Thoughts on Art

Usually I post tutorials on my blog, but I wanted to take a moment to write a little bit about my philosophy on life and art.

I am art & art am I
Some people might sound a little cliché when they say their life IS art. For me, I have been blessed to be creative from the time I was born, I studied creative fields in gradeschool, graduated college with a degree in art, and am happily employed with an art company, while all of my freelance activities center around creating art. My life IS art. And, for those of you who know me, I am a very happy, and fairly relaxed/low-stress person.

Is art the reason I am happy and relaxed? I don't know. I can't separate art from any aspect of my life. But, from the basic research I have recently been reading suggests, if I DIDN'T have art, I would most likely not be as happy, relaxed, or low-stress.

How Much Creativity?
Just about every research paper I have read so far* has stated that about 30 minutes of art is all it takes to notice significant reduction in stress. I read studies about college students during exam week, dementia patients, people who have anxiety disorders, and many more. In every case, the group which made art, in some form, was better. Older patients required less medication and had fewer medical complaints, college students lowered stress levels, and people were generally better. Some people only did one session, some people met once a week, some people joined clubs or took classes at a local facility. No matter what form of art (music, dance/ theater/performance, creative writing, or visual arts), it helped.

I want to be _______ (fill in the blank)
I hear people all the time say that art is cheaper than therapy. True!

I grew up poor, but we always had a pencil and some paper. That's how we were kept busy. But, what it came down to, is that we had to do something. Mom would not tolerate whining. If you wanted to do something, or become something, then don't just whine about it, take steps to become that!

If you want to be happy, truly happy, what are some steps that you can take to make it happen? Take yourself to your happy place and MAKE it happen. I tell the kids I teach art to that I have time to either be a media consumer or a media producer. I don't have as much time to appreciate art because I am too busy making or experimenting with art. That's not to say that I don't love going to galleries and museums, and getting inspiration, but I have a finite amount of time each day, and the only way to get better is to spend a good portion of that time actually producing instead of just appreciating.

So, if you hear yourself saying, "Gee, I wish I was an artist." STOP! The only way to become an artist is to BE an artist. Tell yourself you are an artist, then, spend some time each day producing art. But you have to start today!

Just do it
This year we were given a piano. I have never had a piano, I have always wanted one. I took a few months of a beginning piano class YEARS ago (I could find middle C and figure out from there, sort of), but I never thought of myself as someone who could do music. Having a piano, meant I wanted my young daughter to take piano lessons. In chatting with the piano tuner, I found out he always wished he could have studied art, so we traded lessons for our small children. I teach them art, and he teaches my daughter piano. I am NOT taking lessons from him, I really don't have time to commit to a regular schedule.

But, I had a desire to learn for myself (more than just Mary Had a Little Lamb). So I started, on my own, with a simple piano book, and now I can plunk out many songs. I found that with practice, I can now decipher music! Conversely, the piano teacher's wife, is showing some real aptitude for drawing, even though she isn't doing the art lessons with the kids, she is listening, and taking the time to practice and observe.

Am I ready to play for a church congregation? No. Am I embarrassed that I miss a lot of notes? NO! I know that I am learning, and I know that if I just keep it up, maybe in a few years I  will be ready to play something greater, with a whole lot more sharps and flats. But that's not my driving goal. My goal is that I have always wanted do it, so I am doing it! And, I feel better inside and I see that I am better now than I was 5 months ago when I started.

Helping others become more
My parents were schoolteachers. About half my siblings and spouses are schoolteachers. I wished I could have been an art teacher, but those are an endangered species these days, so I became a graphic designer and teach on the side. Teaching is a key part of my happiness as well.

Why do people teach? Something about helping others find new things in themselves brings a deep inner satisfaction. Also, it has been said that the teacher learns more than the students when they prepare lessons. I find both statements to be true. I learn so much more when I get organized to teach something to someone else, and it fills me with happiness when I see a student of any age "get it"...whatever the concept is.

If you want to be a better artist (musician, dancer, jewelry maker, seamstress, baker, etc.), offer to teach a group of kids/beginners that same skill. They won't judge you for how much you do or don't know, and your mind will be expanded as you prepare for the lesson. I actually have offered to teach classes that I knew nothing about, knowing that this would give me a great opportunity to learn for myself. I have never regretted those opportunities, rather, I am thrilled that I got those chances to learn more for myself.

Copic/Imagination International, Inc.
I feel blessed every day that I work for Copic/Imagination International here in the USA. Our company was organized by a former art professor, so art education is very important to our entire business structure. We want people to learn, because it makes them happier end users. We see how people have improved self-esteem as they learn a new skill, we see how excited they are when they have a completed work of art, and we see how they get fired up and tell their friends. That's what art is about! Personal growth and what it can do to improve your personal sense of wellbeing.

Set a goal
I want you to take a moment and look at your art process. Not at the end product, but at how you get there. How can you become more, and how can you help others achieve their goals? Sometimes all it takes is a kind word, or a shared idea, or if you are confident, teaching a class on a new concept.

Then, YOU will become part of their process to relieve stress, lower anxiety, live longer, and have better memory. That will help you achieve your happiness goals, and relieve stress, live longer, and have better memory...see? When you help others, it helps you as well!

So, start today. Make a goal to spend 30 min. a day, or week, or month, or whatever. Be creative. Improve yourself. Help others improve. I can validate, firsthand, that you will be a happier person, and more importantly, you will actively be working to become what you want to be.

*I can't site all my sources...just run a google search on "Art Therapy, memory" or "Art therapy, stress" and you'll find all sorts of great stuff. I read at least 15 different articles, but I'm not claiming to be accurate in my research. I'm just writing my own opinion on all the stuff I've been reading.

Keeping Portfolios, Part 3

Thus far, I have talked about why you should keep a portfolio, how to be a good viewer, and things to consider when picking out a good portfolio. Today I want to discuss goals for choosing work to fill your portfolio. I think I will have one more post about portfolios, and then I think you'll be tired of hearing about my portfolios, and maybe you will be ready to start your own.

Purpose of YOUR portfolio
The first portfolio I ever made was in college. I was trying to get into some art classes, and I needed to show a variety of work that I had done. We were having a formal portfolio review, so I really needed to impress the professors to get into the classes I wanted. That portfolio was large. It contained a little graphic design, a little photography, a little illustration, and an assortment of other art I had done. The purpose of that portfolio was to be a showcase of both the best of my work, as well as the breadth of art subjects I could do. This was also a portfolio I could show new freelance clients, to see if they liked my skills and talent. This was (and is) a good portfolio from college.

Since that time, I have had the luxury of narrowing my portfolios. Since I mostly travel for Copic reasons, my current portfolios are all Copic related, and each has a specific purpose. My current goal is to share the variety of subjects that Copics can color.

When you start building a portfolio, you need to define the goal you are trying to achieve with that portfolio. Start by asking yourself a few questions to determine your Portfolio goals:

Which of these are most important to you:
• Variety?
• Keeping all my work in one place?
• Showing improvement over time?
• Organizing my styles by category?
• Showing only my best?
• Having something that I can share with friends for feedback?

Now, as you read some of the following organizational styles, you can choose the ones that fit your goals best. You may find that your organization changes over time, and that is Ok. Every now and then, evaluate your portfolio goals and make sure that your message is coming across.

Sort by kind
I usually carry 2 portfolios with me when I travel, 4 for Standard Certification, and 5 if I am teaching an Intermediate Certification. I take everywhere one book for Manga/comics, and one for General Illustrations (not manga). When I am teaching a Certification, I additionally bring one small one with papercrafting techniques, and one for color swatches.

When I teach an Intermediate class, I bring an additional book with all the original art from the Intermediate student manual. Here are the first pages from two of my portfolios, the ship is from my general illustration, the other title page is from my Intermediate book (later I will discuss labeling your work).

At a comic show or at Anime Expo, I show the Manga book first. Then, if people are really interested, I pull out the General Illustration book. When I visit a university or art store, they are interested in the variety of things you can use Copics for, from product design to fashion illustration, so my General Illustration portfolio comes out first. Then if they are interested, I pull out the Manga examples. At Standard Certifications, I refer to my two small portfolios throughout the class, and the two larger portfolios float around. Then I use the Intermediate portfolio for that class.

Different Content Categories
I could have one portfolio with a little of everything (like my portfolio from college), but then most viewers would only be interested in a small portion at a time, and miss the variety within that one subject. As it is, my General Illustration portfolio has a smattering of everything from architecture, fashion, product design, and freelance illustrations. This only has 48 pages or so, and is just enough to give a flavor of each topic.

Some people sort their work by people in one book, nature/trees in another. Some people sort by card projects in one, individual images in another.

If you don't have much material to put into a bunch of portfolios, it is Ok to have sections inside your book for different topics. Within my manga book, I tend to have characters in the front, fantasy in the middle, and objects in the back (this is not always the case, but I try to stick fairly close to this).

Best to worst
I used to think that most people who look at my books start at the front and work their way back. If I am one-on-one with them, then this is frequently the case. However, often my books end up left open to a random page and people start looking where the last person left off. If I organized best to worst, then as soon as the work starts getting bad people stop looking, Then, the next person to come along and thinks all my work isn't very good. Now, I keep mine mixed, good and bad together so one bad piece (that I keep because it shows a technique) doesn't stop people from looking.

If you are showing your book to only a few people, then by all means, put your best stuff first!! I still try to have my favorite images in the front of the book. In the very back of each of my books are images I am not done coloring. I found that some people like to see in-progress stuff, and it motivates me to finish it sooner rather than later. In the back of my Manga book you can find this image that has two versions of a picture that I never finished coloring. Maybe someday I will get around to it.


Newest to oldest (or Oldest to Newest)
If the purpose of your book is to show a progress- "look where I used to be, here I am now," then sort by age. Some people have comparison pages...one picture they colored two years ago next to the same picture colored this year. You'll find that your favorite colors change over time, your awareness of shading may have improved, or as your color collection changed, so did the colors you use. I try to keep some older work in my portfolios, but the majority of my stuff is from the last 5 years.

Keep this in mind, if you are looking at my portfolios. If you are a beginner, you are not seeing my beginner stuff, so you can't give yourself a fair comparison between my current work and your level of quality...or, then again, you could see mine and see that your work is just as good or better. Remember, a portfolio is a tool, not a reason to think any less of your own work or someone else's efforts. We are all at different places on our creative ladder, and need to help each other as much as possible.

Comparison
As an instructor, I have found that people love to see before and after, or step-by-step progressions. Frequently I will have one page with the black & white image, and a colored version next to it. If you don't have too many pieces in your portfolio, then this is also a good way to fill up space.

I almost always carry a spare B & W of each image in the portfolio with the colored copy. This allows people who are curious to see what the line work looks like. Sometimes I carry a few spares, so if I am doing a demo, I can simply pull out a blank image to color. If I end up coloring it good enough, then it replaces the old one. Or, I stick it in front of the old one, so if people ask, I can show them the progression, or different color variations of the same piece.

I hope this has given you some ideas of which art to choose. Now that you have your portfolio, you have a goal, you have your art, my next post will talk about good habits in maintaining a portfolio.

Keeping Portfolios, Part 2

Last week I discussed the reason for keeping a portfolio and proper manners when looking through other people's portfolios, now let's get into the specifics of how to choose the portfolio that is right for you. Thank you for the wonderful feedback on last week's post! I am glad that I can share something valuable with everyone. Next week, I will go into how to fill your portfolios.

Picking a Portfolio

There are a couple features that I consider very important when it comes to choosing the right portfolio. Right now, next to my desk, I have at least 8 portfolios, each with a specific purpose. In my next post I will discuss the content of a portfolio, today we are just going to work on how to choose the right type of physical presentation for your work.

1. Size

What is the largest thing you will be showing in your portfolio? If it is a standard page size, then go for that size of portfolio. If all your projects are the size of a small card, then maybe you should consider a small portfolio. If you have one big project and a bunch of little ones, maybe you can scan or photograph the big one to fit in your portfolio.

You can get a large portfolio and display multiple images on the same page, but make sure that the portfolio has enough space for each object to have "breathing room" or else the pages will look cluttered. I have 3 different sizes of portfolios, each for very specific purposes. Small card projects go into the small portfolios, my regular illustrations go into letter-sized portfolios, and then I have a really big portfolio for my 11 x 17 artwork. I could fit all my card projects onto a couple pages in the large portfolio, but then it would be cluttered and confusing to the viewer (see point 3).

Make sure to get a portfolio with enough pages for your work, but not too many. If you have bulky things in your portfolio, then stick to fewer pages, and get multiple portfolios. If you are only adding flat sheets of paper, then lots of pages are fine. My biggest portfolio is for my Manga/comic art, and it has 36pages/72 views, but nothing in it is thicker than a sheet of paper. My other portfolios range from 24 to 48 pages/views.

2. Easy to add (and remove) projects

Pick a portfolio where it is easy to slide projects in and out. I use the Itoya Art Profolios. They have 12-48 pages, and open at the top of each page, so it is easy to slide work in and out. You can make your own portfolio using a 3-ring binder and page protectors. This will allow you more flexibility in number of pages, and if you have bulky projects in there, this might be the better route to go.

Don't glue projects into your portfolio!! Make sure anything you add can be easily removed. The purpose of a portfolio is to show progress. If you color something a second time, and you do it better, then show the better project. It is hard to do this if the first one has been permanently glued into a book with fixed pages. If it must be held in place, use a removable adhesive that won't stain or discolor your work.

3. Neutral Foundation

Up into the 1800's, art galleries used to cover every bit of available wall space with art. Way up to the ceiling, and down low. You could stare at a wall and see 30 pictures all clustered around. This was hard on the viewer, and any art that was not at eye-level could easily be missed. Then galleries started simplifying, putting only one or two images at eye level, allowing plenty of visual breathing room. Gallery walls are usually painted white, or another neutral color. This has been proven to more effectively show off the work.

In a similar manner, a portfolio should not be cluttered, and artwork should be on a neutral (white, black, or gray) background. Having two projects back to back without something between them can be cluttered and confusing, especially if they are of different sizes, or on different colors of paper. Most portfolios you purchase from an art store already come with neutral pages, but if you are creating your own, keep this in mind. Make sure the neutral base is thick enough to completely hide artwork on the reverse page.

Here is an actual page from one of my portfolios. This is the only page where I have multiple images on each page. Usually I only have one picture per page. The left side is not bad, the right side is untidy, cluttered, and disorganized. The torn edges are unprofessional, and the artwork isn't even attached to the page, so the art shifts around. It shows the viewer that I don't really care about this art. These are doodles that happened to come out well, but the cluttered presentation does not do them justice.

4. Durability
Make sure that your portfolio will stand the test of time. Archival, acid free, and durable. I show my work all the time, and some portfolios don't hold up as well as others.

My favorite brand are the Itoya Art Profolios. They have lots of different models for different needs. I used to get the nice ones with a clear pocket in the front, so I could have art on the cover, and it has a spot for art on the spine (bottom portfolio in the photo above). However, the edges didn't hold up after a few years, and the clear part of the cover gets scuffed and torn. Now I get the cloth-covered edges, as these wear better. For the average artist, the ones with a clear pocket are probably fine, and I miss the clear spine for labeling. But, with so many hands looking at my work, I am willing to sacrifice for the stronger edges.

You can always build a portfolio from a 3-ring binder and clear page protectors, just take into account the features I discussed today.

I hope this gives you some ideas for picking a portfolio. Later this week I will start showing new items for 2012, and next week I will finish the information on portfolios. Have a great week!

Keeping Portfolios, Part 1

Happy New Year!
Portfolios
If you have ever met me at a demo or class, you may have had the opportunity to see one of my portfolios. I never travel without them, so if you see me out at an event, just ask to see them. I am always happy to share these, as I appreciate the chance to get feedback or to see what catches people's eye first. As 2012 is getting started, now is the time to work on New Year's Resolutions, and maybe one of those resolutions should be to work on your own portfolio.

This new year, I urge you to start a physical portfolio (not a digital one), especially if you have never kept one before. In the Intermediate class, you are given a small portfolio to begin with. Now, in the standard class you are also given one. We wouldn't include these if we didn't think they were so important! If you would like to pick one up similar to the ones we use, you can find them at any art store, or you can easily make your own.

(Next week I will talk more about picking a portfolio and what to put in it).

The purpose of a portfolio

Any artist or crafter should keep a portfolio of their best work. This is a tool for improvement, and should not be considered a "bragging book". A good portfolio allows you, and your viewer, a chance to see your best work and give each piece individual, critical examination. By keeping work in one, central place, it is easier to compare and improve quality from piece to piece.

In my opinion, if you are an instructor, you NEED to have a portfolio and be willing to share it with your students.

As nice as photographs and blog posts are, nothing compares to being able to see an original work. The computer can be very deceptive, as it interprets colors differently than our eyes and shows work at whatever scale it wants to. Sometimes, you really need to see how big something is in real life, and not shrunk down on a computer screen. Looking at a portfolio is important for both the viewer as well as the creator.

Here are some of my personal thoughts on how to be a good portfolio viewer.

Etiquette in viewing portfolios

Give praise but don't gush. When people look through my portfolios, yes, I like to hear "Oh my goodness! That is amazing!" but I would rather hear "Oh my goodness! That is amazing. How did you do that technique?" I want a chance to teach through my artwork.

I never want to hear "You are sooo good. I could never be like you." It is nice to compliment, but don't embarass them by going over the top. Give sincere compliments and remember that with practice you could make work like theirs, or vice-versa.

A portfolio is not a tool for you to compare your work to another person. This is a self-assessment and feedback tool. Don't look at someone else's portfolio and feel bad about your own work. We are all at different places in our work at different times. A portfolio is of a person's best work, so when you look at it, try not to compare your problem areas with their strengths. Use other people's portfolios as inspiration and learning tools, ask constructive questions (mixed in with healthy praise).

Take notes. If you see something you really like, be it the way they shaded an image or colored hair, ask about their technique and practice it.

One time I really wanted to work on making round gemstones look luminous. So, I drew an image with lots of round gemstones. Then, I looked through an artbook by James Christensen to color the gemstones. He is an oil painter, and does a fascinating job rendering luminous stones. There are a couple pieces in my portfolio that are inspired by James Christensen. I could not have improved my technique as quickly without studying his work. This is a good use of another person's portfolio (in this case, an artbook).

Ask before you photograph. Never photograph someone else's portfolio without their permission, and never publicly display those photos without their permission and without giving them credit. Come back to the notes or photos, then try to incorporate those techniques into your own work. There is a saying in art "Copying is the greatest form of flattery." It is OK to copy techniques and colors you like, but whenever possible, attribute credit where it is due. Sometimes for legal reasons you cannot display photos of their work, as those pieces might be published or the rights might belong to someone else. In that case, you could face a potential lawsuit, so always get permission! Be considerate with your flashes, as original works may be light sensitive.

Ask before you touch. If you try to photograph an image and it is behind a piece of plastic, many times the glare will prevent you from getting a decent photo. Or, sometimes, you want to see a technique really close up, or you want to see the back of the paper to see how the ink soaked through. Always ASK before you touch the original. Flipping through plastic pages is one thing, touching the original is another.

In libraries, you are expected to wear linen gloves when touching original works. This is because each time you touch an original, your oily hands are transferring grease onto a project. Copic markers do not like oil and grease, so if a person tries to color that art again, it may not react the same. If you must touch an original, touch the edges, and avoid important features.

Try not to hover. If it is your own portfolio, you may really want to hear feedback. It is OK to hover and explain your work, but it is also OK to not feel obliged to stand there while they look through it. Be courteous to the viewer and consider if you are being over-protective and hovering. Sometimes that makes them uncomfortable, so try to be aware of their comfort level as well.

Next week I will have Part 2 about portfolios, meanwhile, have a wonderful and safe New Year!

Links and upcoming events

I wanted to share a couple quick links with you today. First of all, for those of you in the UK you will be happy to note that there is a Certification coming to your area in a few months:

UK Copic Certification
With Wendy Kadzidlo (UK Copic Certified Regional Instructor)
Sunday 21st November 2010
Elcot park Hotel, Nr Newbury, Berkshire.
Click here for more information.



Copic Blog
For those of you who are looking for some inspiration in a different direction, have you checked out the official North American Copic blog recently? Here you'll find neat artists featured that use Copic products, interviews, and other great Copic things, so check it out!

Friday Links and upcoming events

This weekend I will be helping in Phoenix at the Copic Certification. One of the other things I will be doing is a special workshop for the new Spellbinders Design team, however, I don't want you to feel left out of what I will be talking about.

Next week I will be at the grand opening celebration of the new Blick Art Store in Seattle, WA. I will be demoing on the 22nd, from about 2 to 5pm. Come join me for some prizes and to have your Copic questions answered.

Friday Art Links
Elements of Good Design
The first subject I'll discuss in Phoenix is based on this post I did last year on composition. Read through this post and I hope it inspires you to look at your projects a little differently.


The Meanings of Shapes Then, to understand how shapes have an emotional feel to them in a composition, look at this that I complied from some different sources. If you are putting shapes together to convey a mood or emotion, think of how each shape adds a dynamic to the whole (think of flowers as big circles)

These concepts are arbitrary, so you can choose to agree with them or not.

Circles and Round shapes:

Tenderness - Love - Friendship - Care - Support - Protection - Affection - Compassion.

Squares, rectangles, pyramids:

Stability - Strength - Power - Balance - Reliability (BTW, Triangles on point do not convey these emotions)

Vertical shapes and lines:

Strength - Masculinity - Power - Aggression - Courage - Brutality - Dominate - Menacing

Horizontal lines:

Peace - Tranquillity - Feminine - Calm - Rest - Weak - Peaceful - Composed - Silent - Still

Soft curves:

Rhythm - Movement - Pleasure - Natural - Generosity - Femininity - Happiness

Sharp angled lines:

Explosive - Violent - Anger - Rapidity - Dynamic - Metal - Movement - Energy - Lively - Young

Fun Color Theory The last links I wanted to direct you toward are all about colors.

ColorMatters.com This is a fun site to just dig around in and find all sorts of interesting factoids on color. They discuss everything from Pink jail rooms to the Egyptians bathing in different colors of light.

For interactive color playing you can go to the Kuler website (requires flash plugin), where you can type in a word and it will pull up a color scheme. This is always handy if you need a new color idea for tired, old concepts.

I hope you all have a great weekend, and I'll see you in Phoenix and Seattle! Next week, stay tuned as I have some exciting news and a fun giveaway.

Friday Art Links

This year has flown by and next year is just around the corner. Amazing how fast the years go when you're busy. I have a couple fun links for people today, and I hope you enjoy them or feel inspired by them.

For Papercrafters-

Archivers
When I was at Scrapfest in September Archiver's filmed a quick coloring tutorial for their website. This link will take you to my Beginner Coloring with Copic tutorial.

You can check out all of Archiver's other fabulous product tutorials here.

Fine Art Links-

Medical & Instructional Illustration
I was recently contacted by a fabulous illustrator and I wanted to show you his work. Jason Laramie uses many mediums to create his illustrations, including Copic Markers. Dig through his gallery a bit for some examples of his images.

Beginner Illustration Technique-
I love this blog in general, and here is a neat tutorial for beginners on how to take a photograph and with some simple filters in photoshop use it as a base for making an illustration. Dig through Holly's site, as she has some gems in there.

Ok, so I'll post another great tutorial next week. Have a creative weekend!

Friday Art Links & Certification

Once again I want to share some neat art links that I think you'll like.

Artists for Humanity. This grassroots program in Boston helps kids get off the streets and into professional graphic design careers. Check it out, these guys rock (and they love copics!)

I want to remind you that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Here is more great art that pays tribute to the struggles and perseverance of those dealing with Breast Cancer:

Carol Ast - Breast Cancer Art These paintings are not for sale, but they show her reflections on dealing with cancer. Take a look and remember those who have suffered.

A Rural Woman's Breast Cancer Journal - This has art, reflections, and updates on treatment as well as other tidbits helpful for those coping with the trauma.

And, an update on 2009 certifications. Soon I will have a listing of certifications in the first quarter of 2010, but for now, just let me know where you would like to see a class (we do take your requests very seriously!)

If you don't have an application for a session coming up please send Nancy an e-mail. nancy@copicmarker.com

San Antonio
For all you Texans who are dying to get into the San Antonio classes, good news! We moved the classes to a larger venue. Those classes are re-opened and will be co-taught by Sally Lynn MacDonald and Sharon Harnist. Please submit your application and state which day you prefer, December 13 or 14th. Send those back to nancy@copicmarker.com.

And, Sharon has informed me that she is looking to hold a class in the Dallas area in Feb. 2010. Get on the copic mailing list (on the sidebar of my blog) to be notified when applications and info are released on that venue.

Here's a rundown of our current class offerings:

October
24th Coos Bay, OR taught by Marianne Full
25th Evansville, IN taught by Sally Lynn Full
28th Grand Rapids, MI taught by Marianne Open to public - almost full, closes next Wed.

November
21st Montreal, taught by Sherrie Siemens Full
22nd, Montreal, taught by Sherrie Siemens Open to Stores & Designers
22nd Columbia, SC taught by Sally Lynn Open to Stores & Designers

December
13th San Antonio, TX taught by Sally Lynn Open to Stores & Designers
14th San Antonio, TX taught by Sally Lynn Open to Stores & Designers


OK, I have a very busy weekend, but I'll try to post a tutorial. Have fun!

Friday Art Links & Certification

It's Friday, and although I haven't been the best about posting tutorials recently, I do have some really neat things I would like to share, along with updates on upcoming Copic Certification classes.

Friday Art Links
If you get a chance please
• For any animation student out there I just got notice of a Brazilian Student Animation festival that is currently accepting international works. You can get more information by visiting their website WWW.VOUANIMARTE.COM.BR

• Anyone who is going to be traveling through Eugene, OR in the next few months should check out the new exhibit at the University of Oregon's Art Museum.
Faster Than a Speeding Bullet: The Art of the Superhero
This opens tonight with a free preview night. There are some really neat lectures and events in conjunction with this exhibit. I will be drawing with kids and adults on Saturday Nov. 7 in the evening, so you can come and color or airbrush your own superhero art.

• October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so I wanted to share a couple Breast Cancer Awareness Art links:

www.canceranswers.org/gallery/ Breast Cancer Answers Art Gallery shows a series of words related to cancer and you can view art that explores each aspect of the process.

www.breastcancerart.com a unique artist who makes body casts of women and turns it into breast cancer art

kanikacancerart.blogspot.com This blog is devoted to artwork by Kaneka Marshall and is dedicated to her mother who lost her battle with Breast Cancer.

Please show your support in October for Breast Cancer Awareness. I'll try to share some other links and projects throughout the month.

Upcoming Events and Certification
Monday I leave for Savanna College of Art and Design to attend their annual Tools of the Trade show, October 1-3. Where else can you visit Copic in the next few months?

U of O Tools of the Trade Show Nov. 18th and 19th, Eugene, OR. I will be demoing the markers and focusing on the Art of Superheroes to go along with the U of O museum exhibit. I will also be hosting a special Copic workshop the evening of the 19th at DIVA.

Fall 2009
Certification applications for classes in the next two months are now available. If you did not get one yet you need to email Nancy.

Nancy is our fabulous new Certification Coordinator. She is an avid crafter and loves stamping and is ready to keep the Certification program running smooth for everyone. Any questions, requests, or concerns relating to certification classes can be passed directly to her nancy@copicmarker.com or you can call her toll free 866-662-6742, just ask for Nancy

October
4th Decatur, GA taught by Sally Lynn FULL
24th Coos Bay, OR taught by Marianne Opens to public next week
25th Evansville, IN taught by Sally Lynn Almost Full!! Open to Stores & Designers
28th Grand Rapids, MI taught by Marianne Open to Stores & Designers

November
21st Montreal, taught by Sherrie Siemens Open to public - filling FAST!
22nd, Montreal, taught by Sherrie Siemens Open to Stores & Designers
22nd Columbia, SC taught by Sally Lynn Open to Stores & Designers

Applications have NOT gone out for the following locations:

December
13th San Antonio, TX taught by Sally Lynn

We are currently in the planning stages for 2010, so if you have a location you would like to see a class please let us know. There will be a lot of new venues and other changes next year, so keep your eyes out for that information. If you are a store interested in hosting a special event with one of our Certification instructors while they are visiting your city please contact Nancy and she will pass your request on to them.

Friday Links & Class Updates

It's been a while since I updated upcoming classes and certifications. As I get updates I try to regularly post those, so keep checking back for more details. Today you can also find a couple of great art links to keep you inspired over the weekend.

Upcoming Papercrafting Certification Classes
There are two ways to get an application for any of the upcoming classes. For any class that has already had the application already sent out you need to e-mail me at marianne@copicmarker.com and I will gladly send you one. For any class that has not had applications sent out please add yourself to the mailing list using the green sign-in box on the right. Be sure to mark which location for certification you are interested in, or you will not get an application on that mailing.

September
17th Minneapolis, MN (from 1pm to 7:30pm, buffet dinner included, $130) taught by Marianne Open to the public, register NOW! This class is filling fast.

October
4th Decatur, GA taught by Sally Lynn Open to Stores & Designers
24th Coos Bay, OR taught by Marianne Open to Stores & Designers
25th Evansville, IN taught by Sally Lynn Open to Stores & Designers
28th Grand Rapids, MI taught by Marianne Open to Stores & Designers

Applications have NOT gone out for the following locations:

November
22nd Columbia, SC taught by Sally Lynn

December
13th San Antonio, TX taught by Sally Lynn

January 2010
10th Miami/South Florida taught by Sally Lynn (TBA)
23rd Anaheim, CA taught By Marianne

Upcoming Events
This fall there are lost of special appearances I will be making all across the United States. Come visit me and learn some neat hands-on techniques at one of these fine venues.

September 18-19 Mall of America, Scrapfest 2009. Minneapolis, MN. Join me, Debbie Olson, Cambria Turnbow, and many others as we demo and host make-n-takes.

October 1-3 Savannah College of Art & Design Tools of the Trade Show. This is a fabulous event with many fine-art vendors showing the best and newest in fine-art supplies.

October 23 Memories of Time, Stamping Workshop, Coos Bay, OR.

November 14, Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, Eugene, OR. This drop-in event will be in conjunction with the upcoming Comic Book/Superheroes gallery show.

November 19 & 20th, University of Oregon Tools of the Trade show. Come to the annual art-supply trade show hosted inside the U of O Bookstore. There will be lots of professional artists from all around showing their techniques - from watercolor to colored pencil. There's always lots to see at these shows.

Friday Art links
I'm sorry it's been a few weeks since I posted some fun friday art links. Here are some that I found this week. I hope you find them inspiring.

Copic Community
First of all, I want to remind you about Copic Community. This is a place where YOU can post any work you've made with Copics. Visit CopicCommunity.com to see what I'm talking about.

Drawing heads
Have you ever wanted to draw realistic heads? This link has a fabulous tutorial that steps you through the rights and wrongs of drawing heads. www.anticz.com

Digital Photography Tips
I know that many of you have your own blogs and you take your own digital photos to upload. Dig through this site for some ideas on how to get more from your camera and consistently take better shots. I strongly suggest you read through it! The best blogs out there stand out because their photos are clean and well-planned. www.digital-photography-school.com

Wednesday updates

I know I usually post links on Friday, but I have a few neat things that I want to pass along today.

Copic Website
As you may have noticed, the Copic website has been slowly morphing and changing. We've added a great blog for following artists and occasionally an exclusive interview. Check this out for some good inspiration.

Copic Community
We have also changed the way we do our online gallery. If you would like to see artwork other people have made or if you want to submit your own you can visit CopicCommunity.com go dig around a bit, as there are lots of neat illustrations up already. When you wish to submit, just click the link on the sidebar. You'll have a window that shows, and at the top it says "submit a text post" click on that and switch to "submit a photo" then follow the directions to post your own artwork made with Copic products.

Upcoming Certifications
I know a lot of upcoming classes are full, but some are still open or will be opening soon. If you'd like to attend then let me know right away so we can get you on the list. All classes run from 9 am to 4pm and cost $120 unless otherwise noted.

August
15th Vancouver, BC taught by Sherrie FULL
16th Eau Claire, WI taught by Sally Lynn FULL
17th Carlsbad/Oceanside CA, taught by Marianne OPEN (e-mail orders@copicmarker.com for an application)
22nd Calgary, AB taught by Sherrie FULL
29th Edmonton, AB taught by Sherrie. OPEN
30th Coconut Creek, FL taught by Sally Lynn Canceled

The following classes are upcoming. Applications have NOT gone out yet, so sign up on the sidebar of my blog through Vertical Response to get on the mailing for those classes.

September
17th Minneapolis, MN (from 1pm to 7:30pm, buffet dinner included, $130) taught by Marianne Applications mailing this week

October
25th Evansville, IN taught by Sally Lynn

November
22nd Myrtle Beach, SC taught by Sally Lynn

December
13th San Antonio, TX taught by Sally Lynn


Other Events This Fall
I'll be visiting a lot of places in the next two months, so if you can't make it to a Certification then you can still see me at one of these other events.

Southern California, August

August 14th
Scrapbook Heaven- 12-2pm, Westminster
Collective Journey 5-8pm, Redlands,

August 16^th
Yellowbird Scrapbooking-10-12pm El Cajon,
Scrapbook Your Life-1-3pm San Diego,
Cool Scrapbook Stuff- 4-7pm Poway,

August 17^th Copic Certification, Carlsbad, CA (send me an e-mail for an application)

August 18^th - Art Institute of San Diego Demos and workshops (students only)

September 18 & 19th Scrapfest, Minneapolis MN in front of Archivers, as well as Crop Around Town events (Hosted with Archivers and Our Craft Lounge)

October 1-3rd, Savannah, GA Savannah College of Art and Design Art Materials Trade Show

Whew! Is this enough places I'll be visiting? Be sure to stop by my blog tomorrow for a chance to win a really cool prize and join the Our Craft Lounge Release Party. Don't Miss it!!!

Friday Art Links

Once again, here are some neat art links I think you'll like. I want to thank everyone who came to my teen workshop out at Fern Ridge Public Library yesterday- it was a fun group of kids. OK, on to the links:

Abduzeedo.com - Creating a very detailed illustration- Wow! If you want to see a step-by-step process of how to make incredible digital illustrations, check this out. Dig around and look at their other digital tutorials as well.

How to draw and Paint.com - The name says it all. These easy to follow tutorials help you draw your own things. Great for beginners.

Now, updates on certification classes

Mailing went out today for the Southern Cali. Certification class on August 17th. Sorry about all the delays. It will be held at the Courtyard Marriott in Carlsbad, CA.

August
15th Vancouver, BC taught by Sherrie FULL
16th Eau Claire, WI taught by Sally Lynn Full
17th Carlsbad/Oceanside CA, taught by Marianne OPEN (e-mail orders@copicmarker.com for an application)
22nd Calgary, AB taught by Sherrie FULL
29th Edmonton, AB taught by Sherrie. OPEN
30th Coconut Creek, FL taught by Sally Lynn Canceled


The following classes are upcoming. Applications have NOT gone out yet, so sign up on the sidebar of my blog through Vertical Response to get on the mailing for those classes.

Sept.
Minneapolis, MN (Date TBA, Mid Sept. in conjunction with Scrapfest) taught by Marianne

October
25th Evansville, IN taught by Sally Lynn

November
22nd Myrtle Beach, SC taught by Sally Lynn

December
13th San Antonio, TX taught by Sally Lynn

Friday Art Links & Certification

Time for some more art links and a few other updates. Let me know if you find something neat and want to share it with the blogging world.

Copic Marker News Blog- This is different than my I Like Markers blog. You can see photos of our trade-show booths and get other neat information from Copic.

Trev Murphy - This is an incredible illustrator who has posted some fabulous videos on how he uses Copic Markers for ATC portraits. Definitely worth watching, even if you don't consider yourself an artist.

'skine art - Celebrating Moleskine lovers and their art. If you haven't tried a moleskine, they are a fine journal/sketchbook that has been around for centuries. The paper is fabulous! check out these illustrations and sketches for inspiration

Mostly Markers- Cindy Overmeyer has done a fabulous job of uploading her artwork, so poke around and leave some comments. There's some great stuff here!

Certification Updates
There are a few more certification classes this Summer, so contact us if you need to register: orders@copicmarker.com or in the US, toll free (866) 662-6742 Canada (541) 684-0013

July
27th Orlando, FL taught by Marianne This class will close Wednesday next week, so get your application in ASAP. Only open to Stores, teachers, and Design Team Members

August
16th Eau Claire, WI taught by Sally Lynn e-mail for an application
30th Coconut Creek, FL taught by Sally Lynn e-mail for an application
Vancouver, BC August 15th taught by Sherrie e-mail for an application
San Diego, CA August 17th taught by Marianne - Note - This class is still taking place, though it will be moving to Oceanside, Same date. Applications have NOT gone out yet, those will go out next week.
22nd Calgary, AB taught by Sherrie. FULL
29th Edmonton, AB taught by Sherrie. e-mail for an application

Upcoming locations
Minneapolis, MN (Date TBA, Mid Sept.) taught by Marianne. Applications have not gone out yet.
Coos Bay, OR - Fall
San Antonio, TX - December

Other events this Summer / Fall:
I will be doing some Make 'n Takes while I am in So. Cal next month, so keep a lookout for my finalized trip details soon.

If you are in the Eugene area, I will be teaching a Teen Manga Workshop at Fern Ridge Library next Thursday, July 23rd from 3 to 5 pm (FYI: their website is incorrect with the date).

Meanwhile, those of you in Calgary can visit Sherrie as she teaches workshops at Scrapbook Pantry and Scrapbooker's Paradise in Calgary.

We at Copic will only be attending the first half of the show, however, if you are going to the CHA Craft Supershow July 31- August 1st in Orlando, FL be sure to look for demos using Copic Markers. I know of at least a dozen going on throughout the show, as well as workshops, so look for those.

Friday Art Links

I hope you've had a great week. It's Friday, and since I'm in town then I can share some more good art links. Let me know if you find these helpful or not.

ArtAlly Blog- This blog is a voice for the arts. Find links to interesting art articles, art therapy, art education, and useful info for art teachers. Full of great stuff, I strongly encourage you to read.

Art House Co-Op, Sketchbook Project Library - Sign up to get a sketchbook. Fill the sketchbook, then it goes on display in galleries and eventually into a library. Their goal is to collect original sketchbooks from around the world.

Rate My Drawings.com - this website is really great for the beginning to advanced artist. It offers a chance to draw online, view tutorials, join discussions, and enter artwork into daily competitions. Look at artwork from many people and give feedback.

Tomorrow I'll post the continuation of my boy and the candlelight. Have a great weekend!

World Drawing Day - How I became an Artist

I am frequently asked the question. "Wow! You draw really good. When did you start drawing?" To which I reply "I have always drawn." For World Drawing Day I figured this is a great chance to answer that question. This is a brief story of how I got to where I am today (artistically). The artwork is from a gallery show I did in 2006 about how I became an artist and one-page comics. For directions on how to draw your own one-page comic click here.

How did I become an Artist?
Growing up, my mom was an art teacher. That doesn't mean that she sat me down and formally taught me as she did her students, rather, she always had a pencil and paper in her purse and to keep me occupied she would hand them to me.

She has kept many examples of my early artwork to this day, and I can see the progression in my drawings. One of the earliest things I could draw well was an Elephant. I loved elephants (and I had a ratty old baby blanket in the shape of an elephant). So when I was little, my mom would fold paper and write the words and I would draw the illustrations for my own little books. (One of the first stamps Our Craft Lounge had me draw was a cute elephant, I thought this was very ironic). My next favorite things to draw were dinosaurs (because they were the only things bigger than elephants). When I was in 1st grade there was a program at school called "Young Authors" and I wrote a book about dinosaurs.

Although she would encourage me to draw and give me supplies, she didn't seem to approve of the things I would choose to draw later on- the characters from comic strips or from cartoons on TV.

Really, the main reason I would draw these is because this was what my friends wanted. I would draw Garfield, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Simpsons characters and sell/trade them to my friends. I had a cool collection of toys by 5th grade because of all the artwork I would trade for them. It made my friends happy and I got neat stuff.

In elementary school my teachers would also ask me to help them draw special things to decorate their doors or bulletin boards, or help make posters for school plays and things like that. Thus began my graphic designing- combining pictures and words into books and on posters. Once someone asks you to design a poster then it's kind of contagious and you keep getting asked to draw posters, so you keep getting better, so that you get asked more often to make them... and then you see what happens.

I was also lucky enough to be one of the first kids in school to have a Macintosh computer. By this time my mom was self-publishing quilting books and I would help her touch-up her artwork in Mac Paint because of my "sharp eyes". My best friend would come over and we would spend hours drawing crazy things in Mac Paint, then Kid Pix and then I got into middle school where I was the computer lab assistant and I'd spend my free time drawing on the computer. I was also in art class, but I didn't really like the teacher, so I didn't get much from it.

Can you see what I'm getting at so far? If your child likes to draw then let them draw! Encourage them without pushing or forcing them to do it a certain way, just let them explore what they are interested in. Art is NOT encouraged in public schools after 5th grade, so if your child is good at drawing wheny they're young, don't let them give it up as they stop getting encouragement at school. It's much harder to re-learn as an adult.

I appreciate that my mom never forced me to draw, and she also knew that I wouldn't have listened to her if she had tried to give me advice anyways. She would always tell me "Don't get a degree in art (like she did), you'll never make any money." I also was never good at drawing hands or people realistically enough for my mom (she was a landscape and portrait painter and I still can't draw people up to her standards). Now my mom has said many times that she wishes she were 30 years younger so that she could do what I do now.

In High School the art teacher I didn't like moved up to teach at our school, so I never took art. I took stained glass instead because that teacher would let me explore the medium. I would make blown glass dragons and flowers and things like that.

In 9th grade the Journalism teacher came to our class "recruiting" students for the newspaper. I thought it sounded like the dumbest thing based on her presentation, so I wasn't interested. But many of my friends joined the next term. One day, a couple weeks into the new term my friend invited me down to the newspaper room so she could finish an article. I saw a room full of computers, so I sat down and started drawing on one. The teacher came out to chew me out about being on off-limits computers. Then she saw what I had drawn and "hired" me for the newspaper. Thus began my formal graphic designing.

For the next four years I never left the computers. I learned PageMaker 3, Photoshop 2.0, Illustrator 3, and all the old software in black and white. Oh how this helped me in college!!! We also worked on tight deadlines, and by my Junior year our High School newspaper came out every two weeks, and we were winning State awards for layout and art. This is also where I learned photography.

We picked up freelance graphics jobs from around our school district and earned enough money to pay for training trips to Seattle, San Francisco, and other cool places. I got my first illustrating/graphics freelance job on my own when I was 17 doing a series of books/workbooks teaching kids to be safe. I would also draw comics of my friends and their exploits, and I would draw some really complex stuff for my best friends.

Becuase I was a teenager and just to irritate my parents, I went to the University of Oregon (which my dad hated) and studied Art (which my mom was opposed to). I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Multimedia Design with a Minor in Journalism Communication (Advertising). I graduated a year early and I got to study cool things like animation, sculpture, (almost had a minor in geology), photojournalism, advertising, and all sorts of cool things. One of my professors, Ken (who is important later on) taught comic drawing classes and animation classes. I liked Ken because he would let us explore in whatever direction our art would take us, as long as we were productive.


I also did a lot of freelance work in college, some of which included Learn To Read and Write books (all graphics, only some of the illustrations), sports programs for Eugene Thunder Hockey Team (1 season), and Thurston High School (6 years). One other freelance project I worked on when I was 20 years old was for this little company called Imagination International, Inc. (who you know as the North American importer for Copic).

I also spent 2 years earning independant study credit by teaching art once a week to 4th graders in my brother-in-law's classroom. When I graduated college I continued teaching comic drawing at many of the local galleries, museum of art, and through the city recreation department and the public libraries (I'll be teaching a couple teen-Manga workshops this summer if anyone is local). At one point I was working 30 hrs./week for Copic and teaching 5 different workshops to kids each week. That's a lot of art!

When I was still a Sophmore in the U of O Art department an e-mail went around the department for some company (Imagination International, Inc) looking for a graphic designer. Paid position! I was between freelance gigs at the time so I replied. I guess I was the only one who did, so I was given a Japanese brochure, a disk of images, and an English translation. My task was to make a US version of the brochure for these new markers. I hadn't seen Copic markers before, so the more I worked on the project the more intrigued I got.

When I finished the brochure I got my very first 12pc. set of Copics (which I still have today). The president of the company is Ken O'Connell, who was my drawing professor the next term at the university. That was over 8 years ago. Over the next few years I did a couple more projects for Copic and shortly before I graduated they offfered me a full-time job as the graphic designer. Thus my employment with Copic. Slowly, over time, I moved from the graphic designer on to being the product specialist and getting to travel, meet new artists, and help others learn how to use their art supplies.

I would teach Manga drawing at conventions for Copic (come see me at Anime Expo in LA) and travel to art stores and art schools (This fall I will be doing class visits to Savannah College of Art & Design) sharing how to use Copic products. So I had to look proficient in many styles of artwork- from the Japanese Manga/Anime, to Landscape Architecture, to product design.

Then a few years ago papercrafters really got excited about Copic products. So I have slowly become a papercrafter as well, and now for my freelance artwork I illustrate stamps for Our Craft Lounge (you can read that story here).

Now I get to help other people improve their art, learn how to use Copic markers, and I get to teach kids how to draw. Every day I am thankful that I had encouragement to keep drawing and the opportunities to work on so much.

Today, for World Drawing Day, I challenge you to inspire a child to draw.



Give them encouragement. Sit down and color with them. Give them a set of crayons, or pencils, and of course- markers :) Go visit a gallery and leave a message of encouragement. If you don't think you can draw today, it's because someone way back never gave you the chance. You can change that! Know that what you do today changes the next generation (the photo is of my daughter doing what she loves the most-drawing).

If you have no way of helping someone locally, then help people who will appreciate it far away. You can donate to Pens for Kids, an organization that donates used ballpoint pens (like the ones you steal from the bank) to kids in rural Africa who have no writing supplies. This gives them the chance to go to school and learn to write and draw.