUST for the serious papercrafter. Sure, we discuss coloring, but this class also shows you how to think like an Artist, and take your work to a whole new, objective level.

May 13th, Columbus, OH taught by Colleen Schaan Now Open

June 10th, Boston, Mass. taught by Debbie Olson Now Open
June 18th, Calgary, AB taught by Sherrie Siemens Filling fast!!
June 23rd Wichita, KS taught by Debbie Olson Opens Friday

To register for any of these classes or to download class info, please check our Certification page on the Copic Website. If you have any questions, please e-mail Nancy@copicmarker.com for details.

Doodle Wings

Draw It Yourself - Doodling Wings
Since the overwhelming response from the survey suggests that I should post some simple tutorials on how to draw, I think this tutorial is a great one to work on if you are a total beginner at doodling.

Wings are a simple way to "doodle-up" any design. The great thing about wings is that they are easy to start with. For this, you'll need a pencil, paper, and a multiliner (I used a .3mm).

1. Lightly draw a right-triangle in pencil. The long edge will be the feathers, so you can turn the triangle whichever way you need to get the feathers turned how you need them. Depending on the shape of the triangle, the wings will change shape. For more open wings, make the triangle longer.

2. In slightly darker pencil, round out the edges of the triangle. Keep the two short edge lines smooth. Then, make a series of U's along the bottom edge. They don't have to be perfect.

3. Think which way the wing will point. Make another series of U's along the top edge of the outer U's. These should angle slightly to match the angle of the wing. (if there isn't an angle, that's OK as well). Notice that I only make U's along 2/3 of the wing. Leave the edge of the wing featherless, as this is where it attaches to the body.

4. Make another row of U's, again, angled with the triangle and only going about 2/3 of the way across. Depending on the size of your triangle, you simply make more and more rows of feathers. On the area without feathers, draw a little line to hint at bones under the feathers.

5. Make a matching wing pointing the other direction.

6. Trace the outlined pencil with your multiliner. This step is what makes it look more clean and professional. I use a light table so I don't have to erase. If you know that you will be erasing your pencil lines, then try to keep those light so it will be easier to erase.

Congrats! You've drawn a pair of wings! Now, you can check out this older post of mine about coloring feathers. You'll notice that the image of wings in that post is similar to what you have drawn here.

Here is my final, cute little stick-angel. The wings turn an otherwise boring stick figure into a cute little doodle that would work in many situations. I hope this inspires you to go out and doodle some wings :) Have a wonderful week!

Survey Thank You

Thanks to all the wonderful comments over the weekend. It sounds like many of you had a bad experience once with an art teacher and have had that stick in your mind ever since.

No guarantees mind you, but this helps give me a direction I can gather more information on. Online classes are tricky to set up as flexibly as I would need to with my travel schedule, but I will see what I can do.

Meanwhile, I will try to post more beginner drawing things that might inspire you to doodle. If you can write letters, then you can draw pictures! Your drawings don't have to be big or complex, they can be small and meaningless. What matters is that YOU did it, and YOU are excited to get better :) School is not the only place to learn things, so keep trying, even if you haven't taken a class.

Remember, practice makes perfect. Recently I cleaned out my attic and found 8 large boxes of pictures that I've drawn, mostly in the last 13 years. Never give up! Once you've drawn 8 boxes worth of images then you can decide whether you're good or not.

Ok, I'll be posting tutorials and my regular stuff later this week. Those of you who won will be notified via e-mail. Thanks again for leaving your comments!